Sing from the Heart

If you've read my earlier blogs you know that I have been interested in the history of church singing and songs. I've come to some conclusions that are mine only and I have no intention of taking them any further than this blog.

First, a little background on some rules for first century Jewish and Gentile men.

If I understand Acts 21:20-25 correctly, the Jerusalem elders gave Paul the following instructions concerning Jewish male Christians: "Take these men, join in their purification rites and pay their expenses, so that they can have their heads shaved. Then everybody will know there is no truth in these reports about you, but that you yourself are living in obedience to the law." (vs. 24) The next day Paul took the men and purified himself along with them. Then he went to the temple to give notice of the date when the days of purification would end and the offering would be made for each of them. (vs. 26 NIV)

The Gentile men had no need to be circumcised, perform other purification rites nor go in the temple. They were to "abstain from food sacrificed to idols, from blood, from the meat of strangled animals and from sexual immorality." (Acts 21.25)

This being the ruling of the Jerusalem Council it seems to me that Jewish Christians would continue their ritual cleansing and rites, chanting of the Psalms and added the breaking of bread and drinking the wine as a memorial to Jesus Christ. And I assume this is what all the Christians did. If not, why not?

New Testament Scripture about Singing

Matthew 26: 30 "After singing a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives." (singing from humneo, aorist active participle, masc. nominative plural) (NASB)

Ephesians 5:19 "speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord;"

Colossians 3:16 "Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God." (NASB)

I Corinthians 14:15 "What is the outcome then? I will pray with the spirit and I will pray with the mind also; I will sing with the spirit and I will sing with the mind also." (NASB)

I Corinthians 14:26 "What is the outcome then, brethren? When you assemble, each one has a psalm, has a teaching, has a revelation, has a tongue, has an interpretation Let all things be done for edification." (NASB)

James 5:13 "Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises." (phalleto, present active imperative 3rd person singular). (NASB)

The passages from Ephesians and Colossians are often used as proof text and are in the middle of rules for living and household rules according to the custom of that time. History records examples of both Roman and Greek household rules and probably other societies do also. The Corinthian passages are in the context of worship.

So what is the outcome about music in worship? It seems to me that the words should pluck the strings of our hearts. In other words, BE HEART FELT. As to whether we are to follow the first century example of singing only from the Book of Psalms. Probably not. If man can compose an uninspired prayer to the Lord, then it probably all right that he (or she) write songs for worship.

I didn’t find any thing in the New Testament about using instrumental music, choirs, choruses, solos, quartets, and such like in worship services, but neither did I find anything condemning such. If uninspired songs, microphones, men and women sitting together, and so on are okay, then maybe pianos, organs, etc. are also. I really don’t know. Some say they come under the law of exclusion.

Outside of worship service I have no problem with singing, playing or hearing "gospel songs" accompanied by instrument music.

I grew up non-instrumental with little emphasis on singing. And now I will be much more diligent about singing and concentrate on the words so that they will be acceptable to God.

Peace