In this episode of Ask Pastor Charlie, we focus on questions related to congregational singing. Churches these days have more access to technology, resources, media, and all kinds of other enhancements to our worship services. But are our churches singing better? How do we get our people to sing? What’s the job of the worship leader? What kinds of songs should we sing? Let’s listen in:
“I’ve got crazy talented musicians and some amazing vocalists on my team. And we’re in the process of locking down a contract for the best jazz guitarist in town. Can you recommend some songs that we can play which will maximize the use of our gifts?” — Jackson, Seattle WA
O sweet singer of Israel, remember that the song is not for your glory, but for the honor of the Lord, who inhabiteth the praises of Israel; therefore, select not anthems and tunes in which your skilfulness will be manifest, but such as will aid the people to magnify the Lord with their thanksgivings. The people come together not to see you as a songster, but to praise the Lord in the beauty of holiness. Remember also, that you are not set to sing for yourself only, but to be a leader of others, many of whom know nothing of music; therefore, choose such tunes as can be learned and followed by all, that none in the assembly may be compelled to be silent while the Lord is extolled. Why should so much as one be defrauded of his part through you? Simple airs are the best, and the most sublime; very few of the more intricate tunes are really musical. Your twists, and fugues, and repetitions, and rattlings up and down the scale, are mostly barbarous noise-makings, fitter for Babel than Bethel. If you and your choir wish to show off your excellent voices, you can meet at home for that purpose, but the Sabbath and the church of God must not be desecrated to so poor an end. [1]
“As the preacher, I’m glad to be able to delegate all the song planning to some volunteers. The preaching is the most important thing after all. Admittedly our musicians aren’t very good, but does music really matter? As long as people are worshiping God, that’s the most important thing, right?” — Matt, Indianapolis IN
True praise is heart work. Like smoking incense, it rises from the glowing coals of devout affection. Essentially, it is not a thing of sound: sound is associated with it very properly for most weighty reasons, but still the essence and life of praise lie not in the voice, but in the soul. Your business in the congregation is to give to spiritual praise a suitable embodiment in harmonious notes. Take care that you do not depress what you should labor to express. Select a tune in accordance with the spirit of the psalm or hymn, and make your style of singing suitable to the words before you. Flippantly to lead all tunes to the same time, tone, and emphasis, is an abomination; and to pick tunes at random is little less than criminal. You mock God and injure the devotions of his people if you carelessly offer to the Lord that which has cost you no thought, no care, no exercise of judgment. You can help the pious heart to wing its way to heaven upon a well-selected harmony; and you can, on the other hand, vex the godly ear by inappropriate or unmelodious airs, adapted rather to distract and dishearten, than to encourage intelligent praise.
“I grew up in a church where all we sang were dirges. What a drag! These days, as the worship pastor, I make sure that all our services are marked by excitement and energy. After all, we’ve got the best God in the world! But sometimes, I think the congregation has trouble keeping up. Do you have any tips for energizing them in their singing?” — Skyler, Los Angeles CA
The Time is a very primary consideration, but it is too often treated as a matter of no consequence. Large bodies move slowly, and hence the tendency to drawl out tunes in numerous assemblies. We have heard the notes prolonged till the music has been literally swamped, drenched, drowned in long sweeps and waves of monotonous sound. On the other hand, we cannot endure to hear psalms and solemn hymns treated as jigs, and dashed, through at a gallop. Solemnity often calls for long-drawn harmony, and joy as frequently demands leaping notes of bounding delight. Be wise enough to strike the fitting pace each time, and by your vigourous leadership inspire the congregation to follow en masse.
“What kind of outfits should I wear as a worship leader?” — Jamie, Austin TX
May we in the very gentlest whisper beg you to think very much of God, much of the singing, and extremely little of yourself. The best sermon is that in which the theme absorbs the preacher and hearers, and leaves no one either time or desire to think about the speaker; so in the best congregational singing, the leader is forgotten because he is too successful in his leadership to be noticed as a solitary person. The head leads the body, but it is not parted from it, nor is it spoken of separately; the best leadership stands in the same position. If your voice [or outfits] becomes too noticeable, rest assured that you are but a beginner in your art.
“People these days basically don’t know how to sing. Congregational singing is a hopeless cause. But that’s okay because we’ve got a great choir and they really help fill out the sound. Do you know any other ways of filling out the singing?” — Tyler, Arlington VA
One of your great objects should be to induce all the congregation to join in the singing. Your minister should help you in this, and his exhortations and example will be a great assistance to you; but still as the Lord’s servant in the department of sacred song you must not rely on others, but put forth your own exertions. Not only ought all the worshippers to sing, but each one should sing praises with understanding, and as David says, “play skilfully” unto the Lord. This cannot be effected except by instructing the people in public psalmody. Is it not your duty to institute classes for young and old? Might you not thus most effectually serve the church, and please the Lord? … The institution of singers, as a separate order is an evil, a growing evil, and ought to be abated and abolished; and the instruction of the entire congregation is the readiest, surest, and most scriptural mode of curing it. A band of godless men and women will often install themselves in a conspicuous part of the chapel, and monopolize the singing to the grief of the pastor, the injury of the church, and the scandal of public worship; or else one man, with a miserable voice, will drag a miserable few after him in a successful attempt to make psalms and hymns hideous, or dolorous. Teach the lads and lasses, and their seniors, to sing and drill them in a few good, solid, thoroughly musical tunes, and you, O sons of Asaph, shall earn to yourself a good degree.
There you have it. As always, keep the questions coming. And join us again next time on Ask Pastor Charlie!
— —
[1] All quotes are taken from C. H. Spurgeon, The Sword and the Trowel 1870, “How Shall We Sing?”, 277-278.