Why Singing is Vital to the Christian Life
Have you ever been told that it’s God’s desire that we sing? How should singing fit into the life of a Christian? What is it about music and songs in our worship that is so important to God?
God has answered these questions in His Word and here are six reasons that singing is vital to the Christian life.
Singing is obeying.
“And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord in your heart.” Ephesians 5:18-19
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms, and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” Colossians 3:16
Singing is a command in scripture, it is not optional. We are doing what God asks us to do when we sing.
2. Singing builds up others in the faith.
In Ephesians 5:19, it says, “Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.”
When we sing with our congregations, we are doing what the Bible says and hearing the confessions of one another’s faith. It’s like hearing hundreds of testimonies around us.
When we sing, we are bearing witness to unbelievers. Psalms 105 says, “Sing to him, sing praises to him and tell of all his wondrous works!”
Our singing can have a tremendous impact on someone who doesn’t know Christ. When they hear hundreds of voices and testimonies singing together, it will naturally point them to Christ.
3. Singing helps us grown deep roots in the Word of God.
“Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly...singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.” Colossians 3:16
Paul, tells us to let Christ’s Word dwell in us richly, and then he tells us how to live that out. First is teaching, and second is singing. Singing is one of the two primary ways in which the Word lives and grows in us.
There is a promise that comes with singing. As we sing songs and hymns, and spiritual songs together, we are promised that the Word of Christ will dwell in us richly. This is exactly what we as believers should desire.
4. Singing makes war.
You may not connect singing with warfare, but this is a theme prevalent in scripture. Paul challenges the Colossians to put sin to death in Colossians 3 and to kill it in their lives.
Singing must be hated by the evil one because it identifies us with Christ and against Satan.
It’s very hard to intentionally sin when you are singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. It will be harder to give in to temptation when singing is a daily part of our lives.
A singing heart is a heart at war with Satan and stands against the power of sin.
5. Singing strengthens us for trials.
We often only think of singing when we are happy, and life seems to be going great. But strength through trial is shown in Acts 16. When Paul and Silas are unjustly imprisoned for preaching the Gospel, they sing in their chains!
And just like Paul and Silas, singing will help give us strength and the ability to stand strong in trials.
In our suffering, we must sing!
6. Singing helps us glorify God.
Being obedient, building up our fellow believers, growing deep roots in the Word, waging war against sin and Satan, and persevering through trials all bring glory to God. Bringing Him glory is the chief end and purpose of every Christian.
Singing has a way of bringing our minds, hearts, and souls together to focus completely on God. We live in an age of constant distraction but singing grabs our attention and focuses us on God.
We will worship God for eternity. In Revelation 7, the Apostle John gives us a glimpse of eternity with a great multitude of people from every tribe, tongue and nation singing before the Lamb.
There’s a promised land awaiting and there we will be one of the multitudes singing the praises of the Lamb!
