You Can't Beat Worship With Others

I’m sure that within the hundreds of regular followers of this vlog, there’s a wide range of worship practices, styles, habits and perspectives. And while worship is far more than the musical part including singing and playing instruments (Romans 12:2), I want to focus today on just the music.

Some of us worship in larger churches with thousands or at least hundreds in our sanctuaries, worship centers, gymnasiums or other facilities where our congregations meet. Others are part of smaller, more intimate groups of less than a hundred, perhaps only dozens.

But common to most Christian gatherings is a time of singing, praising God using a corresponding variety of music, instruments, hymnals or other sets of words and songs in general.

And yet, there are many who question, even endure, the musical/worship part of their services as though it really doesn’t matter that much. They don’t see themselves as a singer, they’re not that musical anyway and feel like they can worship just as well at home their own way, on their own time, using their own preferred music. Even at church you may not get too upset about getting into the service at the beginning.

In fact some say that they can worship alone and don’t really need the group version. And yet, we can worship alone and should do that . But today I want to suggest why we still need and can benefit greatly from the musical worship times with others at our church, no matter how big or small the group.

First of all, Scripture tells us to and its modeled by many. There are approximately 400 references to singing in the Bible and about 50 directives to actually sing to or praise God. Singing and music in general seems to be connected to our emotions and soul in general.

I’ll be watching a TV or movie drama and near the end find myself starting to tear up. However, I’ll try to convince myself that I’m NOT going to cry. And that works until when? Until the music starts.

Singing can release emotions, good and bad, in ways that just thinking or listening can do. God knew what He was doing when He told us to sing. It’s therapeutic.

King David, among others, knew the power of corporate worship. He wrote in Psalm 22:22, “In the congregation I will praise you,” which he wrote during a time of depression and fear. In verse 25 he adds, “From you comes the theme of my praise in the great congregation.”

Second, we can never reproduce a corporate worship experience at home. You may think you’re a great singer in the car, shower and garage, but you can’t beat group singing. There’s something very powerful and inspiring when we are worshipping musically in a corporate setting whether there’s 10 people, 100 or more than a thousand. References in Scripture about Heaven never seem to describe worship there as a solo event either.  

Years ago, I attended some rallies for men called Promise Keepers where there were 60,000+ in attendance. Wow, what a sound when we all sang together. I’m convinced those times were a small taste of Heaven. In our current times of worship especially when life is extra hard, we can know and sense that others are with us, that we’re not alone and worshipping together is a powerful way to experience that reality.

Hebrews 10:25 tells us, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another.”

Third, singing helps us better remember God’s Word and the truths we need for living each day. Do you know the words to the Star Spangled Banner or God Bless America?  Probably. Did you sit down one day and memorize them? Nope.

You heard those songs over and over growing up. The same can happen when we hear songs in worship over and over. We naturally learn words of truth that we can apply day by day, as we face the hard times in life. Our corporate worship times provide both that repetition and an inspiring context for helping God’s Word and its truth to reside deep within us.

And one more thing, don’t let personal preference for one kind of music over another keep you from musical worship. Of course, you can always make sure you attend a church where the music resonates with you.

But if your church has adopted music over time that’s no longer your preference, use that new style to help you listen more carefully, hear different words than you’re used to and have a fresh time experiencing and praising God rather than being on worship cruise control.

You can follow the lead of King David again in Psalm 35:18, “I will give you thanks in the great assembly, among throngs of people I will praise you.” Though you don’t have to give up your solo career.