The New Testament places a unique emphasis on singing as a part of corporate worship. As examined in a previous article, our singing is directed “to the Lord” for His praise and glorification. In fact, both Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 (two key New Testament verses regarding singing) end with those three words, “to the Lord.” These two key verses underscore another significant element of singing in New Testament worship—the reciprocal nature of singing, not solely “to the Lord” (although that is the primary purpose), but “to one another.” Specifically, authorized congregational singing involves “speaking to one another” and “teaching and admonishing one another.”
We speak to one another with words like: “Jesus is all the world to me, my life, my joy, my all.” “‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, just to take Him at His Word.” “I have decided to follow Jesus, no turning back.” “We’re marching to Zion, beautiful, beautiful Zion.” “I’m happy today, O yes, I’m happy today…Because He’s taken all my sins away.” “He is my everything, He is my all, He is my everything, both great and small.” “We’re part of the family that’s been born again.” “Sometimes we laugh together, sometimes we cry.”
We teach one another with words like: “We have an anchor that keeps the soul steadfast and sure while the billows roll, fastened to the Rock which cannot move, grounded firm and deep in the Savior’s love.” “How shall the young secure their hearts and guard their lives from sin? Thy Word the choicest rules imparts to keep the conscience clean.” “Farther along we’ll know all about it, farther along we’ll understand why.” “Millions are groping without the gospel, quickly they’ll reach eternity’s night.” “No tears in heaven, no sorrows given, all will be glory in that land; there’ll be no sadness, all will be gladness, when we shall join that happy band.”
We admonish one another with words like: “Build your hopes on things eternal, hold to God’s unchanging hand.” “Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy in Jesus, than to trust and obey.” “Yield not to temptation, for yielding is sin.” “Have thine affections been nailed to the cross? Is thy heart right with God?” “Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.” “When in the better land before the bar we stand, how deeply grieved our souls will be; if any lost one there should cry in deep despair, ‘You never mentioned Him to me.’” “There’s a great day coming. Are you ready for that day to come?” “Tomorrow may be too late.”
-David Sproule
0 Comments