addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart,
If we are singing His praises from our heart, does it really matter what we sing and how we sound?
Here is my confession. We were at a marriage seminar and they opened with hymns that were well known to all of us. A young lady behind us squawked like a goose loudly. I leaned over to my wife and whispered “She couldn’t carry a tune in a suit case.” My wife politely shushed me and said, “She is signing with all her heart, you should be ashamed.” And I was.
Over the years I have heard so many negative comments about worship songs it gives me pause as to what is wrong with worship if it is dependent on having a pleasant sounding group playing the style of music that is acceptable to everyone. “They never play my old favorites.” “I can’t believe they allowed horns in the band.” “That sounds so secular, it might as well be rock and roll.”
Yes, I have heard those comments and more and after a time it seems to me that some will only worship with others if they get it their way. Fine, let me quote one line of scripture in answer to that.
or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;
I am sure we all recognize the love chapter and how love acts. The issue of being insistent in getting one’s own way is a broader concept than just worship music but in this case it applies.
Sadly I have been witness to the issue of insistence causing breaks in fellowship where division occurs within a church that is unnecessary. It isn’t a competition.
That is not to insist that gospel competitions are wrong either. That’s just being insistent on another level. There is no score sheet to gauge the heart of worship.
As my wife said to me, “God probably loves her voice more than yours.”