Sing like you mean it

Why do people, particularly men, walk out of the sanctuary when the music begins? Why do they sing hymns, psalms, and spiritual songs in a half-hearted way if they sing at all? Where is their passion for their Savior? 

I have been thinking about these questions lately and privately lamenting the disregard for corporate singing that I see among today's churchmen.  In our church, we open the service with a few songs.  People mingle in the lobby, visiting about the weeks events, or what they are doing that afternoon or something else, neglecting the opportunity to offer praise to God.  As the service draws to a close, we sing again.  Too often, people--particularly the men--head for the lobby again.  Sometimes to retrieve children, sometimes to relieve themselves. Yet few return to sing. 

I suspect part of the reason for this is a tendency to view church in an entertainment framework.  People see themselves coming to church to be entertained.  Their is a failure to see their active roles in corporate worship.  The music is not entertainment, nor a warm-up for the sermon.  It is an integral part of the church service.  It is worship offered to the "immortal, invisible, God only wise."  I would like to see our men lead in this regard--to see them sing boldly to the God whom they profess to love. 

There was an article posted at The Blazing Center today that was a balm for me.  The author, Keith McCracken, writes of his father's passion for singing hymns, loudly, in and out of the church.  He writes, "Though I hold many cherished memories of him, perhaps the most vivid was his excitement over singing certain hymns. By all accounts he possessed at best an 'average' voice when it comes to uniqueness and tonal quality. But he sang his favorites with a conviction that was beyond convincing and was by far one of the loudest and most joyful voices in a congregation of approximately 350. I remember looking up at him and 'checking him out' while he was singing… 'Is he for real?' I would wonder. When he would catch me looking at him he would simply 'lock-eyes' with me and sing all the louder while he broadened his grin to match proportion with his pleasure."  This had a lasting impact upon McCracken and I would commend the whole article to you. 

Dad's, don't minimize the impact you have upon your children's faith.  They need to see you loving God in many ways.  They need to see that Christ is of preeminent importance to you.  Set aside your embarrassment, your distraction, and "sing like you mean it."  

David also commanded the chiefs of the Levites to appoint their brothers as the singers who should play loudly on musical instruments, on harps and lyres and cymbals, to raise sounds of joy.--1 Chronicles 15:16