The Song Service

It is almost most impossible to overestimate the value of a good congregational song service. It stimulates and animates the church to its highest degree of spiritual devotion and worship. It affords an opportunity to every member of the church to express the praise and thanksgiving of his heart unto the Lord. It fills the heart with the sweetest and tenderest emotions, and prepares it for the reception of God's eternal truth. It enriches, broadens, and sweetens life. It strengthens the faint and discouraged soul with a new faith and a new hope. It pours the oil of gladness into wounded and sorrowing hearts and revives the drooping spirit of life. It turns the thoughts of weary pilgrims from the conflicts and crosses of this life to the eternal existence where no shadows ever fall -- to the home not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.

The song service deserves an equal place in the worship with prayer, communion, fellowship, and teaching. Through reverence, we do not enter the place of worship during prayer. Why not the same practice during the singing of a song of prayer and thanksgiving? Quietness reigns during our petitions to the Father -- why not the same attitude in song? The beginning of the song is the beginning of worship, and those who are worshipful and spiritually minded will so respect it.

We instruct in song as much as in public speaking, and oftentimes with more influence. "Speaking one to another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs;"(~Ephesians 5:19~)"teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs"(~Colossians 3:16~). Our songs should be as scriptural as our speech, and just as meaningful. He who teaches is careful what he teaches, and in singing we should exercise the same care. Why should we sing what we would not teach? We inspire to devotion, we teach fundamental truth, we exhort our brethren, we appeal to the sinner (in invitations), we build hope of an everlasting life, and develop fear of an eternal ruin through song. So "let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom." (~Colossians 3:16~) Sing with the spirit and .. with the understanding."(~1 Corinthians 14:15~)

One purpose of the song service is to drive out the material world -- to make us forget the problems of everyday life, to forget the rocks of the rugged road, to dismiss the appeals of a longing mortality. In driving out, it must not fail to supply a substitute for the inward being. It must plead to humility, adoration, and supply a substitute for the inward being. So let the voice speak what the heart feels in all sincerity and truth.

The Scriptures do not set forth a definite order that we shall follow. We are urged to sing, but whether we sing at first, midway, or at the close of the service is not specified. Custom has set up a standard of three songs, a prayer, and a song afterward, while the audience stands. This custom should at times be broken, and especially if there are those who have come to believe it the only way. We are in error who make a custom a standard.

God has spoken as to what we sing -- "psalms and hymns and spiritual songs." If a composition cannot be classed as one of the three, it should not be sung in worship. Either the words or the music might disqualify it in its classification. One point of failure would leave us in doubt, and "where there is doubt, don't do it."

The song service is the one and only part of the service in which every member can engage in the same manner at the same time. It should be greatly appreciated because of that special privilege. Everyone cannot sing with the same accurateness and sweetness, if the human ear must judge; but "we make melody in our hearts unto the Lord" (~Ephesians 5:19~) -- not unto men. The poor singer, judged by human ears, may be better singer in the sight of God. Therefore, sing!

All song services should be carefully and prayerfully arranged. Its purpose demands it; it's possible benefits command it. We must depend on the leader for the well-planned service.