Yesterday, a friend asked me if I had heard the latest conversations surrounding worship practices. I had not. After he described the discussions he had heard, I took to the internet to check it out for myself. It didn’t take long for me to find the news reports.
I read about places in California and Tennessee (as well as Canada, Germany and others), who are beginning to allow church goers to worship together. How wonderful! I am really looking forward to the day North Carolina lifts our worship restrictions. I am very thankful we have electronic options for now, but to worship together in person will be such a gift! To learn that places around the world were opening ways to glorify God filled me with a sense of hope that, frankly, I’ve been missing lately.
Tragically, my hopefulness was short-lived. As I continued reading, the next statement was exactly what my friend had heard. My heart skipped a beat, and deep in the pit of my stomach was a dreadful ache.
There will be no singing.
I had to read the article three different times. Then I Googled again and read another article, and then another. Each one reiterated my first read. There will be no singing in churches. Singing, shouting and loud talking are thought to spread the virus as much as coughing and sneezing. With that understanding, governments all over the world are considering such bans.
I have always known that music touches my heart, stirs my emotions, and lifts my spirit, but singing is much more. Singing is the method I most often use when worshiping my Savior. I sing when I pray, when I study, when I commune. Singing is a huge part of my worship experience – not just inwardly and not just for me. Corporate singing is how I witness among my church family. Communal hymns are my outward expression of holy love for Jesus Christ. How could I possibly refrain from singing?
“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come into his presence with singing.” (Psalm 100:1-2, NRSV) The psalmist’s hymn calls to my spirit. Come into the presence of Almighty God… with singing. Worship with gladness… and singing. All the earth make joyful noise… and sing!
As I contemplated what this could mean for the worldwide worship of God (and, I admit, as I fumed a bit), it suddenly occurred to me that singing doesn’t have to mean “vocal.” I found no evidence that a ban on church singing will take place in North Carolina, but should something like that ever be imposed here I know two things are certain:
My heart will sing! God isn’t limited by physical sound (or anything else for that matter). I may not like it best, but God will hear my heart sing just as loudly as if my voice carried for miles. In the best interest of community health, I may be asked to refrain from singing in church for a time. I don’t know if that will happen, but even if it does the great music of the Church will never truly be silenced. I know this to be true because Jesus said if God’s people are silent, the rocks will cry out. (Go read Luke 19.)
I think we can safely interpret that to mean this: If we stop singing praises to God altogether, God will organize a rock concert beyond imagination. I love that! God always makes a way even when I don’t see it at first. Thank you, Jesus, for the songs of my heart!
Always singing,
Pastor Beth
I read about places in California and Tennessee (as well as Canada, Germany and others), who are beginning to allow church goers to worship together. How wonderful! I am really looking forward to the day North Carolina lifts our worship restrictions. I am very thankful we have electronic options for now, but to worship together in person will be such a gift! To learn that places around the world were opening ways to glorify God filled me with a sense of hope that, frankly, I’ve been missing lately.
Tragically, my hopefulness was short-lived. As I continued reading, the next statement was exactly what my friend had heard. My heart skipped a beat, and deep in the pit of my stomach was a dreadful ache.
There will be no singing.
I had to read the article three different times. Then I Googled again and read another article, and then another. Each one reiterated my first read. There will be no singing in churches. Singing, shouting and loud talking are thought to spread the virus as much as coughing and sneezing. With that understanding, governments all over the world are considering such bans.
I have always known that music touches my heart, stirs my emotions, and lifts my spirit, but singing is much more. Singing is the method I most often use when worshiping my Savior. I sing when I pray, when I study, when I commune. Singing is a huge part of my worship experience – not just inwardly and not just for me. Corporate singing is how I witness among my church family. Communal hymns are my outward expression of holy love for Jesus Christ. How could I possibly refrain from singing?
“Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come into his presence with singing.” (Psalm 100:1-2, NRSV) The psalmist’s hymn calls to my spirit. Come into the presence of Almighty God… with singing. Worship with gladness… and singing. All the earth make joyful noise… and sing!
As I contemplated what this could mean for the worldwide worship of God (and, I admit, as I fumed a bit), it suddenly occurred to me that singing doesn’t have to mean “vocal.” I found no evidence that a ban on church singing will take place in North Carolina, but should something like that ever be imposed here I know two things are certain:
- The worship of God will always continue.
- My heart will sing.
My heart will sing! God isn’t limited by physical sound (or anything else for that matter). I may not like it best, but God will hear my heart sing just as loudly as if my voice carried for miles. In the best interest of community health, I may be asked to refrain from singing in church for a time. I don’t know if that will happen, but even if it does the great music of the Church will never truly be silenced. I know this to be true because Jesus said if God’s people are silent, the rocks will cry out. (Go read Luke 19.)
I think we can safely interpret that to mean this: If we stop singing praises to God altogether, God will organize a rock concert beyond imagination. I love that! God always makes a way even when I don’t see it at first. Thank you, Jesus, for the songs of my heart!
Always singing,
Pastor Beth