I was dialoguing with a pastor friend the other day about how his wife is doing; he replied that she is rather down and directionless. Knowing this lady had serious traumas from her childhood I then went on to enquire about something that took him by surprise; “Does she sing along with the congregation when she goes to church on Sundays?”
Since the answer was, “Yes.”, I knew I could prescribe a potent spiritual remedy for her life. If she follows this course of treatment there may not be complete healing but there assuredly will be a significant shift in her outlook and enjoyment of life.
More importantly, her actions will bring “glory to God” (1 Corinthians chapter 10 verse 31). He should exhort his wife to begin her day with singing praises to the Lord.
Back to Front
This old-fashioned common sense spiritual counsel is surprisingly at odds with the dominant mood in the churches today. Many of the larger churches of our day are famous for their “worship”, by which is commonly meant singing, but the steep decline in the holiness of life of the “worshippers” indicates deep confusion in the practice of such worship.
Worship ministers and their teams tend to focus on bringing people into an intense emotional experience of God’s presence. Unsurprisingly many people who attend such churches do so because of the experience it gives them. Contemporary inspirational worship is not evaluated by its ability to stimulate obedience but by the buzz it gives.
Many Christians are addicted to such stirring experiences and cannot discern how God is feeling. There is an immense complete lack of insight into how singing through suffering can glorify God. To offer the body as a “living sacrifice” is “spiritual worship” (Romans chapter 12 verse 1); and “sacrifice” isn’t cheap.
Suffer in Song
The book of the Bible that most pictures a singing Church drips with the blood of persecuted believers. You will find hymn singing in Revelation chapters 1, 4, 5, 7, 11, 15 and 19. What Revelation teaches us through narrative Hebrews chapter 13 verse 15 instructs concisely, “Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name”.
It’s a sacrifice to praise God when you are feeling down but it’s precisely the struggle which gives God the honour and glory he deserves. In terrible pain from being beaten, locked in stocks and imprisoned we read how in the middle of the night Paul and Silas “were praying and singing hymns to God” (Acts chapter 16 verse 25).
Such amazing spiritual maturity issued in a remarkable miracle of a divinely sent earthquake for deliverance. The joy the Lord took in their painful praise was manifested in a mighty deliverance. Ultimately, the apostles had learned the true power of praise from Jesus.
The Foundation of Praise
Costly obedience is the highest form of worship (1 Samuel chapter 15 verse 22) because it gives God our hearts. Jesus epitomises this in going to the cross. On the way to Gethsemane and crucifixion by faith Jesus led the apostles in singing a hymn of praise to his Father (Matthew chapter 26 verse 30).
Possibly it was this song of deliverance; “I will offer to you the sacrifice of thanksgiving and call on the name of the Lord.” (Psalm 116 verse 17). This positive word in Jesus’ mouth strengthened his heart for the ordeal ahead and so immensely pleased to Father that he released the power of the resurrection. Christ’s own testimony of praise in pain is a faith action that denies the final authority of evil to impede the purposes of God. This must be our testimony too.
Conclusion
Holy singing requires great wisdom (Ephesians chapter 5 verse 15). Regardless of my emotions I always begin my day with a song because this reorients me away from myself to the perspective of heaven and the pleasures of God towards me.
This is no easy thing to do, and it is not designed to be. To put on “the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness” (Isaiah chapter 61 verse 3) requires the most foundational of all spiritual virtues, faith.
But this is something we can ask from the Lord and he will be certainly pleased to give it. Please consider such a pattern of life; your Saviour is worth it.
The Rev. Dr John Yates is an Anglican minister in Perth and has 5 children and 7grandchildren. He spends time in praying, mentoring and writing.
John Yates’s previous articles may be viewed at