My Conversion Into A Singing Man
Written by Matt Shelton | Deacon of Worship & Arts
For most of my life I have had a hard time singing in church. And not just in church, but all group settings like caroling, choirs, or the national anthem (except baseball games… I get super pumped). If I did sing, it was quietly and as effortlessly as possible. It’s not that I didn’t like music or singing, it’s that I didn’t like how vulnerable it made me. I didn’t see any benefit that came from me singing, or any harm done by me not singing. This is coming from someone who has been a professional singer for over ten years. My job is to sing in public, on stage with all lights and attention on me. So, I know that this is even harder for many men who rarely sing as it is, but it’s important for you to know, that though I am a “Lead Singer” (my gift and occupation), I was not always a “Singing Man” (my character and life).
So I would like to walk with you through a few things that have converted me into a “Singing Man.”
God’s Word Says I Am, So I Am
The Bible contains over 400 references to singing and 50 direct commands to sing. Though most references are in the Old Testament, we are commanded twice in the New Testament to sing as a part of our new life in Christ. (Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16).
Paul’s references in the New Testament are for the purpose of explaining what our new life as the church is to look like. He is revealing our character as the body of Christ. This is not a preferential suggestion, but an acknowledgement of what type of people Jesus has made us into.
God Sings, So I Do
It is not random that God would make us into singers, it is a part of His character. We see that God sings over us in Zephaniah 3:17, Jesus sings with us in Hebrew 2:12, and it is a fruit of the Spirit to sing in Ephesians 5:18-19.
I Am The Worship Leader of My Household
Whoa, hold up. Are you saying that I am not only supposed to sing, but I am now responsible for leading others in singing?
Yes.
Before you think about converting to another religion, let’s just think about this. We just read that Jesus sings among us. He does this from a place of leadership. He is the head of the Church—the head of His household—the ultimate worship leader. He shows us what it looks like to lead our families and friends when He says, “...in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise” (Hebrews 2:12).
Paul thought that this was so important that in both Colossians and Ephesians, Paul takes the time to explain what the house of God is to look like and carries it into our households. He does this so that we would live in such a way that when the Church gathers as one, we are already functioning as the body of Christ in our homes. In the Old Testament, David even appointed men to be singers, as leaders of the households (1 Chron 9:33). This doesn’t mean that you play an acoustic guitar, wear tight pants, and start talking funny (some worship guys talk funny—apologies to people who talk funny). It means that your family and friends feel compelled and safe to sing because of your bravery on the frontlines to lift your voice in obedience as you, “sing to him, sing praises to him; tell of all his wondrous works!”
It is spiritual warfare when we sing. We are fighting to believe the gospel every day, and as Matt Papa says, “A song is a sermon you remember.” So as men and head of our households we must lead this fight to sing the mercies of our King; we should be the first and loudest voices.
If this seems overwhelming, it’s because it is. God is making us into a new people, this is a new identity. The good news is that the Holy Spirit is at work in us, and it is in the Spirit that we sing! It’s going to take some time to live this out, so let’s encourage one another when we come together, sing loud, and when you see a brother struggling to sing, sing louder. The family depends on it.
This Sunday, as Pastor Jim preaches on Biblical Manhood and we go to war together in song, let’s boldly lead each other in lifting high the name of Jesus. Long live King Jesus!
Bad Excuses for Not Singing
“I’m a terrible singer.”
- Not the point, but there are very few good singers, and if you sing more it will probably help. Also, people need to hear other bad singers.
”That’s not how I worship.”
- Though worship does not mean singing, singing is the primary way that the body worships God together.
”I am an introvert.”
- Singing when we gather together is a service to one another, so it calls us to press outward for the sake of others, not ourselves.
”It’s just Jesus and me man, He knows my heart.”
- When we gather it’s Jesus and us, and His heart is that we would sing and “tell of all his wondrous works!"
"I don't like the style of music."
- This is the weakest of them all. May our praise of Jesus not be minimized to a certain circumstance or setting preference. Just remember that even when you get a song to sing that you like, someone else in the room probably doesn't like that same song. So how do we worship with conflicting preferences? Ephesians 5:21 says we do this by "submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ"