What does Sunday morning sound like at your church?
More specifically, what do you hear when your church worships God in song? What is the defining sound? For some, it will be the old, massive, beautiful organ—a full, enduring and familiar tone. Others would say it’s the energy of an electric guitar and the deep pounding of a bass drum. Maybe you have one or two vocalists you love. They could sing the encyclopedia on Sunday morning and bring you to God.
I enjoy and appreciate all of the above—I really do—but I believe the defining sound on Sunday morning should be the singing voices of God’s people. It’s been taught and lived out at our church, and I love it. And I don’t think that my love is a matter of personal preference. I wouldn’t have chosen this style of worship for myself six years ago, and the music I listen to Monday through Saturday rarely sounds like Sunday morning at Bethlehem.
No, I believe there are principles for corporate worship that transcend cultural and personal preferences and fill music with unusual meaning.
The defining sound on Sunday morning should be the singing voices of God’s people.
1. Only one instrument sings.
By no means is God against musical instruments. He loves the sounds of praise that come from a string or horn or drum. Many of the Psalms—the songs of the saints—were written, after all, to be accompanied “with stringed instruments” (Psalms 4, 6, 54, 61, 67, 76). And God explicitly calls for praise to be played on the tambourine, harp, lyre and trumpet (Psalm 33:2; Psalm 71.22″ data-version=”esv” data-purpose=”bible-reference”>71:22; Psalm 81.2″ data-version=”esv” data-purpose=”bible-reference”>81:2; Psalm 144.9″ data-version=”esv” data-purpose=”bible-reference”>144:9; Psalm 150.3″ data-version=”esv” data-purpose=”bible-reference”>150:3).
