Failure To Sing: A Sin Of Omission
Author Unknown

A preacher recently announced from the pulpit, just before he delivered his sermon, "Brethren, not one of you would deliberately omit the Lord's Supper this morning, I know. Yet, during the course of the last song, I noticed six or seven Christians who were not singing."

The Lord surely did not provide avenues of worship merely to meet man's fancy. Every Christian knows that to break bread (Acts 20:7), to sing (Col. 3:16), to study (2 Tim. 2:15), to pray (Eph. 6:16), and to give (1 Cor. 16:2) are all specified as items of worship.

Further, singing, according to the Scripture, goes beyond just a physical movement of the lips and mouth. The object or purpose of singing as worship is to teach and admonish one another, to speak to one another (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16), to express joy (James 5:13), to praise God (Rom. 15: 19), and to make melody in the heart to the Lord (Eph.5:19).

One need not be a talented singer to comply with these requirements. A coarse, tuneless monotone properly applied is acceptable to the Lord, while a beautifully trained voice singing words without meaning are not acceptable.

No one knows better than a song leader the difficulty of attempting to lead a song service and observe sprinkled throughout the audience many Christians that sit silently without any attempt to sing. Perhaps the song leader surmises that such people do not feel like singing. However, it is strange that these brethren feel well enough to partake of the Lord's Supper. There are times that the song leader leads singing when he does not feel like it, but he continues on. Surely, excuses are slim indeed.

There are many sins of omission, but, brethren do not be found guilty of this one. Sing at every service. It is not only a privilege, it is a duty to sing praises unto the Lord.

"Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin" (James 4:17). ❦

Why Sing?
AUTHOR UNKNOWN

It is the only activity of the assembled church which is eternal.

• In heaven, there will be no Lord's Supper — we will be with the living Lord.
• In heaven, there will be no need for prayer - we will see and talk with Him face to face.
• In heaven, the Gospel will not be preached - only the saved will be there.
• In heaven, no contributions will be taken - riches are abundant and unlimited.
• But, in heaven, we will gather around our God and sing praises to Him (Rev. 15:3).

In light of this, don't you think it would be well for you to practice singing? Even if the Lord had not directed us to sing, the spirit of happy, forgiven, and redeemed people will burst forth in song. ❦