4 Reasons to Sing Louder

“Sing aloud to God our strength; make a joyful shout to the God of Jacob. Raise a song and strike the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the lute.” (Psalm 81:1-2)

The psalmist calls for us to make music with great enthusiasm. Raising a song a musical means to greet a king (e.g., Saul in I Samuel 10:24) or to celebrate victories in war (e.g., Judah over it’s enemies in Zephaniah 3:14). It was done with fanfare and noise.

At this point in history, there was no such thing as harmonies or orchestras. Noise was all they were looking for. The psalmist is just saying, “Make some sound.” In other words, when you sing, you should really sing.

Some of the loudest singers I have known in church are bad singers. But they don’t care and neither do I and I would argue neither does God. When music is made, it should be made to the fullest.

Nothing in the Christian life should be half-hearted … nothing! And that includes our singing to God. I know there are times when we don’t know the lyrics to a song.

Why don’t people sing loud? Let me give you 4 reasons.

1. We don’t understand that physical expression is an acceptable form of worship both privately and publicly. When you study how people worshipped God in the Scriptures you discover people clapping, bowing, kneeling, raising their hands, shouting, playing instruments and dancing. Physical expression is a biblical means to worship God in song. It can be different with different people. Some are comfortable swaying their bodies; some enjoy raising their hands; some enjoy singing with loud voices.

2. We care too often what others think, which is an issue of pride. What if I sing loud but off key? What if I start clapping and get the rhythm wrong? What if I start to kneel over and fall instead? Our music should not to be driven by man’s expectations.

3. We interpret reverence or awe of God as emotional and physical stoicism. In other words, because worship is meant to be a humbling of man before an awesome God, we think that we must be quiet and monotone when we open our lips. Thus, our singing becomes like a funeral dirge. We overemphasize worshipping in truth – getting the lyrics right – and forget to worship in spirit – putting some heart into it.

4. We don’t really understand what we are singing. I get teary eyed and always raise the volume of my voice a little louder when I get to lines like this. How can you sing the following stanza from “And Can It Be” and not be overcome by what you are singing.

Long my imprisoned spirit lay

Fast bound in sin and nature’s night.

Thine eye diffused a quickening ray:

I woke – the dungeon flamed with light!

My chains fell off, my heart was free,

I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

Amazing love! How can it be,

That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

Keith Green, who was the 1^st Christian musician I listened to as a teenager, sold out for Jesus in his music. He loved Jesus more than anyone I know who has ever sung a song … period!

One time, he said at a concert, “If your heart takes more pleasure in reading novels, or watching TV, or going to the movies, or talking to friends, rather than just sitting alone with God and embracing Him, sharing His cares and His burdens, weeping and rejoicing with Him, then how are you going to handle forever and ever in His presence…? You’d be bored to tears in heaven, if you’re not ecstatic about God now!”