Pensees: Edwards and Bob on Congregational Singing

Edwards and Bob on Congregational Singing

First, Jonathan Edwards:

Do you live in sin, in living in neglect of singing God’s praises? If singing praise to God be an ordinance of God’s public worship, as doubtless it is, then it ought to be performed by the whole worshipping assembly. If it be a command that we should worship God in this way, then all ought to obey this command, not only by joining with others in singing, but in singing themselves. For if we suppose it answers that command of God for us to join in our hearts with others, it will run us into this absurdity, that all may do so; and then there would be none to sing, none for others to join with.

If it be an appointment of God, that Christian congregations should sing praises to him, then doubtless it is the duty of all; if there be no exception in the rule, then all ought to comply with it, unless they be incapable of it, or unless it would be a hinderance to the other work of God’s house, as the case may be with ministers, who sometimes may be in great need of that respite and intermission after public prayers, to recover their breath and strength, so that they may be fit to speak the word. But if persons be now not capable, because they know not how to sing, that doth not excuse them, unless they have been incapable of learning. Those, therefore, who neglect to learn to sing, live in sin, as they neglect what is necessary in order to their attending one of the ordinances of God’s worship. Not only should persons make conscience of learning to sing themselves, but parents should conscientiously see to it, that their children are taught this among other things, as their education and instruction belongs to them.

Then me (from another post):

I love the congregational singing at my church. Our congregation sings with gusto. We forget poise. We disregard finesse. We just belt it out. You should hear our hundred-fold sing “All Hail the Power of Jesus’ Name” after a message on the Person of Jesus Christ. When a congregation feels its redemption individually, it brings the roof down corporately.

I have brothers who talk long and hard about style. But the style that thrills me is probably the same style that pleases God — an uninhibited noise that bursts out of a heart making melody. It is a biblical axiom: redeemed people will sing! And blessed are the redeemed who are in a congregation where performance and professionalism, “special music” and talent exhibitions, are deliberately down-played. Blessed are the redeemed that don’t have to stand and hum to the crooning of a worship team because the entire congregation is the team! The music that dominates our church must be congregational. Unredeemed people will feel out of place in the midst of the redeemed, and this should be especially true when they are singing! There is a mysterious sound that issues from the lungs of uninhibited redeemed folk. Monotones harmonize with maestros. Tone-deaf growlers blend in with the pitch-tone perfect vocalists. The mysterious sound is the sound of heart melodies uniting congregationally before the Lord. It’s a beautiful sound. It’s the joyful noise of redemption.

In conclusion: I think it is obvious that we ought to make every effort to teach our children how to sing, insist that our congregations obey Scripture in singing, and provide music worthy of the effort. We shouldn’t make a joke out of a holy obligation by stripping it of thought.