Articles
Lifting Our Voices in Praise
Throughout Christian history, congregational singing has been a cherished practice of worship, uniting believers in praise, encouragement, and spiritual growth. At Almaden Valley Church of Christ, we uphold a cappella congregational singing as the biblical model for worship, rooted in the teachings and examples found in Scripture. Let's open our Bibles to explore why we embrace this form of worship and how it aligns with God’s design for His people.
Jesus and His Disciples Sang Together
A compelling example of a cappella worship is found in the life of Jesus. In Matthew 26:30, after instituting the Lord’s Supper, Jesus and His disciples sang a hymn before heading to the Mount of Olives. In His last moments before His betrayal, trial, and cruxification, Jesus sang.
The Power and Purpose of Singing
Singing serves multiple spiritual purposes, as demonstrated throughout Scripture:
Praising and Glorifying God – Psalm 118, which Jesus likely sang with His disciples, repeatedly calls for thanksgiving and exalts God’s enduring love. Singing directs our hearts toward God, acknowledging His greatness and faithfulness.
Teaching and Admonishing One Another – Paul instructs in Colossians 3:16, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” Singing is not just about praise; it is also a means of reinforcing biblical truths, guiding us in righteousness.
Encouragement and Edification – Ephesians 5:19 echoes this idea: “Speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord.” The early church used singing as a source of strength and encouragement, much like Paul and Silas did in prison (Acts 16:25).
Fellowship and Unity – Singing together is a powerful expression of our unity in Christ. Unlike other acts of worship, singing is participatory; every member joins in harmony to lift up one voice to the Lord. This is one of the few moments in worship where the entire congregation is outwardly participating in a shared spiritual experience.
Engaging the Heart in Worship – Singing moves beyond vocal performance; it is about making melody in our hearts to the Lord (Ephesians 5:19). Our focus should not be on external enhancements like instruments but on sincere, heartfelt worship.
Why A Cappella Singing?
The New Testament consistently emphasizes singing as the prescribed form of musical worship. Unlike the Old Testament, where instrumental music was used in temple worship, the New Testament church is never recorded using instruments in worship. Instead, passages like Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 emphasize singing as a direct means of teaching, admonishing, and glorifying God.
One might ask, “What does adding instruments contribute to our singing?” While instruments may enhance sound quality from a human perspective, our worship should be about what pleases God. The biblical command is to sing, and nothing in the New Testament authorizes instrumental accompaniment in Christian worship. Additionally, a cappella singing maintains the simplicity and purity of worship, allowing every believer to participate fully, anytime and anywhere, without dependence on external aids.
Conclusion
The practice of a cappella congregational singing is not merely a tradition—it is a biblical, Christ-centered act of worship that aligns with God’s design for His church. It fosters unity, encourages one another, and keeps our focus on the words and meaning of the songs rather than musical performance. At Almaden Valley Church of Christ, we sing because Christ and His apostles sang, because the early church sang, and because singing glorifies God in the way He has prescribed.
As we lift our voices together, let us remember that our worship is for God, and our hearts should be fully engaged in praising Him with the pure and simple gift of song.
