Phillip Jensen writes about congregational singing, and makes some valuable points about the place of singing when Christians gather, what helps and what may inadvertently hinder.
What makes good congregational singing? It’s not that it is loud or in tune and in key. All those things are important but they are not the critical factors. More important is the sense of congregational unity – singing with one voice of our common faith in our one Lord. This is a unity of mind and purpose, connected to our emotions by the wonder of God’s creation of music. It’s the unifying factor of singing in such a fashion that though I make my contribution, yet my individuality is lost in the congregation singing as a whole. It is to this congregational unity, which the technicalities of the musicians make their contribution.
This gives congregational singing a power that is greater than that of the soloist or choir. Listening to a performer is not the same as singing with a congregation. Congregational singing requires participation, and attaches us to the lyrics and to others around us. It engages us in what we believe and unites us to one another as we sing together. It doesn’t entrance us with the beauty of the music or get us to marvel at the agility and ability of the performer. Rather it enthrals us in expressing our common experience of God’s gospel. My feeble voice is given power to speak of the greatness of God – of his wondrous creation, his loving salvation, his gracious mercy, his faithful character.
I expect that even though it’s Phillip Jensen writing, what he says will have dimished value because, unfortunately, he’s old, and would write these sort of things, wouldn’t he? Decades of experience in ministry with people of all ages can only take you so far.
Herein lies the disadvantage of constantly changing the ‘play list’. Most hymns and choruses do not survive a decade of singing. It is only the greats that are able to hold the heart’s affections and the mind’s edification for generations. Teaching the great ones is a community leader’s responsibility, for much is lost by neglect. On one occasion in a blackout, I called upon the congregation I was leading to finish our gathering by singing the doxology, only to discover it was a solo as nobody else knew it! I had never taught them Thomas Ken’s classic Christian statement that has been sung by believers since 1674. My mistake – and not just for that evening – it was a failure to teach our heritage properly.
It is not only to the past believers that great hymns connect us but it is also to believers in other congregations and denominations. Thus retaining something of a canon of Christian music is important not only for our own congregational health but also for fellowshipping with others outside our own congregation.
Attempts to improve the music at church are usually counterproductive. New songs and louder amplification is often the death of congregational singing – it is to chorus singing what playing hymns too slowly, in a key beyond the range of the average voice, is to hymn singing. Our aim should not be to ‘improve the music’ but to develop the congregational participation in addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. For then we will be able to unite in emotionally expressing our joy in the Lord Jesus Christ.
I think he has a point.
Read the whole thing here.
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