mgpcpastor's blog

Among many of the joys of returning to MGPC after twelve weeks off has been the singing during worship.
And it’s not so much the musicality of the singing, but the sheer fact I can hear it.
Loud and strong.

Over at Desiring God, Marshall Segal writes of the church that sings, rather than the church that listens along.

Here’s one of his five observations:

1. Only one instrument sings.
By no means is God against musical instruments. He loves the sounds of praise that come from a string or horn or drum. Many of the Psalms — the songs of the saints — were written, after all, to be accompanied “with stringed instruments” (Psalms 4, 6, 54, 61, 67, 76). And God explicitly calls for praise to be played on the tambourine, harp, lyre, and trumpet (Psalm 33:2; 71:22; 81:2; 144:9; 150:3).
But only one instrument sings. Only the voice brings words of praise — explicit expressions of God’s power, goodness, mercy, and wonder. Only a human voice declares the truth. A guitar, an organ, and a banjo all communicate something of the glory of God, but even the most beautiful note can’t save anyone. We are desperate for a voice, a word, a lyric that announces good news, that reminds us of the truth we all need.

Read the rest here.