Singing School

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.” - Ephesians 2:10

Music is a vital part of our heritage and faith. As I wrote last week, it seems as though participatory singing has been replaced with performance singing. Rather than having congregational singing in our churches, we have “performances” by choirs, groups and soloists. In this scenario, the average church member is just a spectator, enjoying the effort of others. As a result, the entire church service has gone from being a worship service to a show. The church member simply takes a seat in the audience (very much like a movie theater), program in hand and enjoys the performance, up to, and including, the message.

Somehow we have deviated from the original goal. Each Sunday morning, Christians should gather at church for public worship. Every Christian should actively participate. Instead, the focus has shifted from the Savior to the saint. Today, most believers gauge a Sunday morning service by what they get out of it rather than what they contribute.

Along the way, music at the local church has suffered greatly. When the music suffers, often the worship suffers, too.

I'd love to see a paradigm shift in our approach to Sunday mornings. I want to challenge believers to invest heavily in the music program of their church. If you have young people that are interested in music or have musical talent, send them to a singing school this summer.

Across the south, there are many singing schools that will be conducted this summer. The intent of each school is to teach music theory and equip individuals to sing. I am acquainted with the shape-note singing schools. In addition to teaching musical theory, some of these schools actually offer specific training in areas like piano, voice and songwriting.

We need this generation of young people to get passionate about the Lord, His Church and worship. Singing school is a great first step in this direction.

Here are four benefits that come from attending a singing school:

1. DETECT NEW TALENTS

At a singing school, talent rises to the top. A person may have had unrecognized talent prior to a singing school, but the school will help the person recognize the importance of the talent and encourage its use. Small churches are a great place for spotting and utilizing such talent since there are few people available to sing. Even so, singing schools are designed to recognize and encourage new talent.

2. DEVELOP KNOWN TALENTS

Singing schools help students develop known talents. Since some of the schools offer personalized, specific training, it helps the person strengthen and nurture the gift they have. Even though a singing school only lasts a week or two, attendance at a school annually for many years brings the student and his or her gift to a new level of competency. Our churches need young, gifted singers and musicians. Sending a young person to singing school is an investment in the future.

3. DEVOTION TO TRUTH

Also, shape-note singing schools never compromise the message of the Gospel. Each person is exposed to the Gospel through the music, teaching and personal example of the teachers. A good shape-note singing school can be like attending an old-fashioned revival, with the Spirit working mightily in lives. It is not uncommon to hear of young people getting saved at singing schools. Singing schools can make an eternal difference in the lives of those who attend.

4. DISCOVER NEW FRIENDS

Finally, young people share time with others their age. They tend to form friendships that last a lifetime, even though they may live hundreds of miles apart. Young people need to have good, Christian friends. Singing schools can often be a place for them to develop these kinds of friendships.

Make the best investment possible. Send your kids to a singing school this summer or financially support someone who attends.

It is an investment that will make a difference in the lives of young people, and our churches, for generations to come.

Singing

 “... come before his presence with singing.” - Psalm 100:2

I've noticed a sad trend in churches. It seems as though we are departing from congregational singing and focusing solely on choir, group and solo performances. I must confess that I love to hear a good quartet sing. There is nothing like a gifted choir when they sing a powerful song. But when we remove most, if not all, of the congregational singing, we are losing something vitally important.

Psalm 150:6 states: “Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.” Notice that this Scripture did not say, “Let every one that is musically gifted praise the Lord.” When we depart from congregational singing, we turn a worship service into a performance. While it is possible to worship by listening to music, I can't help but think that we are missing out on a special blessing when we fail to sing ourselves.

I must confess that I am not a great singer. I can't stand to hear myself singing! Yet there is something special that happens in me when I sing.

One aspect of singing that is rarely taught is the fact that our singing should not be restricted to Sunday mornings. In previous generations, it was common to hear a housewife singing hymns as she worked at home. You'd often hear a man whistling, humming or singing a Gospel tune as he plowed his field. I realize that times have changed, but this fact should not prevent us from lifting our voices to God in praise. Praise Him as you work. Sing to Him as you drive your car.

Whether it is at the church house or your house, I think we need to remember three things as we sing.

1. CONSIDER OUR AIM

First, we should consider our aim. Most of us are not talented enough to be professional musicians. That doesn't matter. Our aim is still the same. We should sing for glory of God. When I sing at church, I am not performing … I am praising God. Our aim, whether in singing or anything else, is to bring glory to God.

2. CONSIDER OUR ABSOLUTES

Secondly, we need to consider our absolutes. In other words, we should picky about the songs we sing. Sadly, some “Christian” songs are very light with the message. In fact, I've been an outspoken critic of “Christian” songs that omit the Name of the Lord. Instead, some of these songs could easily pass as romantic songs. I guess the song writer hopes for a “crossover hit.” My belief is that if we omit Jesus from our music, we've omitted too much. We need to have some convictions about the message we sing. Whether the songs are new or old, they need to have a Biblical message. While my musical preference is Southern Gospel convention music, I also love the old hymns. Many of these old songs are precious because they are basically theology put to music. We need more of that today.

3. CONSIDER YOUR AUDIENCE

Finally, we need to consider our audience. Whether I am singing in my car or in a congregation at church, the audience is the same. I sing for an audience of One. I don't want to fall into a performance mindset about singing or anything else. I want the Lord to be praised in all things. Unlike us, He is more impressed with the heart of the person than the voice. Yet He enjoys to hear His people praise Him in song.

I will never win a Dove Award for any song I sing. You probably won't either. That doesn't matter. Rather than seeking the applause of men, we seek to please the One we love most. If He is pleased, it doesn't matter what others think.

Let's get back to singing good Christian songs. Sing in your car. Sing as you wash dishes. Sing as you mow grass. Participate in congregational singing at church.

“Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord.”

Does God Have Your Attention?

“... prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.” - Amos 4:12

In last week's blog message, I wrote about us getting God's attention. Today I want to us to consider this question: does God have our attention?

In Amos chapter 4, the prophet writes about God's attempts to get Israel's attention. He sent famine, yet they did not respond. Then the Lord brought a drought on the people, but again they refused to heed Him. The Lord also brought about destruction, but once more the people would not listen. Next, the Lord sent disease, and again Israel would not hearken to Him. Finally, God gave them this warning: “... prepare to meet thy God, O Israel.”

I can't help but think that God has been trying to get America's attention, but our nation refuses to listen. In spite of the terrorist attacks of 9-11, political tension, racial unrest, a pandemic and an economic meltdown, most Americans are turning to the government rather than God for help.

What is it going to take for God to get your attention? How far does He need to go before you recognize His call and respond positively?

I want us to consider three areas that God often operates to get the attention of individuals.

1. CONCERNING SALVATION

First of all, He often works to get the attention of sinners and show them their need of salvation. I once listened as a lady called a Christian radio program. She was emotionally shaken because she was in a major car accident the day before and walked away uninjured. She felt that the Lord was trying to get her attention about her need for salvation. No doubt He was. It took a blinding light on the Damascus Road to get Saul's attention. God has a way of getting a person's attention. How far will He need to go before you surrender your life to Him?

2. CONCERNING SIN

For the Christian, God has a way of getting our attention concerning unconfessed sin. When we fail to properly repent of sin, it is part of a gradual spiritual decline that takes us further and further from the intimacy we once had with God. In the Old Testament, God sent Nathan to confront David about his sins. God got David's attention. He has a way of getting our attention, too. If we fail to heed, the intensity of His effort will greatly multiply. Has He been getting your attention about sin? If so, repent immediately and seek to have fellowship with Him restored.

3. CONCERNING SERVICE

Finally, there are times believers are like Jonah. They run from God's call on their lives. A shocking number of believers treat church attendance as the peak of their Christian service. While I strongly encourage believers to attend church, this should just be the starting point of our service. I believe every Christian has a work to do in God's kingdom. Jonah ran from the work he was called to do. Yet Jonah finally realized that he could not outrun God. God got Jonah's attention when a large fish swallowed Jonah. Whether it is a small act of kindness or a call into ministry, God wants us to lovingly obey Him. Our refusal to obey may leave us in a situation similar to Jonah's. The Lord knows how to get your attention about the work you are to do. Perhaps you need to get back in church. Maybe you need to return to the unique work He designed you for. Whatever it is, the Lord is working to get your attention. Why resist Him any longer?

Save yourself some pain and heed the call of God on your life.  Soon you'll have to stand before Him and give an account of your response to His call.  

Does God have your attention?

Getting God's Attention

“What is man, that thou art mindful of him?” - Psalm 8:4

As humans, we tend to seek attention. Even in the crib, little children cry out for attention. This desire continues well into adulthood with attempts to receive praise or awards. Even though we should be maturing as we live through adulthood, our feelings are easily crushed when we fail to receive the attention we think we deserve.

This desire does not stop with our craving for human attention. We also seek God's attention and favor. Sadly, many of us even have an entitlement attitude. We feel that God owes us His consideration.

But do we deserve His attention? We tend to have an exalted view of ourselves. There is an overt attempt these days to deify humans and humanize God. More and more, men and women wish to treat themselves as deity. In doing so, they have reduced their concept of God to the point that He is just a grandfather-type figure. While society is brainwashing millions into accepting this fatal view, there is a higher standard we should base our attitude on. Rather than embracing popular trends, we need to believe the truth.

The truth is found in the pages of God's Word. When we see ourselves as God sees us, everything changes. The Word of God is the mirror of the soul. It reveals what is really in our hearts. We are forced to view our lives through the lens of truth. It is a very sobering experience.

When we see God as the holy, omnipotent creator of the universe, we must confess than we don't measure up to His standard. If an astronaut took a picture of the earth from the international space station, you would not be personally visible. Neither would I. Yet is liberating to know that God Himself observes the smallest of activities here on earth. He sees and knows each one of us. In fact, He knows us better than we know ourselves.

The psalmist asked the question, “What is man, that thou are mindful of him?” We are corrupt, sinful creatures. In many ways, we are very much like a rodent that needs to be squashed. We have deliberately violated God's laws, used His Name in vain and treated Him with contempt. We have taken His Word and twisted it to meet our desires. We seek Him for our selfish indulgence and not for spiritual fellowship. To be rather blunt about it, humanity has misused and abused God's grace.

Yet God shows His favor to fallen man. He has displayed an amazing amount of restraint in spite of our rebellion. Yet there is a deep well of grace that few drink from. These special souls enjoy more than the favor of God, they enjoy God Himself. They have His attention and affection.

I once had a job that required me to visit schools. Due to security reasons, only select people are permitted to enter a school building. As an average citizen, I would have no access to the building. However, the company I worked for had such access. I was permitted in the building, not because of who I was, but in the name of the company I worked for.

Through salvation, I have been given access to God Himself. This access was not granted because of my worthiness, but through the Name of God's Son, Jesus Christ. When I approach God, I do so in the Name of Jesus. God the Father receives me in the Name of His Son. I will always be unworthy of God's attention, but Jesus has given me the power of attorney to use His Name to approach the throne of grace at all times. Furthermore, through Jesus Christ, I am a child of God. I have God's attention and affection because of Christ.

Without Christ, a man or a woman is seen by God, but personal, intimate access to God is unavailable. The saving grace of God is not inherited from parents. It cannot be earned. It is only available through the person and work of Jesus Christ.

As I look over my life, I am not impressed with myself. Neither is God. Yet I am impressed with Jesus and so is the Father. When the Father looks at me, He sees the redeeming blood of His precious Son.

That is worthy of His attention.