Singing (Ephesians 5:18-21)
Twenty years ago, my maternal grandmother passed away. A couple hours after her funeral, my brother went into the hospital with chest pain; Aaron was transferred to a big hospital for a heart catheterization and possible open heart surgery.
To say Mom was raw emotionally would be an understatement. I drove her home from the hospital, and all the way home, Mom sang “His Eye is on the Sparrow.” Mom’s world was being rocked, but she found her song.
How many times have you found your song? Do you sing when you’re happy? How about when you needed encouragement? Did any of you sing at school—maybe in the choir or in a talent show or as part of a musical? Do you get in the car and sing along with every song on the radio? Or can you not sing at all?
Regardless of your singing ability, understand: “Christian living means singing.”
Scripture (Ephesians 5:18-21)
verse 18:
The Ephesians were to be filled with the Spirit instead of getting drunk. Five participles follow—addressing, singing, making melody, giving thanks, and submitting—and they define being filled with the Spirit
verse 19:
“Addressing one another.” Christians don’t just address God in singing, but they address one another, too.
Christians address one another in psalms—Old Testament psalms, hymns—songs which praise God, and spiritual songs—songs inspired by the Spirit.
These songs are to be sung; you open your mouth and make a vocal sound. At the same time, the Christian makes melody in his heart to God.
We need to make a couple important points here:
One: This singing takes place in the assembly.
The context of Ephesians 5 is the Christian’s lifestyle, not the worship assembly. Some say, therefore, nothing here applies to congregational singing.
Paul wrote, however, that you speak to me while I speak to you. How can that take place unless we’re together? The assembly is required.
Two: There is no authority for instrumental music.
The New Testament does not provide one scintilla of authority for instrumental music in the assembly. God commanded Christians to speak to one another. Let’s face it: When an instrument gets involved, sometimes it’s difficult to hear what’s being said.
Application
“Christian living means singing.” Singing played an important role in the early church. “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them” (Acts 16:25). “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” (Col 3:16). “Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise” (Js 5:13).
Singing, thus, needs to play an important role in the modern church. What do we learn about singing by understanding “Christian living means singing?”
One: The Speaking of Singing
“Addressing one another.” Because Christians are to speak to one another, you need to speak, sing. You cannot sit in a seat and allow everyone else to talk to you. Singing is neither a monologue nor entertainment. You sing.
Think about this. An angel came and told some shepherds that the Messiah had been born. “And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased’” (Lk 2:13-14). All those angels were singing about the Messiah’s birth, and not a single angel—not one—would benefit from the Messiah’s birth. Does it not only make sense that those of us who benefit from the Messiah’s birth, death, and resurrection would lift our voices to tell what God has done?
Two: The Substance of Singing
“Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs.” Paul said exactly what you sing. You sing either an Old Testament psalm or a song in praise to God or a song the Spirit inspired (today that would be a song with words taken directly from Scripture).
Not any song is appropriate for worship. When my grandmother was teaching Bible class back in the 1970s, she asked the class if they had a song they wanted to sing. One little girl raised her hand and said, “Heaven’s Just a Sin Away.” That doesn’t work.
But neither do some songs our brethren sneak into worship. Around the Fourth of July, some of our brethren will sing “America the Beautiful.” That’s a beautiful song, and it’s one of my favorites. But it isn’t a psalm or a hymn or a spiritual song; therefore, it has no place in worship to God.
Three: The Site of Singing
“Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart.” Sure, you move your mouth to sing, but singing originates in your heart.
Jesus condemned the scribes and Pharisees, and he quoted Isaiah and said, “This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me” (Matt 15:8). Your heart can’t be far from God and worship acceptably, for proper worship begins in the heart.
Where is your heart this morning? Do you need to come and allow God to cleanse your heart as we stand and sing?
This sermon was originally preached by Dr. Justin Imel, Sr., at Church of Christ Deer Park in Deer Park, Texas.