4 Reasons Christians Need Worship Music When Church is Cancelled

 

With everything on our planet changing within a week, I’ve been listening to and playing a lot of music.

Songs have become my prayers of worship to the Lord. They are promises that I cling to. They lift my eyes above the waves, calm my fearful heart, and help me trust. 

I’m a worship leader at my church. And this last Sunday, when churches met online because of social distancing, I was supposed to lead worship. 

Songs of worship are a lifeline for me and now I can’t sing them with my church. 

This led me to wonder how many Christians listen to songs filled with scripture during the week. How many are singing truth when the lyrics aren’t projected onto a screen? How many are listening to truth when it’s not sounding through the church loudspeakers?

I know many people are. But I’m concerned for those who don’t listen to worship music (for the sake of this article, I’m defining “worship music” as anything that beautifully combines the truth of scripture with music).

I don’t believe it’s wrong for Christians to listen to secular music so long as it’s not blaspheming God and not filling our minds with lies and perversity. But I do believe Christians need to be listening to biblical truth. We need to know songs that magnify the greatness of God, declare His promises, and put our circumstances into perspective.

In the midst of this global pandemic, what songs are we singing?

In prison, Paul and Silas sang hymns to God

These two apostles faced a drastically different trial than this contagious virus, but it was life-altering. They sat bound in chains for preaching the gospel and didn’t know when they would get out. 

Yet the Bible tells us, “at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.” (Acts 16:25)

When these two men praised God in their trial the ground shook, the prison doors swung open and the guard took them to his house where he and his family were baptized. 

The Bible does not guarantee that if we sing hymns in our bedroom (which at this point, thanks to quarantine, might feel like a jail cell) this virus will stop spreading, we will return to normal life, and people will ask how they can become Christians. 

But the Bible does tell us that singing praise to God in the middle of darkness is powerful. 

 

The biblical basis for singing in trials 

The Psalms are filled with references to singing. And even though the rest of the Bible doesn’t specifically mention singing a lot, it frequently uses words like joy and rejoicing. I would argue that singing and music are a primary way we as humans rejoice and express joy. 

When I did a quick word search in the Bible of singing, rejoicing, and joy I realized that a surprising number of these words are side-by-side words like suffering, trial, and tribulation.  

Here’s a small taste: 

“In the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamities have passed by. My soul is among lions; I lie among the sons of men who are set on fire, whose teeth are spears and arrows, and their tongue a sharp sword. They have prepared a net for my steps; My soul is bowed down; They have dug a pit before me. My heart is steadfast, O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise.” (Psalm 57:1, 4, 6-7)

“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory.” (1 Peter 1:6-8)

 “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” (James 1:2)

It’s obvious God wants us to rejoice in the middle of our trials. 

Nik Ripken wrote, “believers living victorious lives in persecution have committed large amounts of indigenous music to memory. Believers in persecution rely on their heart songs … This music is vital for the survival of faith in situations of persecution … There are few disciplines in the life of believers more vital than singing God’s praises, especially singing God’s Word back to Him.” (The Insanity of Obedience, pg 291-292)

Rejoicing brings peace into our trial

As I studied rejoicing in the Bible, I also realized that rejoicing is often directly linked with peace and hope. 

One of the ways God works through our worship is by filling us with peace and hope even in the middle of trial and suffering. 

“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” (Colossians 3:15-16)

“Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:4, 6-7)

When we rejoice in dark and dismal circumstances, God always brings peace and hope, even if our prison cell doors don’t swing open when we sing.

 

Here are 4 ways singing good worship music helps us fight fear

1. Good worship music reminds us of God’s truth

A good example is “Yet Not I” by City Alight. 

The night is dark but I am not forsaken 

for by my side, the Saviour He will stay. 

I labour on in weakness and rejoicing 

for in my need, His power is displayed. 

To this I hold, my Shepherd will defend me. 

Through the deepest valley He will lead. 

Oh the night has been won, and I shall overcome! 

Yet not I, but through Christ in me.

These lyrics are a reminder of the word of God. 

They remind me of 2 Corinthians 12:9; “And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’” 

They remind me of Psalm 23 which says “the Lord is my shepherd…Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” (1-4)

We desperately need to listen to and sing music that reminds us of the truth of God’s word.

 

2. Good worship music aligns our emotions with God’s word

One of the amazing things about music is that it connects with our emotions. 

God actually created music to work this way. When music is skillfully combined with truth based lyrics, it becomes an incredible tool to align our emotions with God’s word.

As Bob Kauflin said, “Music stirs up and expresses God-glorifying emotion. Our deepest, strongest, purest affections should be reserved for God himself, and he gave us singing to help us express them.” (Worship Matters)

I can read and even memorize Psalm 91, which says “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, ‘He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.’ … You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day … A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you. … Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place.” (1-2, 5, 9)

Reading that truth tells me something. It tells me that God is my refuge and my fortress. It tells me that I can trust Him to deliver me from evil. 

But sometimes my emotions have a hard time submitting to that truth. I know it’s true intellectually. But I still feel afraid. 

When I sing “Dwell” by Aaron Keyes, (Psalm 91 put to music) it takes that truth and helps my emotions come into alignment with it. 

This isn’t a strategy for overcoming anxiety. It’s simply a tool. 

Aligning our emotions with God’s word is a battle. But I’ve found that singing truth is a powerful weapon to help our emotions follow God’s word instead of our own fears and failures.

 

3. Good worship music fixes our eyes on Jesus

We naturally look around at the wind and the waves. We see the number of people dying, getting sick, losing their job.

It takes intentionality to fix our eyes above all of that and onto Jesus. 

Skillful music combined with truth should turn our gaze heavenward. It should turn our minds to the cross. 

It should remind us of the Man in our boat, the God seated on the throne of Heaven, and the One who created the world. 

 

4. Good worship music helps me express emotions I don’t have words for

Sometimes I struggle to know how to praise God in the middle of my trial. I don’t have words to express my hurt or confusion. 

Good worship music helps my mind express the heaviness in my heart. And it helps turn that heaviness into worship instead of frustration. 

Songs like “Though You Slay Me” by Shane & Shane are an example of this. 

Though tonight I’m crying out

Let this cup pass from me now

You’re still all that I need

You’re enough for me

Though You slay me

Yet I will praise You

Though You take from me

I will bless Your name

Though You ruin me

Still I will worship

Sing a song to the one who’s all I need

 

What are you listening to during this pandemic? 

When you’re not sitting in church, what kind of music plays through your headphones?

Are you still singing in this trial? 

Are you still praising God when the PowerPoint team isn’t projecting the lyrics onto the big screen? 

I challenge you to find skillful music filled with truth about Jesus. And listen to it, sing it, get it stuck in your head. 

Allow good worship music to be a catalyst for prayer and praise. Allow it to turn your eyes heavenward. 

With so many things canceled right now, don’t cancel worship. Instead, cancel fear and usher in peace by worshiping the Lord with music and truth. 

Let’s chat

• What songs have you been listening to lately? 
• What is your favourite worship song? I love recommendations!