Singing when we can't gather.
“My heart, O God, is steadfast; I will sing and make music with all my soul.”
Apparently, the recent Eurovision Song Contest replacement event wasn't well received. It was variously labelled as long, tortuous, stilted and depressing, though that doesn’t sound any different from the normal show to me… Leaving aside my musical snobbery for a moment, it’s fair to say that people are desperate for reminders of joyful, pre-lockdown gatherings and are disappointed by having to cope with pale digital imitations.
I suspect, like me, many of you will be finding one of the biggest challenges of “online church” is that of not singing with one another. I am hugely grateful to the musicians who have served us so brilliantly with recording songs for our Sunday services, but we can’t replicate the experience of being part of the gathered people of God joined in sung praise. Yet it is vital that we continue to sing, and I am convinced there is much delight and encouragement to be found when we do!
So how do we make the most of the times of singing during our online services as we wait to meet again in the flesh? The Bible is full of God’s people singing as a community when they meet. Yet there are also plenty of examples of people singing on their own or in households, whether in times of loss and lament, or thanksgiving and expectation. Over the years I have found it helpful to think about three “directions” as we sing:
Upwards
God alone is worthy of our praise, and he calls us – even commands us – to sing hymns and spiritual songs as part of our worship of him. Whilst so much has changed about life and church, he has not changed at all! He is the same holy, magnificent, creator God he has been from eternity. The promises we have in Christ of forgiveness, redemption, adoption and hope into the world to come are no less true today than two months ago. So, let’s use our times of singing to lift our eyes to God and give him all the thanks and glory he deserves.
Inwards
Just as God is unchanging, so is his Word. The Scriptures and biblical truths that infuse the songs that we sing are “useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness”. Therefore, we should expect the Holy Spirit to take the lyrics and powerfully use them for our good: to strengthen, grow and challenge us in our faith. Even if we’re singing on our own, or with a handful of housemates, let’s be prayerfully seeking to let what we declare out loud affect our hearts within.
Outwards
This is the direction most affected by our isolation. I hope you know from experience (and miss!) the encouragement of being part of a full church heartily praising God together, or catching someone’s eye during a particularly impactful lyric. There are no easy ways to do this right now, but here are some suggestions:
If you are sharing a house with others then be brave and sing to one another as well as to God! Not all of us have that option.
Pray for people as you sing – ask God to encourage someone specific with a particular line; pray for the whole church family to be spurred on as we get to that great rousing chorus.
Dwell upon the reality that, even in our separation we are still a gathered, covenant community of God. Expand your horizons further to remember the unseen reality that we are part of a global church and the invisible family of our heavenly Father that spans time and space. What a joy!
However well you are engaging with the music in our online services, I pray that they may increasingly be times where you draw closer to God and his people – though we are absent in body, we are united in spirit.