Men, as you go to worship today, please consider the following: SING. If you’ll sing the national anthem, or belt out Tom Petty’s “Free Fallin'” in the car, lift up your voice to the Lord. I know you can sing. I have heard men sing the various “Fight Songs” of their Alma Mater. I’ve heard them sing the Tim McGraw remix of “I Like it I Love it” when the Nashville Predators hockey team scores a goal. I can remember hundreds of soldiers singing the anthem of the 101st Airborne, “Rendezvous with Destiny” when I was stationed at Fort Campbell.
The subtle idea that expressiveness in worship is somehow only for women and children is a modern and unhelpful construct. Full participation in the liturgy is a powerful witness to the community of faith and to your family. To have the men in a congregation refuse to sing, for whatever reason (often pride) diminishes the unifying nature of worship and causes confusion whereby other members of the family –often older children– begin to refuse to lift their voices to the Lord as well. Yet singing to the Lord is one of the most ancient and historic practices of the people of God. Brothers, I urge you in love to SING!
Consider:
Acts 16:15, “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God.”
Ephesians 5:18, “Addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart” (That was to the WHOLE church, men,, women & children.)
Psalm 95:1-2, “Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!”
1 Timothy 2:8, “I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling.”
Lift EVERY voice and SING!