If you look at the title above, you may be wondering if I have lost my mind, or what in the world is he talking about?
The title above clearly states that there is something to be said of men in corporate worship gatherings and how WE act. (Yes, I am including myself in this conversation because it is something that both effects and affects who we claim to be and who sees what is taking place.)
The corporate worship gathering is a vital part of who we are as believers in Christ. We see it throughout the Scriptures of people gathering together to spend time praying, singing, in fellowship, and hearing and reading the Word of the Lord. We see this idea over and over throughout the New Testament of believers coming together to assemble for worship. We see both men and women joining in the conversation of worship.
Paul writes to the Ephesian Church, “addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another our of reverence for Christ.” (Ephesians 5:19-20).
The Psalms scream of people singing to the Lord. “Oh come, let us sing to the Lord,” (Psalm 95), “Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord all the earth,” (Psalm 96), “I will sing of steadfast love and justice to you, O Lord,” (Psalm 101), “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord,” (Psalm 150:6).
So, guys, when we think of singing, we can’t miss what the Lord is telling us here. The Scriptures are not for just the ladies and kids when it comes to singing in corporate worship – they are for us as well. When we think that it is manly to stand there with a scowl on our faces and arms crossed during the musical worship portion of a gathering, we are not only being a disgrace to our family as leaders but also to the One who has given us life to praise Him.
The most manly thing that you can do on Sundays or during any worship gathering is to sing and worship the Lord through the many different avenues that we partake. David, a man after God’s own heart and the guy who defeated Goliath with a couple of rocks and a sling, draws us to sing to the Lord – look in the Psalms! Moses, a great hero of our faith sang – Exodus 15. The Apostles who were held captive in the inner parts of a prison, sang and worshiped Christ through singing, and the walls fell down, and their chains fell off.
Countless men have found themselves chained and shackled for their faith, only to be put in prison, and yet they chose to sing to the Lord, and people were saved. Men who have been beaten to near death, experienced psychological and mental torture, found that the only thing they could do was to worship Christ because He is completely worth it. At the risk of being killed, they chose to worship.
Men, will we choose to worship in a safe environment, or will we coward at the idea because with think that singing isn’t manly enough?
May God take us to our knees and humble us…
Tough words for us who believe we are tough. Let’s lead the way God intended us to lead. Let’s lead in all areas of our lives, including the musical worship area of our worship gatherings.
May God grant us unmeasurable grace in the days to come.
AW
Foundations 