Should I Sing Even If I Can’t Sing Well?

“And Mary said, ‘My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God, my Savior.’” Luke 1:46, 47

On Sunday mornings around the world a common experience takes place among Christians. Mothers and fathers stand beside their sons and daughters. They open their hymnals or look at words projected on a screen. Then they do something that in many ways is uniquely Christian. They open their mouths and sing. Some of their voices crack and waver as they reach for the notes. Other voices are clear and melodious. But the tone and timbre of the voice does not really matter where Christian singing is concerned. What motivates it all is one simple fact – Christians cannot help but sing! The joy that the faith gives them is like a deep river running beneath their everyday troubles and difficulties. Even in the worst of times, Christians lift up their voices and sing.

It might be otherwise. Christianity might be a mostly intellectual exercise. Sunday mornings might consist of an hour’s worth of listening to talks and sermons, followed by discussion and debate. There would no doubt be something of value in that. Or Christianity might be primarily a service-oriented endeavor. Meetings together might be chiefly for the purpose of organizing the congregation for outreach into the community and world. There would be value in that as well.

But both of those would leave out an essential element of Christian worship. A service without song is like a car without wheels. It has many of the necessary parts, but without a key component that makes it go. Worship without music just “sits there” and does not “move.” Music both engages the mind and stirs the emotions so that our hearts as well as our heads are turned toward the worship of God.

Some people sit on their voices during worship. They do not want them to “escape,” so they guard them religiously. It may be that they feel they have little musical ability. And it is true that singing comes easily to some but less naturally for most of us. But God has given us, as humans, one thing that no other created thing has. God has given us the mind and the voice with which to proclaim his praises. The squirrels and robins, by their mere existence, show the power and creative glory of God. But only you and I can give voice to his praises. Part of our role, as those created in God’s image, is to do so on behalf of all creation.

So do not sit on your voice, even if it feels more comfortable to do so. Let it escape and join the chorus of Christian voices around the world that are declaring the wonder, goodness, and majesty of God.