Does the Bible Allow Choirs or "Special Groups"

Question:

I have attended the Church of Christ all of my life. Within the last year or so, our church has begun to learn a number of new songs. A small group of people began meeting to learn the new songs. They are beautiful singers, and are often asked to sing. Within the last year, there has been a shift of simply learning and teaching new songs, to this group standing up in front of the group and performing new numbers. I am becoming uneasy with this. We now have a Sunday evening of praise on the last Sunday evening of each month where this group performs for us. At times we have only the women singing, or solos by one of the group members. My question is in regards to the scripturalness of this. The entire congregation is invited to sing, but no one else knows the words, or music, and the lights are dimmed so we could not see them if we had them. I thought, perhaps in error, that we had been instructed to sing as an entire people to our God. We have had groups come in to sing for us in separate meetings where that was the purpose of the gathering. But this happened at a time other than a scheduled worship service. I can find only a few references that deal with singing, and nothing that seems to lend itself to direct inferrence in regard to only a small group singing versus the entire congregation. I do know that in the Old Testament the men and women would sing back and forth to each other, where one would respond to the other. I had heard, but cannot find, that choirs were not used in the church until around 400 BC. I am earnestly seeking to do God's will. My greatest fear is that we are allowing small things which are not pleasing to God to creep into the church, until we become desensitized to greater dangers. We seem to be crossing a fine line from the need to be entertaining, rather than to be evangelizing or praising. I would greatly appreciate any information or direction
you give to me on this matter.

Submitted by CT on September 28, 1998

 

Answer: (Given by Bro. Jon Mullins)

I am happy to be able to write to you and provide you with some information. It is my intent to provide you with Biblical answers for your questions, and add some thoughts of my own that hopefully will prove to be helpful to you. I encourage you of course to study your Bible and make certain that the information that I give you is indeed correct. I am writing this with the prayer that my answers will be a source of peace for you in your concerns. All my references are from the New American Standard Version of the Bible.

First, lets look at what God’s word says about singing in the assembly of the Lord’s church. Colossians 3:16 tells us,

“Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom singing and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

Most often this scripture and the one I will quote following, Ephesians 5:19, are used to emphasize the fact that God has not authorized the use of instrumental music in the church. However if you look closely at this verse, and Ephesians 5:19, which states,

“speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord,”

you will see a key point. We are told in both cases that the singing is to be with a to one another perspective. It stands to reason then that a group, or a solo, or a choir, when not joined by all is not fulfilling this commandment to “sing and admonish one another”, or to be “speaking to one another.” The group or soloist may be speaking to the audience, but unless the audience is also singing the interchange is non-existent. This cannot be viewed in any other way, the text is very clear here.

Another thought is found in 1 Corinthians Chapter 12, where Paul, inspired by God, is writing to the church at Corinth about the church being the body of Christ. It is important for you to read all of chapter 12 in order to keep the thoughts in context, and I encourage you to please do take the time to read this chapter before continuing your reading of this information. As I studied this chapter, I kept widening my span of key verses to look at and mention specifically, but I believe that the following verses are sufficient for the point I would like to make, with you reading the chapter for the specific details. In this chapter there is considerable mention about the body having many members and that each of those members each has a specific function and place.

“But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just has he desired. And if they were all one member, where would the body be? But now there are many members, but one body. And the eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I have no need of you’; or again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need of you.’ On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our unseemly members come to have more abundant seemliness, whereas our seemly members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, that there should be no division in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.” (1 Corinthians 12:18-25)

It seems to me that this does a great job in answering your questions about small groups and, more specifically choirs in the church. The latter, especially places some members above the others and “showcases” their talents to the detriment, I think of the other members who God views as just as talented and worthy of honor! Most of what I have stated as far as the choirs, I believe is inference.

In regards to the small groups, and solos, it would be good to mention here that the most important question one must ask is; “what is the intent of the heart of those singing?” We know that all that we do must be from a pure heart. If the groups are performing, and not singing with the entire congregation singing also, I cannot believe that God would be pleased, unless this is done at time set aside from the general assembly of the church for the worship service. Again, we are commanded to sing to and with one another, we are not commanded to listen to others, and attempt to sing with them. In an informal setting, like a singing practice, these groups would be acceptable, but I don’t believe that they have a place in the actual worship service, unless all members of the congregation are able to sing with them. It must be remembered, though, to look at the intent of the heart. There are occasions where small groups or individuals are more appropriate and usually even preferred. These times can include weddings, and funerals.

As far as dimming the lights, this in itself is not wrong, it is usually used as a signal for quiet, but if it interferes with the ability of any member to be able to fully participate in the worship service, it causes that member to have an obstacle put in their path, and should not be practiced (see Romans 14:13, 18-27).

As far as learning of new songs, I believe that God allows this (as long as they are scriptural in content and performance, for lack of a better word), in much the same way that He has allowed us the freedom through necessary inference of his commandments to establish Bible classes in order to help facilitate his commandment to teach His word. It can be considered expedient to do so. I do not believe though that the new songs should ever completely replace the old, but that is my own personal opinion and preference, and should never be considered binding at all!

Another idea for you to consider for yourself, and the practices at your home congregation, is that of what is just changing of church “traditions” (we know that the local churches have them, for instance the specific order of
worship) and what is changing God’s specific design. Only you can answer that question as you prayerfully seek God’s will in this situation.

CT, it is my prayer that I have helped in some way to answer your questions. Please do study the scriptures I have mentioned, and if you have need of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me at my home email address of: popsicle@networkone.net or you may contact Brian Tipton through the Quartz Hill Church of Christ website. I will certainly keep you and your concerns in my prayers.

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