Service of Song

Besides a unique way of preaching, African American Baptist churches have been known for their vibrant singing. It is a given that in order for an African American Baptist church to grow it needs a stellar music ministry with multiple choirs and great musicians. I've been a part of churches without large, great sounding choirs, and these churches have experienced very little growth.

Is this singing that occurs in the majority of African American Baptist churches true to biblical commands? In this particular article, I want to focus solely on congregational singing as a commandment. My simple argument is that in NT worship the whole congregation must sing the songs of the Lord---all of the songs. This would exclude choir singing.

Some will counter argue at this time that there were levitical choirs in OT temple worship; this is true. Without going into great detail, the important point to note is that there is no longer a Levitical priesthood to sing. We know from 1 Peter 2:9 that the Church is a "royal priesthood." We also know from Hebrews 13:15 that all of the people of God are to offer the sacrifice of praise. Sacrificing is a priestly duty that all of God's people are to offer through the Great High Priest, Jesus Christ. A levitical priesthood has been fulfilled in both the work of Jesus Christ and now the work of the Church in its praise of God. In brief, this is one biblical argument that precludes choir singing in NT worship.

Another argument is that there are two specific commands from Paul to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs to each other (Eph 5:19; Col 3:16). There is no way to interpret these passages to mean that a choir is to assume this duty because it would mean that the members of the choir would teach and admonish each other and not the rest of the congregation. In addition to this, we have command after command in the Psalms themselves to praise, thank, and bless the Lord (see Psalm 95, Psalm 96, Psalm 103, etc.). These are commands for the people of God, not a choir.

The Reformers sought and succeeded in reforming singing in the Church during the 16th century. Luther gave the service of song back to the congregation, and so did the other Continental Reformers like Calvin. Singing in the Roman Catholic Church had become the privilege of professional singers; yes, choirs. Calvin abolished choir singing in favor of congregational singing in Strasbourg and in Geneva.

Congregational singing was dominant among Anglicans, Puritans, Methodists, and Baptists through the 19th century. Choir singing that began among Evangelicals in the mid and late 19th century was a nuance. Among African Americans during the times of slavery not only did they sing congregationally in their own congregations and mixed congregations, but also in informal prayer meetings. Even today, it is practiced in traditional "devotional services" and prayer meetings.

To reform the practice of choir singing in African American Baptist churches, it must be realized that singing is a commandment for all of the people of God; we are to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs together. In worship that is dialogical, God speaks to us in the call to worship, the reading of the Scriptures, and the preaching of the Scriptures. We speak to God in praise and prayer. We are all priests; so let us offer the sacrifice of praise through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Till I come...

To the credit of what folk call traditional African American Baptist churches, there is a time for a straight reading from the Holy Scriptures. This is in obedience to Paul's command to Timothy, and by implication all ministers, found in 1 Timothy 4:13.
In that passage, Paul states, "Till I come, give attention to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine." When Paul states "give attention to reading" he means the reading of the Holy Scriptures. For Paul, the Holy Scriptures were the Old Testament. In the New Testament Church, there was still the reading of the Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms. Does this mean that we in the New Testament church have innovated in our reading of the New Testament? No. Paul commanded the Colossians to read the letter he wrote to the Laodiceans, and vice versa (see Colossians 4:16). We are to read both the Old Testament and the New Testament in the public worship.

I've seen this command executed in a few ways. First, I've seen an Old Testament passage read and a New Testament passage read at every worship service. Second, I've seen an Old Testament passage read in the morning, and a New Testament passage read in the evening. Third, I've witnessed random readings.

I believe the most useful execution of this command is to read a passage from both testaments at every worship service. This allows the worshippers to know the connection between the testaments, and comprehend that there is no disjuncture in the Holy Scriptures.

One more thing that is needed in the reading of the Holy Scriptures: one needs to give the meaning of the passage. This is what Ezra and other priests and Levites did as recorded in Nehemiah 8:1ff. The Scriptures owing to their inspired nature are able to give one the wisdom that leads to salvation that is in Christ Jesus through faith (see 2 Timohty 3:15). With explanation, the reading of the Holy Scriptures can lead sinners to salvation by the power of the Spirit. Because of this, it is important that Scripture reading should not be neglected in African American Baptist churches. Also someone qualified to teach should read the Scriptures so to give a proper interpretation of the passages. This would include ministers, lay teachers, and deacons. Children and women are disqualified biblically from reading the Scriptures in public since women are precluded to teach in public assemblies and precluded to teach men (see 1 Corinthians 14:34; 1 Timothy 2:11-15), and children are under the subjection of their parents (see Exodus 20:12; Eph 6:1-4).

Let us be churches always reforming.