Can We Worship Without Singing?
At the time I am writing this, we are beginning to make plans to return to physical worship services. We have been told by medical professionals that congregational singing is a dangerous activity and that we should avoid it for the first part of our return.
But can we even worship without singing?
Before we were given this guidance, I wrote this post for our church blog. In it, I argue that worship is more than music.
Although many modern churchgoers identify worship with music, music is only one way of worshiping. There are other options.
As we look through the Old and New Testaments, we see plenty of examples of worship. Some of them include music and singing and others do not.
Think about the Psalms. It is likely that they were first used musically and there are still hints of musical direction in them. But most churches read the Psalms rather than singing. They are beautiful when sung but they are just as meaningful when they are read.
This can actually be an exciting time for the church if we are open to it. We have been satisfied with a simplistic framework for worship. Now is the time for us to flex our imaginative muscles.
Instead of think of this as a time when we can’t sing, let’s think of this as a time when we can introduce new ways of worship.
We can use this time to not just settle for alternate ways of worshiping but for enriching our worship in ways that will shape what we do long after the restrictions are lifted.
So can we worship without singing? Absolutely! Let’s take on this opportunity with enthusiasm rather than regret.
