Why Do We Sing?

Thank you again for coming.

I don't think thank you this morning.

I certainly thank the people who came last night.

I took a fresh look at this passage and thought,

I didn't see before.

Isn't that how scriptural it is?

I didn't notice that before.

So rather than coming to this passage asking the question,

why do we sing?

That's what we think we have on the program.

We're going to be asking a different question.

And the question is, what effect does the gospel have on our singing?

We're just singing about the gospel.

So we're talking about the gospel and our singing.

On a recent flight, one of the flight attendants asked

if there was someone named Johnny, who was the last name,

to identify themselves.

And she went on to inform me and say,

it's Johnny's the 11th birthday.

And she said, but I'm not going to sing a happy birthday to him

because you wouldn't enjoy that.

And I thought, oh, man.

Poor Johnny, that's been clean now.

It's your birthday, but we're not singing.

And I'm sure the flight attendant was telling the truth,

and I'm glad she didn't sing.

And I doubt that Johnny's day was ruined because

the flight attendant didn't sing at the perfect day.

Or asked the passengers to join him.

And she did that.

Hey, why did I make that she didn't do that?

But I'm also sure that the flight attendant represents

a number of people.

What?

Did someone call my name?

Okay, good.

I'm just not going to hear it.

The flight attendant represents a number of people

who don't think they have a very good voice.

And singing in public is not something they ever look forward to.

Whether it's violence also with your group.

You might have some of them in your church.

You know, as you're looking out,

and you're thinking, yeah, that's one.

Well, they say that.

Years ago, I read this book by Ronald Allen and Gordon Boer,

and it came across these words that have always stayed with me,

and they speak directly to those who don't like to sing,

whether it's with the church or anywhere.

The question is not, has God given me a voice?

But has God given me a song?

That just landed on me with such voice.

I've met people through the decades,

many people who say, yeah, I don't know a good voice.

It's not the question.

Has God given you a voice?

The question is, has God given you a song?

And we're going to see,

as we look at this passage,

we're going to focus on it.

We're going to read verses 12 through 17.

Actually, we're going to read the whole,

1 through 17.

We're going to focus on 12 through 17,

and specifically on verses 16 and 17.

But we're going to see that if we're among the people

that Paul's describing here,

those to whom this letter has written,

God has given us a song to sing.

Because the gospel not only turns sinners into saints,

it turns saints into singers.

That's what the gospel does.

It doesn't want to turn sinners into saints,

turns saints into singers.

It doesn't turn saints into soloists.

It doesn't turn saints into superstars.

But it does turn them into singers.

One of the reasons Paul wrote this letter,

just to set the context of what we're reading,

was this concern that the Colossians

were being influenced by false teachers

who were adding to Christ.

And you can't add something to Christ

to make Him better.

You can only take something away.

You can add something to Christ.

And he wants them to be clear

on who Jesus is and what the gospel is.

That's why he's writing.

So the gospel's all over this book

and this passage.

So in chapter 1,

he talks about the gospel,

the word of truth

that has come to the Colossians

and to the whole world.

It's the story of Jesus Christ,

the image of the invisible God

who created all things,

holds all things together.

He's the firstborn from the dead

and has reconciled a people to God.

He's actually reconciled all things to God

through His blood shed on the cross.

And he exhorts them to stand fast

in that truth.

Be steadfast in it.

Don't shift from the hope it brings

because it's the gospel.

It's what we have.

Then in chapter 2,

he goes on to say

that we're to be rooted in Christ

and that if we are rooted in Christ,

we're to walk in Him

and be built up in Him

and not be misled

by the people who are saying

that we need something else,

something extra,

something more than Jesus

to be accepted by God.

And here in chapter 3,

he's going to double down

on what the gospel is,

what it means for us,

and how to live

in light of the fact

that because we are united in Christ,

we've been raised up with Him

and now He is our life.

And in the midst of those

cosmically significant truths,

He's going to talk about singing.

So that's how we want to make that connection.

So I'm going to read

Colossians 1,

I'm sorry,

Colossians 3,

Colossians 3:1–17

verses 1-17.

This is God's word to us.

And Father,

we pray that You would enable us

to hear this word,

these words,

by Your Spirit,

with fresh ears,

with fresh hearts,

open hearts,

that we may receive

everything You have for us

for Your glory,

for the glory of Your Son,

and for our joy and good.

In Jesus' name.

If then,

verse 1,

you have been raised with Christ,

seek the things that are above,

where Christ is,

seated at the right hand of God.

Set your minds

on things that are above,

not on things that are on earth.

For you,

you have died.

And your life is hidden

with Christ in God.

But when Christ,

who is your life,

appears,

then you also

will appear with Him in glory.

Put to death,

therefore,

what is earthly in you?

Sexual immorality,

impurity,

passion,

evil desire,

and covetousness,

which is idolatry.

On account of these things,

the wrath of God is coming.

In these,

you too once walked

what you were living in,

but now,

you just put them all away.

In,

wrath,

malice,

slander,

and obscene talk from your mouth.

Do not lie to one another,

seeing that you have put off

the old self with its practices,

and have put on the new self,

which is being renewed in knowledge

after the image of its creator.

Here,

there is not Greek and Jew,

uncircumcised,

circumcised and uncircumcised,

barbarian,

Scythian,

slain,

free,

but Christ

is all

and in all.

Put on,

then,

talk about what we're to put off,

now,

put on,

then,

as God's

chosen ones,

holy,

and beloved,

compassionate hearts,

kindness,

humility,

obedience,

and patience,

bearing with one another.

And if one has a complaint

against another,

forgiving each other,

as the Lord

has forgiven you,

so you also

must forgive.

And above all these,

put on love,

which binds everything together

in perfect harmony,

and let the peace of Christ

rule in your hearts,

to which indeed

you were called

in one body.

And be

thankful.

Let the word

of Christ

dwell in you

richly,

teaching

and admonishing

one another

in all wisdom,

singing songs

and hymns

and spiritual songs

with thankfulness

in your hearts

to God.

And whatever you do,

in word,

deed,

do everything

in the name

of the Lord Jesus,

giving thanks

to God

the Father

through

Him.

God,

stop right there.

But we're not going

to.

We were talking

about four things

that this passage

tells us

about how the gospel

affects our singing.

Number one,

the gospel

specifies

the participants

of our singing.

The gospel

answers the question,

who is singing?

We can jump

right to verse 16

and assume

it doesn't really

matter who's

doing the singing.

Just that people

are singing.

You hear the sound

of singing.

Oh,

but it does matter

who's doing the singing.

Not just anyone

can sing

like this.

Now,

despite the fact

that we are a culture

in which singing

together

is on the decline,

we are still

a culture

that's fascinated

by singing.

Our diction

shows like

the voice

of an American

idol

and a masked

singer

can attest

to that.

I don't get

the last one.

But it's

the most positive.

But when

Christians sing,

when Christians

sing,

it's different.

What makes

congregational

singing

so glorious

and moving

isn't simply

the sound

they make.

It's who

makes up

the congregation.

It's who

is singing.

The gospel

produces

individuals

who have been

transformed.

It turns

saints

into

singing.

So how

does

the gospel

define

the participants

of our singing?

How does this

passage define

the participants?

Well,

we have to look

at what comes

before verse 16

and get the answer.

Right before

the passage

that we read,

Paul's talking

about false

teachers

who were seeking

to influence

the Colossian church.

They were

encouraging things

like asceticism,

being strict

with yourself,

disciplining

the body.

They talked

about the worship

of angels

going on

and on

about visions

they had seen

and puffing

themselves up

in the process.

Hey,

guess what I see?

Guess what I know?

In other words,

what they were saying,

what you have

in Jesus

is good,

but you need

just a little

bit more

than what you got.

And we happen

to have

what we're talking about.

That kind

of thinking

is common

in every religion

outside

Christianity.

You have

to do more.

Something else

you have to do.

And he describes

what they were saying

in verses

16 and 18

of verse 2,

chapter 2,

sorry,

therefore let

no one pass

judgment on you

in questions

of food and drink

or with regard

to a festival

or a new moon

or a Sabbath.

Don't let them

judge you

for those things.

These are a shadow

of the things

to come.

The substance

belongs to Christ.

Let no one

disqualify you

insisting

on asceticism

and worship

with angels

going in

and down

in detail

about visions

puffed up

without reason

by a central

mind.

In other words,

they were saying

a little more

attention to the

laws and

environments

of the Old

Testament.

Just a little

more attention.

A little more

self-effort.

And by the way,

if you really

want spiritual

fullness,

we can tell you

about some

angelic worship

that is really

amazing.

yet,

you just

won't believe

that we have

to be.

I love what

St.

Claire Ferguson

says about this.

The technique

here may sound

vaguely familiar.

Various versions

of it are

promulgated on

television,

promoted in books.

The common

factor is this.

You may get

some teaching

in your own

church,

but what we

have,

what we teach,

is superior.

You will really

learn about the

spiritual life

here,

with us,

and you

will find

the fullness

you desire.

What Paul

says in

response to

that is,

you already

have fullness

in Christ.

You don't

need something

else to make

you more full.

In verse,

chapter 1,

verse 19,

he says,

for in him,

in Christ,

all the fullness

of God

is pleased to

dwell.

And then in

chapter 2,

verses 9 and 10,

he says,

for in him,

the whole fullness

of deity

grows bodily,

and you

have been

filled in

him.

Because we

are filled

with Christ,

who is the

head of all

rule and

authority.

And that's

what he's spelling

out in the

beginning of

the passage

we read.

You've been

raised with

Christ.

You've died

with Christ.

Your life is

hidden with

Christ.

You will

appear with

Christ in

glory when

he returns.

Do you

ever think

about that?

Not enough,

we don't think

about that enough.

we will

appear with

Christ in

glory when

he returns.

Why?

Because we

have been

filled with

the fullness

of Christ.

We don't

need that

extra added

something to

bring us to

God.

We bring

Christ.

But more

precisely,

he brings

us.

And then

in verses 12,

Paul uses

these three

really

remarkable

terms to

describe the

participants of

our singing.

And they

go by so

quickly you

can almost

miss them.

Put on

them as

God's

chosen

ones,

holy

and

lush.

shh.

That's

what's

singing

this

morning.

That's

what's

singing

every

Sunday

country.

With

God,

you see a lot

of problems.

You see

a lot of

things that

matter.

You see

what God

sees?

These are my

writings.

These are my

whole wounds.

these are my

favorite.

Paul's doing

something kind

of shocking

here.

He is

intentionally

applying these

words to the

Gentiles,

the non-Jews

who are part

of the

Colossian

church.

And in the

past,

those words

were used

for this

God's

chosen,

people,

Jews.

But now

the Gentiles

are included.

There's

something

even more

shocking,

and that

is he's

using the

words

that

have only

been applied

to Christ

himself.

1 Peter 2

4 says,

As you

come to

him,

a living

stone

protected

by men

that are

the

sight of

God,

chosen

and crushed.

Jesus is

the chosen

one.

John 6

John 6:69

verse 69,

Peter says

to Jesus,

We have

believed and

come to

know that

you are

the holy

one of

God.

Jesus is

the true

holy one.

And if

Jesus is

being

baptized,

the voice

from heaven

said,

This is

my beloved

son in

whom I

know

I

believe.

God

refers to

his people

the same

way that

he refers

to his

son.

Do you

think it

would be

more amazing,

more breathtaking

than that?

God.

I

often

hear

people

say,

I

just

don't

know

why

God

chose

me.

Why

would

God

pick

someone

like

me?

Maybe

he

thought

that.

Why

would

God

pick

someone

like

me?

Apostle

Paul

answers

that

question

in the

passage

we

read

earlier

in the

planet.

he

saved

us

not

because

of

works

done

by

us

in

righteousness

but

according

to

his

own

mercy

by

the

washing

and

regeneration

and

renewal

of the

Holy

Spirit.

It

was

nothing

in

us

that

caused

God

to

choose

us.

Nothing.

It's a

fruitless

pursuit.

Why

did

God

choose

me?

Don't

spend

too

long

trying

to

find

the

answer

that.

There

is

not

!

I

heard

one

teacher

say

recently

before

there

were

any

atoms

or

any

atom

God

chose

us

to

be

a

part

of

his

people.

Which

means

from

the

foundations

of

the

earth

God

chose

us

to

be

a

part

of

the

choir.

Paul

says

in

Romans

8.33

who

will

bring

any

charge

against

God's

elect.

It

is

God

who

justifies.

We

are

his.

But

that's

not

all.

We're

not only

chosen.

God

says

we're

holy.

We've

been

set

apart

for

God's

purposes,

God's

plans,

God's

glory.

And

most

Christians

think of

holiness

in terms

of moral

categories,

behavioral

categories.

A

holy

person

is

someone

who

doesn't

sin,

stays

away

from

worldly

things,

and

has

consistent

quiet

time.

We

can

feel

holy,

more

holy,

if we've

done

those

things.

As we're

sitting

with the

people around

us,

we can

feel

more

holy

if we've

done

the right

things.

But

holiness

applies

something

deeper

than that.

It comes

from the word

meaning to

cut or

separate.

Holiness

means we've

been cut

off or

separated

from other

things,

separated from

common use.

in his

wonderful book

devoted to

God,

St.

Clark

Ferguson

defines

God's

holiness

as his

utter and

complete

devotion to

himself as

the ultimate

glory,

the ultimate

treasure,

the ultimate

existence.

So when God

says something

is holy,

he talked

about the

Sabbath,

vessels,

nations,

garments,

men and

women,

it means

they are

exclusively

devoted

to him.

so he

shows us

to be

devoted

to himself

as much

as he

is devoted

to himself.

We are

holy.

But that's

not all.

We're not

only chosen

and holy,

we are

beloved.

We're

dearly

loved.

Notice

this,

Paul isn't

saying in

his list

of imperatives,

if you put

off these

vices,

and put

on these

sins,

then,

and only

then,

will you

be loved.

Mine

is about

parenting

sometimes.

Not a

good way

to parent.

God

doesn't

tell us

that.

He starts

with,

you are

beloved,

cherished,

held,

in great

affection.

That's

who we

are.

That's

who's

singing

in the

choir.

That's

who we're

looking

out at

or

standing

with

every

Sunday

morning.

Those

who are

chosen

and

holy

and

dearly

loved.

We

aren't

singing

in a

choir

like

soloist

wabies.

We're

not

singing

because

our

performance

this week

made us

worthy to

sing in

the Lord's

Choir.

In our

church,

like most

churches,

requires a

musical

audition,

I call it

an interview,

if you want

to be part

of a choir,

part of the

band.

We're

just

checking,

can they

sing in

tunes?

Can they

sing in

harmony?

Is their

voice

pleasing?

Can they

blend in?

I'd

encourage you

in your

church to

have that

kind of

choir.

But there's

good news,

you don't

have an

audition to

sing in

the

church.

The fact

that you're

in the

church means

that you're

in the

choir.

If you're

in Christ,

you're in.

You're

chosen.

You're

holy.

You're

dearly

love.

It's not

dependent on

the range,

the timbre,

the sound,

the skill

of your

spirit.

Christ

gets you

into the

choir.

So the

gospel specifies

who the

participants

of our

singing are.

Number

two, the

gospel describes

the nature

of our

singing.

How should

we sing?

What should

those who

are chosen

all in

dearly

love,

what should

their

singing

look like?

These

passages

tell us.

It tells

us that

our

singing

should

be

as

one,

to be

unified.

The

passage is

relentlessly

corporate

congregational.

It doesn't

make any

sense to

think of

these

commands

and promises

outside the

reality of

the church.

Of course

we can

and sing

should sing

on our

own,

but here

we're

reminded

that we

are the

body of

Christ.

We're

united

in

Christ.

And no

secondary

differences

or skill

differences

are going

to keep

us from

celebrating

our common

share in

Christ.

David and

I did

this podcast

called

Southless

Doctrine.

One of the

episodes we

did was

musicians are

part of the

congregation

too.

You know,

we're not

up on this

platform

separate from

people in

some higher

level,

well,

physically

speaking,

we are,

but we're

not different

in God's

eyes.

We're just

part of

the choir.

And we're

not leading

that choir.

Jesus is

leading that

choir.

So we're

singing as

one.

The gospel

enables us

to look past

the differences

and peculiarities

and quirks of

those around

us and say,

oh,

you're in

Christ,

just like

I am.

And you

notice in

Paul's list

to put on

because he

highlights those

sins and

virtues which

either threaten

or strengthen

our unity.

Put off

coveting.

Put off

anger,

malice,

slander.

Put on

compassionate

hearts,

kindness,

meekness,

patience.

Bear with

one another.

Forgive others

as the Lord

is forgiving

you, so you

also must

forgive.

Oh,

by the way,

above everything,

put on the

love which

binds it all

together.

Perfect Harmony.

We're not a

group of random

individuals who

are not a

show in the

same room

at the same

house.

We are one

in Christ.

We're not

pursuing our

own agendas,

our own

interests,

our own

goals.

We were

called in

one body,

he says in

verse 15.

We are

called in

one body.

We are

one in

Christ.

And because

of that,

we're eager

to maintain

the unity

of the

spirit and

the bond

of peace.

And that's

so ironic

that the

source of

so many

differences and

conflicts in the

church have been

over you.

Isn't that

wrong?

When God

says,

if you're

chosen to

hold a

dear in

love,

you're to

sing as

one.

That's why I

called you to

sing.

You sing as

one.

What else does the

gospel say about how

we're to sing?

Well, the gospel

calls us to sing

with gratefulness,

gratefully.

Verses 15-17,

thankfulness is

mentioned three

times.

I've tried to

emphasize it

in the last

reading.

Verse 15,

let the peace

of Christ rule

in your hearts

to which indeed

you were called

in one body.

And be

thankful.

Verse 16,

let the word

of Christ

dwell in you,

literally singing,

teaching and

moshing women

in all wisdom,

singing songs

and hymns

and spiritual

songs,

giving the

thankfulness

in your

hearts to

God.

And then

whatever you

do,

in word or

deed,

do everything

in the name

of the Lord

Jesus.

Giving thanks

to God.

Isn't that

beautiful?

It's

bothering you.

Why do you

think God

had Paul put

that in there

three times,

in three

verses?

Well,

really,

it's because

a lot of

times when

we come to

the meeting

we're not

so thankful.

We're

discouraged.

Just feeling

down,

distracted,

way down,

like sins

were bad,

or suffering

were going

through,

or maybe

even just

a sense

of numbness,

disconnectedness.

This passage

tells us that

we can enter

his gates

with thanksgiving

and his

courts with

grace.

And we

don't have

to ignore

the reality

of the things

that are going

on in our

lives.

God wants

us to

transcend

them.

It says

there is

something

going on

that's a

greater reality

that you can see.

there are

times for

lament.

There are

times for

repentance.

There are

times for

reflection.

But God

wants us

to see

that greater

reality that

surrounds what

we see so

vividly

among.

Remember

Christ,

who he is,

what he's done.

Remember who

you are.

Remember

whose you

are.

Remember

where you're

headed.

It's just

you can't

think about

these things

without being

thankful.

The phrase

singing with

thankfulness in

your hearts to

God, this is a

little bit of a

twist, might be

more accurately

translated in

grace singing

in your hearts

to God.

It parallels

what came

right before,

in all

wisdom,

teaching and

admonishing one

another, in

grace, singing

in your hearts

to God.

We are

singing in

grace.

And this is

what Richard

Malick says

about that.

Grace reminds

singers that

the message

and not the

singers bring

salvation.

It further

reminds us

that everything

good about

what they sing

comes from

God because

of God's

grace.

There is

no room for

self-praise,

ambition, or

high-mindedness

in the realm of

grace.

Those who

are saying

do so,

because they

have felt the

transforming power

of God in

their own lives

and they sing

with an awareness

of that grace.

Are we aware

of that grace

from this?

God intends us

to be.

He wants us

to be.

We're thankful

because of the

grace we stand

in as our

Christ.

Our sins,

the ones we've

committed today

already,

do for

good.

Our sins,

the ones we're

committed for

the rest of the

day,

do for

care.

We have

no fear

of health.

The grave

has been

overcome.

We're headed

for eternal

pleasures at

God's right

hand.

And if you're

in a band,

a pure musician

who serves

in your

church,

often that

thankfulness is

dampened by

thoughts of

anxiety or

comparison or

envy.

It should not

be so.

we live in

reality that

transcends our

petty grievances

against others.

How often is a

thankful heart

overruled by a

judgmental or

critical heart?

It's the

gospel that

enables us.

It's only the

gospel to put

all those thoughts

aside and be

truly grateful

that our sins

are paid for,

that we've been

reconciled to

God and that

all around us

are brothers and

sisters who

have received

the same

unfathomable

mercy of

Christ that

we have.

You're a

Christian part

of me.

We're to sing

as one and

sing thankfully

and the

gospel says

we're to sing

wholeheartedly.

And you guys

have done a

great job

that way.

Sing wholeheartedly.

Singing with

thankfulness

naturally means

to a whole

hearted

participation.

Verse 16.

Let the

word of Christ

dwell in you

richly,

teaching and

promising one

another,

and all

with him,

singing songs

and things

and spiritual

songs with

thankfulness in

your hearts

to God.

Some people

have tried to

make the case

that that means

it doesn't

really matter

if we sing

authorly,

we're really

singing this

in our hearts

to God.

so I

can just

sit here

and not

do anything

but God

hears me.

That's not

what that

was to

mean.

When the

Bible uses

the word

heart,

it is

generally

talking about

our whole

being,

the center

of our

thinking

and will

and affection.

So what

Paul's saying

is we're

not just

singing with

our lips,

we're singing

with our

whole hearts,

our whole

being.

This means

that our

singing isn't

just meant

to be heard,

it's meant

to be seen.

Seeing is

a powerful

and beautiful

way of

expressing our

gratefulness

to God as

we consider

the grace

that he has

shown us

in Christ.

No one

else can

sing like

this.

Do we

get that?

No one

else knows

what we

know.

No one

else has

experienced

what we

have

experienced.

So God

gives us

singing

both to

express it

and to

elicit

that kind

of gratefulness.

So Jonathan

Edmund in his

book Religious

Affection

says,

the duty

of singing

praises to

God seems

to be given

wholly,

wholly,

completely,

to excite

and express

religious

affection.

There's no

reason why we

should express

ourselves to

God in

verse rather

than in

prose and

with music

except that

these things

have a

tendency to

move our

affection,

affection.

Quick

sidebar here.

There's a

difference between

emotions and

affection.

Emotions are

what I feel.

Happiness,

anger,

excitement,

anxiety.

Affections are

why I feel

them.

That's what

goes down

deeper than

emotions.

Emotions are

response.

Affections drive

the car.

So when

we're talking

about speaking

to our

affections,

we're not

talking about

just getting

people happy

and excited.

We're talking

about bringing

them,

bringing to

their minds,

to their

hearts,

what is true,

what is real,

who they are,

what Christ has

done,

who He is.

Those kinds

of things.

Singing both

expresses and

excites those

truths.

It supplies a

way of giving

voice to what's

in our hearts,

but it also

stirs up what

might be

dormant.

So we might

come into the

science service

overflowing with

thankfulness for

what God has

done for us in

Christ.