Congregational singing is not a spectator sport

The two extremes

When it comes to music in church, most people have seen both ends of the spectrum. On one end is the very conservative church: hymn books only, old hymns only, nothing written after a certain year. On the other end is the electric guitar, the praise band, the fog and the lights, and a service that feels a lot like a concert.

TheWay is going to be neither. Not because we've found a comfortable middle, but because we don't think either extreme is what the Bible describes.

Singing together is a Christian thing

Congregational singing — a whole room of people singing to God together — is unique to Christians. Other religions chant, or listen, or perform. Christians sing, and everyone sings. Paul tells the church at Ephesus to be "speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:19). He says the same to the Colossians: "teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord" (Colossians 3:16).

Look at who's doing the singing in those verses. Everyone. One another. It's a key element of a Christian service, and it belongs to the congregation.

That's why we say it plainly: congregational singing is not a spectator sport. It's meant to be what it's called — congregational.

So, no concert

At TheWay there won't be a big stage production. There won't be a worship team that's really a concert with a lead vocalist and background singers while the room mumbles along. We're going to sing together, as a congregation, and you're going to be able to hear it.

Yes, there will be leading. Yes, as the church grows and people bring their talents, there will be more instruments. Musicians are a gift to a church. But the instruments and the leaders exist to help the room sing, not to replace it.

And on the other side: it won't be stiff, starchy, high-church singing where nobody engages either. Music is supposed to be one of the most engaging parts of a service, not the part you get through.

Old songs and new songs

The other argument people have about church music is old versus new. We're not going to pick a side, because the church never has.

Historically, the church has kept the old songs — the old lyrics, the old tunes — and kept them faithfully, generation after generation. And the church has also kept adding songs. Every hymn was new once. That's the pattern, and we'll continue it.

So we'll sing the hymns that are old and have stood the test of time and encouraged generations of believers before us: How Great Thou Art. Amazing Grace. And Can It Be. Blessed Assurance. At Calvary. And we'll sing new songs that are fresh and speak to our own generation: In Christ Alone. I Speak Jesus. Holy Forever. 10,000 Reasons. Goodness of God.

When a song is doctrinally sound, has stood something of a test, and builds up the people singing it, we'll consider adding it. When it doesn't, we won't — however old or new it is.

Not a trend, either direction

We're not a church that's old, and we're not a church that's new. We're a church trying to follow the biblical pattern for a church, not a trend — and that goes both ways. We're not trying to oppose a trend any more than we're trying to follow one. We're trying to stay faithful to the Word of God and what it actually says about singing.

What about special music?

There will be times when someone — a soloist, a group, maybe one day a choir — sings a song the whole congregation wouldn't be able to sing well. That's a blessing. Some songs prepare our hearts and minds for the preaching, or carry the service from one part to the next, and aren't really built for congregational singing. Those we'll do as special music, and they'll encourage the room and praise the Lord.

But special music is the exception that serves the rule. The rule is: everyone sings.

Come sing with us

If you've spent years in a church where the music was something you watched, or something you endured, this will feel different. We hope it feels like what it is — the people of God, in one room, singing to Him together. It's one of the seven commitments we're building on.

And if you've never trusted Jesus, the singing isn't really the point — the songs are about Someone. He died for your sin, He rose, and He saves everyone who calls on Him. Get that settled and the singing takes care of itself. You'll have something to sing about.

If you do know Him: sing. Out loud. Badly, if that's the only option available. Somebody two rows back needs to hear that other people believe this too.