Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, 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 psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. (Colossians 3:12-17 ESV).
However, the question rages as to what kind of song pleases God? Ancient? Contemporary? With instruments? Without? The truth is that there is none of this distinction in the Scripture. They simply are not important. The Apostle Paul does provide three guidelines for our thinking.
First,
Paul is not talking about singing alone. He’s referring to the singing and learning and growing
that we do together as God’s gathered, worshiping people. It’s in our joining
together in song that God is praised and pleased.
Second,
our singing needs to come from our hearts. Out of the heart, the mouth speaks and sings. God wants
our expressions of praise to be true and authentic.
Third,
our communal singing reveals our gratitude for all that God has done for us in
Christ. Drawing
attention to ourselves is not the goal. The goal is that God’s goodness, grace,
and powerful love will be lifted up by grateful hearts joined together in
love.
The next time you’re in church, think about the songs you sing. Be intentional about the message contained with the verse. Make it your offering for the day to God in His majesty.
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