Coalesce in Worship
Worship is life, or, at least, that’s what the Bible claims. That’s why we here at More Than Sundays wanted to take some time to dive into the topic so that we could all cherish worship like God cherishes it. We hope the articles in this series are a blessing to you in this and many other regards. Please enjoy!
One thing remains: Music unifies all kinds of people. Music plays a huge role in our lives as its gift brings tranquility and peace of mind for our souls and our hearts. Name one song you know that brings you joy or once mended your broken heart. Perhaps, you even have a song you may consider your personal anthem or one you even carefully designated a soundtrack for your life. Music is healing as it improves attentiveness and even helps with meditation. Music stimulates memory as well and adds fluidity to sentiment and heart. Music is so important, and it is even more important when it comes to worship, where congregational singing can add significance to our worship through a united community supporting one another in worshiping God.
Scientifically, music has been proven to signal all parts of our brain, igniting emotion, motivation, and memory. “Music also lights up nearly all of the brain — including the hippocampus and amygdala, which activate emotional responses to music through memory; the limbic system, which governs pleasure, motivation, and reward; and the body’s motor system. This is why it’s easy to tap your feet or clap your hands to musical rhythms” (Andre Budson, MD’93). With worship music, our feelings and faith in God generate emotional responses to praise and worship Him. Because one of the things music arouses is memory, worship music can enlighten our memories of what He has done for us, leading us to declare our love for Him.
When worship is added to music already moving in the depth of our soul, we’re not only feeling the music, but we’re also in an active and intimate relationship with God. We are worshipping, actively and lovingly worshipping our Father in Heaven. Music of worship to our Heavenly Father solidifies scripture that was breathed by God. Some scripture may be difficult to understand or difficult to weave into our hearts, but with worship music, the scripture almost whispers meaning and softness that awakens senses in our brain, therefore improving concentration and meditation on scripture we previously deemed mundane.
God desires to heal and restore us, and He created worship music for many reasons—one of those reasons perhaps is because He knows how worship music can bring restoration and comfort during some of our moments of pain and struggle. But we also sing songs of worship for His glory and for celebration of His power and His love. In fact one of the earliest worship songs came from Exodus 15:1 (NIV), “Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD: ‘I will sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted. Both horse and driver he has hurled into the sea.’” This was after God rescued the Israelites from the terror of the Egyptians, and as they sang with joy to the one and only God, they gave all the glory to Him. He is our rescuer and our protector, and our worship should always go to Him. Worship music has always been a major part of church, mostly due to how it brings glory to God. What better way to celebrate our Almighty Father than singing praise and love to Him? Even when we may be in pain or in dark times, worship music seems to ease our pain – even for just a moment – because the truth of His goodness comes in the form of that thunderous sound of music. It is almost like the majestic glory of His nature matches the thunderous power of worship music, hence bringing forth an overwhelming sensation of safety and love. It’s all a reminder of His love: “My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you — I whom you have delivered” (Psalm 71:23, NIV).
We don’t have to be musically inclined to sing praises and worship to our God. He has delivered us from evil — all we need to sing praises to Him is a faith in and a love for Him. “Sing to the LORD a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. The LORD has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations. He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; make music to the LORD with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn— shout for joy before the LORD, the King. Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it” (Psalm 98:1-7, NIV). I’m not a talented singer – not in the least! You can ask my husband and others who have been near me during worship, but I know God doesn’t care whether I’m a talented singer or not because He cares that I love Him so much that I will shout and sing His praises. He cares that my heart is His — and ‘nails on a chalkboard’ or not, I will sing in celebration for what He’s done for me.
We make His name known when we loudly and joyfully sing His praises. We connect with Him, enveloping His scripture of truth in our hearts, reminding ourselves of His goodness and His love. Because music unifies all types of people, God leaves space to invite others to know Him. Music of worship to our loving Father is almost like a joyous declaration to Him for all He’s done for each of us who believe in Him. He is faithful and loving and merciful – and we want to declare it from the mountain tops for all to hear. Worship music helps us do that. Worship music helps bring reverence and spirituality to the one and only being who is constant, unchanging, and faithful – this being is God. What we may not be able to put into words, we can use worship music to express to Him. Victor Hugo once put it this way: “Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent.”
In the end, we must remember that although music evokes emotion and celebration, worship music is ultimately for Christ. Worshipping God through music is a thankful, ceremonial act of love for all He’s done for those of us who believe in Him. May we never forget His faithfulness and His deep, unconditional love for each of us who follow Him. May all His people sing praises to Him.
Work Cited:
Harvard Medicine: The Magazine of Harvard Medical School, How Music Resonates in the Brain by Allison Eck, Spring 2024.
Charles Wesley Music Foundation: Behind the Music-The Importance of Worship Music in Spiritual Life. September 2024.