Praying in the Spirit: Singing in the Spirit
Another important principal is that of the universality of the song of praise. The psalmist said, “Sing to the Lord, you saints of his; praise his holy name” (30:4). The Scriptures do not say that only those with beautiful voices are to sing to the Lord. All may sing praises unto God with a heavenly language, a language from the heart. I would not want this experience if it were not also for my other brothers and sisters in Christ, and I would question my concept of a God who would ordain that only a select few could have this experience. Instead, all of God’s people have this heart language with which to speak to Him. We need only desire to communicate with God those deep feelings that cannot find expression through the cortex of the brain. Those feelings are most intense when the Christian is filled with God’s Holy Spirit: “Do not get drunk with wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit. Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph. 5: 18-20). The thanksgiving melodies of our heart are to God (verse 20) but also speak to our brothers and sisters. What opportunity for ministry! To God, to others, to ourselves.
The final noteworthy principal resulting from the study of singing with our understanding and singing in the Spirit is the picture we have of symphonic singing. There are Scriptures that describe and endorse congregational singing: “May the peoples praise you, O God; may all the peoples praise you. May the nations be glad and sing for joy” (Psalm 67:3-4); “In front are the singers, after them the musicians; with them are the maidens playing tambourines. Praise God in the great congregation; praise the Lord in the assembly of Israel” (Psalm 68:25-26). This provides us with a model for singing in the Spirit. Most singing in the Spirit in the church should, I believe, be congregational, as we lift our voices in one accord unto God. This is not to outlaw or depreciate solo singing in the Spirit at all. But the regulations of solo singing must not come from what the Scriptures say about singing in general but what the Scriptures say about speaking in tongues to the edification of the assembly.
Since a solo in a prayer language may be enjoyed and may be meaningful even if it is not understood by the listener, the obvious question is, Does it need to be interpreted? I think that it does. If a glossolalic song is performed for the edification of the average congregation, an interpretation is warranted, and should also be in the form of a song.
Category: Spirit, Spring 2001
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