Gratitude’s Song

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; gas 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 3:13-17 ESV).

Music and song often express the emotions of our hearts. As our reading for today suggests, this is an important part of being God’s people. The writer of Psalm 22 adds that God is “enthroned on” or “dwells among” the praises of his people (v. 3). God has come near to us, and it’s important for us to draw near to him with songs from our hearts. The debate often is surrounded by determining what kind of song please God? Ancient? Contemporary? With instruments? Without? Actually, these distinctions are not important. The Apostle Paul provides three guidelines for our thinking.

1. First, Paul, as well as Scripture in general, talks about our singing in community. It does not exclude singing alone; however, he is 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. Music in our worship is very important; and, it is important that we participate, even if it is not much more than a “joyful noise.”
2. 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. A genuine desire to praise God and to be thankful for His great gift of grace are essential.
3. 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.