Worship in Sacred Song
By MELVIN MUNSON
The singing of Christian hymns is as truly the worship of God as is prayer or the reading of the Bible. During the song service which was being held in a college chapel, a student was busily occupied working his problems in algebra. When asked by his seat mate to join in the worship of praise, he said, “Singing is not worship;” but when the Scripture reading began, he at once closed his books and listened attentively. This is the way many Christians look upon sacred singing, although many of the songs we sing are the psalms of David set to music. It does not seem right that these inspired psalms should lose their sacredness by being sung. And if we understood how the Lord by his Spirit has directed in the composition of many of our gospel hymns, we no doubt would sing them with greater reverence than we do. The following story is told of the circumstances that gave birth to How that popular song, “When the Roll Is Called up Yonder:” — Mr. J. M. Black, the composer of both the words and music, was leading in a consecration meeting of a young people’s society. The members were responding to the roll call by repeating a text of scripture. One name was called to which there was no response, and the leader said, “What a sad thing it would be to be absent when our names are called from the Lamb’s book of life.” He looked for something suitable to sing on the subject. Failing to find anything, the thought occurred to him to write a song. Upon reaching home, the first stanza came to him in full. In fifteen minutes he had composed the other two stanzas. “Going to the piano,” he says, “I played the music just as it is found today in the hymn books, note for note, and I have never dared to change a single word or a note of the piece since.” It is a singular fact that wicked men recognize Christian songs as an expression of worship; and, realizing their lost condition, they sometimes refuse to sing certain songs. A young sailor was summoned to his mother’s deathbed. “Willie,” said the mother, looking up at him with tearful eyes, “sing to me once more, ‘Safe in the Arms of Jesus.’” “Mother,” he replied, “I can’t sing that song. It would be a lie; I am not safe, and I can’t sing a lie.” Is it possible that professed Christians ever sing a lie? From the careless attitude and indifferent manner which they often assume, it would seem that they often regard but lightly the songs that sinners dare not sing. The singing of hymns has always graced Christian worship. No other form of service can be shared by the congregation more unitedly than the service of song. All the sacred books of the world’s many religions tell of a heaven beyond, but the Bible is the only book that describes the redeemed as playing on harps and singing the songs of Zion. Those who look for Christ’s soon return hope to have the privilege of joining that select choir of one hundred and forty-four thousand sweet-voiced singers who will sing the new song. No choir upon earth ever renders its anthems without first practicing them; and just so truly must God’s people join in the sacred songs of the gospel here, if they hope to enjoy and share in the songs of heaven. The same reverence must enter into the singing of our earthly songs as will hallow the anthems of heaven.