I have a question about the song service and the biblical basis for it.  Last week at our service, our song leader asked us to stand during a particular song, and then he asked us to raise our hand up as though we were "catching God in it"; this seemed weird and made me uncomfortable. This is becoming more and more common in my congregation, especially with this particular song leader. What is the biblical example for the song service? Is it biblically okay to be raising our hands up to the sky and "catching God", or should we just be singing with our voices and hearts?

Sincerely,
Need A Hand

Dear Need A Hand,

The practice of lifting up your hands during worship is traced to 1 Tim 2:8, but unfortunately, many people misunderstand this verse.  There is nothing wrong with literally lifting up your hands to God, but Paul is telling them to “lift up holy hands, without wrath and disputing”.  The context is about a certain lifestyle that people were to have.  It is similar to the saying, “Put your hand to the plow” in Lk 9:62.  ‘Lifting up holy hands’ refers to working, laboring, and serving in a godly way.  Christians are to serve God faithfully, without arguing and disputing with each other.  ‘Lifting up holy hands’ has nothing to do with how high your arms are raised when you sing; it has to do with the character of the life you live.  Are we living holy lives when our hands serve God (1 Cor 4:12)?  Raising your hands during worship has the impression of godliness, but living faithful lives actually fulfills God’s command to ‘lift up holy hands’ (2 Tim 3:5).

     Is Col 3:16 prohibitive to any other mode of teaching and admonishing than the ways listed in the verse?

Sincerely,
Sing And Be Happy

Dear Sing And Be Happy,

If Col 3:16 were the only verse we had to read, we would have to say that the only way we should teach people is through singing songs… but we have a lot of other verses in the Bible.  Ps 119:60 says that the sum of God’s Word gives us the truth, and the Bible gives many modes of teaching.

1. 1 Pet 2:21 says that Jesus’ lifestyle was a way of teaching, and Matt 5:14-16 says that our lives should be a way of teaching people.
2. 2 Tim 3:16 talks about every Scripture being profitable for teaching, and 1 Tim 4:13 says that the Scriptures should be read publicly in order to teach.
3. Acts 20:7 gives the example of preaching as a method for teaching people (Paul did it until midnight one time!), and Neh 8:8 shows that someone explaining the Scriptures through preaching can be very beneficial.

The Bible condones many ways of teaching people about God and many ways of teaching in the church.  Col 3:16 is just one of those ways.

I have a question about singing in church.  I like going to church, but I do not like to sing.  Is this wrong of me, or is this okay?  I do stand with everybody, but I just do not like singing.  I like to hear people sing because some people have such great voices, but is it a sin for me not to sing also?  Thanks for your time!

Sincerely,
Mums The Word

Dear Mums The Word,

Singing hymns to God is indeed a commandment (Col 3:16).  You do need to sing as part of your worship to God.  Singing isn’t about listening; it is about sending and giving God praise and honor.  It is the gift of your lips to Him.

Having said that, take heart, God doesn’t care how you sound.  The only melody He cares about is the melody in your heart (Eph 5:19).  Far too often, we worry about how we sound – God doesn’t care one wit about that.  So sing out and let God know how thankful you are for all He gives you.