What Is Unacceptable in Corporate Worship?

[Scripture More Accurately]

Everything that is done in corporate worship must be done "unto edifying" (1 Cor. 14:26), "decently, and in order" (1 Cor. 14:40), and "with charity" (1 Cor. 16:14).

It must all be lawful, expedient, and edifying, and it must not bring anyone under its power (1 Cor. 6:12; 10:23).

Based on these divine requirements, "whispered" singing, twerking (a kind of immoral dancing), the use of real human skulls as drums, and the playing of distinctively occult percussive music are all unacceptable to God for use in corporate worship.

 

[Salty]

What is "Whispered singing"? and what might be wrong with it

 

[Scripture More Accurately]

What is "Whispered singing"? and what might be wrong with it

Scripture makes it plain that characteristically whispering out lyrics when singing (excepting, of course, those who are physically incapable of singing aloud) has no place in acceptable corporate worship:

Psalm 81:1 Sing *aloud* unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.

Several other related passages clearly support this command from God:

Ps. 51:14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing *aloud* of thy righteousness.

Ps. 59:16 But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing *aloud* of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.

Ps. 149:5 Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing *aloud* upon their beds.

Singing in worship that is characteristically whispering is not acceptable corporate worship.

 

[Salty]

Thank you SMA - I had never heard of that term before

 

[Scripture More Accurately]

Thank you SMA - I had never heard of that term before

You are welcome.

It's not a term that I have seen anywhere so I put it in quotes; in response to someone else's saying that CCM is characterized by such singing, I came up with the term to signify that kind of unacceptable singing in corporate worship.

 

[JonC]

Nudity is unacceptable.

 

[AustinC]

All worship that is God glorifying is good.

All things that glorify men is bad.

Therefore, some testimonies can be non-worship as the testifier spends time talking about himself and placing God second.

The instruments used are irrelevant. The object of praise is important. Therefore man-centered hymns should be thrown out of the hymnal.

If I drum on a skeleton skull to the glory of God while I am in a hike, God is glorified. If I set up those skulls and call attention to the skulls and drumming, then it isn't worship to God.

 

[Scripture More Accurately]

Nudity is unacceptable.

It certainly is:

Exodus 32:25
And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies).

 

[Salty]

Nudity is unacceptable.

Do we really need to cover that issue?

 

[JonC]

Do we really need to cover that issue?

This day and age.....probably.

 

[JonC]

Scripture makes it plain that characteristically whispering out lyrics when singing (excepting, of course, those who are physically incapable of singing aloud) has no place in acceptable corporate worship:

Psalm 81:1 Sing *aloud* unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.

Several other related passages clearly support this command from God:

Ps. 51:14 Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing *aloud* of thy righteousness.

Ps. 59:16 But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing *aloud* of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble.

Ps. 149:5 Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing *aloud* upon their beds.

Singing in worship that is characteristically whispering is not acceptable corporate worship.

Psalm 81 doesn't say "aloud", although I don't know how else we could sing (even whispering is aloud).

Anyway, do you believe that we should also be incorporating the harps, drums, and trumpets mentioned in Psalm 81?

I'm just trying to picture the dynamic worship music described in the Psalm. It kinda makes our hymns (even our contemporary music) sound tame compared to what is described in Psalm 81.

 

[Scripture More Accurately]

Psalm 81 doesn't say "aloud", although I don't know how else we could sing (even whispering is aloud).

Psalm 81 certainly does say sing aloud:

Psalm 81:1 Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.

Also, no, whispering is not aloud. The AHD (1969) definition of aloud: "1. In a loud tone. 2. Louder than a whisper; audibly."

Notice that "aloud" by definition is not whispering.

 

[JonC]

Psalm 81 certainly does say sing aloud:

Psalm 81:1 Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.

Also, no, whispering is not aloud. The AHD (1969) definition of aloud: "1. In a loud tone. 2. Louder than a whisper; audibly."

Notice that "aloud" by definition is not whispering.

It does mean audibly.

So your church worships with people singing loudly, with stringed instruments, hand drums, and trumpets (in obedience to Psalm 81)?

Do you have a link to the worship service? I'd love to see that type (most around here are a bit more subdued).

 

[Deacon]

Scripture makes it plain that characteristically whispering out lyrics when singing (excepting, of course, those who are physically incapable of singing aloud) has no place in acceptable corporate worship:

I can assure you that my loud singing is not edifying.

I generally mouth the words or don’t sing at all.
I sing out loud when I’m alone in my car.

It’s my opinion that you’ve taken an expression and made it a spiritual law.

Rob

 

[JonC]

I do sing aloud, just not loud aloud. Except when I don't know the song (about 80% of the time).

We do obey Psalm 81 by using drums and stringed instruments. We don't use horns often (we do sometimes).

Men don't wear hats, but some women do.....we got that backwards somehow.

 

[DaveXR650]

I do sing aloud, just not loud aloud. Except when I don't know the song (about 80% of the time).

If you don't know the words you do the best you can.

 

[JonC]

If you don't know the words you do the best you can.

To be fair, I didn't know they were filming me singing.

 

[Scripture More Accurately]

It does mean audibly.

So your church worships with people singing loudly, with stringed instruments, hand drums, and trumpets (in obedience to Psalm 81)?

Do you have a link to the worship service? I'd love to see that type (most around here are a bit more subdued).

Yes, my church worships with people singing loudly, etc. Mount Calvary Baptist Church

Hallelujah for the Cross - MCBC Communion - YouTube

 

[Scripture More Accurately]

I can assure you that my loud singing is not edifying.

I generally mouth the words or don’t sing at all.
I sing out loud when I’m alone in my car.

It’s my opinion that you’ve taken an expression and made it a spiritual law.

Rob

You consider divine commands to be optional?

Mouthing the words or not singing at all in corporate worship is not acceptable to God. Giving God glory through singing to Him in corporate worship is not optional.

 

[Scripture More Accurately]

The intentional use by many CCM/CWM musicians of a breathy kind of whispering singing injects sensuality into corporate worship that makes it not acceptable to God. There is no place for such singing by those who lead God's people in corporate worship that is supposed to please God first and foremost.