Why People Do Not Sing In Our Churches

 "Therefore every scribe instructed concerning the kingdom of heaven is like a householder who brings out of his treasure things new and old." Matthew 13:52

Worship is valuable. Worship is important. Church worship is probably the only place where most regular people sing. Knowing this it seems that we need to look carefully at worship and singing to make sure we are not taking something important and making it too hard for people to participate in.

So this raises a question; why do some people not sing in church? Much has been written on this subject and much debate has taken place in what is being called the Worship Wars. Let me share a few thoughts on why people do not sing in church.

1. They do not know the songs. They are new to church or the songs are modern or the songs are in a foreign language. The average person will take a long time to learn what you take for granted.

2. They cannot sing the songs. They are too fast. They are too high. They are too complicated. They cannot learn them and if the screen is blank they cannot sing.

3. The service is too loud. People sing with those around them, not with the musicians on stage. If they cannot hear their neighbor sing the service is too loud. Period.

4. They feel like the focus is on the stage and they are only spectators and their contribution is not needed. With all of those singers on stage with microphones why do I need to sing?

5. The song leader is annoying or ad libbing or not singing the song straight but harmonizing or worse.

6. Simple lyrics repeated over and over and over and over and over and over and over ad nauseum will discourage even seasoned worshippers. Only women and immature men will enjoy singing like that.

The burden is on the song leader to make sure that the majority of worshippers are participating. It is not always secret sin that discourages participation in church singing. It can be that what we are doing is not working.