IV. Sing lustily and with good courage. Beware of singing as if you were half dead, or half asleep; but lift up your voice with strength. Be no more afraid of your voice now, nor more ashamed of its being heard, then when you sung the songs of Satan.
It's a policy of mine never to try to judge the authenticity of individuals in a worship service. Of course, a time of corporate worship is focused on being the visible body, not a segmented, isolated time of personal devotion.
So please don't take my following comments as being judgmental of anyone's heart.
The difference between a singing congregation and a gathering of half asleep or half dead or self-conscious people slopping and muttering their way through a time of singing is huge. The fact is that when we sing together, we should do the very best we can. One of the hallmarks of traditional corporate services is hale and hearty voices raised in chorus together in the praise of the wondrous and holy God.
So, sweet mercy, SING. Sing with abandon. Sing with thanksgiving. Sing the very best you know how. And if you don't feel like it, fake it.
The life of worship feeds off of invested participation with God's church.
Of course, the inverse is true. What we do on Sunday together doesn't influence the rest of our lives as much as the rest of our lives influence what we do on Sunday together. Let your singing at church reflect a life wholly dedicated to the worship and service of God.
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