Q: Can we have someone standing up during the Worship and solo (singing Psalm)?
Posted by Norm Fields at 8/19/2006 1:40 PM and is filed under Biblically Speaking,Why don't you,Doctrine 
A: The Bible is very clear in the kind of music to be offered up in worship. Every time we see music in the worship of the church on earth it is in the form of singing with no mention of mechanical instruments of music whatsoever (cf. Mtt. 26:30; Mk. 14:26; Acts 16:25; Rom. 15:9; 1 Cor. 14:15; Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; Heb. 2:12; Js. 5:13).
Some will want to include Revelation 15:3 in this list, however this passage is not an example of the music offered up by the church on earth but is a vision, not to be taken literally, emphasizing the victory and glory with God that Christians have in Christ.
2 Timothy 3:16, 17 says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Now, if the Scriptures “thoroughly” equip us “for every good work,” and the Scriptures say nothing about playing mechanical instruments in the worship of the church on earth, can mechanical instruments of music being played in worship be a good work? Obviously the answer is no, the use of mechanical instruments of music in the worship of the church on earth is not a good work and, therefore, cannot be practiced with God’s approval.
Not only is the Bible very specific about the kind of music that is to be offered by the church on earth in worship to God, it is also very specific about how that vocal music of words is to be offered up. In Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 the Holy Spirit leaves no doubt as to how the church is to sing to God. The term “speaking to one another” (Eph. 5:19) and again “teaching and admonishing one another” (Col. 3:16) shows that the singing being spoken of is congregational singing. In both cases the original language is in the form of a command. Thus, commanding each one to speak to, “teaching and admonishing,” “one another.” So how do we determine if the practice of solos in worship is wrong? Let us ask some questions and see what answers we come up with from the command to speak, teach and admonish “one another” in our singing. First, is everyone in the assembly commanded to sing? Yes, who would be left out by “speaking to one another”? How could it be determined from “speaking to one another” who was supposed to sing and who was not supposed to sing? The only way to obey this command is for everyone to be singing! Second, do solos require that some remain silent and not sing? Yes, of course they do, that is the very nature of a solo. A solo occurs when one person sings to a group of other people. Does that fit the description of the command “speaking to one another”? No, if that were what the Holy Spirit wanted to authorize He could have said, “one speaking to the others.” However, He termed it in such a way as to require each one speaking to each other one, congregational singing. Therefore, solos cannot fulfill the command to sing, “speaking to one another,” “teaching and admonishing one another,” in the general assembly. It can be very simply written as follows:
1. The Bible commands “speaking to one another” (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16).
2. Solos require some to remain silent.
3. Therefore, solos cannot fulfill the command to “speak to one another.”
Since points one and two are both true, the conclusion must be true. And, thus, the Bible would answer “No” to the question, “Can we have someone standing up during the Worship and solo (singing Psalm)?”
Let me also add this: It does not matter whether we are in the Sunday worship service, a home devotional, or any other setting where spiritual songs are being sung, solos are wrong when it comes to offering up spiritual songs in worship to God (this doesn’t mean, of course, that a person cannot sing spiritual songs when he is alone because he is not permitted to solo; since a solo is one person singing to a group of other people, someone singing in solitude would not fit the definition of soloing). Singing spiritual songs is an act of worship no matter where or when it is done, and therefore it must be done according to the biblical pattern. Paul and Silas were not in the Sunday worship service when they were singing in prison at midnight yet we still do not see Paul singing to Silas while Silas remained silent, or Silas soloing to Paul. They were both singing together! We need to make sure that we don’t get the idea that, as long as we are not in the assembly on the Lord’s Day, we can engage in acts of worship differently than we would in the assembly. We must worship in spirit and truth no matter where or when we worship!
Thank you for your question. We pray that we have adequately shown the biblical answer. If you have any further questions or comments regarding what the Bible says on this issue please don’t hesitate to ask.
Some will want to include Revelation 15:3 in this list, however this passage is not an example of the music offered up by the church on earth but is a vision, not to be taken literally, emphasizing the victory and glory with God that Christians have in Christ.
2 Timothy 3:16, 17 says, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” Now, if the Scriptures “thoroughly” equip us “for every good work,” and the Scriptures say nothing about playing mechanical instruments in the worship of the church on earth, can mechanical instruments of music being played in worship be a good work? Obviously the answer is no, the use of mechanical instruments of music in the worship of the church on earth is not a good work and, therefore, cannot be practiced with God’s approval.
Not only is the Bible very specific about the kind of music that is to be offered by the church on earth in worship to God, it is also very specific about how that vocal music of words is to be offered up. In Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 the Holy Spirit leaves no doubt as to how the church is to sing to God. The term “speaking to one another” (Eph. 5:19) and again “teaching and admonishing one another” (Col. 3:16) shows that the singing being spoken of is congregational singing. In both cases the original language is in the form of a command. Thus, commanding each one to speak to, “teaching and admonishing,” “one another.” So how do we determine if the practice of solos in worship is wrong? Let us ask some questions and see what answers we come up with from the command to speak, teach and admonish “one another” in our singing. First, is everyone in the assembly commanded to sing? Yes, who would be left out by “speaking to one another”? How could it be determined from “speaking to one another” who was supposed to sing and who was not supposed to sing? The only way to obey this command is for everyone to be singing! Second, do solos require that some remain silent and not sing? Yes, of course they do, that is the very nature of a solo. A solo occurs when one person sings to a group of other people. Does that fit the description of the command “speaking to one another”? No, if that were what the Holy Spirit wanted to authorize He could have said, “one speaking to the others.” However, He termed it in such a way as to require each one speaking to each other one, congregational singing. Therefore, solos cannot fulfill the command to sing, “speaking to one another,” “teaching and admonishing one another,” in the general assembly. It can be very simply written as follows:
1. The Bible commands “speaking to one another” (Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16).
2. Solos require some to remain silent.
3. Therefore, solos cannot fulfill the command to “speak to one another.”
Since points one and two are both true, the conclusion must be true. And, thus, the Bible would answer “No” to the question, “Can we have someone standing up during the Worship and solo (singing Psalm)?”
Let me also add this: It does not matter whether we are in the Sunday worship service, a home devotional, or any other setting where spiritual songs are being sung, solos are wrong when it comes to offering up spiritual songs in worship to God (this doesn’t mean, of course, that a person cannot sing spiritual songs when he is alone because he is not permitted to solo; since a solo is one person singing to a group of other people, someone singing in solitude would not fit the definition of soloing). Singing spiritual songs is an act of worship no matter where or when it is done, and therefore it must be done according to the biblical pattern. Paul and Silas were not in the Sunday worship service when they were singing in prison at midnight yet we still do not see Paul singing to Silas while Silas remained silent, or Silas soloing to Paul. They were both singing together! We need to make sure that we don’t get the idea that, as long as we are not in the assembly on the Lord’s Day, we can engage in acts of worship differently than we would in the assembly. We must worship in spirit and truth no matter where or when we worship!
Thank you for your question. We pray that we have adequately shown the biblical answer. If you have any further questions or comments regarding what the Bible says on this issue please don’t hesitate to ask.
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