After participating in the dedication of the Rangi New Testament last August, I was blessed with an hours-long drive with a missionary friend Jared, and Anderson, a Tanzanian Christian and devoted choir member. We got to talking about many things, including church music. To my delight, Anderson encapsulated in a few short statements some of the reasons we Christians are to be a singing people. I want to share his statements exactly as he said them (English being his third language), elaborate briefly on each one, and give a song as an example. I hope his words will impact and bless you as they did me.

Singing touches inner more than words. We absolutely need to feed our minds with doctrine, biblical knowledge, and good books. And yet, sometimes it takes well-crafted lyrics set to uplifting music to help bring these glorious truths to our “inner” and stir the emotions. Love, not knowledge per se, is the point of following our Lord, and singing helps bring all of our worship to that point. Sing “O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus” several days in a row to encourage your heart in the Gospel.

Singing is refresh. Music and song refresh us as we listen—even more as we sing—and help direct our attention where it needs to be. If you develop a memory bank of internalized hymns and songs, those lyrics and melody will come to mind from time to time to express a feeling welling up inside that would otherwise have been difficult to put to words. “Glorious Things of Thee Are Spoken” refreshes my spirit through its confidence, hope and imagery.

Singing helps feel close to God. As we sing praises and commune with the Lord, it can help us feel his presence more closely. This is a biblical idea stemming all the way back to the Old Testament “school of the prophets,” where music was taught as an aid to prophecy (glimpses can be had in 1 Samuel 10:5-6, 2 Kings 3:15, and elsewhere). The Psalmist also tells us that “The Lord inhabits [is enthroned on] the praises of his people” (Psalm 22:3). A song that helps me know that I am child of God is “Be Thou My Vision.”

Singing helps forget the things worrying. One of the primary ways the New Testament speaks of music is as an aid to putting on the new self and putting off the old self (see Ephesians 5 and Colossians 3). Philippians 4 does not directly say to make music, but one great way to rejoice, give thanks, pray, and forget anxiety is to sing! If you are worried, sing “Blessed Assurance.”

Busy: go away in the name of Jesus. Anderson’s choir regularly takes the time to travel to smaller churches to help with worship, and they’ve even released a recording. One of the original songs on the release is “Busy: Go Away.” Apparently, busyness is not just an American problem! As we drove together, Jared played their recording of the song for me. I was convicted of worrying more about the stuff of life than taking time to sing to the Lord. “Praise to the Lord, the Almighty” (based on Psalm 103) is a wonderful way to reset the mind on the goodness of God.

If you are the kind of person who likes an action item, choose five or six hymns for regular listening and singing (I find that hymns stick in the memory so much better over the long term because of their rich poetical structure). As you meditate on those gospel truths set to song, they will pop into your head at unexpected times, giving voice to the delight of your heart.

View pictures from Paul's mission to Tanzania.