When you're part of a new church plant, or a church with an inexperienced sound guy, chances are the worship music is going to be low quality. The speakers may pop, buzz, clip, zip, or blow, and I understand this can be a distraction. However, what if by the power of the Holy Spirit we could sing to God even when the sound quality stinks?
There’s quite a bit we could discuss about worship services...
Ever been to a worship night or a church service where the worship leader forgot a verse, or misplaced their capo? Let’s be honest. It’s pretty awesome, and it provides a good giggle. There’s no denying it’s distracting. It would do us well to learn how to push through distractions and sing out of obedience to God.
A lot of this music preference stuff has to do with our culture of consumerism. We usually go to church primarily to get something out of it for ourselves, even though this is selfish and unbiblical. Like it or not, getting hung up on the sound quality is one of those signs.
As a side note, some people don’t move at all when the worship songs begin. They don’t even stand, let alone sing with everyone. I’ve asked them why they don’t participate. One time, someone said they’re waiting to be moved by the Spirit to stand and sing. To which I responded by saying that sometimes we sing even though we don’t feel like it. We sing because God is worthy and because we are commanded to from Scripture.
What we are singing is undoubtedly more important than how it sounds. Polishing the tone, filtering the bass, and keeping strings in tune all have their place, but they are secondary. Worship leaders should strive to make it all sound as good as possible, but it’s not nearly as important as what lyrics we sing.
If the content of the music is truthful, biblical, and encouraging, it is absolutely possible to sing even if the sound system stinks.
In fact, it speaks to me when I see someone worship through the clipping and feedback. It says, “I’m too focused on God’s love to care too much about the speaker quality.” Even though the sound may stink, the great truth we sing enables us to participate in worship.
The quality of a worship service is not solely determined by the speaker quality. We should gather often to sing to our God out of obedience to him, because he is worthy. When the sound system gives an excuse to withdraw from participating, may we remember the truths we sing about and joyfully sing anyway.