One of the most heartwarming sights in a church service is seeing children participate in worship by singing to the rest of us. This practice not only enhances the generational worship experience but also reflects and represents the age divisions within the body of Christ. It’s important to explore why encouraging children to sing in worship is beneficial for both the children themselves and the church community as a whole from a biblical perspective.
Singing is Certainly Called for
One of the clearest passages that call for the inclusion of singing in our corporate experience is found in Ephesians 5:19. This verse encourages us to: "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord." This directive emphasizes the role of music and singing in fostering community bonds among believers while also expressing devotion to God. It supports the idea of a shared and participatory form of worship where everyone is involved even when “one” is singing “to another”, or one is listening to another who sings. When we think about who should be allowed to sing in worship, it’s useful to ask ourselves a few questions: Must we always sing exclusively congregational songs? Do we allow solos? like Miraim’s post-Jordan crossing solo with accompanied dance, where she calls out, "Sing to the LORD, for he is highly exalted...” Or King David, known for his skill with the harp and his poetic soul. While his Psalms were often performed by Levite choir groups in the Temple, David's personal role in their composition and in their initial performance were commendable contributions to worship as solos even from a young age (2 Samuel 23:1-2). Should we prevent a child from performing this way? Similarly, why should children be excluded if we allow other groups to sing to the congregation? Throughout the Bible, different groups worshipped in songs together and some sang songs individually. If adults can sing to one another and to God, shouldn’t children be challenged with the same experience?
Biblical Support for Children in Worship
The Bible provides clear evidence that children’s voices in worship are not just acceptable, but are celebrated. Take, for example, Psalm 8:2, which says, "Out of the mouth of babies and infants, you have established strength because of your foes." This verse highlights that even the youngest among us can offer praise of God’s power and strength. Jesus himself affirmed this when he cited this very Psalm in Matthew 21:16. In this passage, children were singled out in the temple as they were praising Jesus. When the chief priests and teachers of the law express their displeasure, Jesus uses this passage to remind them that scripture supports children's praise: “Yes; have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise’?” This shows that Jesus not only accepted but also openly warrants children's involvement in public expressions of worship of Him. It would also offer children (even infants) as a special case of those who may not have professed faith in Christ yet but are still welcomed to praise God.
Performance in Worship may be the Problem
The theatrics of mega-church productions should give us pause in worship-time performances. The term "perform" always means music played or sung before an audience and is done anywhere music is offered. However, sometimes in our culture it carries connotations of entertainment or of a show that departs from the biblical presentation of musical worship. Whether played on an instrument or sung by a choir, each act of worship is done first for the Lord and then for the others in the congregation. It could be done as a solo, an instrumental, a group singing and/or playing, or simultaneous congregational singing of the whole. In the English Standard Version (ESV) of the Bible, the term "performed" is generally not used to describe musical worship. The ESV tends to use words like "sing," "make music," or "play" when referring to musical expressions in worship contexts. The language used aims to reflect the act of creating music or singing as a form of worship, rather than the concept of "performance" in a modern entertainment sense. For example, passages that discuss music in a worship context often use verbs that focus on the act of making music as a direct form of worship or praise, such as in Ephesians 5:19 ("singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart") and in Colossians 3:16 ("singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God"). So, in this sense should children “perform”? No. But it doesn’t have to be a “performance”.
The Role of Children in Worship
The active participation of children in worship through singing is not just a delightful thing to watch but a profound embodiment of biblical principles of praise. By involving our youngest members in such a meaningful way, we not only adhere to scriptural mandates like those in Matthew, Ephesians, and Psalms but also cultivate a vibrant, generational community of believers. This practice affirms that everyone, regardless of age, has a valuable role to play in glorifying God. Therefore, as we continue to embrace and encourage the musical expressions of children within our services, we are not merely performing a routine; we are nurturing a generation of believers who find joy and purpose in praising their Creator. Let us then champion this cause with enthusiasm and commitment, for in doing so, we are building up the church not only for today but for the future.