We have traced worship from the very beginning, through the time of the patriarchs, the Temple, and the synagogue, to the Reformation’s restoration of congregational psalm singing. My purpose in going back to the beginning has been to show that, ever since sin entered the world, mankind has been guided by one unchanging principle in the worship of God: God is holy and can only be approached as He has commanded. All false worship violates this principle. Throughout history, both Jews and Christians have often strayed from it, no doubt with good intentions, by adopting forms of worship that appeal to the flesh rather than honoring God. This is no different than the way of Cain.
Today, Psalm-singing churches are rare. Even those that do say they sing Psalms rarely include them and uninspired hymns outnumber Psalms. Those of us who attend one may feel hesitant or embarrassed to explain it to other Christians. When we do, we are often met with looks of shock or incomprehension. “Why would you do that?” they ask. “Don’t you like the sound of a guitar or a piano? Don’t you want to feel happy and sentimental during worship?” One Christian even told me, “I can’t do without the energy of my praise band.” Yet notably absent from these conversations is any mention of the content of the songs, the focus of the worship, or God’s commands.
The truth is sobering. God has often removed His presence even from those who profess faith in Him. When believers violate His holiness and neglect His commanded worship—improvising to suit their preferences—He withdraws His presence. This is a terrible consequence, greatly to be feared.
We understand this principle instinctively when dealing with an earthly ruler. Imagine standing before a king. Would you not take care to avoid offending him with anything he considers disrespectful? If you failed, he would withdraw his favor, and you might never be allowed in his presence again. How much more, then, should we approach the King of kings with reverence and obedience, worshiping Him only as He has commanded?
With God, we are often lazy. This isn’t just a modern issue—it’s a human problem that began with Adam and Eve. We fail to pay careful attention to God’s commands, preferring to do things our own way. As Christians, we might insist on freedom and reject Psalmody as legalistic. But Christian freedom means freedom from the ceremonial law. Ironically, to return Christians to the use of musical instruments is to return them to the ceremonial law.
The current form of this neglect has its roots in the Second Great Awakening. During that period, large crowds flocked to tent gatherings where popular music was played. These events often drew more attendees than the regular Sunday worship services. Church leaders reasoned, “Why not attract people to Sunday worship by offering the same kind of music they enjoy at the tent meetings?” And so began the transformation of Christian worship in America. Today, psalm singing has become rare. Even in Presbyterian churches, which historically championed psalmody, it is common to hear only one psalm on a Sunday—if any at all.
Do you remember the reasoning behind bringing idols into the Temple? Or the justification for building grand cathedrals with impressive organs as the place to worship God? I have referred to these as “good intentions,” but the truth is they are not good at all. They are of the flesh—sinful humanity’s attempt to tell God how He should be worshiped and what we think we need. Scripture is clear about God’s view of such worship. In Isaiah 1, Jeremiah 6, and Amos 5, God declares that He hates worship offered on human terms.
Why, then, is it so difficult, even for believers, to worship God with the songs He has given us? The Psalms are inspired by God Himself, far surpassing even the most heartfelt love song composed by a human lover for his beloved. Yet we treat them with disdain, as if they are inadequate. We feel “put upon” if told we should use them in worship instead of uninspired songs. We demand instruments to overpower the words, to stir our emotions, and to add energy, believing these things make worship better.
But God’s inspired songs need no enhancement. They teach us to approach Him in reverence and truth, and they direct our hearts toward His holiness and glory. The question is, will we humble ourselves to worship as He has commanded, or will we insist on telling Him what we think worship should be? They are the songs of redemption, the new song. Sing a new song not the old songs of the world.
Source: Worship in Spirit and in Truth, Owen Anderson (2025).