Why the Church Must Sing — and How We Can Sing Better Together

September 1, 2025

Many know that I care deeply for the songs chosen to sing during corporate gatherings. I also care that we are, in fact, actually singing, and that is something I don’t always express. Having sung and being around singing most of my life, it’s something that is rooted in me and not just in worship. Follow me or my family around for an afternoon and you’re sure to hear one of us randomly singing lyrics to a song or even just random things. Really, the number of times my children hear me singing, “Zoey, Zoey, Zoey” or “Ava, Ava, Ava” is probably alarming. The point is – singing is a natural part of my life.

But here’s the thing – what feels so natural to me doesn’t always feel natural to the church today. In fact, over the past 30 years, congregational singing has quietly declined. People are less likely to join in, men are often more reserved, and certain age groups are more hesitant.

That raises big questions:

• Why are people singing less?
• Is it actually important to sing in church?
• How can we help our congregations find their voice again?

The Bible Says We Were Made to Sing

We were made to sing. Songwriters Keith and Kristyn Getty share in their book, Sing! How Worship Transforms Your Life, Family and Church:

“Your ability to sing is fearfully and wonderfully made.

Around the twelve-week mark, the vocal cords of a baby

growing in the womb are in place and have been shown to

work long before the baby is born. We may sound different,

but each of us has the same vocal apparatus—breath flowing

up from our lungs, vibrating through vocal cords in our

throat, and pushing sound out through the articulators of

our mouths, tongues, and lips. Singing is not merely a happy

by-product of God’s real intent of making us creatures who

can speak. It is something we’re designed to be able to do.”

Humans are commanded to sing. There are several references in Scripture to singing.

Psalm 149:1 says:

“Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, his praise in the assembly of the godly!”

Psalm 71:23 reminds us:

“My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to you.”

Colossians 3:16 says:

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”

God’s command to sing is given to everyone – not just those who can carry a tune. We sing not because we’re musically gifted, but because we were created and commanded to. Our voices, imperfect as they are, are instruments for His glory.

Why People Aren’t Singing Anymore

After looking at research and reflecting on the years I’ve spent leading worship, here are some of the most common barriers:

1.  Too many new songs introduced too quickly.

While I was in seminary, the American Church had the appetite to learn 12-18 new congregational songs each year. The average attendance for church goers was also greater during that time. Nowadays, Americans are attending church 1.3 times per month on average. Less time participating in worship gatherings leads to decreased familiarity with songs simply by nature that people are in church less. Gradually, 12-18 new songs each year has decreased to 8-10.

2.  Song keys that are too high or low for the average voice.

The rise of Christian Contemporary Music in the last 30 years has significantly impacted the singability of songs. In good and bad ways, the music industry has changed songs created for our worship services. The heart behind songs may be pure and well intending for our churches, but often the music industry’s formulas for success push songs beyond what an average singer can sing, whether it’s too high or low, or even too complicated.

3. Volume issues – too loud or too quiet.

Volume in a church is like porridge in the Three Bears’ home – too loud, too quiet, and just right. People’s perception of just right is subjective, and unfortunately, some may decline to sing if it’s not just right.  

4. A cultural decline in group singing outside church.

If you stop to think about the last time you sang outside of church, where do you find yourself? The 7^th Inning Stretch at a Twins game? Maybe a concert? A friend’s birthday? Your shower? Singing used to be more communal, especially in school. I don’t know how long budget cuts have impacted The Arts in schools, but I do know that even I had to decide between choir, band, and other options known as “electives” in the 2000s. The point is – there are less opportunities to sing in groups outside of the church.

5.  Fear of being heard or of having an “unworthy” voice.

I’m sure this last reason for a decline in singing has always been a reason for some people through the ages. The reality is that when people aren’t confident in something, they usually opt not to do it.

In short: Many people want to sing but need help overcoming obstacles.

The Three Types of Singers in Your Church

Dr. Will Bishop, Associate Professor of Music & Chair of Graduate and Worship Studies at William Carey University, recently concluded a study on congregational singing. In it, he defines three groups of singers found in the American Church.

1. Always Singers – They’ll sing no matter what.

They may be involved in music ministry, feel connected to God through music, and are generally quick at learning songs. These folks hear a room full of music and want to join in.

2. Never Singers – They prefer to listen and may never join in.

They prefer to listen to the people around them and meditate on the words of songs. Many don’t like their voice or musical skill and some don’t feel they connect to God through singing. These folks hear a room full of music and want to listen.

3. Conditional Singers – They’ll sing if the environment helps them feel comfortable.

“Conditional Singers” are folks who may or may not sing based on the conditions around them. They are more likely to sing if they know and like a song, find a song singable, and if people around them are singing and worshiping. Some may even sing if the room has right amount of volume – not too loud or quiet.

I don’t share the three categories above to validate why anyone should or should not sing. It’s simply a reality of how people engage in congregational singing. I should also say – just because someone isn’t singing, doesn’t mean they won’t. It’s important never to make assumptions about how someone is engaged or how God is working in someone’s heart.

However, regardless of where anyone may be among these groups identified by Bishop, Scripture still remains clear that we are created and commanded to sing. And so, the primary task for a worship ministry is to focus on things that will support congregational singing.

How Our Worship Ministry Focuses to Support Congregational Singing

As a worship ministry, our role is not to perform songs – it’s to help our church sing them. That means making intentional choices that prioritize participation, accessibility, and unity. Here’s how we have focused on this and how we will continue to focus moving forward.

1. Choosing Songs with the Congregation in Mind

We select songs with the congregation’s voice in mind – this means, as often as possible, choosing song keys that are singable, melodies that are memorable, and lyrics that are biblically rich. An important question may be: Can the average person in our church sing this with joy and confidence?

2. Keeping a Manageable Song Rotation

Over the years, it’s natural for the number of songs in regular rotation to grow. We will trim down the total number of songs we sing in a year, so that our congregation can really own them. This will help everyone, from our “Always Singers” to our “Conditional Singers,” feel more comfortable and confident joining in. Outside of a primary rotation, we will still include memorable songs from years past along with bringing in new songs or special music during moments of prayer and reflection.

3. Introducing New Songs Intentionally

When we bring a new song, we strive to do so with care. We often share new songs ahead of time, whether it’s via social media, email or weaving it into pre-service music. Additionally, we will continue to repeat new songs more often through the first two months to help it become familiar in our worship services.

4. Balancing Volume for Confidence and Connection

We aim for sound levels that allow people to hear and be encouraged by each other’s voices, while still providing enough support for those who feel self-conscious. We objectively consider factors like safe decibel levels, room size and what’s happening on platform to help maintain a healthy range of volume throughout the entire service.

5. Providing Opportunities to Only Use Our Voices

Songwriters, on occasion, include softer moments in songs to highlight our voices singing together. Sometimes, it’s even A Capella, which essentially means singing without any instrumental support. We will continue to include these moments, and even create them where they don’t exist, so that we can have times during our services where our voices are heard above all else.

6. Rooting Every Song in Scripture

We will continue to take time to connect our songs to the Word, reminding ourselves why we are singing – not just what we are singing. Worship is a response to Truth, and Truth gives us something worth singing about.

Our goal is simple: to help every person in our congregation – whether they’ve been singing for decades or haven’t sung a note in years – find their voice in the presence of God and among His people.

A Call to Sing

Congregational singing isn’t a nostalgic tradition – it’s a biblical command and a spiritual necessity. Singing unites us, teaches us, and declares the Gospel to each other and to the world.

Let’s create spaces where the “Always Singers” keep leading the way, the “Conditional Singers” find their courage, and even the “Never Singers” can’t help but join in.

Not because the band is flawless.
Not because the songs are trendy.
But because the people of God have something worth singing about.