But the broader context shows that singing also strengthens unity in the church. This verse is often cited to show that singing is a rich tool for spiritual growth-and it is. Paul told the church to harness music’s God-given power: “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” (Colossians 3:16). Each note they sang echoed as proof that the waters of baptism are stronger than the bonds of blood, nationality, ethnicity, and language. Russian missiles were exploding over Ukraine, but no war could silence these sisters in Christ, united in their conviction that Jesus is the true King of kings. I had no clue that years later I would hear fellow Christians from Eastern Europe lead a hall of thousands in this same song of hope. Nearly ten years ago, I wrote a new melody and additional lyrics to Ada Habershon’s hymn of assurance, “He Will Hold Me Fast.” My reason for rearranging the song was personal: its message, that God’s sustaining grace is stronger than our fickle faith, ministered deeply to me during a season of doubt. Seated at the piano on one of music’s most hallowed stages, the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, TN, I played along as two believers, Milena Kabodko and Elizabeth Klimchuck, lifted their voices together in the same song-one in Ukrainian, the other in Russian.Īmazingly, the song they sang was one I knew well. It is a reality as ancient as the New Testament church. The 20th century brought unprecedented growth in the amount of music produced and preserved for posterity, but this same period also saw the highest war-related death toll in history.įor Christians, though, the notion that long-time enemies could exchange their weapons for musical instruments is not a far-fetched dream. A popular bumper sticker declares, “Make music, not war.” It’s a nice thought, but this idealistic sentiment may seem naïve in a world where bloodshed shows no sign of slowing down.
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