Preaching to the Choir. What's a choir????

Preaching to the Choir? What’s a Choir?
Category: Religion and Philosophy

I've been trying to define a "choir"'s role in the church.  It is not as easy as it sounds.  What, truly, is the choir's job?  What are they responsible for?  Who are they responsible to?  Why do we have/need a choir?

I was pondering this outloud to Chris tonight when a particular old saying popped into my mind from nowhere (ok, so I don't truly believe it came from nowhere).

"Preachin' to the choir."

It was spoken quietly in my subconscious.  Not yelled, not demonstrated, yet quietly led to the forefront of my mind.  Where did the saying "preaching to the choir" come from?  What does it mean?

Well, one person on yahoo answers defined the saying as "...a reference made to indicate someone is giving unneeded advice. Usually the choir is the most religious part of a church, and preaching to them is a waste of time, since its not the healthy that need to be cured, its the sick..."

Hmm...what do you think?  Is the choir the most religious part of the church?  Should the choir be?  I wholeheartedly answer YES, THEY'D BETTER BE! 

The church choir is responsible for presenting the gospel in song to the congregation.  It is responsible for LEADING the congregation in true worship.  It is responsible for ministering to the broken-hearted, down-trodden, people sitting in the congregation.  The choir is an evangelistic ministry that individuals are called to.

Wow!  Does this change the way you view your church choir?  What about your own personal decision whether to be in the church choir or not?

Have we allowed the church choir to be a group where Christians can demonstrate their "talents" for praise?  Have we allowed the church choir to become a group that we shame/beg to people to join because that's the way it's always been? 

People, the choir is not something you should "choose" to do or not to do.  Singing in the choir is something you are either CALLED (by GOD) to do or not.  When a group of people called a church choir gather on a platform, it should be with the intent of praising God with their whole being in effort to encourage others to do the same.  It is not a platform to build yourself up on, make yourself feel good on, or show off your new suit.  The platform is for praisin' and preachin' and pride needs to take a seat in the congregation.

Whew!  I didn't know I felt so passionately about that!  I'll step down from my soapbox until another day!  God's been talking to me....I'm trying to listen and understand what He's telling me....

Cat

Let us run with ENDURANCE the race that is set before us; looking only unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. Hebrews 12:1a-2b