Paul said, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts unto God" (Colossians 3:16).
That word "admonish" (NOUTHETEO) means to put in mind or to warn according to Vines Expository Dictionary. Webster defines the word thusly: "To indicate duties or obligations or solicitious manner; to give friendly earnest advice or encourgement to."
Now I ask; Are those the things that happen when we sing or do we emphasize the correctness of, the beauty or even the participation of all to the exclusion of warning of duty or of obligation in a gentle, earnest way that encourages others? I'm afraid that many members of the Lord's church, either directly or by implication are espousing to "special music" or music that entertains or sounds good without much regard for what Paul commanded us to do in Colossians 3:16.
The question then is why do we have so many members of the Lord's church attending or otherwise supporting events that emphasize the beauty of the service instead of the duty of it? Why do I see advertisements of choirs, choruses, and quartets being a part of some services of the church? Could it be that people want to be entertained instead of being admonished?
It seems to me that what people are looking for is entertainment. Terms such as "I like it, It sounds so good, It feels right" all equate to entertainment. Much of the contemporary music that we hear at events like Jubilee, Diana Singing, and yes in many congregations of the Lord's people today must be exciting, enjoyable, pleasurable, and all those other terms. When we sing with these attributes in mind -- I'm afraid that we're not admonishing but entertaining and God is not pleased.
Our singing is to be directed to God and not to man. Yes we must do the very best that we can, we must edify one another as we sing but no where are we commanded to entertain one another in our song service.
May God help us to praise Him and to admonish one another in our singing.
~In Gospel Power, Anderson, Alabama, 11/30/97.