What about Praise Teams?

Introduction

1. A growing number of larger congregations are using praise teams in worship.

2. A praise team is anywhere from four to eight or more singers that lead the congregation in singing in perfect four part harmony as opposed to a single song leader.

3. They are supposed to provide balance to the singing, to enable the congregation to rapidly learn new songs, and get a better blend in the singing.

4. One of their own is quoted as saying, “Through the praise team those gifted musically, men and women, can use their gift from God to encourage, strengthen, exhort, inspire, and edify the body of believers” (Gateway Church).

WORSHIP VS. ENTERTAINMENT

1. First of all, is it necessary to please God?

   1. If it were, you would read about them in the NT. But, could they fall under the realm of expediency?

      1. Could we not be falling under Galatians 1:10 for this?

      2. Too, do we really need this in a large congregation?

      3. In all honesty, God never said we had to sound good, but should do our best to sing (John 4:24). We want to do that in all areas of worship. Too, many, if not most, use instruments to make the singing sound better.

   2. Members sing less.

      1. While those on praise teams want the congregation to sing more, usually those in the congregation sing less to listen to those in the praise team.

      2. Individual singing is what the two verses are speaking about (Eph.5:19; Col.3:16). Why don’t we leave well enough alone?

   3. It’s going the same way as drama.

      1. Congregations are using drama to illustrate their point.

      2. They point out that the prophets of old used visual aids in their preaching.

      3. Where in the NT did they ever do such?

      4. The drama has evolved into entertainment.

WHAT ABOUT SPECIAL SINGING?

1. Special groups known as choirs and solos.

   1. It’s hard to do one sin without the other.

   2. We should remember no one worships for us.

2. The pronouns are reciprocal in Ephesians 5:19.

   1. We have two present, passive, imperative Verbs: “be not drunken” and “be filled.”

   2. These are followed by four present, active, participles The fifth one “submitting yourselves is passive. Notice them: “Speaking,” “Singing,” Making melody” and “Giving thanks.”

      1. These are all called reciprocal, and thus to be done one with another.

      2. J.B. Lightfoot notes that the pronouns used give the idea of corporate unity.

      3. When the church as a whole sings, there is speaking one to another, when one group is active (the choir), and another group is passive (the listening audience), there is no interchange of action.

      4. Could one member take the Lord’s Supper for us while we sat there? If not, why not?

   3. Are there any biblical examples?

      1. 1 Corinthians 14:26 is used. What is it then, brethren? When ye come together, each one hath a psalm, hath a teaching, hath a revelation, hath a tongue, hath an interpretation. Let all things be done unto edifying.

      2. As a matter of fact, Rubel Shelly has stated, “The NT precedent is actually clearer for solo or small group singing than for congregational singing” (Lovelines, July 19, 1989).

      3. Were there those who had inspired songs? Possible. How did they learn them? They must have been taught. Once taught, the entire congregation joined in the singing (Ephesians 5:19). Let us not forget that this was in the infant state of the church.

WHAT IS THE REAL PROBLEM?

1. The same old problem.

   1. Wanting to be like the nations around about us. 1 Samuel 8:4-7 “⁴Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah; ⁵and they said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. ⁶But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto Jehovah. ⁷And Jehovah said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee; for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not be king over them.”

   2. I realize that not everything denominations do is wrong.

   3. We ought to ask for scriptural authority before adopting any practice.

2. What about the role of women?

   1. 1 Timothy 2:11-12.

   2. Sisters are taking the lead by doing the soprano lead in the song which the congregation follows.

   3. Are not the sisters before the congregation in a leadership matter in leading the worship? Of course they are.

3. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

   1. Out in the world we are always trying to think of a better/faster way in business. The new and improved product.

   2. But in the church, once we are there, we are not to go any further in the doctrine (1 Corinthians 4:6; 2 Timothy 1:13; 2 John 9).

Material adapted from outline by Mark Aites