And So We Sing
Christian worship takes many forms—it’s not just about singing. But there is something special that happens to us when we sing, and when that singing is offered as worship to God that ‘something special’ compounds. Jules Badger explores the science of singing and the Creative Genius behind it.
Some of us love to sing, but others, not so much. Some of us have a natural talent for singing, while many of us can barely bring ourselves to sing aloud in the shower in case someone hears! There are also those of us who love going to church to worship God through singing, and then there are those of us who intentionally arrive a little late to reduce the wait until the sermon starts—you know who you are!
To be clear, listening attentively and with an open heart to the message is just as much worship as the singing, the prayers, the offering and the fellowship after the service. There is value and distinction in each of these components of corporate Christian worship. But when it comes to the very act of singing itself, science reveals some interesting surprises.
The science of singing
Singing aloud activates the limbic system—our brain’s emotional centre. Dopamine and serotonin are released when we sing, which gives our mood a natural lift. Singing also has physical benefits. When we sing, our breathing naturally deepens, which slows our heart rate and reduces the production of cortisol, the body’s stress hormone. Singing also stimulates the vagus nerve, which strengthens the body’s relaxation response, producing a feeling of calm. Many who sing in choirs testify to experiencing a sense of wellbeing and peace. But when our singing becomes worship, something profoundly holistic takes place within us.
The wonder of worship
When we sing worship to God, our brain and body engage in an integrated response that is also cognitive. Worship stimulates the prefrontal cortex of our brain, which is the part of us that blends meaning and intention. This is why what we sing also matters. Spiritual reflection is an important part of worship, helping ground us in the present moment. Worship shifts our focus from ourselves to God; from what we might be struggling with to who God is.
Corporate worship takes things to another level altogether. As our focus shifts from ourselves to God, corporate worship also invites us to become aware of those singing with us—there’s a social implication. Hearing others sing (however badly) makes us mindful that we are not alone but part of something. As we sing our shared beliefs together, a sense of belonging both to God and to a community of faith can create a unity of spirit not experienced anywhere else.
All of this, of course, is both the work of the God who created us and the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Perhaps the true wonder of worship is that it’s both a response to who God is and what He’s done, and a choice on our part to bring our whole selves before God. And while worship is so often easier to embrace when all is well in our lives, let’s be brutally honest: there are times when worship is hard—near impossible even. Life’s challenges, agonies and sin can at times overwhelm even the most ardent worshipper. Surely the solution to our struggles can’t be as simple as just singing our way through. But what if it is that simple? What if this is where faith and science meet most profoundly and powerfully?
And so we sing
God knows the complexity and interconnectedness of our body, mind and spirit because He designed us! All this wonderful science is, of course, swallowed up within God’s creative genius. Let that sink in. God knows how all this works! Which is why we were created to worship. It’s not just something we do, but a space where our humanity and God’s divinity intermingle. It’s not just about worshipping Him, but what happens within us, by God’s loving design, as we do.
So the call to worship instead of worrying, to worship through seasons of waiting—and even to allow our weeping and deepest sorrow to be an act of worship—these are all part of God’s loving design. Whether song lyrics are drawn from Scripture, church tradition and theology or the testimonies of experience from spiritual pilgrims, worship songs can profoundly disarm us as new truths take root in our mind and spirit.
The repetition and memorisation of lyrics rewire our neural pathways toward God’s character and will. This kind of deep transformation takes time. Worship is not a quick fix for our problems, but rather a process God invites us into that slowly bears fruit over time.
Continuing to worship anyway when times are tough is a powerful way to build, renew and increase our faith in God. Sung worship is one way we can partner with God in our own discipleship, healing and spiritual formation. That God designed it this way on purpose speaks of His deep love for us, and His grace and mercy towards us.
And so we sing, as God’s people have always done, and as we will do forever when God’s kingdom comes in all its fullness.
