Singing the Gospel and Raising the Roof

“ God-defiers are always in trouble;
God-affirmers find themselves loved
every time they turn around.

Celebrate God.
Sing together—everyone!
All you honest hearts, raise the roof!”
-Psalm 32 10–11 (The Message)


“Sing together… all you honest hearts, raise the roof.”

Far too often in churches, we feel content in our worship. When we sing, we feel like we have done enough for that week in terms of our “Jesus” life. We view singing as an action that is done either on a Sunday morning or in the car, alone, at a red light.

But, I don’t believe this is what the Psalmist is speaking of when he says, “Sing.” The action of singing isn’t just performed with music. Our LIVES should be singing. There are those in the world who need to hear the song of God, the gospel song. If we contain worship to an auditorium, we are falling short of what we were put on Earth to do. In the Great Commission, Jesus says that we should “Go out and make disciples of all nations.” This means taking our “gospel songs” out to the world. We need to be the hands and feet, and sometimes even the vocal cord of Love to people, locally and around the world.

The beautiful thing about music is that it transcends cultural and language barriers. In Costa Rica, our group sang songs with some great people from the surrounding villages. This area (named “Hell” from the locals) was bogged down by crime. Prostitution was rampant, as were drugs and violence. This was their way of life. A large proportion of the population was families. Kids. Children, created in the image of God, having to walk to school surrounded by these things. Yet, through all of it, these families keep hope. They don’t lose sight of their mission. They “sing” their gospels to their neighbors because they want everyone to sing with them, and experience the joy that they have found.

That, my friends, is the meaning of the gospel. WE should be a chorus, together and loud, singing the gospel (even if it’s a bit off key). May God grant you the courage to sing, not only at church and at red lights, but in the world that so desperately needs to hear the song of redemption, grace and love.

-Ben Langevin
Co-founder of Devo's Without Denominations