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Singing is a manly and powerful means of leadership. Throughout history, men have led others in work, warfare, and worship with their singing.
Men sing as they lead others to work. A beautiful example of this is the singing of Welsh coal miners who would sing hymns together on their way to the mines through the first half of the twentieth century. The valleys could be heard resounding with hymn tunes such as “Bryn Calfaria” and “Cwm Rhondda.” Theirs was purposeful singing. It helped them, and those around them, to endure the harsh conditions of the mines and grueling physical labor. This cultural phenomenon was beautifully portrayed in the classic 1941 film How Green Was My Valley and in a 1957 musical recording titled Music from the Welsh Mines, which featured a choir made up of Welsh miners. Annual Welsh male-choir festivals with hundreds of participants still bear witness to the impact of generations of men singing while they work.
Men sing as they lead into battle. When King Jehoshaphat sent his army against the enemies of Israel, we are told that he
appointed those who were to sing to the Lord and praise him in holy attire, as they went before the army, and say, “Give thanks to the Lord, for his steadfast love endures forever.” And when they began to sing and praise, the Lord set an ambush against the men . . . who had come against Judah, so that they were routed. (2 Chron. 20:21–22)
This event demonstrates that the Israelites acknowledged God’s sovereignty in their victory, even before their victory was realized. It is key for us, as people of God, to acknowledge the Lord with our worship as we fight our present spiritual battles. Those who study human behavior and its effects on the mind and body are just scratching the surface of the benefits of singing in terms of fighting anxiety, depression, and stress. How much more does singing benefit us in fighting sin and spiritual apathy. God doesn’t always tell us why He commands us to do something, but I’m convinced that God commands us to sing for our own good and to sustain us in the fight.
Men sing as they lead into worship, both public and private. Worship is not all that different from warfare. In our worship, we declare our allegiance to the triune God in the face of principalities and powers, seen and unseen—the world, the flesh, and the devil—all of which compete for our worship. As with our use of any weapon, our singing in worship must be skillful, confident, and wholehearted. Martin Luther said, “We should not ordain young men into the ministry unless they have become well acquainted with music in the schools.” Historically, seminaries took great care to provide future pastors with thorough musical training. Men preparing for ordained ministry would do well to be able to read music and sing hymns. They can also benefit from a background steeped in hymnology and from being immersed in hearing and singing the music of the church over the centuries. The church is weakened in its worship when there is ignorance in these matters.
My beloved childhood pastor, Harold Kelley, just went home to be with the Lord last year. In addition to being a sharp theologian and church historian who had studied under the revered theologian John Gerstner, Pastor Kelley was a seasoned musician. Not only did he sing solos at many weddings that he officiated, but he led generations of youth choirs at his church and traveled with them on music-ministry tours. On occasion, he was known to have his congregants sing the same hymn a second time. He would say: “You didn’t sound like you really meant that. Let’s sing it again!” It is no surprise that his congregation sang the roof off the church when they sang their hymns.
There is something uniquely compelling about men singing the faith. The history of church music is dominated by choirs of men and boys. Britain is especially known for these choirs, but there are historic and renowned choirs of men and boys that still exist around the world. When I was in Bible college, I had the privilege of singing in a men’s choir. We conducted music-ministry tours and sang a variety of sacred music in worship services and concerts. Many from our number went on to be pastors and lay ministry workers around the globe. A number of years later, one former choir member remarked to me that he had learned more about ministry from being a part of that choir than from any other single experience.
Like fingerprints, voices are unique. Our fathers’ voices in particular have power in our lives, for good or for ill. Whether they have praised or disciplined us, comforted or shamed us, each of us can recall the sound of his father’s voice. A father’s singing is a dynamic means of discipleship within his family. His children will not forget his singing. It is contagious and unforgettable, whether he sings meaningless lyrics from the 1980s or psalms and hymns with his family at church and during family worship in his home. Men who sing the faith with their families are preparing them for a life of work, warfare, and worship.
Christian men sing in the face of death. This is witnessed in the stories of the martyrs and in the everyday deaths of the saints as they encounter their final battle. At the end of life, when he is no longer able to sing, the man who has led his family in song will have a rich repertoire at hand and will have prepared himself well for the eternal song of the saints of God in heaven.