“A thing of beauty is a joy forever: its loveliness increases…it will never pass into nothingness,” John Keats
Deo Cantamus is an organization founded on one simple yet profound statement...
-We sing for God-
On the surface, this statement could be seen as something as equally effective and meaningful as “We sing sacred music" or “We sing about our Christian faith.” However, when asked to reflect on my experiences participating in this wonderful ensemble, I realized that this statement carries a depth that is incredibly humbling. It is a statement of what we do, but, having been in almost every rehearsal and concert for over a decade, I realize that it is also a promise. It is a promise that has been kept year in and year out for decades, and will continue to be upheld as we prepare to sing Movements II and III of Handel's Messiah this spring. It is a promise that holds with it a great weight and incredible reward; but before I get into that, I want to break down this maxim to help expound on what I mean.
“…We are laborours together with God…” 1 Corinthians 3:9a
We, the members and participants of the chorale, come from just about every walk of life imaginable. I have made friends with lawyers, students, mothers, fathers, pastors, and performers while participating in this ensemble. What is the unifying theme from each one of them? The thing that brings them back year after year? A desire to worship the Lord Jesus Christ and give to him a song of praise for all he has done for us. What astounds me every season is the unifying Spirit every member shares as we offer up our talents for the cause and glory of His name. Every time we come together, I feel as though I catch a glimpse into glory. I am reminded of the prayer Christ made for us in John 17:2123 “that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in Me and I in Thee, that they also may be one in Us: that the world may believe that Thou hast sent Me.” When I sing with Deo, I see the oneness that Christ prayed for. That oneness is a perpetual encouragement made accessible through His spirit and the shared worship of God through the sanctified medium of music. We are one in Christ.
“Sing unto Him, sing psalms unto Him: talk ye of all his wondrous works. Glory ye in his holy name: Let the heart of them rejoice that seek the LORD.” Psalm 105:2-3
Singing is the oldest form of music; the oldest form of worship. All throughout scripture we see the people of God lifting their voices to the heavens in song. Moses sang, Deborah sang, Hannah sang, David sang, Solomon sang, Mary sang, Paul sang. Even Jesus sang a hymn before he left for the Mount of Olives. Why did they sing? I would argue that, regardless of the circumstances, to simply speak would not have been enough. These men and women of scripture sang as our example. In war, in peace, in joy, in torment, they sang! In Deo Cantamus, I have sung about the martyrdom of William Tyndale, the resurrection of Christ, the victory of the cross, and the pain of my own sin. In all of this I have seen that singing is a gift of the heart. It is an extension of our voice beyond what we can say with mere words. It has the ability to memorialize the truth of God in a menagerie of melodies, harmonies and litanies, giving us discernment in all matters, eternal and material. A song is a gift we can give back to God to show our gratitude, our love, our humility, our joy, and our faith. In Psalm 104:33 David says, “I will sing unto the Lord as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.” We sing because God is worthy of it above all else!
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” John 3:16
This verse lies at the heart of Christianity. The Gospel, the good news, is that Jesus Christ died, so that we could have our sins forgiven, so that we could live in communion with God for all eternity. To fathom the love of God is to try to pinch infinity. It is so far beyond my comprehension, and yet He remains steadfast and true. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Regardless of how many times I fail, God’s love still remains. 1 John 4:19 says “We love him, because he first loved us.” If you have experienced the love of God, you are compelled to respond in kind. That, I believe, is why we do what we do. Why we sing for God. In 2 Corinthians 5:15 Paul writes, “and that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” It is within the very nature of the redeemed to live for Him and give Him all that we can offer, and it has been embedded in the heart of Deo Cantamus to do just that. Prayer, bible lessons, and godly fellowship are seen in every season, rehearsal, and performance. The mission that Deo Cantamus endeavors to serve is sincerely sanctified for His honor and for His glory.
I mentioned earlier that the promise of Deo Cantamus comes with a weight. What I am describing is not a burden, but rather a unique responsibility. All those who are saved are part of the body of Christ. As such, we all have a role to play, a function to fulfill, or a station in which to serve. God designed us all specifically for his purpose and He does not make mistakes. The role that I have found myself in and the one that I share when I am singing with Deo is the responsibility of leading genuine worship. Worship that is Christ-centered, rooted in truth, and sung with a sincere heart and to the best of my ability. Worship that allows the Holy Spirit to encourage, to convict, to inspire, or reprove. That cannot happen if I put myself before Him. Singing in Deo Cantamus has consistently reminded me that He comes first. I have had many opportunities while singing with Deo that have improved my skill, my musicianship and my confidence in my talents. However, I am always humbled at the words of our director, Al Hawkins, who regularly states, “We sing for an audience of one.” The responsibility of Deo is exactly that, to give our best to Him.
There is a commonly referenced verse when it comes to this subject. Ephesians 5:19: “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in you heart to the Lord"; comprehensive proof that singing is sanctioned by God and should be practiced regularly. However, seldom is it also spoken in tandem with the following verses which say, “giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ; submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.” Those last two verses remind us to focus our singing towards gratitude and that we are to have an attitude of submission toward one another. That is the responsibility we bear as singers in Deo Cantamus. To sing in submission to others, and not for myself. I have learned that whenever I sing for God, to remove myself so that Christ can be seen.
That being said, the nature of many responsibilities comes with many inherent rewards. To count the blessings I have received while singing with Deo would be a daunting task. From the joy and laughter we share in rehearsals, to the wonderful homes into which I have been welcomed, the memories I have made while participating in this choral have been tremendous. To state it another way, there is little that compares to the euphoria I experience when joining in song with my fellow believers and giving praise to our Creator. There have been moments that have changed me ineffably. Moments of pure beauty that have affected me so deeply, I can only attribute its effects to presence of God. I believe that when the people of God come together with a pure heart to give the best of their talents to his service, God is greatly pleased. That is why I am incredibly excited to sing Messiah on April 12.
In my undergrad, I sang Handel’s Messiah four times. Every time there were two consistent experiences that have stayed with me. First, was the immense amount of truth embedded in one of the most brilliant masterworks of the choral arts the world has ever known. From the orchestration to ornamentation, the gospel story is painted thoroughly and vividly. Secondly, I remember singing about the truth of God's word, next to souls who could not discern the eternal value that they held. Every “Halleluiah Chorus” I sang brought tears to my eyes as I imagined Christ's glorious resurrection, while singing next to college friends who had publicly denounced God. My heart would ache when I would sing about God's refining fire while looking out on a crowd of lost souls. I believe that the message and music of the Messiah when sung by a chorus of true believers will be one of the most memorable experiences of my life to date. I pray it will be used of God greatly for the glory of his kingdom.
Over the last ten years of singing with Deo Cantamus I have learned the true depth of what it means to “sing for God." It means to offer up one's voice as a sacrifice of praise in an effort to bring God glory and encourage others in a closer walk with Him. It is one of my sincerest privileges to have to opportunity to serve God and others through the opportunities made through Deo Cantamus; opportunities that I pray will continue to reach generations.
~ Ray Graybar