Evangelical Magazine May/June 2026

Have you ever wondered why we sing in worship rather than, for example, just chanting or reciting words together? One reason is that singing helps us to take in and remember the truths about which we sing. We can likely still sing the words to songs we learnt as children. But this can’t be the only reason we sing, as there are other methods for remembering, some of which are arguably better. So why do we sing?

Music and melody are powerful tools. They create within us moments of reverence and delight; they resonate with deep feelings of lament or sorrow. A well-crafted tune can help us feel joy, that very same joy that is expressed in the words we are singing. If music is part of God’s good creation, which it is, and if he designed it, which he did, then he has given us this incredible tool to sit along rich truths so that we may experientially encounter that of which we sing. We don’t sing merely to know the truth but to feel it as well.

In our evangelical circles, we are rightly cautious about emotionalism, where music manipulates emotions without anchoring them in truth. Yet, our caution shouldn’t rob us of allowing the music, accompanied by deep truths, to stir some experiential encounter within us of these truths. This comes by the Spirit as we’re pointed to the glory of God and the accomplished work of the Son. To borrow Stuart Olyott’s book title, in our sung worship, ‘something must be known and felt.’ Well-written words alongside appropriately moving melodies help bring head and heart together.

Because singing is such a big part of our church gatherings, we wanted to give some space in this edition to exploring the theme. Jonathan Stephen gives us a biblical foundation and Len Carolan provides practical guidance. Taking matters a little broader, Steff Job highlights the astonishing reality that God sings over his people, Paul Gamston helps us engage the lament psalms, and Ewan Jones ponders the place of ‘secular’ music. Alongside these, we have our ongoing series, several additional articles, and our reviews and updates. May God use it for his glory and our good.