THE MINISTRY OF THE CHOIR:

[PASTORAL, PREACHING AND PROPHETIC]

[REV’D CANON ‘BOLA OMODUN. ILORI]

INTRODUCTION

The word ‘Choir’ has several definitions but in general sense, it is simply a group of individuals
[choristers] trained to sing together. It may be sacred or secular; mixed or made up of males or
females alone. It could also be junior or adult choir. Architecturally, a choir [or quire] is that part
of a church building appropriated or set aside for singers – in the chancel. Ecclesiastically, a choir
is a group of Christian singers representing the Angelic Choir. The church choir does not
participate in worship for its own sake, but rather for the sake of the whole of the worshiping
people – the congregation. The choristers collectively lead the congregation of worshippers in
their song and contributes additional music as the liturgy or pattern of worship requires. Ideally
then, a choir should be a group of facilitators, rather than performers.

The choir has more to do with the pastoral ministry of the minister [the worship leader] than is
often acknowledged. Historically speaking, the choir has always been the minister’s right hand,
working in partnership with him in the pastoral, preaching and prophetic ministries. Yet few
pastors are ready to reap the fruit of such a partnership. Almost everyone in the pastoral ministry
has at one time or another been at odds with music or musicians. Many pastors believe out of
naïve and ignorant perception that it is his job is to preach while the choristers are to sing, each
in its own place in a mutually beneficent but separate endeavors.

In the case of the choir we grant the fact that singing is what it is all about. Quite frankly, the
ministry of the choir goes far beyond the singing “psalms, hymns and spiritual songs”. It reaches
down into the very heart of church life. It finds its center in being one with the pastoral leadership
of the worship of the church. To put it succinctly, the choir’s job is to support the pastor’s parish
ministry. While the pastor preaches on the pulpit, the choir preaches from the pews. The service
of the terrestrial choir is more direct at the Creator as it performs the same services as the celestial
choir. Pastoral duties of preaching and prophesying are directed to men and not God.

BIBLICAL BACKGROUND OF THE CHOIR MINISTRY

Historical precedents of priest [Old Testament pastors and worship leaders] and chorister
partnerships are well documented. Some of the most compelling of these are found in the Bible
itself. The Old Testament documents an organized, well-conceived plan for providing worship
leadership. The musicians were part of that plan, being given the specific task of ministering to
the Lord in music. They were of the priestly tribe of Levi. Each son of Levi (Gershom, Kohath, and
Merari) was represented throughout succeeding generations by those specifically appointed to
be musicians and music leaders. By the time of the building of the second temple (c. 515 BC),
there had emerged a threefold sacerdotal order—high priest, priest, and Levite. It is striking to
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note that the Levite musicians, no less than the priests, were set aside and consecrated as part
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of the tribe of Levi to do the work of the Lord in the temple and were supported materially in their

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 ministry by the other eleven tribes. They were “called-out” ones who shared a common spiritual
responsibility. Indeed, the musicians were minor clerics. The present day choirs are a chosen
generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people (1 Peter 2: 9-10). Having received
new life, we are all, simply put, ministers.

The choir stands in the gap between congregation and worship leader. It has a ministerial function
in the leadership of worship but is congregational in its makeup. It follows in the great Levitical
tradition, having a role to play which cannot be duplicated by any other ministry—it is unique.
Choristers are ministers of the gospel through songs. Choristers are the Levites of today, meant
to perform sacred duties in the house of God (Numbers 3:6-12). Levites were members of a
priestly tribe associated with the priesthood – they sang in the holy sanctuary and played different
musical instruments. Choristers are specially called by God to show forth His praise in no small
measure. A true Levite of today is not a pretender, but a true child of God. The Choir ministers
directly to God, while the Preacher ministers to the congregation.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CHOIR

The choir’s potential will not be realized unless both pastor and musicians are aware of the
purpose of such a body. The choir is a body called out and elected to serve as lay pastors, to
maintain a Christ-like attitude in all things. This is the choir’s first priority. It is the thing which more
than anything else determines success in ministry. One must have a right attitude toward God,
congregation, pastor, music, and musicians. This affords the responsibility for lifting up the pastor
in prayer, word, and deed and also enter into worship wholeheartedly with zeal and enthusiasm.
It is the duty of a choir to give life to the congregation, and enliven the worship service. The choir
must always listen and respond to the worship leader of the moment, to be attentive to everyone
and everything. During prayer the choir members should earnestly pray; during worship they
should visibly worship. To lead in the congregational singing of hymns, choruses, and spiritual
songs, the choir should be very alert and attentive and be prepared in rendition of other service
music, such as calls to worship, benedictions, and responses, among others. The leadership
should be able to listen attentively and visibly respond to the ministry of others: soloists, musical
groups, evangelists, and pastor.

A good, disciplined and well organized choir, will reflect on the worship life of the congregation
and the pastoral leadership of the minister. Nothing will aid a pastor’s sermon communication with
the congregation more than the example of a choir hanging on his every word, obviously being
edified and lifted up. A choir made up of unruly, quarrelsome, disinterested, unenthusiastic,
unresponsive, sleepy individuals, who feel that coming to the choir is just to sing and maybe
showcase their singing and performance skills is the only thing, and no further responsibility, is
grossly missing the point of its ministry. In such a case it would be better to do away with the choir.

The choir is a facilitator of worship. It seeks to show the congregation (under pastoral guidance)
the way to extend beyond the temporal and reach, if only briefly, a taste of the worship of heaven.
It exhibits a worship in spirit and in truth which encourages the congregation to do the same. One
can readily see then that the main function of the choir is to be the “show and tell” of worship. It
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takes the initiative, it inspires, it helps, and it leads. Individuals in the choir must be carefully and
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systematically taught their role. Such teaching is most effective when paced with the developing

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 experience of the choir as a whole. One must avoid the pitfall of believing that giving information
will automatically make the right things happen. The priorities and attitudes we wish to foster must
be made to be routine and are best learned as the music director shepherds the choir, carefully
and consistently, into maturing patterns of behavior.

PASTORAL MINISTRY OF THE CHOIR

The minister needs to nurture his relationship with the choir as co-workers in the Lord’s vine yard.
With his calling as chief pastor, it falls on the minister to gently establish the expectations he has
for the choir’s ministry. He can do this, of course, through the leadership of the choir. But what
cannot be delegated is his personal rapport with the choir, most notably in the area of a shared
ministry. The choir, as congregational/ministerial helper, needs to shoulder with the pastor
responsibility for the spiritual growth of the congregation. Having a common spiritual goal which
goes beyond mere music-making will cause the choir to blossom and flourish.

To the end of a mutual sharing of and identification with such a common spiritual goal, it is
important that regular times of intercessory prayer, with the pastor, especially prior to the service,
be part of the Sunday routine. It is also beneficial to engage in conversational dialogue concerning
items of mutual interest and concern. Living life in a caring relationship will heighten the corporate
sense of togetherness that nourishes true community. Nothing will so inspire the choir to do its
best as the “esprit de corps” generated by a pastor who demonstrably loves his choristers, listens
to them, and expects them to shake the rafters of heaven in their mutual quest for the spiritual
advancement of the congregation.

The choir is responsible for more than making music. It has potential for being a dynamo of
spiritual energy in the worship life of the church. Under pastoral guidance it can be a visible
microcosm of God’s dealings with the whole church, a channel of his grace and glory, and a
corporate respondent in the call to holy living and fuller commitment.

Let there be no misunderstanding. Hosts of musical things must be addressed by a prophetic

music ministry. But they all stem from a churchly orientation, quite apart from that of the stage
and concert hall. A shift in priority from musical performance to corporate worship leader will give
a perspective to church music-making that frees it from an uncompromising aestheticism and
from a nihilistic pragmatism. That is not to say musical ministry ought to silence criticism, but
rather that church music creativity ought to arise out of the ashes of musical pride and conceit. A
disciplined servant-leader makes the best church musician, and when coupled with a like attitude
on the part of the pastor, the combination is hard to beat.

PREACHING MINISTRY OF THE CHOIR

The pastor and his choristers together are co-workers, a model of how the body of Christ operates.
When the choir is used to its fullest potential in support of the pastoral ministry, only the Kingdom
gains. The duties of present day Levites are sacred; they are separated unto God. To restore the
lost glory, true Levites today should be ones devoid of worldly sentiments, selfishness, nepotism,
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discrimination and moral hazards – call it repugnant and recalcitrant (negative) attitude to duty.
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 They should be born again, controlled, governed and permeated by God’s love, where the Spirit
of God pleases to dwell.

More than an accompaniment of God’s Word, music is a carrier of God’s Word! In worship, music
should not be for entertainment and the mere pleasure of the ears, but for the declaration of God’s
Truth (cf. Deuteronomy 31:19; Colossians 3:16). Therefore, singing should be prioritized over
mere music without lyrics because the lyrics invoke our understanding. (Psalm 47:6-7, cf. 1
Corinthians 14:15). With this as starting point, worshipful singing must fulfil the following three
purposes:

- Music must be God-glorifying (Psalm 92:1). Moses declares, "The LORD is my strength
and song" (Exodus 15:2), and Isaiah joins in: "the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and
my song" (Isaiah 12:2).
- Music must be used for teaching (Colossians 3:16), with lyrics which are rich with the
wisdom of the word of Christ.
- Music must affirm the congregation in God’s Goodness and Righteousness. It helps the
children of God retain the things which He has done for them or which they have learnt,
so that they shall abundantly utter the memory of His great goodness, and shall sing of
His righteousness" (Psalm 145:7).

Anything contrary to these purposes is a perversion of music in the worship of God. So, great
caution must be exercised in the choice of music in the worship. While some argue that music by
itself is amoral (i.e. ‘not concerned with morality’), the way it is arranged and articulated can
represent worldly, heathen backgrounds and associations (cf. Daniel 3:7). Moreover, when music
is carelessly expressed, it will promote misconceived spiritual assurance (cf. Amos 5:23; 6:1, 5;
Isaiah 5:12).

Having laid down the principles for worshipful music, the pastor must delineate the prerequisites
for singing in the choir ministry as expressed in the Scripture, whereby the singer in the choir
ministry must be a saved person. The believers must be baptized (even if he or she is yet to be
confirmed). God does not want the wicked to take His Word in their mouth (cf. Psalm 50:16). The
singer must be filled with the Spirit, and have a commitment to gain understanding of God’s Word
(cf. Ephesians 5:18-19; 1 Corinthians 14:15). Finally, the singer must be skilled in singing (cf. 1
Chronicles 15:22).

Concerning the singer’s attitude in the choir ministry, the singer must be ready to be musically
trained (cf. 1 Chronicles 15:22), be spiritually prepared (cf. 1 Chronicles 15:12, 14) and be
completely devoted in the ministry of music – to the extent that those who are called to serve full-
time in the ministry of music should be supported by the church (cf. 1 Chronicles 9:33; Ezra 7:24;
Nehemiah 11:23). Moreover, there must be present, a commitment to serve patiently and
pastorally – as manifested by the choir which David set over the service of song in the house of
the LORD: (1 Chronicles 6:31-32). The choir is called to minister in song and patiently serve
("waited on their office") in their appointed times. While pastors and preachers, as ministers of the
Word, proclaim the Word, singers minister the Word in song.
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 PROPHETIC MINISTRY OF THE CHOIR

The word "prophesy" biblically is translated from the Hebrew word meaning: ‘flowing’, ‘abundantly’,
‘utter’, ‘belch out’, ‘pour out’, ‘send forth’, and ‘utter’. In the same vein "to prophesy, i.e. speak (or
sing) by inspiration (in prediction or simple discourse):- prophesying, make self a prophet"; It may
also be translated to mean "to announce, to show, to deliver an oracle from God, to speak as
God's ambassador; to foretell future events; to sing songs or hymns: each implying divine
inspiration" Prophesying is all about ministering by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. It is more than
natural talent and ability. It is the co-operating with the purposes of God to express -- by word and
deed -- that which He desires. As we recognize His leadings in our lives we can yield to, and co-
operate with, the anointing of the Spirit to release His supernatural purposes in a gathering. It is
functioning under divine inspiration and revelation of the Holy Spirit to do that which He wants
done. When that is happening the presence of Jesus becomes a blessed reality. The church is
edified and needs are met as we flow with the Spirit of truth!

Holy Spirit ministry functions through many and varied means. One of the not so common today
is that of musicians prophesying on their instruments or with their songs: that is, the ability tossing
or play prophetically on their instruments in such a way as to release the anointing to the people.
Some musicians do know the joy of doing this. As they sing or play, others are inspired to
prophesy and release the revelation of God out of their lives!

"The prophetic musician sees further than the task of music, because it is a ministry requiring
knowledge beyond the physical task of playing notes in the right order. It is a music of divine
appointment to comfort, encourage, strengthen, confront and stir people to higher goals, or take
us to another level of worship" This is the realm where musicians can play prophetically, whereby
the anointed tune -- even a new tune -- can actually enable the Holy Spirit to interpret the feeling
and/or message of the tune to our hearts. As we listen intently while the musician plays (can be
singular or plural), we "pick-up" the heart beat of God, and the theme of that heart beat is
interpreted to us in the realm of our understanding. When that happens we can experience deep
peace, joy, inspiration, even tears, as the Holy Spirit speaks. Yet no words have been spoken;
only an anointed tune on an instrument.

Music is very powerful because it is an expression, and particularly so because it relates to the
emotions which are the most powerful feelings of all. A musician's qualifications lies not in their
skill, but in the spiritual discernment, sensitivity and obedience to their calling. The role of the
musician is that of a ministering role; it is not merely to sing a few nice choruses" There is a
spiritual communication that greatly transcends any form of communication. It is profound and
more meaningful than human words are able to articulate. Somehow it is a pure communication
of the heart and mind together, and it is so pure that there is no possibility of misunderstanding.

When we turn to 2 Chronicles 5:12-14 we see the families of Asaph, Heman and Jeduthun in full
flight (this is about 10 years after 1 Chronicles 25). One can picture that great host of dedicated,
anointed musicians and singers -- all decked in their beautiful robes -- standing near the altar with
120 priests blowing trumpets in unison in a sound of praise and thanksgiving to God. Something
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was released in the spirit realm! The presence of God came among them in the form of a glory
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cloud. As it hit them they went down on the ground. They had touched heaven and heaven had

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 touched them. What an awesome time it was; prophetic musicians and singers releasing the
presence of God amongst the people. Praise the Lord! When we release the prophetic anointing
through the musicians and singers, it creates an environment whereby God can re-establish the
service of His house "so quickly" (v.36). The KJV says it was "done suddenly." The musicians
and singers occupied such an important function in David's day (and beyond) that they were in
full-time ministry, improving their skills and being in a state of readiness.

CONCLUSION

Indeed, the calling of a singer in the worship of God is a high calling, which requires strict spiritual
and choral discipline. It is the sincere prayer of the choir leader and choir members that we will
press on to be biblical, beautiful-sounding, and the best singers for our King! Where we have not
been up to scratch as singers, we are grateful to God for the gentle correction we received from
His Word and the opportunity to sanctify our lives for an acceptable service to Him. May the choirs
be obedient to His Word in their personal lives, choir-practices, and presentations of praise unto
God!

With regard to administrative matters, the choir leader gives thanks to God for the sacrificial
service of many who have rendered help in planning and preparing for the seminar. From the
booking of the function room and logistical / transport arrangements to the food contributions and
assistance with the children’s programme, God has greatly blessed us with edifying fellowship
around His Word and His people. All glory be to God!

We are coming into a time when it will be extremely hazardous to play around with worship. A
church would be better off with just one called, equipped, dedicated and highly discipline musician,
than a band full of people with good intentions but not called by God in the His service as a
musician. It is highly desirable to see our musicians and singers released to fulfil their destiny in
God. Worship ministers should set the platform for choirs to launch more and more into the
pastoral, preaching and prophetic realm, preaching and prophesying with their voices and with
their instruments, They, in turn, will release the congregations of God's people to soar more into
the things of the Holy Spirit. When that happens we will experience that glory cloud of God in our
midst in an awesome way!

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