Singing into the Air? When Worship Becomes Noise

Oluwasogo M. Faloye

Worship is at the very core of the Christian faith. It is not merely a ritual, nor is it just an emotional outpouring. It is the highest expression of our devotion and love for God, where we declare His majesty, recount His mighty works, and offer Him the praise that is due to His name. Worship is also an act of corporate edification, a means through which the body of Christ is strengthened, encouraged, and unified in faith.

In the Scriptures, worship is consistently portrayed as an act that engages both the heart and the mind. Jesus Himself declared in John 4:24; “God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” This means that genuine worship is not just about spiritual expression but also about the truth that informs and shapes that expression. It is not enough to feel something, worship must be grounded in understanding. This is precisely why Paul, in 1 Corinthians 14, gave us clear instructions regarding the importance of intelligibility in corporate worship.

In verse 9, Paul gives a strong warning against speech or expressions in worship that do not contribute to the understanding and edification of the gathered assembly. He says; “So with yourselves, if with your tongue you utter speech that is not intelligible, how will anyone know what is said? For you will be speaking into the air.” Paul was specifically addressing the misuse of tongues in corporate gatherings, where believers were speaking in unknown languages without interpretation, rendering their words meaningless to those listening. However, the principle extends far beyond the issue of tongues. Any form of worship that lacks intelligibility, whether through obscure languages, wordless chants, or ecstatic vocalizations, fails to achieve its intended purpose.

This passage remains critically relevant today as a growing number of churches embrace worship practices that prioritize emotional experience over clarity, personal expression over corporate edification, and mystery over meaning. These trends manifest in two significant ways. The first is the use of unintelligible melodic chants in charismatic worship, often explained as “singing in the spirit.” Secondly, the practice of singing in a language that is unfamiliar to the congregation, thereby excluding many from meaningful participation. Both of these practices present serious biblical and theological concerns, as they obstruct the role of corporate understanding and turn worship into a self-focused rather than a Christ-exalting experience. By embracing mystical and unintelligible expressions, worship risks becoming something that is, as Paul puts it, “speaking into the air”; a noise without meaning, a sound without substance, and ultimately, an act that neither glorifies God nor edifies His people.

Paul’s instruction in verse 15 provides a crucial foundation for how believers ought to approach worship, particularly in corporate settings. He writes; “What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.”

This verse highlights a fundamental biblical principle, that true worship must engage both the spirit and the mind. Paul is rejecting the idea of worship as an activity that is merely emotional, ecstatic, or mystical while also rejecting a worship practice that is dry, purely intellectual, or devoid of heartfelt devotion. Instead, he calls for a balance of heartfelt spiritual engagement and clear, intelligible understanding.

Paul’s emphasis on intelligibility is central to his entire argument in 1 Corinthians 14. He contrasts meaningful, edifying speech with meaningless noise, warning that worship practices that lack clarity fail to build up the church. Earlier in the chapter, he gives a strong rebuke (verse 9), if no one understands what is being said or sung, the act of worship is useless to the gathered assembly. Worship, in the New Testament, is meant to be corporate and edifying, not an individualistic spiritual experience that excludes the understanding of others.

Yet today, many churches promote practices that directly contradict this teaching. These practices, while appearing spiritual, run counter to Paul’s clear instructions on worship and fail to serve the edification of the body of Christ. A growing trend in the charismatic and Pentecostal mode of worship is the use of melodic, wordless chanting or singing in tongues—a practice where worshippers utter sounds that have no clear meaning. Many believe this form of worship allows the Holy Spirit to “move freely” beyond human language. A prime example is Victoria Orenze, a Nigerian “gospel artist” (I firmly believe this label to be an oxymoron), who promotes singing in tongues as a higher form of spiritual worship. In her song “Spirit Chant” she produces ecstatic, unintelligible sounds with no discernible words, claiming that these melodies bring worshippers into a deeper spiritual encounter. The lyric (Eh Ya Ya, Eh Ya Ya) of this particular song is from a Hindu sect, yet she has Christianized it. While this may feel deeply moving to those participating, the biblical question remains; Does it edify the body of Christ?

Paul gives a clear answer in verses 16-17. This passage reveals that corporate worship is not meant to be a private mystical experience. It is meant to be a shared, communal act of edification. If a person sings in tongues without interpretation, others cannot join in worship because they do not understand what is being sung. This isolate rather than unites believers in worship. Paul even goes further to say “I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.” This highlights the importance of clarity in worship. If even words spoken by the spirit are not edifying without interpretation, how much less would wordless melodic chanting contribute to the spiritual growth of the congregation? By prioritizing mystical and ecstatic experience over understanding, modern charismatic worship fails to align with Paul’s biblical directives.

The other form of unintelligible worship is the practice of singing in a foreign or unfamiliar language within a congregation where most members do not understand it. For example, if a song leader sings in Ibibio in a predominantly Yoruba-speaking congregation, the majority of worshippers will not comprehend the lyrics. Another instance is if a church in Nigeria sings in Latin, claiming it to be a more sacred form of worship, it would fail to serve those who do not know Latin.

This practice creates a divide between the worship leader and the congregation, contradicting the New Testament model of corporate, unified worship. Paul states plainly in verse 11 that “If I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me.” Worship should not divide the body of Christ. Rather, it should be an act of unity, where every believer can participate with full understanding.

Paul, in Colossians 3:16, provides the proper framework for worship music; “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” For this to happen, songs must be understood by the people. If a foreign-language song is to be used, let a carefully and accurately translated version be used to ensure that the congregation can worship both with their spirit and their understanding.

Worship is an important aspect of the Christian faith. It is not merely an emotional experience or a routine activity. It is an act of devotion where believers express their love, adoration, and reverence for God. But how should we worship? Should worship be shaped by our emotions, cultural trends, or personal preferences, or should it be governed by the Word of God?

The Reformed tradition strongly affirms that worship must be regulated by Scripture. This principle, known as the Regulative Principle of Worship, teaches that worship should include only what God has explicitly commanded in His Word. This contrasts with the Normative Principle of Worship, which allows anything in worship as long as Scripture does not explicitly forbid it. However, history and Scripture reveal that when people introduce man-made innovations into worship, they often drift into error, mysticism, and confusion (See Leviticus 10:1-3, Matthew 15:9).

To ensure that worship remains God-honouring and spiritually fruitful, it must align with three key biblical standards.

Firstly, worship is meant to be a shared, communal experience where believers unite in glorifying God. However, if the words spoken or sung cannot be understood, they become meaningless to the congregation. Imagine attending a church service where the entire sermon is preached in ancient Greek, a language no one in the room understands. Would that sermon be edifying? Of course not! Similarly, when worship is conducted in a foreign language or through unintelligible chants, it fails to build up the congregation. This is precisely why Paul rebuked the Corinthian church for their misuse of tongues in public worship. Instead of using spiritual gifts for edification, some engaged in self-centred displays of spiritual superiority. Paul insists that worship should not be an obscure, mystical experience but one in which all believers can participate with full understanding.

Secondly, Christian worship is not entertainment, nor is it merely about stirring emotions. It is a means of teaching biblical truth and strengthening the faith of believers. The modern church should stop the “concertification” of spiritual songs, thereby rendering them as mere conformity to trends and feelings. Biblical worship should declare the truth of Scripture (John 4:24), magnify the character of God (Psalm 145:3-4), and encourage believers in sound doctrine (Titus 2:1). Unfortunately, many modern worship trends prioritize emotionalism over theological depth. This is especially evident in mystical chants and singing in tongues, where no clear biblical truths are conveyed. While these may evoke strong emotions, they do not teach, admonish, or instruct believers in the faith, hence, failing to meet Paul’s command in Colossians 3:16.

Thirdly, the purpose of corporate worship is not personal spiritual ecstasy, it is the edification of the entire church. Every aspect of worship, whether prayers, songs, or preaching, should contribute to the spiritual growth of the body of Christ. When worship is conducted in a way that isolates certain members, whether through unknown languages, mystical utterances, or esoteric chants, it fails in its God-given purpose. Paul warns against this very issue in verse 11; “If I do not know the meaning of the language, I will be a foreigner to the speaker and the speaker a foreigner to me.” Worship should unite the body of Christ by ensuring that everyone can worship with understanding and joy.

In conclusion, the Bible consistently emphasizes that worship should be clear, doctrinally sound, and edifying to the whole church. When worship is intelligible, it builds up the body of Christ. When worship is doctrinally rich, it strengthens the faith of believers. When worship is clear, it invites every Christian to participate.

In contrast, modern practices of singing in tongues without interpretation, ecstatic chants, and foreign-language worship without translation fall short of the biblical standard. While these may feel spiritual, they ultimately turn worship into noise rather than meaningful praise.

Paul’s words are a sobering reminder that “I would rather speak five words with my mind in order to instruct others, than ten thousand words in a tongue.”  This should be the guiding principle for every church; worship that is clear, biblical, and Christ-centered. When we return to Scripture-based worship, we ensure that every believer is built up, encouraged, and strengthened in the faith.

Let us, therefore, worship in spirit and in truth, ensuring that our praises glorify God and edify His people.