QUESTION: If such songs can be sung by members who know them, and those who don’t know them can’t sing, how does this differ from a choir?
ANSWER: Many reasons! First of all, it is impossible for those who don’t know the song to sing it, if there are no songbooks available. Obviously, it is not the intent of these to remain silent and have others do their worshiping “for” them, as is the case when a choir is used! Secondly, those who are singing under these circumstances do not formally constitute a choir whose intent it is to sing “for,” or in behalf of, the others! Thirdly, in the case of using a choir, those who don’t sing the song are (either of their own accord or at the direction of others) refraining intentionally from singing, while having the capability to do so, and, thus, are in violation of the command to “sing” in Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16! The commands of these passages are applicable to each person within the congregation. This means that every person within the congregation, who has the capability to sing, must sing every time there is singing! Anything else is sin! Clearly, there is no authorization in God’s Word for one person, or group of persons, to sing for (in the place of) another; just as there is no authorization for one to commune or give “for” (in the place of) another.
Let’s assume that in a congregation there are one or more people who were born without the ability to speak. Do these sin by not singing? Of course not! Why? Simply because they do not have the capability of singing! Does the rest of the congregation constitute a choir? Does the rest of the congregation sin by singing when others can’t? Of course not! Would such justify the use of a formal choir? Of course not! Individuals who find it totally or nearly impossible to sing must simply do the best they can within their capabilities to satisfy the demands of Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16. And so it is with every member of the congregation!
Choirs and specialized singing groups have been developed to: (1), entertain and (2), to satisfy the pride and ego of man! Neither of these is compatible with worship that is in spirit and according to truth (John 4:24).