Well,<br><br>Your pastor has a point but I also relate to where you are coming from. I think there can be room for both congregational and choir singing, and even for both together!<br><br>I often find it beneficial to listen to a choir singing because it trains my ears to listen and my heart to be still and meditate on the words. Obviously, our minds are not to be turned off while singing but I think sometimes it is easier to truly meditate on what we sing if we are sitting and listening. I actually would like more time in the service to be still and know He is God!<br><br>On the other hand, I have seen people talk about the choir singing as though they were entertainment. I don't see the choir time as a "filler" or time for congregants to fill out their offering envelopes. I personally think the reaction to a choir should not be applause but "Amen." I asked one of my church leaders what he thought about applause in worship, and he said "I quite honestly do not like it. I pray God's children would grow out of it." Also, an acquaintance of mine told me she was going to a Christian concert to hear "someone glorify God with their voice in a way I cannot." Why not go to glorify God yourself? Pray and meditate on the words, sing the words to God in your heart. <br><br>That reminds me of the story of Henry Ward Beecher's congregation. One day, Beecher had his brother Thomas preach for him. When the congregants realized Beecher was not going to be preaching, some of them got up to leave. Thomas said that all those who came to worship Henry Ward Beecher could leave but all those who came to worship God should stay.

True godliness is a sincere feeling which loves God as Father as much as it fears and reverences Him as Lord, embraces His righteousness, and dreads offending Him worse than death~ Calvin