what does "preaching to the choir" mean?

Answer 1

It means you are trying to convince someone who is already convinced.

Answer 2

It means telling something to those who already know and understand it. For example, if in teaching a class I instruct all the students who are there at the beginning of class to be sure to be on time each week, I am "preaching to the choir." Those who need to hear that message haven't even arrived yet.

The expression comes from the idea that those in the choir are the committed people who show up every week and give everything they've got. They aren't, in a sense, the ones the preacher needs to focus his attention on.

Answer 3

The original term was actually "preaching to the quire".

In old cathedrals the space betwen the alter by the people and the 'high alter' was usually gated or walled off. This space is called the quire. The dean and the chapter (all of whom where theologues in their own right) would sit here and help preside over the service.

So when you preach to the quire you're preaching to someone who already professes the same beliefs as you do.

Answer 4

Most tele-evangelists are preaching to the choir. if the choir is nothing more than the group that is in the church they are preaching to, that is who they are preaching to. If someone is watching, they are watching because they like him and believe what he says, so he is still preaching to the choir.

Answer 5

It means preaching to those already converted.

In Proverbs 25:20 it says: "Like one who takes away a garment on a cold day, or like vinegar poured on soda, is one who sings songs to a heavy heart." If you look in judgement messages in the Bible involving an increased societal propensity to weddings, you will see that these weddings don't involve human singers. I don't know if this is significant or not.

Isaiah 5:12 says: "They have harps and lyres at their banquets, tambourines and flutes and wine, but they have no regard for the deeds of the Lord, no respect for the work of his hands."

Revelation 18:22 says: "The music of harpists and musicians, flute players and trumpeters, will never be heard in you again. No workman of any trade will ever be found in you again. The sound of a millstone will never be heard in you again."

I don't think it means that the flute is the Devil's instrument, or anything like that. It's just that human voices tend to show it up if somebody has a heavy heart about the proceedings. These weddings are ones that might be convenient for somebody, but not according to good sense.

King Solomon had male and female singers (Ecclesiastes 2:8). The psalms (150 of them) were originally songs. Psalms 13:6 says: "I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me."

Answer 6

Preaching to the choir means preaching to the devout who follow all of the rules as if they do not, instead of giving the devout a pat on the back and preaching to those who are not devout. (And who probably would not be in Church anyway.)

Answer 7

Directing your comments to those already convinced favorably of your position. Speaking your mind about an issue to those who agree with you.

Answer 8

It means your audience already knows and understands your point. In other words, they don't need to hear it because they already get it so you're wasting your breath.

Answer 9

It means you believe what the other person is saying wholeheartedly!

Answer 10

Telling someone something that they already know