Fighting in the Philippines

I received a recent e-mail from a United Methodist musician in the Philippines, lamenting the divisions and rancor among musicians, clergy, and people there over what kind of music they should be singing in worship. It is a similar battle to that experienced in the USA in recent years. The writer was asking how he might respond to those who wanted to do away with traditional music — and especially the choir — in favor of more modern music, performance practice, and models of leadership, such as the soloist and praise band. He asked if there were scriptural foundations for choral music in the church and what our Methodist traditions are. Here is my response:

The division you mention in the Philippines is very similar to that in the USA. Although I believe the separation and hostility between the two factions are lessening here, we are still divided into camps — traditional versus contemporary. But as I said in my previous message, more and more we are seeing the two styles take their places together within the same congregation and worship services, and worship and music leaders are realizing that they need to embrace both styles.

There is no scriptural basis for choosing one style over another. Scripture does not say, "Praise the Lord with only contemporary praise and worship choruses," or "Praise the Lord, but use only traditional hymns." It merely says, "Praise the Lord," or "Praise the Lord with instruments and song." It is not God who divides us. It is not God who commands one or the other. It is God who merely takes delight in the praises of the people, and I believe God does so in whatever style and manner those praises are offered if they are offered in spirit and in truth.

You are correct in saying that we enjoy a long heritage and tradition of choral singing in the church, even predating Christianity. The early Christians simply took the tradition over from Jewish worship practice. Likewise, we have had an equally long and glorious tradition of solo and small ensemble music in the church. In the case of our Methodist heritage, while we have always had music and while congregational music has always been the primary focus for music in worship, it is only since the middle of the nineteenth century — at least in the USA — that choirs have taken hold and have become a major aspect of our worship tradition. This tradition has spread throughout Methodism, and I suspect that's also its source for you in the Philippines.

It is a quite natural thing, I think, with the change in musical style that came, especially in the 1970s and 1980s, and with new trends going on today, that the choral tradition finds itself outside these new developments. They are based on the individual solo singer and usually a small group of musicians for support, both instrumental and vocal. And so today we have both styles in the church, and both are very much a part of United Methodism. I believe we will see both continue for a time, but eventually we will see a synthesis of styles, giving birth to new musical styles, forms, performance practices, and means of supporting and giving voice to congregational worship through song.

In our earlier Methodist history, John Wesley was actually quite critical of choral singing and the use of polyphonic choral style in congregational worship. His criticism was similar to that of many today — that it is a learned style, confusing to the untrained singer, and leads to performance and worship of musical style and beauty rather than God. Nevertheless, Wesley occasionally writes in his journal of attending a worship service in one of the great London churches and of being deeply moved by the beauty of the choir's offering.

As United Methodists, our tradition includes choir and soloist making use of many styles of music. As modern congregations, we sometimes choose to use one primary style, while other congregations choose to use different styles together. SHOULD we use many styles? I believe the answer to that question is "Yes." I believe that doing so allows us to see ourselves as a local congregation within the larger, ecumenical, global worshiping community; and it allows us to understand and identify with others very different from ourselves. Can I give you a biblical quotation or a citation from our United Methodist Book of Discipline or Book of Worship that requires us to do that? The answer is "No."

I believe your attitude is a good one — open and inclusive rather than narrow and exclusive. I pray that you will be strengthened in your work.