The Common Good--Music

I was asked the other day if I believed denominational separation, was ultimately a thing of the past and that someday all would be one. I answered no partially due to the local autonomy of most churches in communities. This concept of autonomous practice is easily extended, and probably correctly, to all people and our tendency to interpret scripture, worship practices, and even ministry according to our own value system, personality, training level, and many other factors. History demonstrates a somewhat cyclical commitment to church division and sadly, weighty emotions regarding the "right" way to approach religion. I do not see this changing and might even go so far as to embrace some diversity at least globally if not locally.

Yet there are also several efforts to avoid the kind of polarization that can divide families, churches, and yes even nations. These occur in the form of large events found in revivals, rallies, and conferences. Ironically, these same kind of unifying events occur in media through the radio, internet, and television. Given the immense success of religious experiences outside of the traditional church concept, it is no wonder that churches are examining more creative ways to present the Message.

One of the finest ways to bring people together is through music. In the popular music world, I have witnessed over 10,000 people singing Hey Jude together. I have heard thousands of performances of Happy Birthday and the National Anthem. Music is a unifying force that occurs daily in all walks of life. In churches, I have experienced the joys of singing How Great Is Our God or Because He Lives or Holy, Holy, Holy. All these moments were meaningful due to their collective effort and their wide collaboration of people.

The power of music as the glue for wide-spread and ubiquitous joy is infinite. Music as a universal language may be mythical but the properties that make sound a unifying element remain true. Music may in fact be one of the few common goods in existence today, particularly as regards large quantities of people. And sound is free.

This is not to say that all organized sound is without a cost for often the very act of organizing vibrations into systemized patterns results in high costs for everyone, but it is to say sound in its inception is available to all regardless of the socioeconomic level. So by its very nature, sound is common good both in terms of its costs and its results. Music as the ultimate community brings together the old, the young, the rich, the poor, the educated, and the uneducated. How dare music, with all its natural quality, polarize people. It is time for the goodness to unite.