COVID-19 & WORSHIPPING WITH WISDOM
SHOULD CHRISTIANS OBEY GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS OF SINGING IN CHURCHES?
Key Facts
In California, new orders relating to COVID-19 state, “Places of worship must therefore discontinue indoor singing and chanting activities and limit indoor attendance to 25% of building capacity or a maximum of 100 attendees, whichever is lower. “ [1]
Petitions have circulated in response to the ban, some of which have gained media attention and thousands of signatures. [2]
While other factors can be disproportionately responsible for outbreaks of COVID-19, certain studies have suggested that the rate of particle emission increases with the loudness of vocalization. [3]
Key Scriptures
Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.”
Ephesians 5:18-19 “And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart.”
Psalm 104:33 “I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.”
Psalm 105:2 “Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.”
Romans 2:21 “You, then, who teach others, do you not teach yourself? You who preach against stealing, do you steal?”
Application
In California, new restrictions have banned singing and chanting in indoor church settings. This new ban was met with deep disapproval by religious peoples who have convictions to sing or chant as a part of their gathered worship. For Christians, singing and the recitation of Scripture is often a crucial part of a church service. How should Christians respond to this new ban as they consider the wellbeing and safety of others in their congregation?
Biblical Call to Sing Praises
There are numerous places throughout the Old and New Testament that remind the people of God to sing praises of His deeds and His character (Psalm 47:6-7, Colossians 3:16). How this command applies during a global pandemic is an area of discernment. Through prayer and wise counsel, Christians can better understand how to balance the command of worship with the command to love our neighbor. However, corporate worship—singing praises to God and gathering together—is a necessary part of the Christian life (Psalm 105:2, Hebrews 10:25).
Upholding the Law
Christians should seek to uphold the law so far as it aligns with the commands of God (Romans 13:1-7). At the same time, we should also judge to ensure that our elected officials uphold the religious freedom protections in the Constitution and apply the law fairly. Christians should seek accountability to the law both for themselves and for those whom they elect into office. While governing authorities can give health recommendations, how Christians should sing in church (remotely, distanced, or with masks) should ultimately be decided by the pastor and congregants, not by the governing authorities. An allowance to sing in church does not mean that all churches should or will, but rather that Christians have the freedom to follow their convictions as they see fit under the given circumstances.
Unequal Application and Hypocrisy
Health experts have been seemingly inconsistent in which types of large gatherings pose higher risks of spreading COVID-19. This assertion has been characterized by an article title from the New York Times stating, “Are Protests Dangerous? What Experts Say May Depend on Who’s Protesting What.” The apparent hypocrisy displayed by this title reveals that the experts seem to be judging the morality of certain gatherings in accordance with their own personal preferences. Such hypocrisy should be addressed as Christians consider the worship of their God to be an essential practice.
Whether we are addressing protests or religious gatherings, fair and equal treatment should be applied. If stopping the spread of COVID-19 is the primary concern, then preference should not be given to protests simply because they are more politically fashionable. As the ACLJ stated, “The coronavirus does not know the difference between a chanting of a hymn and a protest march. And to say that you can sanction one and ban the other is hypocrisy in the worst possible way.” [4]
Current regulations differentiate between indoor and outdoor gatherings. For outdoor religious services, singing and chanting is currently regulated by county governments rather than the state government. This could lead to inconsistencies in how these laws are applied. In addition, regulations have also differed when comparing outdoor gatherings for churches and other outdoor gatherings such as protests. For example, in LA county, the regulations for singing in churches mandates that congregants must be outdoors with a much greater physical distance than six feet. However, the public protests in LA county are advised to keep six feet when possible and have no restrictions on chanting and yelling, even though masks are strongly recommended. This raises significant First Amendment concerns about whether the government can regulate each facet of a religious service as well as concerns over whether churches are unfairly being singled out in these new regulations.
Conclusion
Christians can and should recognize the inconsistency of the governmental orders and expert opinion where it exists. Singing in church is an essential part of the Christian practice and should not be infringed upon by the government. Yet, Christians should also act wisely as they respond to this new ban. As this will be a matter of discernment that Christians may disagree on, it is best considered biblically through discussion with one another and prayer for guidance. The conclusion that Christians reach ought to both care for their neighbors and worship God appropriately.