The Music, The Change, and The Stand

SPECIAL EDITION ARTICLE
by Bishop Felizardo D. Abanto

In the midst of today's controversy about music, the pastor of Capitol Bible Baptist Church-Tanza, plainly and unashamedly still stand on the kind of music he learned when he was still a student in Bible Baptist Seminary of the Philippines, Mandaluyong City, year 1977 to 1980. Back then the use of drums in BBCs was prohibited. There was no "praise and worship" music--none, no, not one. They were only done in Pentecostal and Charismatic churches. BBCs and pastors back then were still strong on music and standards of dress and hair--especially on doctrines and Baptist Distinctives. We even disfellowship a young pastor, Rey Clemente, because he believed in the universal church and did not believe in tithing. So he went out really and really did what he wanted to do. I think his church (one of the oldest BBC in the Philippines) was the first BBC to embrace "praise and worship" and drums in their music, as he opened the church to charismatic practices. That's history. We cannot deny it.

But things change. People change. Now, pastors of BBCs are in a controversy over music. And I left behind and become "irrelevant." Well, come to think of it--Rey Clemente was right after all! And we must ride the bandwagon.

But, NO THANKS. With all due respect I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD CHANGE. I think this is the change we don't need. Are our churches to conform to the world's concept of relevancy and to the market-driven philosophy to reach the world? NO! NEVER! The answer, of course, is that OUR CHURCHES MUST CONFORM TO GOD'S CONCEPT OF RELEVANCY. That's the real story behind this change. To continue to be relevant to this world you must change, and you must conform to the world. That is the world's concept of relevancy. But God's concept is not to conform but to be transformed:

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:1-2)

God's concept of relevancy is to be different from this world: To be sanctified and clean from worldliness; to be a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle; to be holy and without blemish (Ephesians 5:25-27). A transformed life and lips are still God's instruments in reaching the world.

That's why we need our pastors to speak out and sound the alarm. This is not the time to be silent. This is the time to make a real, definite, and a courageous stand. The future of our churches is at stake. I don't want my sons to accuse me later that I am only long on rhetoric, but short on memory, and negligent in weighing the consequences of my actions. I want them to remember me as a leader who knew how to make a stand for my convictions without fear or favor.

am surprised why the conflict ever exists. Why? For the past 30 years BBC pastors knew and were very sure of their stand on this. Now we "don't know anymore." What we know is that everything is changing. And it is "impossible" not to go with the change. Unless we do, we'll be left behind and become "irrelevant." Well, come to think of it--Rey Clemente was right after all! And we must ride the bandwagon.

But, NO THANKS. With all due respect I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD CHANGE. I think this is the change we don't need. Are our churches to conform to the world's concept of relevancy and to the market-driven philosophy to reach the world? NO! NEVER! The answer, of course, is that OUR CHURCHES MUST CONFORM TO GOD'S CONCEPT OF RELEVANCY. That's the real story behind this change. To continue to be relevant to this world you must change, and you must conform to the world. That is the world's concept of relevancy. But God's concept is not to conform but to be transformed:

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. (Romans 12:1-2)

God's concept of relevancy is to be different from this world: To be sanctified and clean from worldliness; to be a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle; to be holy and without blemish (Ephesians 5:25-27). A transformed life and lips are still God's instruments in reaching the world.

That's why we need our pastors to speak out and sound the alarm. This is not the time to be silent. This is the time to make a real, definite, and a courageous stand. The future of our churches is at stake. I don't want my sons to accuse me later that I am only long on rhetoric, but short on memory, and negligent in weighing the consequences of my actions. I want them to remember me as a leader who knew how to make a stand for my convictions without fear or favor.