When other churches chose to be silent, or only have the choirs sing, John & Charles Wesley and the Methodists encouraged congregational singing as part of worship. Just as we today say there is an “App” for that, Methodists used their hymnal as a supplement and devotional. If they had a question about their spiritual journey, there more than likely was a hymn written on the topic.
Charles Wesley’s gift of thousands of hymns is a testament to his faith, desire for Holy living, and understanding of theology. We find in the hymns of Charles Wesley a guide to both that theology and a personal experience. In a culture that did not stress personal experience their use of hymn singing really set England on its ear.
The brothers’ education started at home with their mother. However, Samuel’s own gift of verse probably influenced the brothers. Both brothers had a strong education that assisted in their writing of hymns, standing the test of time. While both John and Charles Wesley wrote hymns, Charles was deemed the creative one and John the organized one.
John Wesley published “Directions for Singing” to encourage singing for God and others as a means to provide structure and organization to the art of worship. John developed methods to assist in every aspect of life, why not worship too?
As printed in Select Hymns (1761)
”John Wesley’s Directions For Singing in Worship With Commentary”
I. Learn these Tunes before you learn any others; afterwards learn as many as you please.
II. Sing them exactly as they are printed here, without altering or mending them at all; and if you have learned to sing them otherwise, unlearn it as soon as you can.
III. Sing All. See that you join with the congregation as frequently as you can. Let not a slight degree of weakness or weariness hinder you. If it is a cross to you, take it up and you will find a blessing.
IV. Sing lustily and with good courage. Beware of singing as if you were half dead, or half asleep; but lift up your voice with strength. Be no more afraid of your voice now, nor more ashamed of its being heard, than when you sung the songs of Satan.
V. Sing modestly. Do not bawl, so as to be heard above or distinct from the rest of the congregation, that you may not destroy the harmony; but strive to unite your voices together, so as to make one clear melodious sound.
VI. Sing in Time: whatever time is sung, be sure to keep with it. Do not run before nor stay behind it; but attend closely to the leading voices, and move therewith as exactly as you can. And take care you sing not too slow. This drawling way naturally steals on all who are lazy; and it is high time to drive it out from among us, and sing all our tunes just as quick as we did at first.
VII. Above all sing spiritually. Have an eye to God in every word you sing. Aim at pleasing him more than yourself, or any other creature. In order to this attend strictly to the sense of what you sing, and see that your Heart is not carried away with the sound, but offered to God continually; so shall your singing be such as the Lord will approve of here, and reward when he cometh in the clouds of heaven.
Hymn-tunes were often used for several hymns, and some even were derived from old tavern tunes. William Booth, a Methodist Lay Preacher before starting The Salvation Army, was influenced by this form of music development. It is said he once inquired “Why should the devil have all the good music” A concept attributed to Charles Wesley.
Three, four, five, and six of the “Direction for Singing” addresses the singers. We all need to sing, to sing boldly and united. This is important that as a body of believers, we are to sing with passion as one unit praising God. Numbers two and seven, to me, are the most important.
Number two could be seen as a bit over the top today with the various versions we have of songs. We went through at least 4 versions of Amazing Grace before we settled on which one we were going to sing. When Charles wrote, he wrote doctrine. It was important to the method that doctrine was not interpreted or changed. Today, we see many worship songs that are not theologically correct. We all, but particularly church musicians, need to preserve our theological foundations in the music that we present.
Number seven speaks to the heart of the matter. We tend to get forget the purpose of our singing. Praise and worship in many churches looks like a concert as opposed to a time of worship. For many they come to get something from worship, to be filled up, worship gives them that feel-good high. Worship is not about us or those around us it is about God. We must keep Him the center of our lives and that is including our worship.
Can you imagine if praise bands and congregations approached worship under these guidelines? How amazing would it be to approach music with this same amount of structure today?