Part 1-What may happen-Music philosophy

 

Part 1- What may happen if we do not develop a music philosophy.

       It has been quite a while since we discussed the importance of developing a music philosophy.  There is a need for all churches, Christian colleges and universities, Christian schools and individuals to develop a series of systematic statements concerning the nature and value of the whole of music.  Although there are many web sites representing churches, Christian colleges and universities, many of them say absolutely nothing about music philosophy let alone publishing a systematic Bible based music philosophy.  Those who have thought out what they actually believe about the nature and value of music and have published their philosophic views concerning the deepest levels of what God honoring musicing is all about and why this music is estimable to them are to be applauded.

       Every Christian organization must understand music at its deepest levels if they are going to have an effective music witness in this post-modern world.  It is one thing for an individual to not bother to think music’s nature and value through philosophically, but it entirely another to try to guide others in the area of music’s nature and value without a thorough understanding of musical truth.  One of the reasons that many Christian organizations fail to develop a music philosophy is that they do not believe that there is any objective truth or Bible basis concerning music’s nature and value.  Some Christians have the notion that music philosophy is somewhat like jello gelatin i.e. that you can’t pin its meaning down because it is never stable.

       A surprising number of Christians believe that the more than 600 references to music are somehow dispensational and have out lived their meaning.  Although they would not admit it, they seem to believe that II Timothy 3:16 means, “All scripture [unless it is addressing music] is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”  One of the reasons that so many Christian musicians are without  answers concerning the nature and value of the whole of music is that they have not developed an epistemology [the theory and limits of “knowing”] and methodology [the system used to establish “knowing”]. For a much more thorough discussion of this topic see chapter three of my book, Church matters A music Philosophy in Christian perspective, Salem Ohio, Schmul Publishing Co., 2005.

        So, what happens if one does not have a congruent philosophy of music is many times that one will go in a  musical direction without much “understanding” or “knowing”.   Such an organization  either tries to cater to everyone’s likes and dislikes or the exact opposite—they cater to whatever direction the music leader prefers at any given moment.  The organization goes this way for a while then undergoes a “leader shift” and suddenly chooses a new notion in an attempt to be current or trendy.