A Prescriptive Approach Part 2

In yesterday's post we started a series of discussions on "A Prescriptive approach to Church Music".  The church that takes a prescriptive approach to church music believes most people who recognize that they are sick and go to a doctor’s office expect to come away with a prescription.  They have faith that the doctor has the ability and has the right to prescribe what will make them well.  Most people would be disappointed in a doctor who said, “Sir, you are very sick-as a matter of fact you are sick enough to die.  However, getting well is completely a matter of your opinion.  So, what medicine do you like best?  Lets see, I have big pills and little pills, I have round ones and rectangle ones.  I have green, yellow, red and pink ones.  I have sweet, sour, bitter and salty ones.  Remember, its all a matter of taste and likes and dislikes, so what is your choice?” 

 Now in the 21^st century when it comes to church music, people go ballistic when the pastor, minister of music and church board prescribes what they believe, in the fear of God, are the best styles of church music suited to the awesomeness and solemnity of the worship of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

            Until 1960, for centuries the church has always had the right to prescribe what they believed was the beset choices for church music.  Now in this synthesis-thinking world ( i.e. there is no right or wrong), the church has lost the right  to make musical choices ,since  many believe that music is all a matter of personal preference.  Any church that does limit music styles is also believed to not be seeker sensitive.