What Do We Do Now that Rock Won't Go Away?-Part 4

What Do We Do Now that Rock Won’t Go Away?—Part 4  Note: this is part of a continued sequence of posts.

        One of the objectives of developing a Christocentric music philosophy is to incorporate the  beliefs mentioned in yesterday's post, about the nature and value of music, into a musician’s music praxis.  Every Christian must recognize that if the words of the songs we sing are truly biblical then they embody truth.  This music represents truth because the “words” message is true.  They represent what Francis Schaefer called “true truth”. 

       If the texts of Christian music must be constant and reliable then it stands to reason that the styles of singing should be constant i.e. consistent with the message of the gospel of our Savior Jesus Christ and the entire God Head.  First Corinthians 14:7 teaches, And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction  in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?”  This verse, which has become somewhat esoteric over the many centuries, is making historic reference to the tradition of the blowing or the shofar and other musical instruments in ancient Israel.

        The common man knew what the sounds meant merely by the selection of tones that the musician played.  I believe that there is much more musical truth imbedded in the meaning or this Bible reference than is commonly believed or understood by musicians today. We know that the way that the ancient musicians musiced sent either clear or “uncertain” messages to the hearer.  If music had the capability and power to send clear or unclear messages to the people of ancient Israel, surely it has no less power over audiences today.  Therefore all Christian musicians must take great care about the musical techniques they use in their musicing unto God.