Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

The Ephesians 5:17 command, “Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is” does not perplex the Christian Music educator who has developed a Bible based music education philosophy with the guidance of the blessed Holy Spirit.

 

Keeping Music Education Christian Part 3

Keeping Music Education Christian Part 3

Another phrase used in verse ten of the same passage is “that ye may approve (dokimazo 1381) things that are excellent (diaphero 1308)”.  The word dokimazo connotes approval that is the result of discerning examination.  The word diaphero  comes from two Greek words dia (1223) and phero (5342) these terms put together mean a bearing through or carrying through until something is of a higher value.  This carrying through caused by a Christian who has a discernment given to him or her by the Holy Spirit (verse nine) that gives the musician the wisdom to approve music which is of a higher value (verse ten).  The spirit filled musician (verse eighteen) has the wisdom given by the Holy Spirit to guide his or her music philosophy into goodness, righteousness and truth (Ephesians 5:9—also see I Corinthians 14:15 and St John 4:23-24).  Educational truth and musical truth will come to the Christian music educator as the blessed Holy Spirit enlightens that musician’s understanding of the many divinely inspired Bible texts that concern music and educating musicians.

Ephesians 5:8-10 explains why and how  Christian music educators have the ability to develop a CMEP and have the assurance that he or she is doing the right thing the right way.  This musician has “truth” (verse eight) to guide his or her when developing a CMEP.

 

 

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day 

Rather than hang on to the notion that music education is neutral in the sight of God, and therefore Christian music educators are autonomous, Christian music educators should walk circumspectly and allow the Holy Spirit to guide them in the development of a Christian music education philosophy.

Keeping Music Education Christian Part 2

Keeping Music Education Christian Part 2

How does an educational institution insure that the music education a student receives is truly a CME?  Philippians1:9-10 states, “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.”  Ephesians 5:8—10 states,  “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)  Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.”

The passage of Scripture in the first chapter of Epistle of St. Paul written to the Philippian Christians by his scribe Ephaphroditus includes some words of words that have been the source of mush discussion over the centuries.  In verse nine Paul uses the words knowledge (epignosis 1922-discernment) and judgment (aesthesis 144-perception).  So, it is my belief that one of the ways to keep CME Christian and on course is to allow the Holy Spirit to guide and increase the Christian’s musician’s philosophical discernment and perception.  This discernment and perception concerning the deepest levels of the nature and value of music, will enlighten the Music educator in what is really important in the music education process of those being educated musically.

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

 Many Christian music educators feel insecure about holding to Bible principles of musicing because they consider themselves to be in the minority.  Therefore, Christian educational institutions that have a Bible based music education philosophy need to publish their philosophical beliefs on the net and in their printed literature.

 

Keeping Music Education Christian Part 1

Keeping Music Education Christian Part 1

Christian educational institutions have an obligation to keep music education Christian education.  If they do not they cannot fulfill their mission.  If Christian elementary, secondary, and post secondary educational institutions are only different from secular institutions in that they sing and play religious music, they are not essentially  different from secular schools, colleges and universities. 

            A congruent understanding of the nature and value of music education at its deepest levels can do more than anything else to keep CME (Christian music education) essentially Christian.  As I have said many times in my philosophical writings, a series of systematic written beliefs concerning the nature and value of music that is carefully applied to an educational institution’s music praxis is necessary if music education is to remain Christian.

 All one has to do is to search for Christian Music Education Philosophy on the net to understand that many Christian educational institutions do not publicize their CMEP (Christian music education philosophy) up front on their websites.  I suppose that many of them do have written statements of music philosophy.  However, for some reason they do consider it important to make these statements easily available.

 

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

It amazes me that so many Christian Schools that have a constituency that includes churches who desire to include instrumental music in their public worship do not see the need to provide any instrumental education in their curriculums.

 

 

Instrumental Music in Christian Music Education Part 2

Instrumental Music in Christian Music Education Part 2

            With the introduction in yesterday’s post, I will have to say that the use of musical instruments is so connected and entwined with singing in both the old and New Testament that I can find no reason, based upon the Holy Writ to exclude the use of musical instruments in public worship.  Their use must: have properly controlled volume, be tastefully performed, be appropriately orchestrated, and properly utilized as a concomitant to and not the master of, congregational singing.

 I also see no Bible based justification for the use of musical instruments that perform music (instrumental music alone) as a part of public worship.  After spending more than a quarter of a century studying the use of instruments in the Bible, I have concluded that instruments were used alone and with singing in bringing praise and honor both inside and outside of ancient Temple worship.  Also, after extensive study of music in the New Testament I find no biblical justification for the exclusion of musical instruments when worshiping God either publically or privately. For a very thorough study of the use of singing with and without musical instruments and the use of instrumental music alone in the Bible please read my book Music of the Bible in Christian Perspective.

So, I have come to the philosophical conclusion that instrumental music education is vital to and necessary to a CME (Christian music education).  Even a music education that is considered a basic CME should include training in instrumental playing.  Certainly a thorough quality music education must include the opportunity for students to play and perform in an instrumental music organization.

 

 

 

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day 

If churches are going to have instrumental musicians who wish to perform in church instrumental organizations in the future, they must provide for their children and young people to receive a Christian instrumental education.

 

Instrumental Music in Christian Music Education--Part 1

Instrumental Music in Christian Music Education  Part 1 

            There is an age old argument among Christian musicians about the use of instruments in public worship.  Before I continue with this discussion about instrumental music education, I want to say that I have absolutely no objection to singing without the use of musical instruments.  Those who have chosen to worship God without using musical instruments have done so in the fear of God.  Although I have not made the same conclusions as they have, I respect their view and understand that they have not decided to exclude the use of musical instruments to in any way be contentious. So, I have no quarrel with those who do not use instruments as a part of public worship providing they do so on the basis of religious, musical, or worship preference rather than biblical mandate.

            Certainly any musician who has observed a cappella singing by a congregation will be constrained to admit that it is very worshipful in its enactment.  On the contrary, all of us have experienced public worship in which a set of drums have almost completely covered up the singing of words to God by a congregation.  We have also had to suffer through songs like Silent Night being introduced by a mighty drum roll or a trumpet fanfare. So, I have concluded that those who have chosen to sing without instruments are philosophically more biblical than those who worship with a praise band with all the instruments amplified unto such decibel levels that an observer can see mouths moving but cannot hear a word of the attempted praise offering of the congregation.

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day 

The condition of an accomplished musician’s musicing and the quality of his or her repertoire makes a philosophical statement about his or her passion for presenting God the best possible musical offering.

 

 

Utilizing Great Music in Worship

Utilizing Great Music in Worship   

               More and more Christian musicians seem to not make much distinction between mediocre and great religious music.  Although a Christian does not worship the greatness in music, most of the time great music is a greater vehicle to represent the message of our great Savior. However, philosophically speaking, the Earnest Christian musician values the use of excellent music with the excellent message of the gospel. It is one thing to give lip service to the appropriateness of the sacred classics but it is another to actually utilize them in public worship. The Christian musician who never includes the sacred classics in his or her repertoire is making a philosophical statement about the awesomeness and solemnity of worshiping the high and lifted up triune God.

              As I have often said, the music part of music does not always have to be complicated or esoteric in order to be a proper vehicle to use in our musicing unto God.  However, there are auspicious religious occasions when great sacred music is without doubt a better choice than some trite, predictable and mundane musical composition that is obviously the work of a musical hack.

              There is a reason why some sacred music is great and other music is either mediocre or actually so poorly constructed that it is not a good vehicle for musical worship.  The best sacred music throughout the centuries has been produced by composers and arrangers who were able to skillfully organize melody, harmony and rhythm into a composition that would properly represent the awesomeness and solemnity of worshiping the triune God.  This has been accomplished by utilizing a number of appropriate musical styles that were and are “better vehicles” to represent the moral nature of God.

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

“A director must develop an awareness of the emotional meanings and moods of the texts, as well as a realization of the union or lack of union between the music and the text.”  The Ministry of Music by Kenneth Osbeck p.39

 

 

Is Musical Style Involved in Communicating Meaning? Part 3

Is Musical Style Involved in Communicating Meaning?  Part 3

Berglund also touched on another concept that is particularly germane to the discussion of appropriateness of church music with his mention of style implications.We all recognize music by its style. Style recognition involves the communication of auditory musical information incorporated in instrumental and or vocal tones that are systematically distinguishable to the listener.  This auditory information is communicated to the listener from the structured execution of a particular music.  Thus it becomes recognizable as a particular musical style.  Robert Berglund believes that,”…it is through musical style that music assumes much of its meaning to the listeners.  Certainly in vocal music concrete meaning is arrived at by texts.  But as far as music is concerned, meaning, both concrete and abstract, designative and embodied, is generally arrived at through style.  In other words, as people are aware of style and its implications through conditioning and psychological associations along with their intuitions, music assumes meaning.” A Philosophy of Church Music by Robert Berglund p. 22 

                Music finds its place in the multiplicity of style classifications by  how it presents itself.  All music has purpose and that purpose causes it to take on stylistic characteristics that are the means of communicating its meaning to the listener.  Every astute composer desires to draw the listener into the emotion and meaning expressed in the music.  For this reason, a Christian musician must become familiar with just what the music part of a particular style of music is attempting to communicate to the auditor.

            Although it is true that every garage or basement musical group is not necessarily a skillful communicator of a particular style of music, many of them are because they apply the style patterns to the building blocks of the music they are composing, arranging and performing—thereby the music becomes a communicator of the desired meaning.  Since the time of the Coryville jazz groups in New Orleans and the Chicago and Kansas City jazz inventions, jazz has been successful in transmitting sexual meaning to its listeners.  The same success may be said of the rock-n-role of Elvis Presley and those who followed him in that style.  Probably the most successful communicator of sexual meaning, without doubt has been the many sub-styles of rock music.  

 For a Christian musician to make a claim that the aforementioned music styles were and are not capable of communicating their desired meaning is naive and short sighted.  To contend that these styles of music were and are benign and therefore not capable of communicating meaning is to deny music’s great power which is delivered with the help of these style meanings.  The music part of music molded by style becomes a powerful communicator of musical meaning which is related to the real world around all of us.

 

Is Musical Style Involved in Communicating Meaning? Part 2

Is Musical Style Involved in Communicating Meaning?  Part 2

There are a host of twenty first century musicians who deny that there is such a phenomenon as right or wrong vehicles for sacred musicing.  The reasoning behind the belief that there is no continuum from right to wrong stems from the philosophical musical fallacy that the music part of music doesn’t matter.  The obvious conclusion deduced from this fallacy is that any consideration of what is good or bad in church music is “much ado about nothing” spiritually and musically.  Robert Berglund put it this way, “The notion that there are neither right nor wrong styles of music used in the church today seems indefensible in light of the obvious stylistic meanings and the contradiction to the changed life premises of Scripture.”  A Philosophy of Church Music by Robert Berglund p. 12  

It stands to reason that if the Christian musician does not wholeheartedly believe in the changed life principles so clearly taught in the Bible, he or she will doubtlessly not believe in the Bible concept that a Christian’s music and musicing must be of a higher renovated character. Many Scriptures in the Old and New Testament teach the “new song” principle including Revelation 5:9 which states, “And they sung a new song (kainos ode), saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation.”   The new song (kainos 2537 ode 5603) mentioned in this verse has the meaning of being new in character rather than only  being new in relationship to time.  For a much more thorough study of this concept read Chapter Three, “A study of song in the Bible”, in my book Music of the Bible in Christian Perspective.

So, as Dr. Berglund stated, the changed life premises taught in the Bible should lead Christian musicians to the belief that sacred music should be of a higher renovated character than the music of the world produced by composers who do not know Christ and are in many cases producing music that appeals to the lust of the flesh.  Galations 5:16 teaches this principle when it states, “This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”  1John 2:16 also teaches very clearly, “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”

 

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day  

“Music has become a tool to influence an entire culture.  It has become an effective way to communicate a new set of values to an emerging generation.”  Music in the Balance by Frank Garlock &Kurt Woetzel p.18

 

 

Is Musical Style Involved in Communicating Meaning? Part 1

Is Musical Style Involved in Communicating Meaning?  Part 1  

            All traditional thesis thinking Christians who are conservative in their music philosophy are concerned about making sure that the musical styles that they use in musicing unto God are suitable vehicles.  Although it is not popular or politically correct to use the terms “good“and “bad’ in conjunction with religious musicing, I believe that the terms are appropriate.  When I consider appropriate vehicles, I am talking about the music part of the music and not merely the texts of religious songs.   There is a continuum along which music genres move that places them somewhere between excellence in quality and appropriateness and ineffectiveness, to the point of being ineffective music vehicles for representing God’s perfect moral character and being communicators of spiritual values.

 Richard S. Taylor put it this way, “The difference in good and bad church music is the emotion generated.  On the one hand there is that which is selfward and manward; on the other that which is Godward, upward, and decisive.  This is why in all the various possible forms, sooner or later a line is reached beyond which the music ceases to be a good conductor of spiritual edification, and instead becomes a conductor of fleshly stimulation.”  A Return to Christian Culture by Richard S.Taylor, p. 89.  As I have often told  college students, I am not as concerned about exactly where a Christian musician draws the line that Dr. Taylor was referring to musically as I am about the fact that Christian musicians are, in many cases, no longer drawing any philosophical lines at all.  The fact that the musical “light bulb” of style is not suddenly on or off makes it much more difficult to discern when a musical style is too worldly or sensual to be a proper vehicle for sacred musicing.

 

Praise chorus and Thought for the Day

Praise Chorus for the Day  I Love you Lord  by Laurie Klein  

Thought for the Day 

It is amazing to me that a Christian musician would want to come into the presence of, or come before the face of YHVH, with loud, raucous, noise based music.

 

 

A View of Music in Worship from Psalm Fifteen--Part 2

A View of Music in Worship from Psalm Fifteen--Part 2  

Psalm 15:2 states, “Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.  For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.”

            Yesterday we considered verses one to three of this Psalm Fifteen.  Today I want to mention the words  “joyful noise” which were derived from the Hebrew word ruwa (7321). This word is used in verse one and in verse two of the fifteenth Psalm.  It means to shout or make great acclamation.  Ruwa is never used in the Bible to mean any kind of noise—joyful or otherwise.  The meaning of the word ruwa is often misunderstood for the meaning of hemyah (1998) as used  in Isaiah 14:11, “Thy pomp is brought down to the grave, and the noise (hemyah) of thy viols: the worm is spread under thee, and the worms cover thee.”  Hemyah is a hapax legamenon that definitely means noise not a shout of joy.  Other writers have confused ruwa with the use of hamown (1995) in Amos 5:23, “Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.) 

So, word translated noise from hamown definitely means noise not a joyful acclamation of praise. It may seem that this discussion is a bit technical, but it is necessary since modern, postmodern, and now  post-postmodern church musicians have used the seven verses that were translated “joyful noise”  in the AV as proof texts for the use of noise-based music in worship.  Furthermore, some Christian musicians use these verses to support a noise-based music aesthetic.  So, musicing unto God is not about making noise but rather it is about making great acclamation to Him.

 

 

Prayer, Song and Thought for the Day.

Prayer for the Day  

Heavenly father, I thank You for creating music as one of the ways that we can communicate with You in worship.  Lord, help us as Your children and the sheep of your pasture to on purpose music unto your wonderful, worthy Name.  Lord, protect our musicing so that it does not become a mere musical event, but rather a heart-felt on purpose response to You.  This I pray in Your worthy and wonderful name.  Amen.  

Song for the Day His Name is Wonderful by Audrey Mieir  

Thought for the Day  

What does the condition of you worship reveal about how you value God?  Rev. Travis Johnson

A View of Music in Worship from Psalm fifteen- Part 1

A View of Music in Worship  reom Psalm Fifteen-Part 1 

Psalm 95:1 “O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.  Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.  For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.”

            As many writers have pointed out, using music in worship is not about what the worshiper gets out of musicing unto God, but rather about how he or she responds to God through musicing unto Him.   We know that the key to worshiping by the use of music is not receiving feeling from our musicing, but rather how one is drawn into God’s presence by the on purpose act of taking the journey from the natural to the supernatural and thereby communicating with God through music. 

            Worshiping with the use of music is not an event, performance, or an aesthetic experience, but rather a vehicle for worshiper to respond to God verbally.  It is not the only possible verbal response but it is most certainly a useful one.  I believe that one of the reasons that singing unto God in worship is such an efficacious aid to worship is that it is a response to one of God’s clear commands to the worshiper.

Prayer, Chorus, and Thought for the Day

Prayer for the Day

I want to thank you Lord for the way you provide philosophical guidance to sincere Christian musicians.  Thank You for guiding me over the past forty five years as I have diligently sought to develop a music philosophy that would bring honor to Your name.  Lord I am well aware that I need your help as I write about music philosophy.  Please help me to think clearly and cause other Christians to have their thinking stimulated by my writings.  Lord please help me to write the things that You want me to write.  These petitions I am praying in your wise and wonderful name.  Amen.

Chorus for the Day  Make Me A Servant  by Kelly Willard

Thought for the Day

James 1:5 kindly instructs us that,  “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”  Isn’t it wonderful that when we do not know God doesn’t make fun of us, he just gives us the wisdom we need!

 

 

 

 

Having the “Mind of Christ” Part 2

Having the “Mind of Christ” Part 2

I Corinthians 2:13 states, “Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth.”  It is not egotistical for the Christian musician to believe that God’s wisdom is of a higher and more profound character than “man’s wisdom”. The wisdom of the Holy Spirit is freely given to musician’s who know God and retain His wisdom in their philosophical basis.  Romans 1:28 states, “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind [i.e. a mind void of judgment], to do those things which are not convenient.”  The Greek word echo (2192), that is translated retain in this passage of Scripture, means “to hold” or to “hold on to” something as a valuable or a valuable tested possession.

 The Christian musician values Bible principles of musicing and retains them in his or her musical philosophy.  This passage of Scripture uses the words “did not like” that are translated from dokimadzo (1381) ou (3756) dokimadzo (1381).  So, the import of this phrase is that that they did not test or discern God’s knowledge in developing a truth basis.

 It should be pointed out that an unsaved music philosopher could retain the evidence of God’s word in his or her music philosophy, but as is mentioned in Romans  1:28, they most often do not like to consider what the Bible says about music so they do not consider it in their truth basis..  Matthew Henry, referring to Romans I: 28, said, “The blindness of their understanding was caused by the willful aversion of their wills and affections.  They did not retain God in their knowledge because they did not like it.”  Matthew Henry’s Commentary- Acts to Revelation, p. 372  

 I am in no way trying to indicate that a Christian musician cannot learn from a music philosopher who is not a Christian.  I am, however, warning the young Christian musician, who is trying to develop a congruent Christocentric music philosophy, to be extremely careful not to accept what “man’s wisdom teaches” over what the “Holy Ghost” teaches because, the two are most often at logger heads with each other.

 

Song and thought for the Day

Song for the Day  Breathe on Me, breath of God  by Edwin Hatch

Thought for the Day

Romans 1:28 states, “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind [i.e. a mind void of judgment], to do those things which are not convenient.”

 

 

 

 

Having the "Mind of Christ" Part 1

Having the  "Mind of Christ” Part 1 

My music philosophy is based on the single, fundamental premise which the reader must understand when reading my philosophy of music.  Everything that I have written in past years and what I am writing now is an attempt to explain its meaning in order to apply it to all musicing.  The premise is that God owns music.  So, for a music philosopher to understand the nature and value of sacred and secular music at their deepest levels, one must not only know about God but also know God by having a personal relationship with Him. I Corinthians 2:12-16 explains:

 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world,

 but the spirit which is of God; that we might know

 the things that are freely given to us of God. Which

 things also we speak, not in the words which man's

 wisdom teacheth, but which the  Holy Ghost teacheth;

 comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural

 man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they

 are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because

 they are spiritually discerned.  But he that is spiritual  judgeth

 all things, yet he himself is judged of no man or who hath known

 the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him?   But we have the

 mind of Christ.

             Knowing God personally does not make the musician smarter but it does make it possible for him or her to have the ability “compare spiritual things with spiritual” because the Spirit filled musician has the “mind of Christ”—a condition that the worldly music philosopher does not have.  The musician who has the “mind of Christ” has the  unbroken and consistent existence or operation of the wisdom of the Holy Spirit operating in his or her life throughout that Christian’s spiritual journey with Christ.  

            The Christian musician must constantly be cognizant of the fact that the world is not a friend of grace.  The worldly music philosopher that does not love God with all his heart, soul, and mind is not seeking to accomplish the same musical goals as the Christian musician who believes that God created music and therefore owns music which He created for His glory and our edification.

Prayer, Song, and Thought for the Day

Prayer for the Day

Oh thou kind and merciful God who deserves all praise and all glory, forgive me for taking any praise for musicing unto Your wonderful and mighty name.  “Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.” Thank you for giving me the ability to music unto Your great name.  I know that you have given me the ability to sing and you have given me the air that passes through the vocal folds to produce the sound that is necessary to praise You.  I owe you everything that makes musicing unto You possible.  So Lord, if I know my heart at this very moment I do not want any of the praise any of the time that I music unto You.  If any audience expresses any praise to me, I now give it all back to You.  These things I humbly pray in Your worthy name.  Amen.

Song for the Day  My tribute  by Andrae Crouch  

Thought for the Day

If God is going to receive the praise when we music unto Him, we are going to have to music in such a way that the audience will give God the praise instead of us as performers.

Soli Deo Gloria

Soli Deo Gloria   

This Latin phrase was used by J.S. Bach in all of His sacred compositions and in some or his secular compositions. (The Cambridge companion to Bach, by John Butt) It was also used by G. F. Handel in his Te Deum. (Händel and the English Chapel Royal by Donald Burrows)   The term soli Deo gloria which was abbreviated by Bach S.D.G. means glory to God alone or to the only God. 

            I am concerned that Christians are moving away philosophically from this important concept.  In the twenty first century many times God has to share the glory of music with Christian musicians  Isaiah 48:11 states very clearly,  “For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.”  Isaiah 42:8 warns against giving glory and praise to anything bur God when it states “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.”

            The passage of scripture in the forty second chapter of Isaiah very carefully explains in verses ten through twelve that we are to give God the praise when we sing sacred music.  Isa 42:10 Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise from the end of the earth, ye that go down to the sea, and all that is therein; the isles, and the inhabitants thereof.    Let the wilderness and the cities thereof lift up their voice, the villages that Kedar doth inhabit: let the inhabitants of the rock sing, let them shout from the top of the mountains.  Let them give glory unto the LORD, and declare his praise in the islands.”

            The cry of the musician’s heart that is sold out to Christ should be, “Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake. Ps 115:1   God deserves all the glory and all the praise every time we bring him a musical offering.  Philosophically it is repugnant to bring the great God who spoke worlds into existence a musical offering and then bow and smile while an audience bestows lavish praise on the performer.

 

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day  

Have you ever wondered why so many Christian musicians who minister to teens consider that these young people are not capable of understanding or responding to a mature music ministry?  There is a vast difference between being young and being learning impaired.

True vs. Trendy Religious Musicing

 True vs. Trendy Religious Musicing

            It is unfortunate that so many Christian musicians  are intimidated by the world when it comes to musicing unto God.  It seems that a host of twenty first century Christian musicians are more focused on being trendy than true when it comes to musicing unto God.  The purpose of our sacred musicing is not political correctness or pleasing teens.  Although Ephesians 5:19 reminds us that we are to music unto one another, it clarifies the philosophical matter by proclaiming that although we sing to one another we make music unto God.  Therefore God is the object of our musical worship and not man.    Each musician has to make up his or her mind exactly whom it is that he or she is trying to please with sacred musicing.  Galations 1:1 asks the question, “For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.” 
           Every Christian musician that I have met is pleased when young people respond to sacred musicing.   There is nothing inherently wrong with young people enjoying a music minister’s musicing.  However, the object of a musician’s musical ministry to young people is to use the great art of music to educate and edify them and at the same time bring honor and praise to the Trinity. .  With this said, one must keep in mind the profound question asked and answered in Galations 1:1.  
          .Dr. Hugh Pyle quoted Danny Sweatt as saying “The idea that teens respond only to inane ditties is foolish.  If a person is saved he is indwelt by the Holy Spirit of God who causes him to respond to the truth of God.  The fact is, the world is sick of itself.  We only make ourselves look foolish to the lost when we try to be like them in order to win them.”   The Truth about Rock Music by Hugh Pyle p. 50  I sometimes chuckle at the thought of a mature adult music minister attempting to look, act and perform like a teenage pop music star.  Certainly Dr. Pyle is correct in believing that these well meaning church musicians look foolish to teens and mature adults as well.

 

Prayer, Song, and Thought for the Day

Prayer for the Day  

Dear Lord, thank you for making it possible for me to be truly happy and blessed each day of my life.  Help me as I meditate upon Your Word to be able to understand it in order that I may be able to know you more.  Please help me to always serve ‘you with an honest clear heart.  I am asking you to center my thoughts upon you during this day and even tonight.  This I pray at the beginning of this wonderful day.  Amen.

Song for the Day More About Jesus by Elisa E. Hewitt  

Thought for the Day  

The song for this day talks about knowing more about Jesus.  The beautiful thing about this song is that it is really possible to learn more about Jesus every day if we will meditate upon his law and his love.

 

The Delights of a Blessed Christian.

The Delights of a Blessed Christian.

Psalm 1:1-2, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.  But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.” 

            These verses explain very clearly what the blessed man’s delights are.  I have noticed over the years that I do not have to be around a person very long until it becomes crystal clear what captivates that person’s attention.  It seems that everyone who is alive and breathing should be considered a blessed person.  However this blessedness is of a deeper character.  The Hebrew word esher (835) is derived from the root word ashar (833) which means “to be straight or honest’.  So this condition of blessed happiness comes as a result of being right with God spiritually.  This person finds pleasure or delight (chephets 2656) in keeping God’s law. The fact that God’s law is not grievous to him is evident because this Christian meditates or ponders upon it both day and night.

            Every Christian musician must take inventory of the things that captivate his or her attention.  Every musician wants to be blessed by the Lord, but some are not as interested in keeping God’s law.  Although serving God is not all about keeping his commandments, no one can have a right relationship with God unless that person keeps them.  St. John 14:15 explains that “If ye love me, keep my commandments”. So, if a Christian musician is seriously interested in a close relationship he or she will deeply desire to keep God’s law.

Prayer, Song, and Thought for the Day

Prayer for the Day   

Precious Lord I want to take time right now to thank You for the warnings that You have placed in the Bible.  Thank You for caring enough for me to help me avoid close association with grumpy grouchy unhappy people.  Lord, help me to pick friends like I would choose a brain surgeon!  Lord, I am asking you to be my friend and portion and confidant.  O precious Jesus I know that I will never need to be lonely when I have a friend that sticks closer than a brother.  Thank You for being my friend.  These things I am praying in Your wonderful name.  Amen. 

Song for the Day   I Have Decided to Follow Jesus –anonymous 

Thought for the Day 

The people that I have known who passed themselves off as being deep free thinkers  were the most dangerous to associate with.  The greatest Christians I have known were humble persons who served Jesus in a spirit of humility regardless of their education or position.

Avoid Dissemblers

Avoid Dissemblers 

Psalm 1:1, “Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.”  Psalm 26:4 “I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers.”  Pr 4:14-15,   “Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men.  Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.”   Proverbs 1:10,  “My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not.”

       All of these verses are warnings to Christian musicians to stay away from close fellowship with wicked vain scornful persons who are dissemblers.  A dissembler is a hypocrite or a person who professes that he or she has beliefs that, deep down in his or her heart, this person do does not hold to in order to conceal real feelings or motives.”  It is amazing that these kinds of persons work for Christian organizations.  They are by far in the minority, but they are there.  During my teaching career I taught in two different Bible colleges and in both colleges there were a few offices that I avoided like the plague!

       If you want to know the latest gossip or if you want to hear predictions of gloom and doom, hang around these people.  However if you do, you are sure to face burnout.  They will have you mistrusting everyone from the pastor to the custodian.  If you love to be depressed, take their counsel while you sip their bitter coffee.  However, the Bible verses above give Christian musicians a way out—don’t stand, walk, or sit in dissembler’s office.  As a matter of fact, find a path that doesn’t go past their office!

Prayer and thought for the Day

Prayer for the Day 

I want to thank You Lord that you are truly “The ancient of days”.  Lord, I don’t understand it, but I believe with all my heart that you have always been there and always will be.  Thank you Lord that you never change.  Lord, the older I get the quicker I get tired.  Thank you that you never slumber nor sleep.  Will You accept my humble praise this morning?  Thank You that you have given me another wonderful day to love and serve you.  These thanks I give to you.  Amen. 

Thought for the Day 

God has given each of us this day to use in loving, praising and serving Him.  It is our responsibility to use the hours of this day wisely.