Does Emotion in Music Have Meaning? Part 5

Does Emotion in Music Have Meaning?  Part 5

I most certainly disagree with musical performance that exalts self and thereby denies the Bible principle of music ministry established in the Old Testament that the Levite musicians were to minister in the spirit of sharath (8334) i.e. in the spirit of humility like a servant or a menial worshiper.  One of the Scriptures that teaches this principle of musicing is1Chronicles 6:31-32 which states, “And these are they whom David set over the service of song in the house of the LORD, after that the ark had rest.  And they ministered (sharath 8334) before the dwelling place of the tabernacle of the congregation with singing, until Solomon had built the house of the LORD in Jerusalem: and then they waited on their office according to their order.”  It is always possible that a musician will go through process of religious musicing with the purpose in mind to glorify self and to display his or her musical wares rather than the sole purpose of presenting God a musical offering as a response to God for who He is, what He has do, and what he will do in the future.

With all this in mind, I still contend that Christian musicians can hide behind the cross and lift it up at the same time.  No musician has to exalt self when he or she musics with emotion and meaning.  Although I have met performers who were haughty and high minded, some of the greatest musicians that I have had the privilege to meet were very humble down to earth people.  I contend that musicing with emotion does not require the musicer to be self-centered or to not be Christ-like.