Congruency in Our Musicing part 3

Congruency in Our Musicing part 3

            Since the conservative Christian musician is not pluralistic in his or her view of God, to him or her there is philosophically no possibility of a plurality of gods or musicing unto a plurality of deities.  Therefore, since much of religious world music does not address or concern the only true God, although such music is religious in nature because it in some way or another addresses religious things, it cannot possibly be considered sacred music by a Christian musician.  So, a music composition that may be rightfully considered sacred music is music that is inseparably connected to the only true God, is theologically accurate, and is suitable to the awesomeness and solemnity of the worship of a triune God.  It is not sacred if it is connected to a plurality of gods, to mere religious function, to music performance, or merely to religious acts or processes.

            Religious music is that large and indiscriminate conglomeration of musical compositions that are concerned with some form of religious usage.  Religious music and musicing may address itself to any god or to any false religion.  It may also address itself to any form of religious-pseudo-speak, or it may concern itself with the performer   or the musical composition itself.  Such music and musicing is in direct violation of the clear Bible principles of sacred musicing taught in Ephesians 5:19, “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.”  Sacred music and sacred musicing, as taught in this passage of Scripture, is God music rather than an artist hocking his or her musical wares before an audience who is enamored by the performer’s artistic abilities.  Although it is musiced before an audience and to an audience i.e. “to yourselves”, sacred music is sung “to the Lord”.  We must never forget that sacred music is God Music—it is always addressed to God and is about extolling God rather than about aggrandizing the performer or worshiping or admiring the artistic content of the music.