Graduates Cannot Teach What They Do Not Know-part 5

Graduates Cannot Teach What They Do Not Know-part 5

            One can remove a pig from his muddy wallowing hole, give him  a thorough bath with a scrub brush, but if the pig is allowed to not only return to his wallowing hole but to also again continuously wallow in it, there is absolutely no way that he will remain clean. Psalm 40:1-2 clearly explains, “I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.  He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.”  Notice that verse three further explains. “And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD.”  The Cambridge scholars AV marginal reading for the words “horrible pit” i.e. shaown bowr (7488 953) is a “pit of noise”.  Again, I find it odd that so many Christian musicians, pastors and church boards believe that the best way to help a Christian, who has passed form death unto life by the born-again experience, is to subject this Christian to the same horrible pit of noise that he or she wallowed in as a carnal un-regenerated sinner who was dead in trespasses and sins.

            Surely fellowships of believers should provide music for the new man which is of a higher renovated character i.e. “new song” chadash shiyr (2319 7892) rather than the music of the old man and the old life.  I am not saying that it is absolutely impossible for Christians to exist spiritually on a diet of fried musical bologna on white bread made from bleached musical flower that has been stripped of almost all of its life sustaining ingredients, but such a worship diet is by no means the best musical diet. It is ludicrous to suppose that music graduates who have never developed a conservative Bible based music philosophy will desire to feed the people who come to the House of God to worship anything of a deep musical and spiritual value.

            Psalm 40:2 also teaches that God had to pull the psalmist David out of the “miry clay” i.e. yaven tiyt (3121 2916) before he could place him upon the rock and establish his goings.  At least by implication these verses in Psalm forty teach that the old song of the old life in the pit of noise was miry clay that held the psalmist down spiritually.  So, YHVH replaced the old song with a new song of a higher renovated character so that he would not be drawn back into the horrible pit of noise.   

Quote for the Day

Quote for the Day

Ephesians 5:8, “For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:”

Graduates Cannot Teach What They Do Not Know-part 4

Graduates Cannot Teach What They Do Not Know-part 4

            Yesterday we discussed that as important as knowledge of famous visual arts and famous musical compositions may be to an undergraduate student’s general education, such knowledge should never be placed above Bible knowledge of music.  Furthermore, musical knowledge, which has been thoroughly interwoven into every Christian student’s music philosophy that is seasoned with a thorough understanding of music as a part of worship from ancient to modern times, is essential to every student receiving general education that is truly Christian.  It is high time that so-called Christian colleges and universities realize that having Christ’s name as a part of the institution does not automatically insure that its graduates will receive a Christian music education.

            Every Christian educational institution that I know of denies that it has been squeezed into the world’s musical mold.  However, as I alluded to in an earlier post in this series, multitudes of Christian colleges and universities believe that it is proper to worship with music styles that were created to feed carnal desires of depraved men and women.  This philosophy of music is fed by the belief that the most effective way to music unto God is to make worship exactly like the carnal music of the world.  It seems odd to me that so many Christian colleges and universities believe and teach, at least by default, that the way to music unto the high and holy triune God is to use music that sounds exactly like the carnal music of this godless world that was produced to appeal to the carnal desires on sinful men and women.

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

You can tell what a pastor really believes about musicing unto God by listening to what he puts up with musically from his worship leader.

Graduates Cannot Teach What They Do Not Know-part 3

Graduates Cannot Teach What They Do Not Know-part 3

            The problem is not fitting such courses into the general education portion of broad based general education, but rather a lack of the belief that every student must have an understanding of what the Bible teaches about music and musicing and have such knowledge interwoven into his or her philosophy of music.  Accrediting associations give accredited member colleges much more general education freedom than many college academic officers will admit.  However, even if there is not much variety in general education curriculums, Christian colleges can always require some Bible based music courses as a part of all professional programs. 

            Music has become the “war department” in multitudes of churches in the last half of the 20th century and now in the second decade of this century.  Every church deserves to have a senior pastor and a minister of music that both have a thorough understanding of Bible principles of music and musicing.  Furthermore, these pastors and ministers of music must be able to utilize this knowledge in a well-developed Bible based ministry philosophy.  Churches cannot expect secular universities to provide Bible based curricular offerings for pastors and ministers of music. However, they have the right to expect Christian colleges and universities to provide and require such offerings of each of their graduates.  If this were to happen, much of the shared ignorance would cease, and Churches would be much better equipped to face this post postmodern world. 

 

Scripture for the Day

Scripture for the Day

Ro 12:1-2, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

You can tell what a pastor really believes about musicing unto God by listening to what he puts up with musically from his worship leader.

 

Graduates Cannot Teach What They Do Not Know-part 2

Graduates Cannot Teach What They Do Not Know-part 2

            Yesterday we began this series of posts by citing some of the problems that are facing public music worship today.  Because so many Bible Colleges and a host of Christian universities have been more concerned with liberal arts education than a thorough Bible based Christian education, many undergraduate curriculums are now devoid of any required courses in Music of the Bible and Music Philosophy taught from a bible based Christian perspective.  Although Christian Colleges and universities would adamantly deny it, they have allowed the world to completely influence their broad based undergraduate curriculum decisions.  Although they blame accreditation requirements for the lack of Bible bases music courses in general and professional education curriculums for all students, this is not a fact.

            For instance, they have chosen courses like Art Appreciation, Fine arts Appreciation, and general Music Appreciation which could have been replaced with course like Music Philosophy in Christian Perspective, Philosophy of Music Worship, Music of the Bible, and a Host of other courses such as the History of Music Worship. I know, after working with different Christian and secular accrediting agencies in the US that Christian Colleges can make the above curriculum decisions in their undergraduate general education programs.  So, accredited undergraduate Christian colleges and universities are without excuse when they ignore Bible based music courses that are acceptable as fine arts general education. 

Quote for the Day

Quote for the Day

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

 

Different Methods of Thinking

Different Methods of Thinking

I found this quotation which I find thought provoking.  “… there is a needless prejudice in our society for "objective" over "subjective" thinking. Carl Jung was wiser. He understood that both are equally valid perspectives of human thought. The only difference is that objective cognitive processes are turned outward, subjective cognitive processes are turned inward - it is not a question of one kind being more reliable or more accurate than the other. The processes have to do with how we take in information and how we then decide based on that information.”  by Michael Levy http://ancientlyre.com/the_original_3000_year_old_music_of_the_bible_revealed/

Thought for the Day

Thought for the Day

I am always surprised that some Christians who say that a Christian musician should music unto God without emotion yell their heads off at a ball game.

If You’re Saved and You Know It

If You’re Saved and You Know It

                Have you ever thought about why some musician’s musicing is more effective than others?  There are several reasons that include the performer’s natural (developed) musical talent and the performer’s visual appearance which can add very much to the believability a musical performance.  A bland emotionless expression while musicing the good news of the gospel message actually hinders its message and effectiveness.  Standing before a congregation of worshipers and muscing without emotion belies the earnestness of the message that a performing musician is attempting to communicate.

            There are a host of things that could be mentioned about things that can make a musician’s sacred musicing effective.  However, the thing that makes the most difference is relationship with Jesus Christ.  One has said that there is a great difference between a musician who sing songs about God and a musician who sings songs about God who knows God.  Although I do not believe that sacred musicing is about emotion, I do believe that a person who knows and loves the God he or she musics about will sing or play with emotion and meaning.  Do you remember the children’s song “If You’re Saved and You Know It”?  That that little song mentions several things for the children to do.  I would like to add one more for adult Christian musicians to do.  It is “If you’re saved and you know it show your face!

Not only Beautiful but also Suitable—part 16

Not only Beautiful but also Suitable—part 16

            I do not know about you but I hate the thought of God having to use the words of te songs that I  perform in spite of the music part or the music because the musical vehicle  that I used as not “suitable to the subject” because it was loaded with either excess and/or musical defect.  What a pitty it would be to have my musicing actually hinder the message of the good news of the gospel.  It would be just as unfortunate for the music part of the musical offerings that I present unto Him  to be so flawed by its musical defects (because of the way I arranged the musical building blocks i.e. the formal properties of the music in such an inept manner) that the music was not supportive of the beauty of the gospel message. 

            Some brief discussion needs to be made about suitability.  One of the reasons that every Christian musician needs to develop a series of systematic beliefs about the nature and value of both sacred and secular music is because, when we understand both, we are much more equipped to make decisions about which styles of music lend themselves to being suitable to support the moral nature of the Trinity and and the message of the gospel.. These understandings of musical style also helps to equip the musician with the tools for the proper use of the various styles of music that are appropriate to be used as vehicles of prayer and praise of the high and Holy God that we love and serve.  Conversly, these understandings also help the worship leader to make mature educated choices of the styles of music that do not lend themselves to the awsomness and solemnity of worshiping the trinity and therefore should be excluded from worship.

Not only Beautiful but also Suitable—part 15

Not only Beautiful but also Suitable—part 15

            I’m not advocating any kind of religious fanaticism or out of contol  musical performance, but I am contending that “out of the abundance of the heart a musician musics”.  A careful exegesis of Ephesians 5:18-19 will reveal that the musicing which is mentioned in verse 19 must be done by a Christian musician that is submitted to the Holy Spirit (verse 18) and allows the Spirit to continually fill his or her life with the Spirit’s control and power.  The Ephesian writer makes an analogy of  a person who does not control his actions because he is under the control of wine and the Christian who does not music in his own power because he has steped off of the seat of control and has allowed the Holy Spirit to continually fill his life with power.  Surely the blessed Holy Spirit inspired the writer of the Ephesian letter to preface the mighty  musical teachings of Ephesians 5:19 by the necessary spiritual preperations  taught in verse eighteen.

            In the truest sense, beautiful musical offerings to God can only exude grom a holy heart life.  Galations 5:17 teaches, For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.”  I am not contending or intimating that beautiful musicing can not be accormpihed by a musician who is not a born again Christian.   Also, I am not declaring that when God’s Word that is set to so called  religious music that is anti-music, because  its aesthetic basis consists of music that is grotesque or ugly, is not ever used by the Holy Spirit to reach a lost soul.  I do contend, however, that it is the Word that the Holy Spirit is able to use rather than the music part of the music.  I believe this because, Isaiah 55:11 teaches, “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.”  So, God can use His Word to reach a lost soul in spite of the music part of a piece of music.

Not only Beautiful but also Suitable—part 14

Not only Beautiful but also Suitable—part 14

            What many music worship leaders and pastors failed to understand was, as I put it, “out of the abundance of the heart the church musician musics”.  I believe that “the effectual fervent musicing of a righteous person availeth much”.  So, two problems developed in public worship.  First, anointed musicing was subtly, and many times not so subtly, made fun of by modern and postmodern writers. Musicians who openly sought after the dunamis (1411) of the Holy Spirit were considered to be extremists and even fanatics.  The emphasis in the worship renewal movement was often placed on “event musicing” rather than anointed musicing. 

            I want to make it very clear that I wholeheartedly believe in beautiful music offerings.  However, I fear the subtle shift in music worship that has placed the emphasis on beautiful artistic musical performance events rather than on the power of the Holy Spirit on musical Servants who are selfless servants. Acts 1:8 teaches very clearly, “But ye shall receive power (dunamis 1411), after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”  There is a vast difference between powerful talented beautiful musical performances and beautiful anointed musical offerings given in an attitude of humility and submission to the blessed Holy Spirit who anoints and empowers His holy musical servants.

Not only Beautiful but also Suitable—part 13

Not only Beautiful but also Suitable—part 13

          Up to this point in our discussion we have not thoroughly considered whether or not sacred music should or must be based on a music aesthetic requiring beauty.  The question of whether the Christian musician should be concerned with beauty or the appreciation of beauty as a set of principles underlying and guiding the work of his or her music ministry became a major concern in the second half of the 20^th century. 

            Starting on the 1960’s, a plethora of music styles began to assert an enormous influence on religious music in many Christian communities.  Out of this musical ministry confusion generations of church musicians became preoccupied with being trendy rather than true.  All traditional music and musicing came under attack.  Traditional ways of musicing were blamed for being responsible for ineffectual (i.e. not producing or able to produce the effect one desires of music in worship).  At this point in the history of worship renewal a serious philosophical error was made by a host of Christian musicians and pastors.  Rather than taking a serious look at how church musicians were musicing unto God, they summarily dismissed any music or way of musicing that was traditional.

Not only Beautiful but also Suitable—part 12

Not only Beautiful but also Suitable—part 12

            Dealing philosophically with the issues mentioned in Blaise Pascal’s philosophical statement, “It is not enough that a thing be beautiful.  It must be suitable to the subject, and there must be in it nothing of excess or defect” should not be static and woodenly unchanging.  I want to make it very clear that as the world changes musically and philosophically, the Christian must continually re-define terms and make further refinements in one’s series of systematic Bible based beliefs about the nature and value of the whole of music.  As I have stated many times, the Christian is not of this world’s system (aion 165) but we are in this world (kosmos 2889) so we must constantly make adjustments in the way we music unto God.  Romans 12:2, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”  Conservative Christian musicians must not resist all change but must resist destructive change. 

            There is no merit in becoming what I call a musical antique lover.  If one falls in love with”the way things were” and “the good ole days” musically speaking, one does not protect Christian worship (unless that musician was fortunate enough to have been a part of an excellent worship praxis).  He or she only protects musical tradition.  Conversely, the church musician who becomes addicted to the “cutting edge” and considers it to be his duty bound to follow every music worship fad and trend, may be responsible for much destructive change and unnecessary division among Christian believers.  I want to make it very clear that time honored ways of musicing in worship are not to be discarded lightly.  However, the way one has musiced throughout his or her lifetime does not insure that those ways of worshiping with music are representative of Bible landmarks of public worship.

Not only Beautiful but also Suitable—part 11

Not only Beautiful but also Suitable—part 11

            The discourse on a Christian’s “doing” on in James 1:21-27 also teaches Christians to, “… be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.  For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:  For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.”  If the Bible teaches a changed life, and it does, that changed life will doubtlesly included some changes and adjustments in the way a Christian muician musics.

            I am sometimes criticised for not stating what a Christian can and cannot do when he or she musics unto God. If I were to mention exactly what is wrong with some religious music and the way church muicians music, my list of do’s and do nots would be outdated in a short period of time since the way church musicians arrange and perform is ever changing.  One of the most valuable things that an individual, church fellowship, or Chistian educational institution can do is to develop a written series of systematic beliefs concerning the nature and value of sacred and secular music.  To me the peactice of putting out muscal fires as they occur in this century is an ineffectve way to deal with the way one educates and worships. 

Not only Beautiful but also Suitable—part 10

Not only Beautiful but also Suitable—part 10

            The Greek word aspilos (784)  which has been translated unspotted in the AV means to be unblemished (physically or morally).  Keeping one’s music and musicing unblemished or without “excess or defect” (see part 1 of this series of posts) does not represent the majority opinion of 21^st century church musicians.  However, the discourse of James 1:21-27 admonishes Christians to keep their “doing” unblemished and undefiled before God.  I contend that the true truth of this Bible lesson, although it mentions a variety of aspects of Christian living, extends to all a Christian musician’s doing—which includes his or her musicing. 

            Also worth mentioning is the word amiantos (283) which was translated undefiled in the AV and connotes one’s doing being unsoiled or pure.  Although contending for a Christian musician’s music and musicing to represent the changed life of a Christian which is so clearly taught in the Bible is by no means popular in this century, the   inspired Word of God warns that a Christian’s doing can become blemished and defiled in the sight of God.  Even in the Old Testament in the 40th Psalm the musician David teaches under inspiration that a part of YHVH’S deliverance of him included a new song and deliverance from the pit of noise (see AV Cambridge center reference notes.).

 

Not only Beautiful but also Suitable—part 9

Not only Beautiful but also Suitable—part 9

            The quality or lack of quality of our music is important but so is unholy association with the world and compatibality with our Savior who “is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.”   Music generas  ( the way the music part of the music is arranged into an artistic whole) may be so poorly put together that they are not supportive of the gospel of the Savior they are suppsed to represent, but they can also be flawed by the message and meaning that they convey to the hearer and the performer.

            It may seem to some Christian musicians that my discussion of keeping sacred music sacred by protecting it by keeping it unspotted by the world system of this age is wearisome.  James 1:21-27 speaks about a Christian’s “doing”.  It states, “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.  But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.  For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:  For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.  But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.  If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.  Pure religion and undefiled (amiantos 283) before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.” I am concerned not only about a Christian musician’s intent but also his or her musical “doing”.  A musician’s doing is the ultimate proof of what he or she actually believes.  What a musician says is, as 1 Corinthians 13:1 teaches, mere hollow  sounding brass or clanging symbol, if that Christian musician’s musicing is not “suitable to the subject”.

Not only Beautiful but also Suitable—part 8

Not only Beautiful but also Suitable—part 8

            I want to make it very clear that I do not believe that sacred muic and the way one musics unto God is primarily about music as an art form.  I am not contending that sacred musicing is about high art forms, but since music is an art form, we should always present God a musical offering that is the best quality that we are capable of giving.  It is interesting to note that some writers believe that the ancient Levite musicians did not think of their sacred music an an art form but rather a means of connection with God.

            Anti-music, shock music, and aelatoric music are examples (there are many more) of types of music generas that are not congruent with the beauty, good news, stability and rest of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Music styles that carry close associations to lifestyles that are antagonistic to the changed life principles taught in the Bible are also not “suitable to the subject”.  I further contend that music styles that have close affialiation to false religions like New-age, New World Order, and  Rastafarianism are not congruent with the message of Jesus Christ  taught in Hebrews 7:26, “For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens.” 

 

Not only Beautiful but also Suitable—part 7

Not only Beautiful but also Suitable—part 7

            2Corinthians 7:11 explains what happens when a sinner comes in true repentence  to Christ for forgiveness, “For behold this selfsame thing, that ye sorrowed after a godly sort, what carefulness it wrought in you, yea, what clearing of yourselves, yea, what indignation, yea, what fear, yea, what vehement desire, yea, what zeal, yea, what revenge! In all things ye have approved yourselves to be clear in this matter.”  I am drawn to the statement “what carefulness it wrought in you”.  I contend that one of the marks of a mature Christian musician is a carefulness in the selecton of the music he or she musics unto God.  I believe that carefulness should permeate all musical decisions.  The earnest Christian who loves much desires to bring honor to God as opposed to hocking his or her musical wares to a croud in order to please them. 

            Excess or flaw in sacred music can cause our musicing to be eneffectual.  As we study the musical notation (the te’amim) of the Old Testament, we can see that the Bible melodies supported the content of Scripture rather than beinging a distraction, hinderance, or competition to its message.  When it comes to sacred music as an art form and a a concomitant to the “subject”, the musical vehicle ( i.e. the way that the formal properties are arranged into an artistic whole)  must not only be beautiful but also a congruent representation of the moral nature of God.  Religious music clothed in an inapropriate or inept vehicle will not change the moral nature of God (i.e. what God is really like), but it can change a person’s conception of what God is like.

Not only Beautiful but also Suitable—part 6

Not only Beautiful but also Suitable—part 6

            I spend much time throughout the summer and fall months each year going through literally hundreds of dresses and tailored suits trying to find a Christmas outfit for my wife.  I do this because this search is a part of my love language to her.  I could just grab something off the shelf.  I could just look at the price tag or I could have one of our three daughters pick out an outfit, but that would, to me, show a lack of love and caring.  Instead, I want the right color, the right size, and the right fit, and the style of garment that will be the best suited to her.  A suitable outfit for my wife requires a number of careful considerations that all matter to her and to me.  She knows and I know that how she is dressed represents who others think she is.  Because I wish to present her in the very best way possible, I want her outfit to put her in the very best light before others.

            If you knew how much time I spend each year picking out an outfit for her you would be convinced that I am not a good steward of time, am extremely slow, too much of a perfectionist, can’t make a decision, or that I love her so much that I want this gift to be the best love gift that I am capable of giving to her at Christmas.  In my mind I draw a philosophical parallel to a Christian making a prescriptive choice of which beautiful, appropriate, and suitable musical selection will be the best musical offering for the Savior who left the portals of heaven; was born of a virgin; served, suffered, died for our sins, and rose triumphant over sin, death, hell and the grave.  Surely a Christian musician’s love language to God should cause that musician to be careful to select only the most suitable, appropriate and profound musical offerings to present to a high and holy triune God.  Love for God, who is the object of worship, and not law should guide one’s selection of musical offerings. 

Not only Beautiful but also Suitable—part 5

Not only Beautiful but also Suitable—part 5

          At this point in this discussion you are possibly anxious to know how one is to go about insuring that his or her sacred musicing is “suitable to the subject”.  As I stated earlier sacred musicing is not only about beauty but also about suitability.  Suitability connotes profundity when one is considering sacred music and musicing.  Choosing profundity over banality is a matter of the wise Christian making prescriptive choices of which music he or she selects as the best possible musical offerings to present to God.   

         A laissez-faire attitude about the musical offerings that a Christian musician presents to God gives possible rise to the musician’s musicing becoming autonomous.  The attitude of no rules and no regulation has permeated the music ministry of postmoderns and now post-postmoderns in this century.  One of the problems that some Christian musicians have today is that they consider themselves music artist performers rather than musical servants.  When you hear a musician say words like “my music”, my style”, “my rights” and” my performance” you know that this church musician owns the music he or she performs and that this person is a religious humanist.  Any time that a musician is preoccupied with developing his or her human potential musical servanthood is low on that musician’s priority list.  Personal performance aggrandizement will be the covert and overt goals rather than being a “good and faithful servant” (see Matthew 25:21 and 23).

Not only Beautiful but also Suitable—part 4

Not only Beautiful but also Suitable—part 4

            Although God is ultimately the object and receiver of all our sacred musicing, the Christians and the unchurched seekers who are also the auditors must be included in a Christian musician’s sacred music praxis. To make this point clear study Ephesians 5:19 carefully and you will see that the Lord (kurios 2962) and yourselves (heautou 1438) are simultaneously conjoined in this Bible musical admonition. In the companion Scripture in Colossians 3:16 the “teaching and admonishing” of the grace filled musician in done in the presence of “one another” (1438) but “to the Lord” (2962).  Failure to recognize this phenomenon is to fail to meet the complete intent of this ancient Bible landmark of how to develop and execute a sacred music praxis.

             Every Christian musician, church, Christian school, Christian college and University should have a written series of systematic beliefs concerning the nature and value of the whole of music.  Unless they do they will be much like a ship without a stabilizer. All cruise ships that that handle storms at sea most effectively are stabilized.  I am told that the purpose of stabilizers is to reduce the ship’s roll from side to side and that many ships have a stabilizer on each side while still other ships have four stabilizers.  I like to think of a Christian musician with a well-developed music philosophy as a ship with four stabilizers.  Two of the Christian’s stabilizers are a well-developed series of systematic beliefs about music and the other two are a deep understanding of sacred and secular music and musicing.  Those who understand ships explain that a ship is less likely to be overturned from side to side rolling than from front to back pitching.  Christian musicians are often hit where they are most vulnerable.  Those who spend much of their public ministry putting out musical fires without the benefit of a well-developed music philosophy and praxis are much more vulnerable to experiencing musical shipwreck.

Not only Beautiful but also Suitable—part 3

Not only Beautiful but also Suitable—part 3

             Christian musicians sometimes lose sight of the real subject of their religious musicing.  Amidst the process of religious performance, the audience (seekers and Christians) takes precedence over the real audience (the Trinity) who should be the receiver of all our praise musicing.  Also, the performance practice often becomes the goal as opposed to the “subject” (content) and the object (the Trinity) of the music which is being performed.  

            As I have often stated in my musical lectures and in my philosophical writings, Christians should always music unto God.  All sacred musicing should be musical offerings unto God that are performed in the presence (or hearing) of real live people.  Christian musicing should be presented to God for His glory and for the education and edification of both those who do and do not know the Lord (i.e. those who have received Christ’s saving grace and the seekers).

Not only Beautiful but also Suitable—part 2

Not only Beautiful but also Suitable—part 2

            We always experience sacred music in the context of community.  Most people like what they have often experience and mistrust that which they do not understand.  Such is most often the case with a person’s likes and dislikes when considering religious music and musicing in the context of religious settings both in and out of the church worship setting.  At this point the question arises, “Do frequent ways of religious musicing and these often experienced ways of doing so codify or establish a worthy sacred music praxis?” 

            I contend that frequent ways of musicing or musical traditions of church music do not insure that a style of music or the way that it has often musiced is automatically worthy to become the basis of sacred music praxis.  In other words, the way we have always musiced unto God does not insure that our music or musicing is “suitable to the subject”

Not only Beautiful but also Suitable—part 1

Not only Beautiful but also Suitable—part 1

            Although I do not agree with the French philosopher Blaise Pascal’s theology or much of what he wrote, I do agree with a statement he made in his Pensées when it is applied to sacred music.  He wrote, “It is not enough that a thing be beautiful.  It must be suitable to the subject, and there must be in it nothing of excess or defect.”  Many Christian musicians seem to have forgotten, or never learned about the fact that a musical composition has the propensity to be either congruent or incongruent with the purposes of sacred musicing.

            The consideration of what is or is not beautiful in a musical composition is most often very difficult to establish with much of a degree of certainty.  Certainly there are cultural, musical and personal considerations that come into play in any such decision making process.  The musical neophyte will not have the historical and musical or experiential knowledge to make a purely empirical decision of what the beautiful in music consists of when speaking of the arrangement of the formal properties of the music.

Song for the Day

Song for the Day  “Praise Him, Praise Him” by Fanny Crosby

Ancient Systematic Musical Worship part 2

Ancient Systematic Musical Worship part 2 

             Public worship in ancient Israel has left us an ancient landmark of musicing to God.  Although I could spend the next month talking about the significance of this use of music in public worship, I will try to just touch on one main aspect of this public worship.  The simple point of this devotional today is that the Levite musicians were appointed to systematically lead the people in worship by recording, thanking and praising.

            Christian musicians would do well to pattern their musicing unto God after this ancient example of music in public worship.  First, their musicing caused the people to record (zakar 2142) –to remember what God had done for them.  Second, some of the musicians were appointed to cause the worshipers to thank (yada 3034)—to revere YHVH God without-stretched hands.  Third, others were set apart to lead the people in musical praise (halal 1984)—to make a show or boast in the Lord.  Remember that in ancient public in Israel, the people were led systematically by the worship music.  They remembered, then revered with physical response and then they were led in the public act of praise.

Prayer for the Day

Prayer for the Day
This is truly a day that You have provided for us Lord.  I confess to You that when I talk to you I complain much more than I praise.  Thank You Lord for delivering me out of the horrible pit of sin and musical noise and putting a new song of renovated character in my mouth.  Lord I lift up my hands and my thoughts to extol You for all You have done and for who You are.  I praise your name because You are mighty to deliver and You are also slow to anger with me.  Please accept my feeble words of praise and my song about Your everlasting love.  This I pray to You.  Amen.

 

Ancient Systematic Musical Worship part 1

Ancient Systematic Musical Worship part 1

1Chronicles 16:4, “And he appointed certain of the Levites to minister before the ark of the LORD, and to record, and to thank and praise the LORD God of Israel: Asaph the chief, and next to him Zechariah, Jeiel, and Shemiramoth, and Jehiel, and Mattithiah, and Eliab, and Benaiah, and Obededom: and Jeiel with psalteries and with harps; but Asaph made a sound with cymbals…”

            In this chapter David brought the ark of God to the tent.  This ark was a symbol of the manifest presence of YHVH.  Mathew Henry said that, “This chapter concludes that great affair of the settlement of the ark in the royal city, and with it the settlement of the public worship of God during the reign of David.”  The establishment of Public worship in ancient Israel included both instrumental and vocal music.

 

Prayer and Song for the Day

Prayer for the Day

Oh God, let me so live in such a way that I although I may be found blameless before you,  Lord I am far from being perfect as men look on perfection, but You have promised that I can be without moral blame before You.  I love you Lord and I desire that my life may be pleasing in your sight.  Thank You for your goodness to me.  This I am praying in Your strong and mighty name.  Amen.

Song for the Day  "Oh, Make Me Clean!" by George W. Bennard

Upright Musicians

Upright Musicians

Job 1:1, “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.” 

            Some people try to tell Christian musicians that they cannot live an upright life in this sinful world.  The inspired account of the life of Job declares that he was “perfect and upright”.  The word tam (8535) which is translated perfect in this verse means to be complete morally.  Also, the word yashar (3477) translated in the same verse as upright means straight or with equity.  I have always wondered that if in the Old Testament dispensation men lived straight and morally complete before God, why would anyone believe that it is impossible in the 21^st century.

            So, Christian musicians need to live carefully in this present world. In Leviticus   11:45 God said to the children of Israel, “For I am the LORD that bringeth you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God: ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.”  The same command is written in 1Peter 1:15-16, “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, be ye holy; for I am holy.”  Some churchmen tell us that we must live a defeated Christian life but the Bible would not tell us to live a holy life if it was impossible.  So take courage Christian musician, God’s grace is sufficient to sustain and keep you each day of your life!

 

Prayer and Song for the Day

Prayer for the Day

Lord I am coming to you with confidence because You do not go to sleep while I am talking to You.  Thank You for promising that You will not allow Satan or anyone else to move my foot or any part of me for that matter.  I am asking you to help me to look up at the hills that You have made that are there as a reminder to all of your Christian musicians that real help comes from You who created them.  Help me to realize that You have strength for me to meet whatever troubles may face me today.  I want to thank You in advance that you will also take care of me tomorrow.  This I pray with confidence today.  Amen.

Song for the Day  “He Watching over Israel” by Felix Mendelssohn

Take Advice from God Who Does Not Slumber or Sleep

Take Advice from God Who Does Not Slumber or Sleep

Psalm 121:1-3, “A Song of degrees.  I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help.  My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.”

            I am drawn to the Psalmist’s words “I will lift up mine eyes…”  I have been around several people in my life time that did almost everything else when trouble came, but they did not lift up their eyes.  As a matter of fact they seemed to be looking down most of the time, and when they weren’t looking down they were looking around at others. 

            The Psalmist, under Divine inspiration, teaches those that love and serve YHVH to look up to the self-existent eternal God who is. Which way are you looking?  Do you have your eyes focused unto the hills or are they focused on the muck and filth of this world.  When trouble comes do you looking up where your help comes from or are you looking at those who never say anything good about anyone.  Te psalmist said very clearly, “My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth…”  I suggest that you take advice from the only sure source of help from God because, “He will not suffer thy foot to be moved…”

 

Prayer for the Day

Prayer for the Day

My precious Lord and Savior I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity at an early age to music unto You and to sing Your everlasting truths to others.  I also want to thank You for allowing me to be surrounded by Christians who loved and served You with musical offerings that brought honor and glory to Your matchless name.  I am asking You to help me to share the rich musical heritage that I experienced with others.  Lord, thank You for giving me the unbelievable privilege to share my musical with those who did not love and serve You over many year of my life.  My heart is filled with praises to You for the many musical blessings that I have received.  These thanks I give to You.  Amen 

You Are What You Music

You Are What You Music

            It is reported that Dr. Jack Hyles said, “You are not going to be what you decide to be, you are going to be what you decide to be around.”   I want to thank God that I had the opportunity to be around Christian musicians while I was growing up that were more interested in God receiving glory from their musicing than they were with being on the cutting edge of musical worship style change.  I often wonder where I would be today if I had grown up around Christian musicians who were more interested in becoming famous or well-known than they were in musicing in ways that brought honor and glory to God.

            Musically speaking, a young church musician becomes what he or she musics.  A young musician makes choices of the music that he or she will listen to and perform.  It is sobering when I realize that Dr. Hyles was right when he said, “you are going to be what you decide to be around”.  Not is that statement true of young musicians but also of adult musicians as well.  So every Christian musician must develop systematic Bible based beliefs about the nature and value of music to help to guide his or her musicing and musicing throughout life.  There is no doubt about it, When it comes to what a musician listens to and performs throughout life will play a major factor in the development of that person’s moral character.  Every now and then the Christian musician must take thought of what the types of music he or she is involved in are doing to that person’s whole-life.  A young musician becomes not only what he eats but also what he musics. 

Prayer for the Day

Prayer for the Day

My precious Lord and Savior I want to thank you for giving me the opportunity at an early age to music unto You and to sing Your everlasting truths to others.  I also want to thank You for allowing me to be surrounded by Christians who loved and served You with musical offerings that brought honor and glory to Your matchless name.  I am asking You to help me to share the rich musical heritage that I experienced with others.  Lord, thank You for giving me the unbelievable privilege to share my musical with those who did not love and serve You over many year of my life.  My heart is filled with praises to You for the many musical blessings that I have received.  These thanks I give to You.  Amen

You Are What You Music

You Are What You Music

            It is reported that Dr. Jack Hyles said, “You are not going to be what you decide to be, you are going to be what you decide to be around.”   I want to thank God that I had the opportunity to be around Christian musicians while I was growing up that were more interested in God receiving glory from their musicing than they were with being on the cutting edge of musical worship style change.  I often wonder where I would be today if I had grown up around Christian musicians who were more interested in becoming famous or well-known than they were in musicing in ways that brought honor and glory to God.

            Musically speaking, a young church musician becomes what he or she musics.  A young musician makes choices of the music that he or she will listen to and perform.  It is sobering when I realize that Dr. Hyles was right when he said, “you are going to be what you decide to be around”.  Not is that statement true of young musicians but also of adult musicians as well.  So every Christian musician must develop systematic Bible based beliefs about the nature and value of music to help to guide his or her musicing and musicing throughout life.  There is no doubt about it, When it comes to what a musician listens to and performs throughout life will play a major factor in the development of that person’s moral character.  Every now and then the Christian musician must take thought of what the types of music he or she is involved in are doing to that person’s whole-life.  A young musician becomes not only what he eats but also what he musics. 

Prayer for this Blog in June

Prayer for this Blog in June

            I want to thank You Lord and Father for the 114 countries that are a part of our blog family.  It is my sincere and earnest prayer let this blog will go around the world to places where I cannot go.  Lord, thank You that You are answering my prayer by guiding people from 114 countries to find and read my blog posts. Please continue to help me in 2016 as I prepare a post for each day to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit.

            Only You know Lord who is out there ministering musically that needs a fresh anointing for musical ministry.  Help me to know which philosophical and devotional thoughts will help these busy pastors and musicians.  Lord, as I continue to develop posts for the month of June, I am not sure which aspects of music education and music ministry to write about that will stimulate and encourage the blog family.  Please anoint the blog, the blogger, and the blog readers during 2016. If it is your will I am asking that the number of page views will increase during each month.  Lord, I am praying that you will help the content editors for the two books that they are now editing and making final preparations so they can be sent to the publisher.  These things I ask in your great and wise and wonderful name.  Amen.

 

            I want to thank You Lord and Father for the 114 countries that are a part of our blog family.  It is my sincere and earnest prayer let this blog will go around the world to places where I cannot go.  Lord, thank You that You are answering my prayer by guiding people from 114 countries to find and read my blog posts. Please continue to help me in 2016 as I prepare a post for each day to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit.

            Only You know Lord who is out there ministering musically that needs a fresh anointing for musical ministry.  Help me to know which philosophical and devotional thoughts will help these busy pastors and musicians.  Lord, as I continue to develop posts for the month of June, I am not sure which aspects of music education and music ministry to write about that will stimulate and encourage the blog family.  Please anoint the blog, the blogger, and the blog readers during 2016. If it is your will I am asking that the number of page views will increase during each month.  Lord, I am praying that you will help the content editors for the two books that they are now editing and making final preparations so they can be sent to the publisher.  These things I ask in your great and wise and wonderful name.  Amen.