Gospel Songs under Fire—part 4

Gospel Songs under Fire—part 4

When Christians brag on the Savior it is not only good news to Christians but it is also good news to those who do not know the Lord. One of the most positive things that a congregation of believers can do musically is to tell the good news of what God has done for them individually.  This is many times best accomplished by singing gospel songs. Although worship is not about us but rather our Savior, salvation is about what God has done for us individually.  This salvation is a personal “know so” salvation.  Salvation does not mean very much to us until we as individuals have become partakers of the divine nature as explained in  2 Peter 1:4, “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”   

       One of the wonderful things about musicing unto God through personal testimony presented in gospel songs is the testimony of twenty first century Christians that God is still working with individuals in this present age.  Singing these testimony songs brings current individual reality and excitement through singing the good news of what God is doing and has done for us as individuals.  Singing about this personal reality is in no way a put-down of praise music, hymn singing or Psalm singing.  You see, our God is so awesome that the diversity of musics mentioned above helps us to fully express the awesomeness, solemnity, wonder, and majesty to the Triune God.  

Thought for the Day

Sing great rhetoric about God is a must for public worship, but it is in no way a replacement for the reality and testimony of what the Holy Spirit, the Holy and wise comforter is currently doing in our lives.

Gospel Songs under Fire—part 3

Gospel Songs under Fire—part 3

          There is much Old Testament lyric poetry that makes personal reference to God’s work in his or her life. This type of poetry is found much later in the New Testament in Luke 1:46-49 where Mary proclaimed, “My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.  For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.  For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.”  This poetry was certainly including the “I”, “me” and “my” of the Gospel.  This early poetry was in the spirit of what we have come to know and understand as “gospel music”.  So, for thousands of years those who loved and served God have made their personal boast in the LORD.  Now, some millennial musical churchmen have decided that this personalization is out dated and no longer capable of speaking to or relating to post post-moderns. 

          Many 20^th  and now 21^st  century church musicians have regarded personal references to God’s grace, mercy and help to be incongruent with the spirit of true public worship.  It is true that public worship is not about individuals but rather God.  However, when a Christian makes his or her boast in the Lord, such effusions of a grateful heart bring glory and honor to God.  Without such current and living experiences of God’s workings among His people, public worship often tends to be routine and sterile.  

Thought for the Day

I believe that the removal of all personal testimony in public worship has been one of the gravest misconceptions of what public worship should involve.  I remember many times when some humble saint would rise to his or her feet and give honor and glory to god for God’s current working in his or her life.  Many times these praises to God brought an exceeding weight of glory to the worship service that caused us all to worship.

Gospel Songs under Fire—part 2

Gospel Songs under Fire—part 2

Praise is the Christian’s response to God, i.e. thanks, adoration, and love for the trinity—it is what a worshiper “does” in response for what God Has done him.  Gospel songs explain very vividly what God has done and what He is “doing”.  My soul is blessed when I think about the difference between Christianity and the other world religions.  Christianity’s God is alive and is “doing” because He is not merely a god who “was”, but on the authority of His Word, He declares, “I AM THAT I AM”.  It is no wonder that Christians want to sing gospel songs as a way to brag on this God who is alive and well and is “doing”.

 Lyric poems that expresses the pronouns “I” and “my” are not a passing novelty of the 19^th and 20^th centuries.  Psalm 34:2 states “My soul shall make her boast (halal-1984) in the LORD: the humble (anav 6035) i.e. the depressed in mind) shall hear thereof, and be glad.”  Some of the best sacred lyric poetry that has been written in the last two hundred years has been used in gospel music.  Gospel songs of the last two centuries are some of the most descriptive and well-written poems that Christians have used to make their boast in the LORD. 

Thought for the Day

Religion is “mere religion” until a musician has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  If there is no “I” and “my” to your musicing unto God, religious music will never be much more than an art form to you.

Thank you for a Great Month of January 2017

Thank you for a Great Month of January 2017

            This month was the 49^th month of my blog which contained devotional and philosophical thoughts for Christian musicians. I have written over 2,572 posts since this blog was started in January of 2013. There have been several times this year when I have experienced a certain amount of writer’s burnout.  However, I am praying that my posts in 2017 will stimulate both the regular and new blog members to remain faithful to their musical ministeries. It is my continued prayer that each new post will bring honor to our heavenly Father in 2017.  The over 1,482 page views of my blog this month were experienced by people who read a mixture of philosophical and devotional thoughts.  We have had over 80.812 page views since the blog was started in January of 2013.  Since I started this blog the page views have come from 122 different countries. 

            These views have come from Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Argentina, Armenia, Angola,  Aruba, Austria, Australia, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Colombia, Congo [DRC], Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji, France, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Hong Kong,  Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland (Republic of),  Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordon, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia (FYROM) Macau, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia,  Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands (Antilles) New Zealand, Nigeria, Northern Ireland, Oman, Palestine, Paraguay, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru. Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Porto Rico, Qatar, Réunion, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand,  Tunisia, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Turks & Caicos Islands, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, USA and Zimbabwe .  We would like to welcome to our blog family Guyana that had its first page views this month.

             The ten countries with the most page views this month were:  USA, France, Germany, United Kingdom, China, Netherlands, Portugal, Romania Ukraine, and Brazil.

          If you are from a country that has had page views in the past 48 months and has been omitted from the 122 countries listed above, please email me your country’s name.  Please pray with me that God will allow this Music Philosophy Blog to continue to go places where I will never have the opportunity to minister musically in person. Please pray for me, as I have mentioned before, I am in the process of writing a general music philosophy book and a devotional book for musicians. My philosophy book is now in the hands of the content editor. Please pray the editor of the devotional book is in the process of moving to Scotland and is very busy at this time.

       Once again I want to thank all of you who have taken the time to view my music philosophy blog during the month of January and a special thanks is in order to those countries that faithfully view this blog month after month.  Please continue to pray that God will guide each post and allow it to reach those who need encouragement to keep ministering for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  

The main reason that I started this Music Philosophy blog is that, although there is much music philosophy information on the net, not very much of it is from a biblical perspective.  Please share the blog address with your friends.   If you have an area of music or fine arts philosophy that troubles you, please feel free to let me know and I will include it in our discussions.  My email address is Garenlwolf@gmail.com.          I am strengthened in my spiritual walk with God by going through that serious trial that involved our car insurance company last November.  I want to encourage all of our blog readers that God answers prayer.

Prayer for this Blog in February

            I want to thank You Lord and Father for the 122 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 122 countries to find and read my blog posts. Please continue to help me in 2017 as I prepare a post for each day to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit.  

             Lord, I want to thank You for all your goodness to me!  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 October, 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 2017. 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. Also, thank You Lord for helping me to proof read the 17 chapters of the philosophy book to make corrections.  I am asking that you will be with both of the content editors who are very busy at this time. I am asking You Lord, to multiply time for these two very busy people this month. These things I ask in your great and wise and wonderful name.  Amen.

Gospel Songs under Fire—part 1

Gospel Songs under Fire—part 1

            Regardless of what some Christian musicians who are millennials say the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ is “good news”.  That means frankly that gospel songs whether new or old are relevant and apropos in this century. All Christians desire to share this good news through their musicing.  The gospel of our triune God is much broader in scope than what we are able to express in our praise music.  Gospel songs allow a fellowship of believers to share many diverse aspects of full salvation by faith.  These songs are very positive songs that tell not only who God is but what He has done for sinful men and women in the past and what He will do for them now and what he can do for the seeker now and in the future.

            I will be the first to acknowledge that there are gospel songs that are not high quality poems and that furthermore that their musical content and structure are not shining examples of musical and compositional excellence.   Certainly there is some gospel music that should be allowed to sink into a state of well-earned oblivion.   We all are aware that there are gospel songs that were the work of a musical hack who was not a knowledgeable composer or arranger.  However, that is not proof that all gospel music is not usable or appropriate for public worship or evangelism.

Thought for the Day

Be careful before you categorically write off all public singing of gospel songs in an attempt to be current and trendy.

Music Philosophy Questions

Music Philosophy Questions

Below are ten questions that I have often asked my music philosophy students.  Take some time and see if you can answer them.  If you cannot perhaps you should give them further consideration.  For many of the questions there is no right or wrong answers.  I believe that every Christian student of music philosophy must struggle with these questions.

1  What is the general belief of the meaning of the term philosophy?

2  When considering Christian ministry in general, what does the Bible identify as the main thing?

3. What happens when music takes preeminence over preaching?

4 Explain why you believe that music can or cannot have a profound moral effect on the hearer.

5. What did ancient philosophers believe about music’s power?

6. Explain why you believed that music style is or is not neutral and therefore amoral.

7. Explain why you believe that music does or does not belong to the Christian performer, arranger or composer.

8. Why did Thomas Aquinas’ theory of nature and grace open “Pandora’s Box” philosophically?

9. What does the Bible teach about kosmos and aion and the Christian? Make application to how these terms relate       to the Christian musician.

10. How does man’s wisdom concerning church music differ from God’s wisdom?  

Thought for the Day

One of the problems that Cristian musicians often have when conversing with musicians who are not Christians is that many believers are not able to articulate their philosophical music beliefs.

A Vision of God

A Vision of God      
       Isaiah 6:1 states, “In the year that King Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple.”  
       Isaiah dated his vision of God by remembering the year that king Uzziah died.  Many times we cannot see a vision of God until the kings in our life are gone.  Do you have anything that is “king” in your life that would keep you from seeing the Lord Adonay (136) who is the sovereign controller of the universe?  If so, the real king Adonay will not be able to be the sovereign kikingofyour heart.               When Isaiah saw a vision of who Adonay is, he was able to see himself in proper perspective.  Many church musicians not only have trouble seeing God high and lifted up and worthy of service and worship, but also have trouble seeing themselves  undone and needing the cleansing with the coals from off of the altar of God. 

       Do not let the following “kings”: self-righteousness, self-actualization, charisma, performance worship, glitz, glamour, self-aggrandizement, and self-preservation keep you from receiving a proper vision of Adonay who is the sovereign controller of the universe.  Remember that all the false kings of a musician’s life must be dead before he or she will be able to see a proper vision of God.

Thought for the Day

Every musician that I have known  well has had some vision of what is important in music.  What about music and musicing is "king" in your life?

Music to Accompany the Sabbath Mizmowr Shiyr

Music to Accompany the Sabbath Mizmowr Shiyr 

            Psalm 92:1-3 A Psalm or Song for the Sabbath day. “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night, Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound.”

            The Psalm heading defined this music as a mizmowr (4210) Shiyr (7892).  Strong defines mizmowr as instrumental music set to words.  The Psalmist designates that this music is specifically shiyr or music to be sung.  Why are some of the Psalms defined in this way?  The real answer is that we really do not know for certain.  Perhaps the psalmist who penned this poem, which was intended for the Sabbath day, was especially intended for the purpose of singing.

            The Psalmist continues his specificity by saying that it is good i.e. yadah (3034) to hold out one’s hands in avowal to YHVW as one worships by musicing unto God.  The Psalmist goes on to say that this act of holding out (up) the hands as one musics is, “To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night.” 

            So, positions of worship do have biblical support.  The way we present ourselves while we music unto God has associative meaning. I am not trying to say that there is only one way to present ourselves to God as we music unto Him, but I do believe that the way we present ourselves does matter because I contend that it is an outward sign of an inner respect for the God we worship as we music.

Blogger’s Prayer for 2017

Blogger’s Prayer for 2017

            I want to thank You Lord that you desire to have fellowship with a Kansas farmer like me.  Thank you for having your great table spread with spiritual food for my soul.  Please help me to have the good sense to come to your table and to partake of the spiritual bread and fish that you have prepared for me.  If I know my heart, I really desire to have fellowship with You and to partake of Your table.  When I music unto You, please feed my soul and the souls of all those who hear my musical offering of praise. Precious Lord I am sobered when I  remember the many times that I have almost let Satan convince me that since I am “wrung out like a rag” that I  no longer  have anything to give to Your lambs and sheep.  At those times I become aware that my net has been on the wrong side of my little boat.  Lord I am asking you once again to help me to fish on the right side.

             Lord help me during this new year to hear Your voice and obey Your voice so that I may have something to bring to Your brunch.  Help me to trust that You will help me to experience a fresh filling of my empty net. You are the “Lord of the sheep” so you are able to prepare my heart and mind to music unto You and to feed Your lambs and sheep. Although I have ministered musically for most of my life, I must ask like Solomon of old, “Give me now wisdom and knowledge that I may go out and come in before this people…”  I need your wisdom every time I step before an audience because I represent You Lord.  I do not understand why You have chosen musicians like me to music for you but I know that in your wisdom You have chosen me to be one of your musical shepherds.  I Thank You Lord for giving me the awesome opportunity to feed your sheep and Lambs.    This I am asking in your in your wonderful and sufficient name.  Amen.

CHURCH MUSIC CREDO

CHURCH MUSIC CREDO

I believe that the more than 600 references to music in the Bible are given by inspiration of God and are profitable doctrine for reproof, correction, and instruction today.  I believe that the Bible provides us with timeless, relevant, usable, practical and spiritual guidance in the 21^st century.  I believe that the only completely safe teacher of church music philosophy is the Holy Spirit who is capable and willing to guide us into all truth concerning music ministry in this century. 

I believe that there are absolutes concerning music ministry.  I believe in profundity, appropriateness and standards of correctness in church music.  I believe that CHURCH MUSIC MATTERS and that CHURCH MUSIC MATTERS to God.  I believe that although there is room for taste in church music ministry, it is not all a matter of personal taste.  I believe God created music and that He thought it into being.  I believe that since God thinks about music it behooves us to study his Word to ascertain what He thinks about music.  I believe that good causes in music may be served.

Thought for the Day
As you begin 2017, I suggest that you develop a music credo and that you write it down and refine it as the year progresses.

Nothing matters as much as God matters

Nothing matters as much as God matters

Today is Sunday so we are going to take a break from "Understanding Music's meaning".  We will discuss more about it tomorrow.  Today is the Lord's Day so I want to praise him for life!  Psalm 73:26 states, “My flesh and my heart faileth: but god is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever."   I have lived long enough for my flesh and my heart to fail.  A few years ago I was placed in a heart procedure room and actually watched the doctor work on my heart.  Therefore, I have no trouble saying "... there is none upon the earth that I desire beside thee (Psalm 73:25b)."
       God has truly become the strength of my heart.  I will tell you that as I lay there in Christ Hospital that day, nothing mattered but God.  Nothing that I owned or thought I owned mattered! Christian musician learn to lean hard on the Savior.  Your health may have already failed or may be near to failure.  Take courage because God has promised to be your portion (vs. 26).  It is God and God alone that you must have in this world and in the world to come.
       As the psalmist said in verse 28, "It is good for me to draw near to God."  Be sure that you can say "I have put my trust in the Lord God."  As George Duffield stated in his gospel hymn "Stand up for Jesus", "the arm of flesh will fail you, ye dare not trust your own".
       God has promised in this psalm that he would be your portion for ever.  You may ma not have much of this world's wealth, but you have God as your portion.  The wealth of this world will fade away, but the heavenly inheritance will last for ever.  You can take your heavenly treasure with you to the glory world.

                           Prayer for the day-Nothing matters but God 
Lord thank you that when my heart and flesh fails—Jesus never fails.  Thank you for promising me that you will always be my portion.  Help me to trust you when the arm of flesh fails me.  Help me to reach out and receive your precious promises that are always sure and steadfast.  These things I pray in your strong and mighty name.  Amen.

Finding Truth in Music Christian Education Part 4

Finding Truth in Music Christian Education Part 4 

       We must not take off our “biblical worldview glasses” in the area of music. It is not a neutral, ineffective, autonomous area, but on the contrary, it greatly affects our lives and we must surrender our musical tastes to the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  There is a reason we must guard what we listen to.   K. Marie Stolba put it well when she said, “Music was peculiar among the arts in that it alone had the ability to influence character.”  (Stolba, K.M., The Development of Western Music, 1998 P. 13)

When we are making wise musical choices, we are able to enjoy the beauty of music as it infiltrates our lives. “The result of aesthetic experiences is a richer and more meaningful life…The antonym of ‘aesthetic’…can best be thought of as ‘anesthetic’- nothingness, no life, no feeling, no humanness.” (Abeles, Hoffer, Klotman, Foundations of Music Education, 1994 p. 63)  How much should we thank our heavenly Father for giving us so many aesthetics that our lives may be full and enriched! And how important it is that we honor that privilege and take advantage of what He has given us courts with Praise. (Ibid., Webber, 1997 p.78)  

Thought for the Day  

Ms. Wolf is correct in purporting that we all make musical judgments through our “worldview glasses”.  Unfortunately, many Christian musicians do not look at music through “biblical worldview glasses”.  As a matter of fact post-postmodern Christians consider a musician who does to be a religious extremist.  GLW

Finding Truth in Music Christian Education Part 3

Finding Truth in Music Christian Education Part 3

       A musician’s philosophy is not established to make other people happy, but to set guidelines for living a Christ centered, God honoring life.  Christ must have preeminence in our lives; He must have lordship over all of our choices and decisions, including music.  Francis Schaeffer says, “There is nothing autonomous- nothing apart from the lordship of Jesus Christ and the authority of the Scriptures. God made the whole man is interested in the whole man, and the result is a unity.” (Schaeffer, Francis, Escape from Reason 1968 p. 29)

            Part of submitting to His lordship is considering what God thinks about music.  God loves beautiful things, and we bring to Him our best offerings and abilities, but we do not perform art for the glorification of art itself. Webber says that the arts are “vehicles for communication. The arts are not venerated or worshipped. Rather they are used to communicate truth about God.” (Webber, R, E. Enter his Courts with Praise, 1997, p. 78) 

Thought for the Day

The part of music philosophy that deals with the beautiful has well supported, for centuries, that beauty in the art of music does matter.

Finding Truth in Music Christian Education Part 2

Finding Truth in Music Christian Education Part 2                                 

       The first step in developing a music philosophy is to go to the Word of God.  We cannot find wisdom and discernment in ourselves or in the world around us.  It must come from our Heavenly Father first and foremost.  I Corinthians 2:12-16 says, “We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.

        “The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned.  The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man’s judgment: For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.” (NIV)  Even as we discover truth and discern wisdom, our finite minds cannot cover everything. “No philosophy can be comprehensive in the omnipotent sense of providing the whole truth and nothing but the truth,” says Garen Wolf.  “A philosophy can never say all there is to say about something. However, a philosophy can and should explain what something is all about.” (Wolf, Garen, Church Music Matters, 2005 p. 18)  Not everyone will have exactly the same lines of demarcation, but we all must filter our philosophies through the gridlines of the Bible.

Thought for the Day

It seem odd to me to me that Christian’s who base their music philosophy on Scripture are often considered by other Christian musicians to be extremists and overzealous “proof-texters”. I have found that most often the people who have a well thought out written music philosophy are careful not to take Scripture out of context in order to twist into supporting their philosophical beliefs.   GLW

Finding Truth in Music Christian Education Part 1

Finding Truth in Music Christian Education Part 1

       This philosophical excerpt is presented here as a part of our series of articles on music education philosophy presented by selected Christian musicians in various countries. This philosophical excerpt is taken by permission from the monograph                                    Finding Truth in a World of Musical Deception by Rachelle Wolf.  She holds a BA degree in Christian music ed. with a performance emphasis in applied violin from God’s Bible College.  She is currently a candidate for an MM degree in violin performance at Miami University at Oxford Ohio.  While studying at Miami University, she holds a graduate assistantship and teaches violin privately, and is active in her church.  (The thoughts for the day are mine.)                                 

       What is music? Does it have value in the life of a Christian?  What does God think about music?  Are there specific kinds of music that are appropriate for a Christian musician?  Is there a place for secular music?  It doesn’t take long to find answers to these questions, many answers. It is not in finding answers that we have difficulty; ask anyone you meet.  Every musician has a music philosophy, regardless of how well it is developed.  The real challenge comes in wading through the stream of answers and philosophies to find the gold nuggets of truth.   

Thought for the Day

Christian musicians often consider the appropriateness of what they say because it will affect their Christian witness, but at the same time do not seem to realize that what they music will also affect Christian witness. GLW

Present Yourself Willingly

Present Yourself Willingly

2Chronicles 17:16, “And next him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself unto the LORD; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valor.”

            I was reading through the 2n chronicles the other morning and the sixteenth verse stood out to me.  Amasiah willingly offered himself unto the LORD.  I have seen Christian musicians who are serving God faithfully as ministers of music or Christian school music teachers, but although they are ministering faithfully, they seem to always to be “kicking and screaming” about their human condition.  They have failed to do what the ancient Israelite did—they have not given themselves willingly!

            It is one thing to give yourself to God but it is another to follow the admonition of St. Paul in Romans 12:1 when he wrote, “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.”  It is far better to willingly present oneself than to do it “kicking and screaming”. 

Prayer for the Day

I want to thank You lord for ever seeing fit to us me as a music minister and teacher.  I am asking You to forgive me for the times that I have complained about my human condition.  Help me to not only serve You but to also serve you willingly Help me to say like Isaiah, ”here am I, send me”.  I can never pay my debt of gratitude to You Lord for what You have done for me!  Thank You dear and precious Lord.  Amen.

Utilizing Great Music in Worship—part 7

Utilizing Great Music in Worship—part 7

      I have often told my college classes and have stated in my writings that the fine arts are not the door to the kingdom of God, but they are wonderful concomitants of quality musical worship.  Let me be very clear that as Romans 1:25 explains, we should never worship created things ( ktisis 2937 which includes music) but always the creator of music ( ktizo 2936 i.e. God).

 A steady diet of sacred classics should not be forced upon a congregation with little understanding of music, but it will not harm them to be introduced to some great sacred classics once in a while. It will also give those of us that have spent a life time studying and performing great music an opportunity to worship with music at a much deeper level of import.

Thought for the Day

This blog series is divided into seven parts (not by any particular design).  Seven is the number of perfection.  Perfection, or as nearly perfect as our offerings are capable of being, is the responsibility and should be the design of every minister of music.

Utilizing Great Music in Worship—part 6

Utilizing Great Music   in Worship—part 6 

       There is another reason that we should include the sacred classics as a part of our balanced musical ministry.  There are many people who attend public worship who are musically aware.  Accomplished musicians are often offended or at least disappointed by the shallow and shoddy nature of trite and mundane religious music.  I contend that a church full of educated people who understand and appreciate great sacred music deserve to hear quality musical offerings at least part of the time.

        Many church musicians wonder why astute accomplished musicians are often not involved in church music programs.  I believe the main reason is that so many church music ministries do not include any high quality artistic musical offerings.  A worshiper who has sung a part in a quality choir in junior high, high school, and college is offended when a church choir sings only overly simple two part, or worse yet, unison choral music.  Ministers of music need to understand the importance of having some musical “meat” on the worship table as well as the diet of musical “frosting” that is so prevalent in many fundamental Christian churches at present.

Thought for the Day

Christian musicians have a difficult task when they plan worship music for a congregation with diverse musical tastes.  The task is even more complicated when a Christian musician desires to present the best musical sacrifices unto God.  However, he or she is still responsible to keep this varied repertoire appropriate and high quality.

Utilizing Great Music in Worship—part 5

Utilizing Great Music in Worship—part 5 

             I believe that many times a minister of music’s actions subtly testifies to the fact that these musicians believe that God does not need to be worshiped with the best musical offerings we are able to present.  When we present all of our musical offerings with inferior musical genres, we are testifying to the fact that we believe that it does not matter if we present our heavenly Father a musical three-legged lamb.  Remember that, in the sacrificial system, God required a lamb of the matrix which was without defect or blemish of any kind (Leviticus 1:3, Numbers 28:19 etc.).

       I am well aware that there are many people who do not have an awareness or appreciation for the sacred classics.  I also understand that appreciating the great sacred music works is an acquired skill.  If a local congregation does not understand or enjoy great works of music then they will not be ministered to by hearing and performing these compositions.  It is unfortunate that many people are impoverished musically by not having an understanding of great sacred music.  As I stated earlier, great music enables one to have a greater understanding of the deep profoundness of the lessons to be learned in the Bible.

Thought for the Day

Although I do not believe that an artistic approach to worship is the “main thing”, I am strongly aware that worship music is an art form.  Therefore, I must always be aware of what kinds of musical art forms are appropriate as proper and appropriate representation of the moral nature of God.

Utilizing Great Music in Worship—part 4

Utilizing Great Music in Worship—part 4

       One can survive on a diet of bologna sandwiches and white bread with all the quality ingredients removed, but one’s diet can be greatly improved by eating foods which contain quality ingredients  I contend that the same is true of our musical diet.  Poorly written music does not support the awesomeness and solemnity of our worship of the triune God as well as well written compositions.  Certainly the sacred classics are excellent vehicles for the presentation of the biblical message.

        A total diet of the more simple forms of music sends the message to a congregation of worshipers and seekers that excellent quality musicing does not matter.  In other words, it testifies to those who attend our church services that the kind and quality of musical offerings we present to God do not matter.

Thought for the Day

Poorly written religious lyric poetry is still poorly written poetry when it is sung unto a high and holy God no matter how sincere the performer may be.

Utilizing Great Music in Worship—part 3

Utilizing Great Music in Worship—part 3

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

Thought for the Day

When I read about worship in the Old Testament I am constantly made aware of the fact that the Ancient Israelites believed that they must present God the best quality sacrifices that they were able to present unto Him.  Surely, twenty first century Christian musicians should have the same respect for God by the quality of musical offerings that they present to a holy triune God.

Utilizing Great Music in Worship—part 2

Utilizing Great Music in Worship—part 2

More and more Christian musicians seem to not make much distinction between inappropriate, poorly written, mediocre music and great religious music.  Although a Christian does not worship the greatness in music, as I said earlier, most of the time great music is a greater vehicle to represent the message and divine character of our great and wonderful God. However, philosophically speaking, the earnest Christian musician values the use of an excellent musical vehicle 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.

Thought for the Day

It is the responsibility of Christian musicians to constantly make decisions

concerning the appropriateness of the musical offerings they present to God.

Utilizing Great Music in Worship—part 1

Utilizing Great Music in Worship—part 1

       There is no doubt about the fact that one can make it to heaven without ever singing any of the sacred classics. As a matter of fact it is not imperative that a Christian sing any great music.  Worship is about God.  It is not about great art music.  However, although it is possible to sing unto the Lord with only trite, shallow, inferior, mundane musical offerings, well composed melodies and harmonies often are a much more effective concomitant to the marvelous message of the good news of the gospel than is poorly written music .

 I am not intimating that only the sacred classics are composed and arranged well, because there many praise choruses, anthems, hymns and gospel songs that are well composed.  I am simply saying that the sacred classics are classics because they are great music—the music part of the music and the way that the words are set to the music are both masterfully accomplished.

Thought for the Day

It seems strange to me that so many Christians, by their actions, seem to believe philosophically that the more that a congregation dumbs down the music that it presents to God the more humility it is exhibiting.

Musical Meaning in Musical Sounds-part 1

Musical Meaning in Musical Sounds-part 1

            1 Corinthians 14:7 teaches, “And even things without life giving sound , whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped?” 

            Although over the years I have discussed musical meaning at length in this blog, I would like to revisit it very briefly.  One of the objectives of developing a Christocentric music philosophy is to incorporate musical principles into systematic beliefs about the nature and value of a musician’s music praxis.  Every Christian must recognize that if the words of the songs we sing are truly biblical then they embody truth.  These music texts represent truth because the message of the “words” is true.  If they accurately teach Bible principles they represent what Francis Schaefer called “true truth”.   

Thought for the Day

It is not popular to discuss truth in this century because so many musicians believe that all “truth” is relative truth, and this situational truth changes often.

Study of Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16—part 3

Study of Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16—part 3

             Paul’s writing here connotes that the correct communication of Christ through the vehicle of music may become a means of grace to the Christian.  Our church music should become a vehicle for the word of Christ to enter our minds or hearts. I have often told my college classes that music is the handmaiden of God’s Word. St. Paul is referring to our heart in a spiritual sense when he uses the word hearts (2588).  Behm states that, "the thought that the heart is the central organ and seat of physical vitality occurs in the New Testament only in Luke 21:34 and in James 5:5."5   He goes on to explain the meaning of heart here as ". . .the religious center to which God turns, which is the root of religious life, and which determines moral conduct. . " So we can see that these songs should cause the logos to inhabit the religious center which will control our moral conduct.

            In this context we can see the importance of our songs being theologically sound so that they will correctly communicate the "word."  Colossians 3:16 warns us to use wisdom (sophia 4678) in our teaching and admonishing through song.  Along this same thought, Galatians 1:7 warns against perverting the gospel (2098) or good message of Christ.   

Thought for the Day  

It is a novel thought to many Christian musicians that the primary purpose of musicing unto God is not art but rather making the Word of God more understandable to those who attend the worship service.

Study of Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16—part 2

Study of Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16—part 2

             The word speaking in the Scripture above is translated from the Greek word laleo (2980).  It most often carries the meaning of speaking in the New Testament. In the musical discourse in Colossians 3:16  Laleo it is making reference to singing. It was translated preach as in Acts 8:25.  Colossians 3:16 charges us with a teaching music ministry i.e. (didasko 1321) and admonishing (noutheteo 3560) which connotes warning or reproving each other with music.

            The reason Christians are given such a solemn charge concerning singing is that in the New Testament like the Old Testament the ultimate goal of singing is the presentation of the Word of God.  As a matter of fact, we are told to "Let the word (logos 3056) of Christ (Christos 5547) dwell (enoikeo 1774) in you richly (plousios 4146) . ."  The words logos Christos mean that communication of Christ must enoikeo plousios or inhabit us copiously i.e. let your singing cause your mind to be crammed full of God.s word.  Singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs should cause our minds to be inhabited by the Scripture i.e. we should be catechized by our singing. One of the reasons that I believe this so strongly is that people become what they hear and perform musically.  Nutritionists say, “You become what you eat”.  Wolf says, “You  become what you sing and play.” 

Thought for the Day

The great Bible expositor Albert Barnes believed that musicing unto God should be considered similar to praying to God.

Study of Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16—part 1

Study of Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16—part 1

            Outside of the music references found in the Book of Psalms, Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 are probably the two most quoted musical passages in the Bible.  Since there is such a plethora of misunderstanding considering   the meaning of these verses, I believe that it will be worth your time to do a word study of these two familiar New Testament musical passages of Scripture. Since there is such a plethora of misunderstanding considering the meaning of these verses, I believe that it will be worth our time to consider a word study of these two familiar New Testament musical passages of Scripture.

            For your convenience I have included Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance  numbers for Ephesians 5:19 "Speaking (2980) to yourselves (1438) in psalms (5568) and hymns (5215) and spiritual (4152) songs (5603), singing (103) and making (5567)            melody(556) in your (5216) heart (2588) to the Lord (2962)" and Colossians 3:16  "Let the word (3056) of Christ (5547) dwell (1774) in you richly (4146) in all wisdom (4678);   teaching (1321) and admonishing (3560) one another (1438) in psalms (5568) and hymns (5215)   and spiritual (4152) songs (5603), singing (103)  with grace (5485) in your (5216) hearts (2588) to the Lord (2962)."             These two verses give a serious charge to those who sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. 

Thought for the Day

Take some time today to study the key words like psalms, hymns, spiritual songs and making melody.  Also, study the phrase singing with grace in your hearts.