Profound Music Lends Itself to Being Worthwhile Music—part 3

Profound Music Lends Itself to Being Worthwhile Music—part 3 

 I do not believe that it is too much of a stretch to believe that the Christian musician should desire that his or her music and musicing should rise to excellence and profoundness.  St Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi connotes this same truth.  Philippians 1:9-11 “And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.” Although this passage says nothing directly about a Christian musician’s music and musicing, the point that Paul was stressing in this discourse extends to the type and quality of music that a Christian should “approve”.

Paul’s teaching in the first chapter of Philippians addresses the philosophical issue of what a Christian approves or disapproves. He goes on to explain that correct approval is the key to one’s actions being without offence toward God.  The use of the Greek word diaphero (1308) has been given much attention by exegetes of Scripture.  Albert Barnes notes on this Scripture explain that, “The idea is, that he wished them to be able to distinguish between things that differed from each other; to have an intelligent apprehension of what was right and wrong--of what was good and evil. He would not have them love and approve all things indiscriminately. They should be esteemed according to their real value. It is remarkable here how anxious the apostle was, not only that they should be Christians, but that they should be intelligent Christians, and should understand the real worth and value of objects”.  Barnes Notes on the New Testament – Ephesians to Philemon by Albert Barnes, (comments on verse 10, p.148)