Thought for the day-Is Music a Language?

                                              Thought for the day-Is Music a Language? 

God is the author of all true truth.  Therefore, a Christian musician must always retain God in all of his or her philosophical pursuit.

Aesthetics and the Christian Musician—part 2

Aesthetics and the Christian Musician—part 2

            Any philosophical view of aesthetics that admits the grotesque or ugly is faulty.  We know that crude, ugly unmusical compositions do exist, but they are the result of a misarrangement of the building blocks of music.  Never blame God with ugly grotesque unmusical compositions.  The anti-music compositions of the 20th century were not produced by God-fearing Christian composers and arrangers.

            Musique concrète is an example of anti-music music composition.  Pierre Schaeffer (1910--1995) composed music directly on tapes or discs from natural sources.  However, these “natural sounds” were seriously distorted by playing them backward, changing the speed of the sound of by other editing abnormalities.  In 1948, Schaeffer composed his Concert des bruites (Concert of Noises) and other original compositions.  Pierre Schaeffer’s music can be identified with the philosophy of surrealist painters with its juxtaposition and chance techniques.  He often took perfectly natural sounds and scrambled them in an indeterminable manner.  (Surrealism will be considered later in this discussion.) 

            Schaeffer, Henry, Baronnett and Boulez were the early “inventors” of this anti-music distortion.  These compositions included religious pieces like Mass for Liverpool and The Apocalypse of John.  So this distortion found its way into religious genres making subtle mockery of the awesomeness and solemnity of sacred symbols.  One shocking aspect of this distorted religious music is that the narration of the Bible text is clearly understandable.  John Cage (1912--1992) became interested in anti-musical techniques like prepared piano and chance operations.  Cage called his chance music indeterminacy. 

Thought for the Day

Not everything that God created was visually beautiful but it was all very good. 

Aesthetics and the Christian Musician—part 1

Aesthetics and the Christian Musician—part 1

            Aesthetics is that area of philosophy that considers the perception of the beautiful as distinguished from the moral of the useful except in the case of the decorative arts that are both beautiful and useful.  Christian musicians often wonder just where Christocentric music philosophy fits in to a Christian aesthetic.  One thing is sure, God is interested in beauty.  We know that He is since His creation is not only useful but also very, very beautiful. 

            As always, the Christian is concerned with where to start when building a philosophy of artistic beauty.  One thing we know, that in the beginning God created everything that is beautiful.  Since music was a part of His creation, we know from the Genesis record that the beauty that God created was very good so therefore His creation of beauty was exceedingly beautiful.   

Thought for the Day

God intended for us to enjoy the beautiful.  Therefore, there is no conflict between beauty and worshiping God as long as beautiful art forms are not worshiped.

Decorative Art as Useful Art-part 5

Decorative Art as Useful Art-part 5

            While I am sounding off about worship let me also say that when worshipers are in the presence of royalty they should dress with respect.  If I was going to visit a dignitary i.e. a king, monarch or president, I would never dress in jeans and flip-flops.  Notice Isaiah’s concept of being in the presence of God in Isaiah 6:1, “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.”  His vision of being in the presence of God was not a stroll down the beach holding hands with God.  Rather as Isaiah recounts his vision in Isaiah 6:5,”Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.” In Isaiah’s inspired vision the Lord dressed up when He entered His temple. If God dresses up in His temple, it stands to reason that we should follow His example.

             The post postmoderns have convinced many 21^st century Christians that the way to worship a high and holy God is to bring him down to our size and treat Him as though He was just “one of the boys”.  We are shamed into believing that dressing up in the presence of the almighty, eternal, omnipotent, self-existent, eternal God who is and who is the ruler of the universe is not seeker sensitive.  When Christian musicians dress with respect when they music unto God in His sanctuary, they are showing that they value their opportunity to present the very best musical offering unto God in the very best way that they can.

            God is transcendent and reachable, but He can never meet our needs if we treat Him as one who is on our level.  When I was lying flat on my back In the Operating room at the Christ Hospital in Cincinnati Ohio in 1998, I needed a big God—not a buddy who was just like me! The most seeker sensitive thing that a Christian can do when musicing to a congregation of Christians and seekers is to present to all who are attending the worship service a God who is high and lifted up and whose train fills the temple!  This musician represents God to the people.  Therefore, this musician should dress as though he or she is in the presence of royalty—because he or she is saying (musicing) “Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory.”   

Scripture for the Day

Revelation 5:11-12 And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.”

Decorative Art as Useful Art-part 4

Decorative Art as Useful Art-part 4 

            One of the main purposes of the use of fine quality music in the context of worship is to lavish praise upon the Trinity as we extoll Father, Son and Holy Spirit with our musical offerings. We do not sing or play flat or sharp; we do not miss notes and rhythms; we tune all vertical sonorities, we music in symphony with the singers and players because we respect the God we worship and we desire to present Him the best musical offering that we can produce.  Likewise, we should prepare God’s house with the same meticulous care—which includes a clean, orderly, quality decorated sanctuary! 

            We should be as careful of the decorative arts we see in God’s house as we are of the music we hear in His Sanctuary.  Let me be very clear that I believe, 1.Trinitarian worship is not about fine art—either music or decorations; 2. Christians never worship artifacts or art music.  However, we must never forget that when we enter God’s house we are coming into the presence of royalty because He is the King of Kings!  Therefore, we have an obligation to music at our highest level.

Scripture for the Day

Revelation 4:10-11, “The four and twenty elders fall down before him that sat on the throne, and worship him that liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne, saying, Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.”

Decorative Art as Useful Art-part 3

Decorative Art as Useful Art-part 3 

 Although some Bible historians claim that the Israelites never made any sculptures because of the fact that they were forbidden to do so by the statement in Exodus 20:4 “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image (pecel 6459) …” (Also see Lev. 26:1; De. 4:16, 4:23, 25,5:8.)   However, they often forget that Exodus 20:25 clears up the matter when it explains, “Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God…”  So, God did not forbid ancient Israel to carve decorative art objects but rather YHVH elohiym only forbad them to worship these art objects.  When II Chronicles uses the word tsa’tsua (6816), which means that the cherubims were carved or graven images, it is not a violation of the “no graven idols” commandment.  Therefore, I find absolutely no prohibition in the Bible of anyone elaborately decorating a Church. 

            How does all this discussion connect to music? As I said earlier, music is often allied to the decorative arts by the fact that these objects beautify the place where we music such as: sanctuaries, classrooms, and concert halls.  It is the obligation of every music educator to beautify the physical surroundings of all the places we music or study about music.  Also, making our music students aware of fine decorative art objects can be a source of educational inspiration to them.  For instance, bringing a beautiful hand painted glazed Rookwood vase or a Nileoak glazed pitcher to the rehearsal room can be a philosophical comparison of a fine pottery work to a fine musical performance.

Scripture for the Day

2Chronicles 4:2-3, “Also he made a molten sea of ten cubits from brim to brim, round in compass, and five cubits the height thereof; and a line of thirty cubits did compass it round about.  And under it was the similitude of oxen, which did compass it round about: ten in a cubit, compassing the sea round about. Two rows of oxen were cast, when it was cast.”

Decorative Art as Useful Art-part 2

Decorative Art as Useful Art-part 2

There has been much debate during previous centuries over whether or not Christians should decorate God’s houses of worship with these art objects.  Because of this debate many churches that have been constructed in the past one hundred years are almost devoid of any artistic decoration. One of the reasons that a worship leader should care about decorative arts is that it is fitting and proper to worship the high and holy blessed Trinity in a sanctuary that represents respect and beauty.

 Where should the Christian stand on this issue?  To help answer this question I have included a small portion of the description of how the Temple in ancient Israel was decorated and embellished with art objects and expensive overlays. 

                2Chronicles 3:6-10, And he garnished the house with precious stones for beauty: and the 

              gold was gold of Parvaim.  He overlaid also the house, the beams, the posts, and the walls 

               thereof, and the doors thereof, with gold; and graved cherubims on the walls. And the 

               weight of the nails was fifty shekels of gold. And he overlaid the upper chambers with 

               gold.  And in the most holy house he made two cherubims of image work, and overlaid 

               them with gold.  2Chronicles 3:14, And he made the vail of blue, and purple, and crimson, 

               and fine linen, and wrought cherubims thereon.  

As one can see the Temple in ancient Israel was very artistically decorated with fine linen and Gold.  Its furnishings included much statuary and other ornately decorated objects.  So, there is absolutely no biblical prohibition on the decorative arts in a place of worship, or any other place for that matter.  The decorative art objects, most of them not mentioned in the short Bible excerpt above, were expensively decorated and many of them were not only beautiful but also useful. 

Scripture for the Day

2Chronicles 3:15-16 Also he made before the house two pillars of thirty and five cubits high, and the chapiter that was on the top of each of them was five cubits.  And he made chains, as in the oracle, and put them on the heads of the pillars; and made an hundred pomegranates, and put them on the chains.”

Decorative Art as Useful Art-part 1

Decorative Art as Useful Art-part 1

Protestant Churches are famous for being overly plain in their inside and outside decoration and architecture.  The protestant churches of the reformation (and after the time of the reformation) removed statues, icons etc. because these Christians feared that worshipers would worship the “creature” rather than the Creator.  However, many Protestant churches have used this belief to avoid the expense of making God’s House a beautiful place to worship.  I believe that protestants have misunderstood Acts 7:48, “Howbeit the most High dwelleth not in temples made with hands; as saith the prophet.”  It is true that God dwells in the heart of the Christian rather than in churches, but He does attend church.  I wonder sometimes if He considers us to be “cheap” when we decorate our houses in fine art and quality artifacts and fail to do the same for His House.

I define decorative arts as art objects that are usually of a high high-quality and are also both the useful and beautiful.  Although these art objects are often labeled as “useful art”, this designation should not suggest that the other art forms are not useful.  These decorative art objects are often allied to music simply by fact that they beautify the place where we music.  They decorate a sanctuary, rehearsal room, classroom, or concert hall.

Scripture for the Day

2Chronicles 3:10-12, “And in the most holy house he made two cherubims of image work, and overlaid them with gold.  And the wings of the cherubims were twenty cubits long: one wing of the one cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house: and the other wing was likewise five cubits, reaching to the wing of the other cherub.  And one wing of the other cherub was five cubits, reaching to the wall of the house: and the other wing was five cubits also, joining to the wing of the other cherub.  The wings of these cherubims spread themselves forth twenty cubits: and they stood on their feet, and their faces were inward.”

Give Me an Understanding Heart

Give Me an Understanding Heart

As Christian musicians we do not need to get blown around by every notion that every writer has about the lack of authenticity of what the Bible teaches about music and musicing, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” (2Timothy 1) St. Paul stated in the twelfth verse of the same chapter, “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.” 

            Sometimes I wonder why so many writers have piled in on the side of those who believe that God’s holy inspired word is not holy or inspired.  It seems that if a Christian musician believes that God’s Word is true objective truth, the majority opinion is that he or she is a bigot or at least has been hiding under a rock.  I never like to be an alarmist or a dooms day writer but I do have to admit that many Christian musicians seem to be ashamed of any Bible based philosophy or music praxis. 

            Many post postmodern musicians know that they cannot know based on what the Bible states about music and musicing. “Nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”  I know that God’s word is a guide and light to Bible believing Christians musicians in this century.  I would be “ashamed” if I chose not to believe God’s Word--all of it!  So, I firmly choose to believe even if that makes me a bigot or a dunderhead in the sight of the majority of Christin musicians in this century.

Prayer for the Day

            Oh thou great, powerful, and wonderful God who is totally without flaw, I am coming to You as a little child.  I am hiding under your protective wings like a little helpless chick.  I do not have great wisdom so I am coming to You for help and musical guidance.  You have promised in Your Word that I can have the mind of Christ.  Give me wisdom and understanding as I study what Your Word teaches about music and musicing.  Give me an understanding, humble and teachable heart.  This I am praying in Your TRUSTWORTHY name.  Amen.

Music Beyond the Genesis Record-part 6

Music Beyond the Genesis Record-part 6

            2Timothy 3:7 speaks of those who will be present in the “last days” that are “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” It is disappointing to read after a distinguished graduate of the Catholic University of America who seemingly graduated from this prestigious University with no regard for the authenticity or inspiration of the Holy Writ.  One moment he is quoting Scripture and the next he is denying its authenticity and usefulness.  I wonder why authors like Dr. Whitwell even bother to quote Scripture when it evident that they consider it to be filled with error, inconsistency and the prejudice of the supposedly anonymous authors  who used someone else’s name and inaccurately wrote it down from hearsay hundreds of years later.

              It is a serious matter when a musicologist or historian disrespects God’s inspired word by summarily dismissing the validity of its content.  Romans 1:28 warns about those who do not like to retain God in their knowledge.  They form their own “wisdom” which denies the authenticity of the truths found in the Bible. 

Scripture Thoughts for the Day

Romans15:4, “For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.”

2Peter 1:21, “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”

Luke 1:68-70, “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people, And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David; As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:         “

             

Music Beyond the Genesis Record-part 5

Music Beyond the Genesis Record-part 5

            Why all the fuss about the Book of Daniel? There are still those of us who believe 2Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.” NKJV  I would suppose that those who do not believe that all Scripture is God breathed would also believe like Dr. Whitwell that the Bible is not a literal historic document and furthermore that it is not given by inspiration of God, and is not profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness and that it does not equip the Christian for every good work.  So, writers summarily dismiss the true truth found in the Bible which is given by the inspiration of the self-existent, independent, autonomous God who is!

            Does the 21^st century student of the Bible encounter problems and perplexities when studying manuscripts which are now thousands of years old?  Yes, the serious Bible  student most definitely will encounter hindrances to modern Western understanding. I would like to remind those who give up on any satisfactory understanding of the ancient OT texts that mention music to remember that all historians who study any ancient discipline encounter many puzzles that confound them at times.  I would like to remind writers like David Whitwell that one should at least consider that the problem could possibly be with the historian’s ability to understand the text rather than with the text being faulty.

Thought for the Day

Writers who choose to believe that the Bible is a Hodgepodge of mistakes and errors are very vocal about their beliefs.  They seldom mention in their writings that there is also evidence from historians that their opinions are not accurate.

Music Beyond the Genesis Record-part 4

Music Beyond the Genesis Record-part 4

            If one is trying to build a case for denying that the Book of Daniel was written by Daniel, what is one supposed to do with the words of Jesus in Matthew 24:15? Jesus refers to Daniel as having spoken the words in Daniel and furthermore He referred to Daniel as a prophet. “Therefore when you see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place (whoever reads, let him understand).” Jesus was referring to Daniel’s words in Daniel 9:26-27, 11:31, and 12:11. So, there is a definite problem with denying that the book is the actual work of the prophet Daniel.

            David Englehawk quoted Nabonidus and Belshazzar. (Yale, 1929):pp.199-200 that reports this opinion,  "Of all the non-Babylonian records dealing with the situation at the close of the Neo-Babylonian empire the fifth chapter of Daniel ranks next to cuneiform literature in accuracy so far as outstanding events are concerned. The Scriptural account may be interpreted as excelling because it employs the name Belshazzar, because it attributes royal power to Belshazzar, and because it recognizes that a dual rulership existed in the kingdom. Babylonian cuneiform documents of the sixth century B.C. furnish clear-cut evidence of the correctness of these three basic historical nuclei contained in the Biblical narrative dealing with the fall of Babylon.” http://www.answers.com/Q/Who_wrote_the_Book_of_Daniel    So, it is far from settled that the writings in the book of Daniel are Pseudepigraphy.   

            Furthermore, how does one explain Daniel 7:2, which declares “Daniel spoke, saying, I saw in my vision by night, and behold, the four winds of heaven were stirring up the Great Sea.”  Furthermore, how does one reconcile Daniel’s statement in Daniel 7:15 "I, Daniel, was grieved in my spirit within my body, and the visions of my head troubled me” if Daniel was not the author of the book and was not speaking personally as the author.  I am not willing to turn the Book of Daniel into Pseudepigraphy and nullify its authenticity and worthiness as an accurately preserved inspired and God breathed record.

Thought for the Day

            Everyone who studies the Bible does so with presuppositions.  I choose to believe that since it is God breathed by an all wise God, it is an accurate historical record.  All of the arguments of higher criticism that I have studied have two sides—the side of those who search for evidence to prove that the Bible is filled with prejudice and error and those who find evidence to support the belief that the Bible is inspired and accurate.

Music Beyond the Genesis Record-part 3

Music Beyond the Genesis Record-part 3

            Probably the most egregious error of Whitwell’s writing on this subject is his blanket statement that “The Book of Daniel was written four hundred years after the events it describes”.  That makes the book Pseudepigraphy. I am aware that there has recently been much discussion about dating the book of Daniel, but there is no solid scholarship that proves that Daniel did not write the book of Daniel. The large picture here is a lack of trust of the Inspired Holy Writ. 

            When a writer begins to whittle away at the accuracy of the Bible what is the result of this disregard for Scripture end?  I suppose the first step is to believe that the Bible contains truth and error and the second step down this slippery slope is to believe that is not inspired and does not deserve a musician’s respect for its accuracy. This type of redaction criticism is the liberal’s way of building a case for denying that the Bible has been preserved as an accurate written record.

Scripture Thought for the Day

1Cointhians 13:12 states, “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”  

            Probably the most egregious error of Whitwell’s writing on this subject is his blanket statement that “The Book of Daniel was written four hundred years after the events it describes”.  That makes the book Pseudepigraphy. I am aware that there has recently been much discussion about dating the book of Daniel, but there is no solid scholarship that proves that Daniel did not write the book of Daniel. The large picture here is a lack of trust of the Inspired Holy Writ. 

            When a writer begins to whittle away at the accuracy of the Bible what is the result of this disregard for Scripture end?  I suppose the first step is to believe that the Bible contains truth and error and the second step down this slippery slope is to believe that is not inspired and does not deserve a musician’s respect for its accuracy. This type of redaction criticism is the liberal’s way of building a case for denying that the Bible has been preserved as an accurate written record.

Scripture Thought for the Day

1Cointhians 13:12 states, “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”  

Music Beyond the Genesis Record-part 2

Music Beyond the Genesis Record-part 2

            Dr. Whitwell made some other assumptions about music of the Bible that are worthy of consideration.  “This account demonstrates the problem one encounters in attempting to consider the older parts of the Old Testament as literal history.  The Book of Daniel was written four hundred years after the events it describes and so it is prone to all the mistakes and exaggerations of oral tradition.  Furthermore, the actual instruments mentioned in Daniel, kar, mashrokita, katros, sambyke, pescanterin, and sumphonia, are expressed in several languages, including Greek, and at least two of them have no agreed upon modern meaning.  In view of these difficulties, the modern translator has tended to simply make up names of instruments which might be familiar to his readers.  Thus the King James Version gives us typical Renaissance band, consisting of cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer.  The Revised Standard Version (1952) invents an improbable ensemble of horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp and bagpipe.” David Whitwell, Ancient Views on Music and Religion Austin Texas: (Whitwell Publishing, 2013), p.6.  

            It is correct that translations both old and new have not fared well in their accuracy in translating the words from the original OT text in Daniel.3:5 and 15.  This text is written in Aramaic.  Cornet=qeren (Aramaic 7162), flute=mashroqiy (Aramaic 4953), harp=qitharoc (Aramaic 7030), sackbut=cabbaka (Aramaic 5443), psaltery =pecanterin (Aramaic 6460), dulcimer=sumphonia (Aramaic 5481), and all=kol (Aramaic 3606)> kinds=zan (Aramaic 2178) of musick=zamar (Aramaic 2170). Whitwell stated that the words put for musical instruments “are expressed in several languages”.  The original text is not written in several languages as he supposes. It is possible that the Aramaic words represent Greek loan words but this is not certain.  Although there are problems with the modern reader understanding the meaning of these Aramaic words put for the musical instruments were used in king Nebuchadnezzar’s court that is no sign that what is written in the Book of Daniel is not “literal history” or that it is not accurate.  When we view the OT through Western eyes centuries after it was written we often have problems understanding such ancient meanings.

Thought for the Day

Christian musicians should not consider the list of musical instruments used in the worship of king Nebuchadnezzar to be a proof that we cannot trust what the Bible teaches about music.  We should all be reminded that when we read passages from the Bible there are many mysteries that present themselves to the 21^st century reader.  This is the case concerning many topics of which music is only one of the many. 

Music Beyond the Genesis Record-part 1

 Music Beyond the Genesis Record-part 1

            I have been reading the book Ancient Views on Music and Religion by David Whitwell.  His view is that the Sumerians did not possess a precise musical notation.  It is surprising that an author of this much notoriety would not be aware of the work of Dr. Anne D. Kilmer and her associates at the Department of Assyriology at the University of Berkley.  She deciphered a cuneiform tablet found at the ruins of Ugarit (Ras Shamra) which contained words and a precise musical notation. It was a hymn to the goddess Nikkal inscribed in cuneiform symbols, found it to be a major scale with half steps between the 3^rd and 4^th and 7^th and 8^th degrees. These findings were published in 1976.

             I would think that Dr. Whitwell would have had time to become aware of this research that has revolutionized musicologist’s thinking about ancient music notation by the time he published his book in 2013. He stated, speaking of the Sumerian music of 2400 BC, “In addition to not being able to see music itself, there was no notation of music which one could see, which left musician and listener with only the ear to experience music.”  I am aware that he was not referring to the same song that Dr. Kilmer deciphered but the issue here is much larger.  Before 1976 he could have made such a statement because there was no archeological and music evidence to refute his claim, but certainly not in 2013. I wonder how long it is going to take for writers to catch up on current scholarship. The findings of the music of Sumer, Akkad, Ugarit etc.  and the new scholarship that it has provided now that some of it has been deciphered is now well known throughout the world.

Scripture Thought for the Day

Eph 3:9-12, “And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, According to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord: In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.”

More on Music and the Genesis Record-part 3

More on Music and the Genesis Record-part 3

            Mark Sooy quotes James White as saying that Luther’s “liturgical form was guided by the principle that if the Scriptures did not expressly reject a particular practice, the church was free to keep it” Mark Sooy, Essays on Martin Luther’s Theology of Music, Blue Maroon, 2006, p. p.6   Since the discussion was on music it seems safe  to deduce that ,these authors believe that Luther admitted the practice of all musical styles in the liturgy since Scripture does not expressly mention styles of music. 

            Luther may have admitted to the liturgy all styles and practices of music that were composed before and during his lifetime, but that part of his music philosophy and praxis cannot be safely followed in this century.  There are so many styles of music that exist today that negate the “order” that Luther believed in so strongly that it would not be safe or sane to admit them to Christian worship.  Furthermore, I believe and have taught for years it was not God’s responsibility to expressly state in His Word what is and is not acceptable but rather as Ephesians 5:8,10 teaches, it is the responsibility of the Christian musician to “… walk as children of light… Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.” 

            With that said, Ephesians 5:19 does give some principles of musicing that are timeless and valuable to the musician as he or she makes choices of which types of music are compatible with the practice of singing and playing unto the Lord in the context of public worship.  The Christian musician will not find comprehensive expressly stated truth in the Bible about music and musicing, but what the Bible does teach about music and musicing is relevant absolute true truth.

Thought for the Day

Christian musicians work for God.  Therefore, no musician has the right to perform sacred music to please himself or herself.   Sacred music and musicing is not about the musician but rather it is about the musician’s musical offering which is presented to God for God’s honor and glory.

More on Music and the Genesis Record-part 2

More on Music and the Genesis Record-part 2

            As I have often written, since God created music, it is His and that means He has ownership of it!  Therefore, all committed Christian musicians must cleanse their music vocabulary of the words “my music”.  No Christian musician may lay rightful claim to or profess to have ownership of the music he or she presents to God as a musical offering.

            As a matter of fact all of the secular music and the way he or she musics it also must come under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.  As I have often told the college students in the classes that I taught and musical organizations that I directed, Jesus Christ must be Lord over all of one’s music and musicing or He soon will not be Lord over any of it. Christian musicians are first Christians and second they are musicians. Musicians must constantly remember that every time they music, what and how they music is a reflection on the reputation of Jesus Christ.

             The way a Christian musics does not change the moral nature of God, but it does reflect on what others perceive God’s nature to be like.  Romans 14:7 states, “For none of us liveth to himself and no man dieth to himself.”  Wolf says, “it is not possible for a Christian musician to live unto himself or herself, and it is also not possible for a Christian musician to music unto himself or herself, unless that musician lives and performs with no one present and performs in a sound proof bubble.”

Scripture Thought for the Day

Colossians 1:16, “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.”

More on Music and the Genesis Record-part 1

More on Music and the Genesis Record-part 1

            I just recently read a book called Essays on Martin Luther’s Theology of Music by Mark Sooy.  He stated, “In discussing the nature of God’s creativity, Luther’s mind revolved around the question of order.”  Mark Sooy, Essays on Martin Luther’s Theology of Music, Blue Maroon, 2006, p. 16.  I believe that one can rightly conjecture that Luther was referring to the enormous order that God brought about by his acts of creation.  I believe that Luther was correct in believing that a part of this order was exemplified in His act of creating—i.e. speaking music into existence.  I am drawn to this conclusion because the Genesis Record states, And God (elohiym 430) said (amar 559), at least 8 times in the account of God’s acts of creation.

            When one reads St John 1:1-3 with the background found in Genesis1:1, it is easier to understand that God spoke and His creative acts became a reality. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  The same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.”  This is why I believe that St. John declares that Jesus Christ the creator is the WORD.  There was and is great verity in what God “said”.  So, I am drawn to the conclusion that the words of St. John, “All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made” attests to the true truth of God’s WORD that since music is a part of “everything” it was created by Him. 

Thought for the Day

God created so it is proper to think of Him as creative.  Mankind is creative but is never able to create.  A Christian musician takes God’s creation and does creative things with it.

The Genesis Record is not an Allegory-part 3

The Genesis Record is not an Allegory-part 3

It is not a novel thought that the 21^st century Christian musician should be deeply involved in thinking about music. As far back as the Levite musicians in ancient Israel, the Egyptian musicians, the musicians from Sumer, Akkad and Ugarit, Plato, Aristotle, the church fathers such as Aquinas and Augustine, Martin Luther, John Calvin, John and Charles Wesley, to mention only a few, have been greatly concerned about music.  

A plethora of conflicting books either partially of in entirely written about music philosophy have been written in the last 100 years from a secular perspective.  It is unfortunate that so little has been written about music philosophy from a Bible basis or even from a faith basis.  Most of the books written by Christian musicians that discuss music philosophy have only devoted a portion of their works to a serious study of music philosophy.  It is also most regrettable that Christian authors have for the most part not struggled with many of the major concepts of music philosophy that the secular music philosopher have and are still dealing with in this century.  So, there is much need for current philosophical writings about music from a Bible and faith basis.

Thought for the Day

How much time do you devote to studying what the Bible teaches about music and musicing?  Do you believe that “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”? (2Timothy 3:16)

The Genesis Record is not an Allegory-part 2

The Genesis Record is not an Allegory-part 2

Any music theology or philosophy that is not based on and in in agreement with the truths that are written in God’s Word.  Also, if a music theology or philosophy does not give the Word preeminence, it is not Bible based, Christocentric, or truly faith based.  All Bible based beliefs concerning music’s origin must espouse the truth that in the beginning God created and those actual acts of creation included music.  Music was not originally the creation of any ancient musician or any ancient culture.

  God took nothing and made something which we call music.  Man only takes the building blocks of music which God created and organizes them into creative patterns.  No musician has ever taken nothing and created music. Believing that music was an actual part of the acts of God’s creation, and not the original work of some musician or evolutionary process is necessary to place music squarely under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.  This knowledge and understanding is absolutely necessary in the process of developing a Christocentric music philosophy.

Thoughts for the Day

All of what is written in the Bible is relevant.  Therefore, what is written in the Bible about music and musicing is relevant.  The fact that we struggle with the meaning of what is written in the Word about music, does not make it inaccurate or not worth the 21^st century Christian musician’s consideration.

The Genesis Record is not an Allegory-part 1

The Genesis Record is not an Allegory-part 1

, I would be greatly remiss if I failed to begin this discussion without declaring that, as Genesis 1:1 declares, “in the beginning God created…”  and furthermore that His creative acts included music.  St. John 1:3 attests to this fact when it states, “All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.”  Secular musicologists have at times treated what the Bible teaches about music and musicing with little or no respect.  Even more disappointing, Christian writers have often ignored most of what is taught in God’s Word about music and musicing.

The Book of Genesis is not ancient folklore or an allegory but rather a factual record of God’s work of orderly creation. Furthermore, the Genesis Record is not merely the writing of Moses but it is the Word of God written down by Moses under the inspiration of God (2 Timothy 3:16)—it is God breathed absolute truth (St. John 17:17, 2 Timothy 2:15). The AV translates the Hebrew elohiym amar as, “and God said”, not Moses said so therefore it is God’s Word.  Since the book of beginnings is an accurate inspired record it must be treated with great respect.  So, to explain this concept simply, God wanted music so He spoke it into existence. God took nothing and formed the mathematical ratios that make musical tones possible and formed them into a most wonderful gift for His glory and for man’s education and enjoyment as a small part of the wonderful perissos mentioned in St. John 10:10.

Thoughts for the Day

Music is a created thing.  God created it on purpose.  Music is objectively real.  Music is not the result of some big bang accident.

Did Luther Approve all Music for Worship?-part 2

Did Luther Approve all Music for Worship?-part 2

            I fear that when millennials read such quotes they will suppose that Luther would be quite cosmopolitan in his views of sacred music if he were alive today.  Surely musicologists who have studied Luther’s musical works and the music that he used in the liturgy that he used in the context of worship would not wish to promulgate such a faulty notion.  Certainly, the musical footprint of his chorales and hymn settings do not bear out any hypothesis that he was free spirited about music used in the context of worship.

            Luther’s view of music took the artistic “high road” by allowing much artistic endeavor as opposed to John Calvin’s restrictive view of “psalms only” in public worship.  Mark Sooy believes that in Luther’s view of music, “He noted the reflection of creation in the order and structure of the music itself.”  Mark Sooy, Essays on Martin Luther’s Theology of Music, Blur Maroon, 2006, p. 34.  Sooy believed that Luther may have recognized this reflection in the resolution of tension in music.   Ibid p. 34.  I am not sure that music is an accurate reflection of creation, but it has traditionally progressed from beginning to middle (tension) or climax, and then to end which is a release or resolution from that tension.  The view that music’s progression mirrors creative perfection, man’s fall, and God’s restoration of man is an interesting view, but I am not sure it will hold up under philosophical or theological scrutiny.

Thought for the Day

One thing is certain about music in light of creation, God created it and therefore He owns it.  So, Christian musicians must rid of the sense of ownership of music.   

Did Luther Approve all Music for Worship?-part 1

Did Luther Approve all Music for Worship?-part 1

            “It is commonly acknowledged by scholars that Luther’s theology of the arts, and of music in particular, is quite accepting and open ended.  His attitude was that if Scripture did not approve it, then it was acceptable (and redeemable) for use by the church in the worship of God. Mark Sooy, Essays on Martin Luther’s Theology of Music, Blur Maroon, 2006, p. 17.   This statement leaves the reader believing that perhaps Martin Luther had no boundaries or standards for church music.  However, Soy quotes Charles Garside as saying, “Luther…placed few, if any, such limitations either on text or music.  So long as musicians and poets, separately or together, were enriching the liturgy to a ‘pious use,’ their imaginative faculties were unrestricted.” (ibid. p.17)  “Pious use” and “enriching the liturgy” seems to me to be restrictions for both poets and musicians.  In this century I am convinced that Luther, based on the nature of his own music, would not consider the imaginative use or license taken by many church musicians to either ‘pious’ or ‘enriching’.

            The fact that Luther did not have to place many restrictions on music or poetry was simply because that during his lifetime there was little if any contradistinctions in music part of sacred and secular music.  As a matter of fact there were no shocking musical differences between the stile antique and the stile moderno. That certainly is not the case of the music composed in the 20^th and 21^st centuries.

Thought for the Day

Christian musicians need to be careful about supposing that the writings of theologians like Luther give approval for musicing in styles that were unheard of at the time these works were written.

Perceiving the Words of Understanding

 Perceiving the Words of Understanding

Proverbs 1:2-4, “To know wisdom and instruction; to perceive the words of understanding; To receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, and judgment, and equity; To give subtlety to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion.”

            There are a number of things that make it possible for the Christian musician “to perceive the words of understanding” mentioned by Solomon.  As a young man or woman the musician needs to acquire knowledge.  There are many institutions of higher learning where a young musician can acquire musical knowledge.  If a Christian youth desires to have his or her voice to be heard, that person must learn how to read, write and perform music.  Solomon declared that one must “know instruction”.  This is the prerequisite to having wisdom.  In order to have wisdom a musician must be willing to receive instruction. 

            Things to be learned are subtlety, justice, judgment, and equity all these are a must in order for the “young man” to be musically wise.  If there ever was a time when Christian musicians need to acquire the long list of attributes listed above, it is in this century.  The premium is being placed on talent rather than the thorough knowledge that these skills and qualities bring to the place of worship. 

            The word biyn (995) translated perceive in the second verse AV means to separate mentally.  If the young musician is going to make in this perverse world, he or she must be able to be able to perceive the words of understanding  (biynah 998).  These two Hebrew words have very close affinity  I believe a good commentary on their meaning here is found in  Ephesians 5:6, “Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.”

Thought for the Day

Aren’t you thankful that Jesus didn’t  save us and then leave us to try to make it on this Christian to heaven.  Thank God we can have the mind of Christ as we travel on this Christian journey.

Scripture for the Day

1Corinthians 2:16,  For "who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

The Measure of Our Thanks

The Measure of Our Thanks

            “Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving.” --WT Purkiser This statement by Dr. Purkiser causes me to have a fresh awareness of the responsibilities of all of us who are so richly blessed by our heavenly Father.  We often speak of our blessings but it makes me wonder do I walk the walk or do I merely talk the talk.  Many musicians that I know, including myself, often whine about how bad things are and this, I confess, has taken up much of our conversation time. 

            Speaking to the Pharisees and scribes in Mark 7:6, “He answered and said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: 'This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me.”  I sometimes wonder, am I somewhat like them?  So does what I do with the blessings that God has bestowed on me put me in the same category as the ancient scribes and Pharisees?

            Rather than hide behind the fact that I am nearly 70 years old and a retired music teacher, I must share my blessings with others.  Rather than hide behind a false humility that convinces me that someone else is a more qualified or talented musician, I must continue to give my very best musical offerings to Jesus Christ.  I remember hearing an older Christian say years ago that if God would give him the strength, he was going to bite Satan as long as he had teeth and when his teeth were all gone he would bite Satan with his bare gums as long as God would give him strength.

Song for the Day Thank you lord for Saving My Soul by Seth and Bessie Sykes

Thought for the Day

In the midst of being involved in a music ministry weary Christian musicians may erroneously consider the musical gifts that God has given them to be a liability rather than a blessing.