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.