A Unified Field of Knowledge –part 2

A Unified Field of Knowledge –part 2

Philosophy has been historically a pursuit of the systematized principles that give a wisdom that reveals truth and a unified filed of knowledge based on truth and error or thesis and antithesis.  Somewhere in the early 20^th century many philosophers began to give up hope in a unified filed of knowledge based on thesis (right) or antithesis (wrong).  They began to believe the philosophy of Georg Wilhelm Frederick Hegel (1770-1831).  Hegel believed that every idea belonged to an all-embracing mind in which every idea (thesis) elicited its opposite (antithesis) and the result of these two was a unified whole which he called synthesis (“the both and belief system”).  His “unified” whole was epistemologically different since it derived “knowing” from a new synthesis thesis.  This “knowing” brought about a new truth that was always found somewhere between truth and error. In my opinion Hegel’s “somewhere in the middle” synthesis laid the groundwork for pluralism.

Before Hegelian synthesis thought, the Scripture in I John 2:15, “Love not the world”, meant just that, don’t love the world or become controlled by the system of “this present age”.   After acceptance of Hegelian synthesis thought, it became acceptable to be a Christian whose thought patterns were conformed to the fashion of this world...  Those who accepted this viewpoint no longer believed the Bible when it said that if you loved the world, the love of the father was not in you.  Under this autonomous philosophy you could love the world, think like the world, and act like the world and love the Lord at the same time.

A Unified Field of Knowledge –part 1

A Unified Field of Knowledge –part 1

            I am deeply indebted to the work of Francis Schaffer for opening to me a very clear basic understanding of how philosophical thought has shaped the thinking of modern and postmodern Christians.  After reading his Escape from Reason and The God Who is There as well as other of his great works, it became clear to me how many Christian musicians came to believe that there are no absolutes in music.

            For centuries philosophers believed that it was possible for all thought to come under a unified field of knowledge.  They often fought bitterly over just what that unified field of knowledge included.  Although philosophers did not agree on the content of that unified knowledge, they did agree that philosophical endeavor could and should bring about a philosophy of hope to the world.

Remember, Direction Determines Destiny!

Remember, Direction Determines Destiny! 

Christian musicians often question the necessity of developing a series of systematic beliefs concerning the nature and value of the whole of music.  Furthermore, they often seem to believe that those values set forth by major public colleges and universities are adequate for Christian musicians.  After all, aren’t the elements of music the same for Christians and non-Christians?  The philosophy of a musician who does not bring his entire musical endeavor under the Lordship of Christ should never be trusted. Not only can you trust a communist to be a communist, you can also trust an unregenerate musician to be worldly in his or her philosophical basis. 

Remember, direction determines destiny!  Any musician who believes the end of all human endeavors is the gratification of self will ultimately come to different philosophical conclusions than a musician whose life is sold out to Christ.  For the committed Christian, music begins and ends with God.  To the humanist, music begins and ends with self.  The musician who has submitted his or her music to the Lordship of Christ believes that all church music is sung and played to glorify God since God owns music.  Conversely, the secular humanists (and the religious humanists) believe that music belongs to man’s true humanness since all music is about self-actualization.  This type of thinker owns his or her music.

What the Bible teaches about Music is True Truth

What the Bible teaches about Music is True Truth

            A host of Christian musicians believe that the Bible contains but does not necessarily embody truth, or is the whole truth or true-truth.  To modern and post-modern man it is truth mixed with error.  They think like Porgy that, “Those things that your liable to read in the Bible, they ain’t necessarily so.” It is often hard for the thesis thinker to understand that Christian musicians who are pluralists actually believe that the Bible not only contains truth about music but that also it contains error.  As a matter of fact, many of them believe that the references to music in the Bible have outlived their relevancy.

            These pluralistic musicians have a non-rational, non-logical autonomous faith in Christ that is not totally Bible based. Their autonomous faith goes beyond the truth of Scripture since synthesis faith (a faith based on truth and error) is based on their personal encounter with Christ that does not come under the scrutiny of Scripture.  These musicians may not even believe creation, in the Deity of Christ, the Trinity, the virgin birth, a literal hell, and eternal punishment, the witness of the spirit, a personal relationship with Christ, a literal creation or original sin.

             So, it is important that you operate from the presupposition that the Bible is the infallible, completely accurate, inspired Word of God and that it does not contain a mixture of truth and error. It is important to understand that post-modern Christian musicians do not often believe II Timothy 3:16 when it asserts: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”   If a Christian is unable to trust much of what the Bible teaches about music and musicing, that musician’s musical beliefs are developed without Scriptural basis.

My Credo

My Credo

Every so often I publish my Credo so that those who are new to the blog family will gain some insight into my beliefs. I have often read sketches of a person’s writings only to find out later that they do not consider the Bible to be inspired, accurate or trustworthy.  So here are a few of the things that I consider important.

 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 all music matters and therefore Church matters to every Christian and that it 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.  I believe that even though we live in this present evil world, we are not of this present world.  I believe that conservative Spirit filled musicians can effect positive changes in church music.  I believe that churches, Christian schools and Bible colleges who have a Christocentric music philosophy can catechize the next generation of music educators and church musicians to put on the “whole armor of God” that they may resist the stratagems of Satan that surround us.  I believe that conservative Christian musicians may be renewed in the spirit of their mind in such a way as to affect positive change in Bible believing church music ministries.  I believe that under the anointing of the blessed Holy Spirit, conservative Bible believing ministers of music may fulfill the Bible mandate in Genesis 1:26 that man made in God’s image should have dominion over all the earth which includes music.  

Passing Our Music Values on to the Next Generation – Part 9

Passing Our Music Values on to the Next Generation – Part 9 

            It seems odd that Bible college boards cannot seem to see that the greatest threat to public worship as we know it now is church music.  Many college boards and administrations desire that young people develop a conservative tradition of church music while at the same time they require little or no church music courses in the broad-based general education of all degree programs.  Church music is the “war department” of more churches than any one other single issue affecting public worship today.  Music has split and divided many Christian fellowships in the last quarter of the twentieth century.  With this fact being common knowledge, thousands of Bible colleges and Christian Liberal arts colleges are still graduating church leaders with a meager two hours of church music.  Many Bible colleges do not require any church music in the core curriculum of all students. 

            Music has divided the senior adults from  the baby boomers until the millenials so severely that they can no longer worship together.  Now we have three factions separated by church music – seniors, baby boomers and baby busters.  In the history of evangelical Christians, nothing has ever been able to separate, alienate, isolate, and divide the different age groups except music style.  Admittedly, the solution to all church music problems is not more hours of music in college.  However, a more thorough understanding of church music would help to better prepare Christians for the Lord’s work.

Passing Our Music Values on to the Next Generation – Part 8

Passing Our Music Values on to the Next Generation – Part 8

            If Bible College Music Departments are going to exert a conservative influence on the next generation of Christians, they must be staffed by music faculty who are committed to a Bible based music education.  Music philosophy that merely adds music worship as an added dimension to a worldly philosophy of the fine arts will only add insult to injury to the music philosophy of the next generation of church musicians.

            If we believe that Church Music Matters, then we must act like it matters.  Bible College curriculums that include only two to four hours of music are the result of the lackluster philosophy that music is not very important in the process of higher education that prepares the next generation of pastors, missionaries, educators and laymen that will soon take the helm of the church.  Many Bible colleges have failed to realize that it will be Bible College graduates who have developed a Christocentric Bible based music philosophy that will be the only hope for church music in this century.  How can these graduates possibly be prepared musically with a meager two to four hours of music?

Passing Our Music Values on to the Next Generation – Part 7

Passing Our Music Values on to the Next Generation – Part 7

            Next to the Christian home in influence is the Christian school.  Music education must be a preferred claim on our Christian school budgets.  The fine arts always cost.  In the history of the Christian schools, Christian liberal arts and Bible colleges they have not completely paid for themselves.  Many times music is included in Christian school and college curriculums for public relations efforts, student recruitment and money raising purposes only.

            Every Christian school and Bible College student must be given an opportunity to develop a Bible based music philosophy and to experience music making from the basis of a Christocentric music philosophy.  Therefore, Christian school and Bible College Music Departments are not a luxury but rather a necessity if traditional church music is going to survive the first part of the twenty-first century.

Passing Our Music Values on to the Next Generation – Part 6

Passing Our Music Values on to the Next Generation – Part 6 

            The nitty-gritty of making musical choices will many times be difficult for teenagers.  They will explore and they push the limits set by the home, church, and the Christian school.  The lines of communication between parents and teenagers must be kept open.  There must be no name-calling, no unwarranted accusations, no anger, and no rancor in parent-teenager musical discussions.  Parents should remember that if a young person’s musical choices do not involve extreme musical styles that are associated with anti-Christ living and if the music is clean morally, teenagers have a right to likes and dislikes in music.  Just because a parent doesn’t like a particular style of music is not sufficient reason to deny a child or teenager access to that music.  I want to make it very clear that I am not referring to rock music or popular music that is of an offensive nature.

            Parents have the responsibility to set limits concerning both the secular and sacred music that their children purchase, perform and listen to in and out of the home.  However, an overbearing parental approach that makes all the decisions all the time for children thwarts a child’s ability to make wise choices of sacred and secular music.  The ultimate musical wish of parents for children should be that as adults the next generation will make wise choices of both sacred and secular music.  In order for this to happen, our children must be catechized, educated, mentored and prepared to accept the role of adulthood.  If they develop a Christocentric music philosophy, it will largely be the result of parental guidance that was also Christ-centered and Bible based.

Passing Our Music Values on to the Next Generation – Part 5

Passing Our Music Values on to the Next Generation – Part 5

             If we would show some emotion, meaning and enthusiasm in the corporate music experience, our children as well as the unchurched and new converts would “catch” the genuine energy, sincerity, and excitement of our musical participation.  Nothing succeeds like success.  The Psalmist David testified in Psalm 138:1, “I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.”  Remember, if we will do the right thing the right way we will have much less problem convincing the next generation that traditional music worship is not outdated.  If we relate to music worship, our children will relate to it as well. 

            Where should the process of shaping children’s music philosophy begin?  First, start by providing good quality music in your home.  If parents provide many good choices of both secular and sacred music in their home, children will develop enriched musical tastes at an early age.  Second, parents should get involved by taking their children to music concerts and discussing what went on at those concerts including the performers, and the styles of music performed.  Third, get your children involved in music lessons at an early age.  Positive involvement in music making is a very valuable influence in a child’s development of likes and dislikes in music.  The more musical knowledge and music skill a young person acquires, the more equipped him or she will be to make educated, mature decisions about music.  Fourth, make every effort to insure that worship music in church is vibrant , relevant and well executed.  A good time to start is today since today is Sunday!

Passing Our Music Values on to the Next Generation – Part 4

Passing Our Music Values on to the Next Generation – Part 4 

            Christians must consider the whole of music.  This includes a long broad study or music which includes both sacred and secular music.  Everyone should have knowledge of classical, folk, pop, jazz, rock, country and a host of other types of music in order to converse intelligently with the generations to follow us as pastors, parents, and church musicians.  Anything less than music literacy and a general understanding of the performance practice of these styles will dwarf our possibilities of reaching our young people with a logical, reasonable, explainable, discussible, and practical philosophy of music.           

            Another right way to do the right thing is to get involved in music.  Remember, “Knowing is doing”!  All Christians should participate in church music.  The first step is to sing during congregational singing.  One of the worst Christian witnesses that I know of is to become a spectator during corporate music worship.  Have you ever thought about the silent message that a father sends to his son when he never opens his mouth to praise the Lord during congregational singing?  Psalm 149:1 admonishes us to “Praise ye the LORD.  Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.”  This Scripture is a music imperative.  As a matter of fact, Psalm 150:6 states, “Let everything that hath breath praise the LORD.  Praise ye the LORD.”  That sounds pretty specific to me.  If pastors and parents would sing with their whole heart during congregational singing it would send a powerful message to our children and young people.  It would say, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity.” (Psalm 133:1) Psalm 134:2 tells us to “Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.”

Passing Our Music Values on to the Next Generation – Part 3

Passing Our Music Values on to the Next Generation – Part 3 

            If the Bible is accurate, and it is, all of the six hundred plus Scriptures referring to music are profitable to us today.  How are they profitable?  They teach us the doctrine of making music unto God.  It will help us to avoid unwise choices in both sacred and secular music by providing us with reproof, correction and instruction.  It is not only negative with definite reproofs and corrections, but also positive with its instructions in righteousness.  No pastor, parent, Christian music minister or music educator is properly equipped to pass on our Christian music values to the next generation without a thorough knowledge of Bible music.

            As I mentioned in yesterday’s blog post, an often much overlooked necessity is studying music seriously.  It is no joke that “knowing is doing”.  In our highly educated world today it is ludicrous for one to try to instruct others in music philosophy without as much as knowing the names of the lines and spaces.  Being a music consumer does not qualify one to instruct others in music.

Passing Our Music Values on to the Next Generation – Part 2

Passing Our Music Values on to the Next Generation – Part 2

            Unwise choices in music and cultural blind spots in the fine arts should not be equated with a young person’s relationship to Christ.  Parents should not make statements like, “If you ever really come to know the Lord, you won’t even like that music”.  Knowledge of biblical principles concerning music choices and likes and dislikes of styles of music are acquired skills not instantaneous gifts of the Spirit to the born-again Christian.  Christian purity and maturity are not one in the same.  A Christian musician may make unwise choices concerning music ministry as well as secular music selections and still be honestly trying to bring his or her life under the Lordship of Christ.  It seems that we are much more able to accept the fact that a Christian has made some very unwise credit card decisions than we are able to accept unwise music decisions.

            How do we catechize our young people concerning music?  First of all pastors, parents, music ministers, and Christian music educators should study music in the Bible thoroughly.  Since there are over 600 references to music in the Bible, there is much to be gained from a study of Bible music.  Remember that II Timothy 3:16-18 reminds us that, “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 perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”  Second, all people who work with young people (and children) must study music seriously.  Millennial young people are knowledgeable; therefore adult Christians who work with them must have more than a passive knowledge of music and musicing if they are going to have an effective ministry.

Passing Our Music Values on to the Next Generation – Part 1

Passing Our Music Values on to the Next Generation – Part 1

            I have often mentioned in this blog that pastors, parents, and music educators have a responsibility to pass our music values on to the next generation.  This process of attempting to instill the conservative music values in the lives of our children is many times a painful and unsuccessful endeavor.  Although we have a responsibility to share our values with the next generation, we must be sure that we do the right thing in the right way.

            It is one thing for pastors, parents, music ministers, and Christian music educators to have strong beliefs concerning music but the passing of the baton to the next generation must be a “civil” process.  Long heated discussions ending in anger and tears seldom get the job done successfully.  Name calling and equating a young person’s musical tastes with their relationship to Jesus Christ is most regrettable.

Ancient Systematic Musical Worship part 2

Ancient Systematic Musical Worship part 2

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

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

Ancient Systematic Musical Worship part 1

Ancient Systematic Musical Worship part 1

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

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

You Are What You Music

You Are What You Music

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

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

Prayer for the Day

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

How Well Do You Take Instruction?

How Well Do You Take Instruction?

Proverbs 9:8-10, “Reprove not a scorner, lest he hate thee: rebuke a wise man, and he will love thee.  Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.”  

            Perhaps a Christian worship leader could take the test presented in Proverbs 9:8-10.  Do you recoil when your pastor gives you instruction?  We are starting a new year and it would be a good idea to purpose in our hearts to develop the habit of listening.  It would also be an excellent idea to make sure that we listen with a good attitude.  Are you wiser because of the advice you have been given or are angry most of the time because no one understands you?  According to Solomon’s advice,  the more knowledge one has of the Holy One the wiser that person will become.  Also, the wisest man that ever lived said that wise men get wiser because they listen.

Knowledge and Understanding of a Musical Genre

Knowledge and Understanding of a Musical Genre

            Proverbs 4:7 teaches that, “Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.”  One of the major problems surrounding church music in this century is that so many worship leaders have failed to acquire wisdom and understanding of the power that the music part of music has that makes it possible to communicate understandable meaning to the listener. Many of these ministers of worship have failed to understand the referential meaning that diverse styles of music will convey to the audience who is present in public worship.

          Philosophically, it is of utmost important to have knowledge and understanding of a musical genre—its purpose and power—before a worship leader unleashes this power upon a congregation that has come to either seek God or to worship Him in spirit and truth. (St. John 4:24, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.”)  St. John 4:22(a) records what Jesus said to the woman He met at the well at Samaria, “Ye worship ye know not what…”  I believe that sometimes music worship leaders without wisdom and knowledge about the nature and value of the musical vehicles they use in the context of Christian worship are worshiping they know not what. 

The Shift in Sacred Music Paradigm—part 6

The Shift in Sacred Music Paradigm—part 6 

           Modern philosophy has given up on a unified field of philosophical knowledge and no longer believes that there is thesis (truth) and antithesis (a lie).  To modern man truth is relative and is always found in a combination of both good and bad, i.e. modern man believes that truth is always found in syntheses (a combination or blend).

Traditional philosophy has always believed in two contrasting worldviews

GOD                              DEVIL  

Truth                             Perversion  

Right                             Wrong  

Good                             Evil

Now modern philosophers believe that the answer is found in a mixture of truth and evil.  The answer is neither good nor evil but somewhere in between.  Now modern man has a style of music that fits the synthesis paradigm.  The church and the satanic world now have something in common.  Both believe in worship and both are deeply committed to rock music.  The modern church no longer believes I Corinthians 6:17, “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.”  The philosophy of the modern church no longer tolerates the “be ye separate” philosophy of the Bible.  The modern church no longer tolerates traditional church music performance but rather strongly believes in being yoked together with the world through the medium of music.  It is strongly believed by the “seeker sensitive” movement that any kind of separation from worldly music will dwarf the church of Jesus Christ.

The Shift in Sacred Music Paradigm—part 5

The Shift in Sacred Music Paradigm—part 5 

         Never in the history of church music has there ever been a music genre that could directly yoke Christians and those who are antagonistic to the teachings of the Bible.  This has been made possible by a shift in some Christian’s paradigm of sacred music. No previous style of music has ever been so directly identified with satanic worship and so directly identified with the worship of God.  Rock music has successfully yoked unbelievers with Christians. This yoking together has not come about because infidels and Christians both love the LORD, but rather because they both love the heavy pounding physical beat of rock music.

        Is it possible that those who hate Christ are capitulating?  Is this present sinful age turning to Christ?  Is Satan finally giving up?  Are we close to finally getting together?  Throughout the history of the world, there has always been Christ vs. the antichrist. There has always been right vs. wrong.  Have we finally found a style of music that works equally well for worshiping Satan and Christ?  Has the modern matrix finally found a unifying style of music that will unite the world of sin with the world of Christ?

The Shift in Sacred Music Paradigm—part 4

The Shift in Sacred Music Paradigm—part 4 

It is amazing to me when I lecture to church musicians, that so many of them do not consider themselves to be rock music performers.  They do not seem to realize that if they perform rock music at any level, they are rock performers.  Somehow they have developed a mindset that, although they perform music with a heavy rock beat, somehow their music is not really the “bad stuff,” since they only perform “good” rock music.  As a matter of fact, many of the “soft rock” musicians profess to be against rock music much in the same way that the country rock musicians who perform country music with a heavy rock beat deny being country rock performers.

Truly these church musicians are “of this world” since they have developed a worldly paradigm without recognizing they have been squeezed into the world’s mold musically.  One has said,” There is none as blind as he who will not see.”  These church musicians are so numb intellectually that they only think in a reprobate manner.  I John 2:15 warns us, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world.  If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”  Verse 18 cautions, “Little children, it is the last time: and ye have heard that antichrist shall come, even now there are many antichrists: whereby ye know that it is the last time.”  I believe that one of the signs of the last days is the church locking arms with the world in worshipping God. II Corinthians 6:14. Speaks about this connection when it states, “Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers.  For what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness?  And what communion hath light with darkness?  And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?”

The Shift in Sacred Music Paradigm—part 3

 The Shift in Sacred Music Paradigm—part 3

            We are psychological beings.  A healthy psyche demands release from tension.  Any music that does not give the listener regular reoccurring rest from tension becomes psychologically disturbing.  No wonder that so many teenagers who listen to rock music five or six hours a day commit suicide or are constantly depressed.

            Christians should realize that adding religious words to rock music does not solve the problems of rock music being a proper concomitant to the gospel message.  Rock music was originally not created to worship God.  Therefore when we try to force sacred purposes on this music that was developed to appeal primarily to the flesh, we only complicate matters. The juxtaposition of the sacred with the profane is often very problematic. Well-meaning attempts at re-tasking music styles that were never intended to be used in the context of Christian worship often send conflicting messages to seekers who are trying to find a way to break the bonds of sin that have enslaved them and have formed a music addiction that has become a negative influence on their thought patterns and conduct.

The Shift in Sacred Music Paradigm—part 2

The Shift in Sacred Music Paradigm—part 2

Until the twentieth century, rhythm in sacred music was used to help build tension in music but always subsided in a final relaxation to achieve finality. As I have said before, music flowed in a forward directionality from relaxation to tension to find relaxation.  All well-constructed musical compositions have a beginning, a climax and an ending.  Rock music does not normally let you relax anywhere or at least not often in the composition.  Therefore it is not biblical in its enactment. 

Jesus said in St. Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”  He did not say, “I will give you continuous tension,” or “I will keep your heavy laden or burdened down.”  The heaviness and incessant tension created by the preponderant beat of rock music is not compatible with the good news of the gospel.  Even our heartbeat is made of tension and release.  The good news presented by sacred music should bring ultimate rest, not tension.  Music that is compatible with the Gospel of Christ or the Logos Christos must come to regular points of rest.

The Shift in Sacred Music Paradigm—part 1

The Shift in Sacred Music Paradigm—part 1

            In the sacred music of ancient Israel, melody was considered to be a vehicle upon which the word of Jehovah rode into the hearts and minds of the worshiper.  Biblical research has proven that the most important aspect of sacred music in ancient Bible times was the word of Jehovah.  All the elements of music were servants or helpers of the word of God. The rhythm of Bible music was always the natural rhythm of the words.  The word, music originally came from the word “muse” which meant to think.  So, sacred music was not originally conceived as primarily an artistic rhythmic experience, but rather an artistic intellectual experience.  It was a means by which the worshiper could experience the import of God’s Word more clearly.

No Bible composer would have written a melody that would have covered up or distracted in any way from the word of Jehovah.  If ancient Israel had some form of harmonic practice in either vocal or instrumental music, no Temple musician would have allowed it to cover up words.  What does this all mean to us now that we have entered the 21^st century?  What is the biblical example given to us?  When any style of religious music accompaniment is in competition with or covers up the words of a song this music does not follow the biblical example of how sacred music should be performed.  Remember from the time of ancient Israel and for centuries, after, words were most important in church music.  Melody, being the handmaiden of God’s word, came second and any harmony came next and rhythm was normally the rhythm of the text. Rock music reverses this order.  Rhythm and beat are normally first in rock music.  Harmony is generally second and words and melody are last. Since beat is first, it is the master of words and therefore more important.  Through the use of extremely high amplification levels, beat becomes an even bigger giant. Instead of a flowing forward directionality rock music has a crushing, propelling, forward directionality.  

The Seven Note Creation-part 2

The Seven Note Creation-part 2    

       When we study the te'amim (which is the musical notation found above and below the texts of the entire Old Testament), we find that both the psalmodic and prosodic systems of notation have a tonic note.  (See chapter 8 of my book, Music of the Bible in Christian Perspective and The Music of the Bible Revealed. by Suzanne Haik-Vantoura, Berkley: Bibal Press, 1991.).  This tonic note is called "silluq".  This term means "end" and has the same function as the tonic note of our "modern" diatonic scale. God created and rested in seven days and God made a seven note scale with a resting note.  After the seventh day the sequence of days re-begins and after the seventh note the musical scale re-begins--all this is more than a coincidence!  It is the work of an omniscient creator.

       Outside of our knowledge of the te'amim, the Pentateuch is relatively silent as to the specifics of the beginnings of music.  However, we do know that God imparted musical knowledge to man before the flood.  Genesis 4:21 explains that Lamech’s son Jubal “was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ."  We also know that Adam was given domain over the erets (776) so he no doubt had wisdom concerning music. The more we learn about God’s seven note creation the more we are drawn to the conclusion that a God this wise is capable of guiding us in developing a unified Christocentric music philosophy in the twenty-first century.  Praise God!   

Thought for the Day

When a composer or arranger repeatedly avoids the use of the tonic, he or she obscures the finality which is necessary for the proper presentation of the gospel.

The Seven Note Creation-part 1

The Seven Note Creation-part 1  

        We have often discussed God's creation of the seven note musical scale.  Before God created man, He created, “the heaven and the earth.”  It is important that we understand the significance of God creating the mathematical ratios that make the seven note scale possible. The perfectness of the number seven is a part of Gods eternal laws. The world was brought into being and set in motion at the will of God in accordance to His laws.

        A part of these laws was the eternal concept of seven days ending with a Sabbath and a re-beginning on the eighth day.  God, without doubt, created music in the beginning to conform to these laws.  The eighth note of the musical scale is essentially the same as Sunday of the next week.  Sunday is the eighth day or the day of re-beginning of the same sequence just like the eighth note of the musical scale.  If you sing the diatonic major scale and stop on the seventh degree which is a leading tone in the major scale this tone demands resolution.  The note of resolution is the eighth degree of the major scale which is the same as the first degree i.e. the tonic.   The concept of seven degrees in a musical scale cannot be improved upon since the number seven is always the number of perfection in Scripture, and eight is the number of regeneration and re-beginning.