Humanism and Christian Music Philosophy

Humanism and Christian Music Philosophy

            The attitude of a sincere Christian musician should be that “He

must increase and I must decrease. He that cometh from above is

above all: he that is of the earth is earthly, and speaketh of the earth:

he that cometh from heaven is above all” (St. John 3:30-31). Musicing

is neither about the performer nor musical talent. Spirit-filled music

making should be Christocentric and not self-centered. Musicing does

not begin and end with self, but rather it begins and ends with God,

who is above all.

            Both secular and religious humanism purport that the end of all

human endeavor should be the actualization of one’s human potential.

This self-centered philosophy has spawned generations of Christian

musicians who believe one’s highest development must be the

actualization of self. What this means simply is that in the maturing

process a Christian performer recognizes human potential and ability

to make music and uses it to empower self. A Christian musician

should become aware of the musical gifts that are God-given, and

should develop these talents in order to use them for God’s glory.

However, all music endeavors do not begin and end with self, but

rather they begin and end with God.