What Really Matters about Your Music Ministry?

What Really Matters about Your Music Ministry?

1Corinthians 3:5-7, “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?  I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.  So then neither is he that planteth anything, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.”

            In St. Paul’s first letter the Ephesians, he very plainly speaks to them about what really matters about one’s ministry.  Christian musicians, who travel from church to church giving concerts, seldom get to see the finished fruit of their labors.  I remember so very distinctly the times of discouragement that came when I traveled with the College Choir and the Symphonic Wind Ensemble.  As we would pull out of the church parking lot with that big bus and a van and trailer filled with equipment, sometimes I would wonder if we had actually accomplished much for the advancement of God’s kingdom. 

            It was difficult at times to believe what St. Paul wrote in his first letter to the Corinthian Christians.  The longer I traveled the more I came to realize that sometimes we had come to ‘plant’ and sometimes our purpose was to simply ‘water’ because the local fellowship of believers had already laid an excellent planting of the good seed of the gospel.  Since we were there for only one gospel concert, we were not able to stay and witness God giving the ‘increase’.  So, to those who travel musicing the good news of the gospel I simply remind you that as Paul stated, “Who then is Paul, and who is Apollos, but ministers by whom ye believed, even as the Lord gave to every man?’  Traveling musicians do not get discouraged, but rather take courage.  God has promised to give ‘the increase’ and that is what really matters about your musical ministry. 

Thought for the Day

Have you ever thought just how profound Hamlin’s statement is in this song?  “You'll always feel at home wherever you may roam. There is no power can conquer you, While God is on your side. Take Him at his promise, don't run away and hide.”

Song for the Day It is No Secret by Stewart Hamblin

Not unto Us, O LORD

Not unto Us, O LORD

Psalm 115:1 states, “Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.”

            The Hebrew word kabowd (3519) which is translated glory in the AV means figuratively splendor, copiousness, glorious, or honor.  Sometimes Christian musicians struggle with the “us” part of musicing unto God.  The psalmist very clearly states that copious splendor and glorious honor must be lavished on YAHV rather on “us”.   At the time the 115th Psalm was written, there was an apparent problem with those who were Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. not giving God honor and praise.

            Christian humanists, somewhat like secular humanists, by their actions show proofs that they believe that God must share the glory and honor with “us”. When it comes to religious musicing, a person is either a humble musical servant of Jesus Christ with responsibilities or a musician with rights.  Every musician must be sure that his or her musicing in the context of Christian worship is done with the single purpose of giving God all the glory and praise.  A Christian’s musicing is not that person’s personal performance for his or her aggrandizement, but rather it is about that person’s grateful response to a wonderful God who has shown mercy to one who was bound in chains of sin.  The truth of the matter is that God loved “us” so much that He, for Christ’s sake, forgave us of all our unrighteousness.  That is why we, like the psalmist, declare “Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.”

            Musicians who are religious humanists thrive on the audience’s praise.  They are religious humanists because they profess the name of Christ but they thrive on personal aggrandizement. Much like the secular humanist, they believe that THEIR musicing begins and ends with SELF. They see no problem with receiving personal praise for their religious musicing.  They are in conflict with Isaiah 48:11b, “… I will not give my glory unto another.”  They also to not seem to regard Isaiah 42:8, “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images.”  When a Christian musician musics the good news of the gospel, God must receive all the glory, honor and praise for that musician’s musical performance or it is not a musical offering

Scripture Thought for the Day.

1Corinthians 3:11-13, “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.   Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.”

Song for the Day My Tribute by Andrae’ Crouch

Talented Musicians Who Will Not Teach Others

Talented Musicians Who Will Not Teach Others

            The renowned musicologist Curt Sachs reports that, “In the last time of the Temple, Hygros ben Levi ‘was over the singing.’  He had a great name as a brilliant virtuoso; but his memory ‘was kept in dishonor’ because he would not teach his special art to any other.  Sachs, Curt, the Rise of Music in the ancient world, p 61, quoting Talmudic Tractate Arakhin 2:3.

            This information attests to the fact that Musicians who were talented who were involved as temple musicians were expected to prepare future generations of Temple musicians by not only performing at a high level of skill but also sharing this knowledge with others.  There is no doubt about it, musicians who loved and served YHVH were expected to not merely consume their God given musical talents on their own artistic lusts. 

            When I was the music chair at a Bible college, I was always amazed when very large churches would call me for an accompanist for their church choir (s) because no one attending that church was willing to share his or her God given skill as an accompanist with the local church music ministry.  I was always glad when I could send a church an accompanist, because our music philosophy stressed the necessity of giving back to God their musical skills while attending Bible College. 

            The truth of the matter is musicians who reach adulthood and have not been involved in a local church music ministry will probably never get involved in the music ministry of a local church.  One of the problems is that students who have studied under music teachers who do nor love and serve our savior Jesus Christ will most likely be steered away from church music to other musical gigs hat pay much more.  My Bible states, in Romans 12:1, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” 

Singing—A Means of Grace—part 3

Singing—A Means of Grace—part 3

            Philosophers have always believed that music had great power over everyone.  It has only been since the 20th century that some Christian philosophers have come to the conclusion that style in music is neutral and therefore amoral.  Under this new “liberated” philosophy anything goes in church music.  To them, church music exists in an absurd universe and is a standardless art.  Since church music is without absolutes or any standard of correctness it is merely a matter of personal taste.  These modern church music philosophers quote St. Matthew 7:1, “Judge not, that ye be not judged.”  They purport that Jesus put an end to judgement when it comes to Christian living.

            The real question before us is, “Will we be judged for what we do (music included) in this life?”  Therefore, these synthesis thinkers have missed the point.  They say we should not criticize each other’s church music since it is merely a matter of taste anyway.  Since, to them, all musical roads lead to heaven, it is wrong to criticize anyone’s style of church music performance.  It is my belief that every church musician will give an account to God at the judgement for what he or she did with the great art of music.  

Thought for the Day

Much of what worldly musicians believe  about music and musicing is not the result of an application of common sense is rather the result of the application of error and nonsense.

Singing—A Means of Grace—part 2

Singing—A Means of Grace—part 2

            What does the Scripture lesson taught in 1Corinthians 1:18 mean to the 21st century church?  First of all, there is and always has been a war going on between the wisdom of God and the specious arguments of the present age.  Every Christian musician should be sure that he or she is following biblical wisdom when developing a music ministry philosophy.  Second, there are very logical sounding arguments that are prevalent today that simply do not line up with Scripture.  Beware that you are not led astray by what seems to make sense at least by the world’s standards.  If your philosophy has caused you to not keep the main thing then it is faulty. 

            Ancient philosophers believed that music could have a profound moral effect on the hearer. We know from history that, “All ancient peoples of whom we have knowledge gave music a place of honor, they considered it a potent religious and moral force, intimately related to the most formal, as well as the most informal aspects of life.”  Music in Europe and the United States, Edith Borroff, Pg. 4.  It has only been the product of modern man’s mind that music is amoral.  Although philosophers and musicians have argued for centuries about how music affects us or exactly what moral effect music had on the auditor and the performer, they have always believed that music had a message.  

Thoughts on Musicing unto God—Blogger Sounds off

            Christian musicians must be sure that their musical beliefs are congruent with Bible teaching rather than unfounded nonsense.  They also should not line up in a row behind the world’s musical notions like little ducks who are being led to a mud puddle.  Much of what worldly musicians believe about music and musicing is not the result of an application of common sense, historical evidence, time honored tradition, Bible teaching, or good musicing but rather the result of the application of error and nonsense.  Therefore, I have no inclination to drop all common sense, musical training and knowledge of music worshipping to gall in line with their latest musical notions.

Singing—A Means of Grace—part 1

Singing—A Means of Grace—part 1

            Corporate worship through singing is a valuable means of grace to the believer.  Singing can be a valuable teaching tool.  Singing can be used by the Holy Spirit to convict and convert sinners.  However, 1 Corinthians 1:18 above states that preaching is “the power of God.”  Music, although it has power and charm is never spoken of in the Bible as the “power of God”.  Verse twenty of chapter one of I Corinthians says, “Where is the wise [sophos 4680]? Where is the scribe?  Where is the disputer [suzetetes 4804] of this world [aion 165]?  Hath not God made foolish [moraino 3471] the wisdom [sophia 4678] of this world [kosmos 2889]?

            The sophists were ancient Greek philosophers notorious for their specious arguments. To many their arguments sounded logical and correct but they often were far from being correct.  The disputers were philosophers who were debaters involved in controversial discussions.  Paul declared here that God has shown how insipid their arguments were.  The arguments of the sophists were, as verse twenty tells us, based on the wisdom of the aion or the present system of the age.  It was wisdom based on the matrix of Satan.  

Thought for the Day

Christian musicians must be sure that their musical beliefs are congruent with bible teaching rather than unfounded nonsense.

Alfred Sendrey's Writings

Alfred Sendrey's Writings

            After studying two of Alfred Sendrey’s (1884-1976) treatises Music in Ancient Israel and Music in the Social and Religious Life of Antiquity for some time I am still puzzled that he devoted so much of his writings to the “Holy Writ” when he makes it so plain that that he does not believe that the Bible is an historic or accurate source of information.  Those who have read these books know that he repeatedly denies the authenticity of Scripture.  It would have been one thing for him to believe that it was not an entirely reliable source of historic knowledge, but I cannot understand why he quoted its contents over and over again when he did not even believe that historic figures like Moses et al ever existed.

            Much of the information about musical instruments is accurate information that has been corroborated by other Jewish music historians and musicologists.  It seems that when one looks at his life’s work, he “won the argument and lost the sale.”  Much of his writings can be respected, but in the long haul he was a devoted music historian who, in my opinion, missed the point of writing about the music of ancient Israel.

            St. Paul’s second letter to Timothy explains that there are those who deny the power of God and therefore are, “Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.”  (2Ti 3:7).  It seems to me that an esteemed writer who did not believe the Bible would not have spent so much time trying to get the reader to trust what he did not believe to be an accurate source of knowledge. 

            It seems ironic that at the time of his death Dr. Ann Kilmer and Suzanne Haik-Vantoura made two of the greatest musical discoveries of the 20^th century.  Their findings revolutionized opinion about music in the ancient world.  For a detailed discussion read chapter eight of my book Music of the Bible in Christian Perspective.  Perhaps this great scholar of music in the ancient would have come to more accurate conclusions about  music in the ancient world if he had retained God in His knowledge.

Not unto Us O LORD

Not unto Us O LORD
Psalm 115:1 states, “Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.” The Hebrew word kabowd (3519) which is translated glory in the AV means figuratively splendor, copiousness, glorious, or honor.  Sometimes Christian musicians struggle with the “us” part of musicing unto God.  The psalmist very clearly states that copious splendor and glorious honor must be lavished on YAHV rather on “us”.   At the time the 115th Psalm was written, there was an apparent problem with those who were not giving God honor and praise.

            Christian humanists, somewhat like secular humanists, by their actions show proofs that they believe that God must share the glory and honor with “us”.  A person is either a humble servant of Jesus Christ with responsibilities rather than rights when it comes to that person’s musicing.  Every musician must be sure that his or her musicing in the context of Christian worship is done with the single purpose of giving God all the glory and praise  A Christian musicing is not that persons personal performance and aggrandizement but rather it is about that person’s grateful response to a merciful God who has shown mercy to one who was bound in chains of sin.  The truth of the matter is that God loved “us” so much that He, for Christ’s sake, forgave us of all  our unrighteousness.  That is why we, like the psalmist, declare “Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.”

           

God’s Word is True Wisdom

God’s Word is True Wisdom

1Corinthians 1:8-9, “For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.  For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”

            Since it is the command of God that ministers preach Christ crucified, it stands to reason that it is also a command to music pastors.  Post postmoderns do not believe that there is any objective truth, so they do not believe that what the Bible message is absolute truth.  They believe that there often exists opposing “truths” which are only perceived truths.  Since if it feels right it is “truth” to that person, he or she should follow that perceived “truth”.  So, preaching the cross and Christ crucified and resurrected as the victor over sin and eternal death is foolishness to them. 

            Those who are saved and have passed from spiritual death unto life know that this salvation is the power of God.   The world knows by wisdom that there is no God, no savior, no forgiveness of sins, no eternal salvation and no objective truth.  Do not fear the post postmodern’s false wisdom and misguided understanding because God declared in Isaiah 29:14 b, “…for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hid.” 

Prayer for the Day

Lord You are an all wise God.  Your truth is true truth.  Your truth will be true eternally.  You have promised in Your inspired Word that You will destroy the false wisdom and false understanding of those who have rejected Your love and forgiveness.  Help me to never believe the powerless beliefs and false truths of those who do not love and serve You.  Lord help me to trust your inspired Word to be the true wisdom that will guide my pathway throughout this life.  This I am praying in Your all wise name.  Amen.

Thought for the Day

When all of us face Him whose eyes are as a flame of fire, we will see who has been hiding under a rock.  When all false wisdom and supposed understanding is stripped away, only those who have believed God’s true truth and have their names written in the Lamb’s Book of Life will stand in that great and awful day.

Sacred Music Should be Intense Music—part 3

Sacred Music Should be Intense Music—part 3

                Sometimes Christian musicians fail to recognize the difference

between musical charisma and divine anointing that God gives to

musicians who are living a deep life in the Holy Spirit. There is nothing

inherently wrong with the listener being drawn emotionally into

the musicer’s performance. However, the Christian musician must

understand that the ultimate goal of worship is not the audience being

attracted to the performer’s persona but rather to God.

                The performer who is a religious humanist will have a tendency to believe that music

worship begins and ends with the performer. There is no philosophical

problem with performances of sacred music that are intense, but

performing sacred music in an intense manner should always be for the

purpose of  bringing the message of the music part of the music alive in such

a way that the gospel message is made real or more clear to the

listener. Performance intensity should never obscure the message of

the music or draw undue attention to the musicer.

Sacred Music Should be Intense Music—part 2

Sacred Music Should be Intense Music—part 2

                How can a Christian effectively express sincere love for God

with vanilla-flavored musical expressions? John 7:38 explains, “He

who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will

flow rivers of living water” (NKJV). Therefore, sincere sacred

musicing must include an emotional outpouring of the Christian’s heart-life

which is expressed through music. These deep expressions of a

living faith in Christ exude from a heart filled with love for God that

pours out these feelings in genuine intense musicing unto God.

                Some Christians believe that all sacred musicing must be subdued

and without deep outward emotion. Sometimes those who have

this belief fail to recognize that God endows musicians with charisma

and an effervescence that attracts listeners. This attractiveness inspires

devotion to God as the performer musics. Performance or

musicing charisma is one of the gifts and graces that God gives to

talented musicians. However, charisma is not synonymous with the

anointing for musicing that God gives to musicians who are maintaining

a deep spiritual life in the Holy Spirit.

Sacred Music Should be Intense Music—part 1

Sacred Music Should be Intense Music—part 1

                Some Christian musicians may object to the philosophical concept

of “intense” musicing unto God. The word intense, when connected

to musicing, means very deeply concentrated or fervently earnest.

There is a definite philosophical school of thought that, since

sacred musicing is not about the performer, all sacred musicing must

be reserved and detached or semi-detached from the Christian musician.

It is true that the just shall live by faith rather than by sight,

feeling, joy or any other emotion, since all of them are ephemeral.

(See Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, and Hebrews 10:38.)

It seems almost impossible to have a real relationship with Jesus

Christ that never produces any emotions or to music unto the blessed

Trinity without some emotion. One of the major factors of effective

musicing of sacred music is the believability of genuine heart-felt

musical expressions that exude from a holy heart-life.

Philosophical Justifications for “Doing”

Philosophical Justifications for “Doing”

            A Christian musician often musics in a certain manner simply
because of personal musical and spiritual instincts or because of musical 
traditions established by others. However, musicing by accident can be 
risky policy. A worship leader and a music educator must be able to
articulate reasons for performance and teaching choices. It is better for
one not to teach others than to teach them in a willy-nilly manner because
the *onus probandi falls on the one who attempts to teach (Matthew 18:6,
Mark 9:42, Luke 17:2.  

            Although the Bible gives us principles of musicing unto God, it
does not cover every aspect of music that concerns the twenty-first
century Christian musician. So, every performer, music director, and
music educator must, in the fear of God, interpret and apply principles
taught in Scripture. Furthermore, performers, directors, worship leaders,
and music educators must also come to philosophical conclusions
about aspects of music that do not appear to be covered by Scripture.
With this in mind, I have covered several aspects of music which are
vital to a Christian’s musicing in the twenty-first century. The NIV
translates Isaiah 28:10 as, “For it is: Do and do, do and do, rule on rule,
a little here, a little there.” The translation above makes sense in the
context of understanding how we music. We “do” over and over
again until we are conditioned to do what we do musically. As a result,
we develop musical tastes—likes and dislikes— from what we listen
to and perform.

Shaping Children’s Music Philosophy-part 2

Shaping Children’s Music Philosophy-part 2

            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.

            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.  

Thought for the Day

When parents set limits and provide music education, lessons, and quality music performance experiences for their children, they do not spend their children’s pre-teen and teen years putting out “musical fires”.

Shaping Children’s Music Philosophy-part 1

Shaping Children’s Music Philosophy-part 1

            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, parents should get their 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 he or she will be to make educated, mature decisions about music.

            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 does not 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.

Scripture for the Day

Isaiah 28:10, “For precept must be upon precept, precept upon precept; line upon line, line upon line; here a little, and there a little:” It isn’t the great big musical experiences in music that matter most but the continuous consistent every day music training that matters most.

Present Yourself Willingly

Present Yourself Willingly

2Chronicles 17:16, “And next him was Amasiah the son of Zichri, who willingly offered himself unto the LORD; and with him two hundred thousand mighty men of valor.”

            I was reading through the 2n chronicles the other morning and the sixteenth verse stood out to me.  Amasiah willingly offered himself unto the LORD.  I have seen Christian musicians who are serving God faithfully as ministers of music or Christian school music teachers, but although they are ministering faithfully, they seem to always to be “kicking and screaming” about their human condition.  They have failed to do what the ancient Israelite did—they have not given themselves willingly!

            It is one thing to give yourself to God but it is another to follow the admonition of St. Paul in Romans 12:1 when he wrote, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”  It is far better to willingly present oneself than to do it “kicking and screaming”. 

Prayer for the Day

I want to thank You lord for ever seeing fit to us me as a music minister and teacher.  I am asking You to forgive me for the times that I have complained about my human condition.  Help me to not only serve You but to also serve you willingly Help me to say like Isaiah, ”here am I, send me”.  I can never pay my debt of gratitude to You Lord for what You have done for me!  Thank You dear and precious Lord.  Amen.

Non-believers Do Not Teach Faith-based—part 2

Non-believers Do Not Teach Faith-based—part 2   

 We cannot trust public education to produce Christ-centered musicians who have a Christocentric music philosophy.  Christians never should have trusted the world to formulate music philosophy for Christian young people.  It has always been the responsibility of Christians to train their own. Although many Christian parents have ignored it, the world has never been a friend of grace.  Could you imagine the ancient Hebrews calling in the Philistines to train their Levite sons?  The 20^th century church did just that--they called in the worldly musicians who outwardly profaned the name of Christ to train church musicians.  The result was generation after generation of Christian musicians filled with Philistine philosophy. 

One thing for sure, public education will not directly teach the next generation of church musicians wrong things about God because they are not allowed to teach God in their music knowledge.  Although federal law in the United States has mandated that public education can no longer retain God in our educational knowledge, the fact that they will not directly teach false concepts of God does not indicate that no “God-education” will take place in public schools and universities.  By eliminating God as the Creator and Lord of music education, public education relays strong false messages about the nature and value of music to our young people.  Public education can no longer recognize God in the development of a philosophical basis for music education.  As a matter of fact, teaching God as the basis of all philosophical thought is forbidden.  The only safe path in public education is to omit the authority of God in any philosophical discussion of music.  In public education, no sacred music concerts are legal and the sacred classics may only be taught or performed as music literature.  It is often mandated that there be no Christmas or Easter concerts or any concerts that use sacred music for any religious purposes.  The only time that it is totally legal to mention God in the music classroom is when the music instructor stubs his toe on the desk leg. 

Quotes for the Day

Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

 Romans 6:16, “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”

1Peter 2:5, “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ..”

Non-believers Do Not Teach Faith-based—part 1

Non-believers Do Not Teach Faith-based—part 1

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.  

Thought for the Day

Matthew 6:24, “No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”

Gospel Songs under Fire—part 7

Gospel Songs under Fire—part 7

                 Those who believe that the scripturally accurate gospel songs  cannot relate to moderns, post-moderns, post-postmoderns, young people and seekers are testifying that they do not believe that the good news of the gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ is still relevant and “quick and powerful” (Hebrews 4:12). Nor do they believe as Psalm 100:5 declares, “For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.”  Also, those who believe that the demands of Scripture that are accurately taught in gospel songs are too offensive and too confrontational for the un-churched seeker are confessing that they are ashamed of the many truths taught in the Bible that are so succinctly presented in gospel music.

      One of the reasons that the New Testament church thrived spiritually was that, like St. Paul (Romans 1:16), they were not ashamed of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The twenty-first century church should think long and hard about following a music praxis that denies the use of the gospel presented through well written, scripturally accurate gospel songs.  

Thought for the Day

At the end of this short series of posts on gospel music, I would like to remind all Christian musicians that the gospel of Jesus Christ is good news.  God is alive and he is working with His people.  We do not have a “New Age” who is far, far away but rather, our god is alive and working on our behalf.   Hebrews 4:15, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”

Gospel Songs under Fire—part 6

Gospel Songs under Fire—part 6  

 Those who believe that all public “worship”, “worship events” or whatever it is now politically correct to call the gatherings of Christians and seekers on Sunday morning, are for the exclusive purpose of singing praise sequences need to take a serious look at what the Bible teaches in Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 about the public musicing of Christians who gather to gather to sing unto God and those who attend these services.  Also, they need to study the many Scriptures in Old Testament lyric poetry that are literally saturated with personal references to God’s forgiveness, help and sustenance. The reality of personal testimony expressed by a born again Christian singing testimony songs is far from outdated. 

 One of the most needed elements of heart felt worship is the current reality of God’s daily working in the worshiper’s life.  Public worship should be Trinitarian; it should be saturated with praise and adoration to Father, Son and Holy Spirit, but it should more inclusive of the reality and personal references to God’s current work in the life of those who love and serve Him.   

Thought for the Day  

My dear friend Rev. Larry Smith has written that all public corporate worship should be individual, orderly, complete and, of course Trinitarian.  Christian musicians must remember that if individuals do hot worship on a personal level, there will be no corporate worship.  One of the best ways to get individuals to worship is to have them remember what God has done, and is currently doing in their lives as individuals.

Gospel Songs under Fire—part 5

Gospel Songs under Fire—part 5

       If you will remember, Ephesians 5:19 mentions, “Speaking to yourselves in psalms (psalmos-5568) and hymns (humnos-5215) and spiritual (pneumatikos-4152) songs  (ode -5603), singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord:”  Although we do not know with certainty what the pneumatikos oide were like, I like to think that they may have been somewhat like our gospel songs.  Also, note that verse nineteen also reminds those who make melody that our musicing unto the Lord should be done in the presence of others. 

Therefore, the Christian’s musicing takes on a multi-directional communication that includes musicing unto God and musicing to others at the same time.  For this reason the gospel song enables the singer to praise God and tell others about His goodness and saving power at the same time.  Colossians 3:16 also reminds Christian musicians to, ”Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”   

Thought for the Day

I believe that the effectual fervent musicing of a righteous man or woman availeth much in public worship.  Your worship is incapable of being either effectual or fervent if you do not participate in congregational singing.

Gospel Songs under Fire—part 4

Gospel Songs under Fire—part 4

When Christians brag on the Savior it is not only good news to Christians but it is also good news to those who do not know the Lord. One of the most positive things that a congregation of believers can do musically is to tell the good news of what God has done for them individually.  This is many times best accomplished by singing gospel songs. Although worship is not about us but rather our Savior, salvation is about what God has done for us individually.  This salvation is a personal “know so” salvation.  Salvation does not mean very much to us until we as individuals have become partakers of the divine nature as explained in  2 Peter 1:4, “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.”   

       One of the wonderful things about musicing unto God through personal testimony presented in gospel songs is the testimony of twenty first century Christians that God is still working with individuals in this present age.  Singing these testimony songs brings current individual reality and excitement through singing the good news of what God is doing and has done for us as individuals.  Singing about this personal reality is in no way a put-down of praise music, hymn singing or Psalm singing.  You see, our God is so awesome that the diversity of musics mentioned above helps us to fully express the awesomeness, solemnity, wonder, and majesty to the Triune God.   

Thought for the Day

Sing great rhetoric about God is a must for public worship, but it is in no way a replacement for the reality and testimony of what the Holy Spirit, the Holy and wise comforter is currently doing in our lives.

Gospel Songs under Fire—part 3

Gospel Songs under Fire—part 3

There is much Old Testament lyric poetry that makes personal reference to God’s work in his or her life. This type of poetry is found much later in the New Testament in Luke 1:46-49 where Mary proclaimed, “My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Savior.  For he hath regarded the low estate of his handmaiden: for, behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.  For he that is mighty hath done to me great things; and holy is his name.”  This poetry was certainly including the “I”, “me” and “my” of the Gospel.  This early poetry was in the spirit of what we have come to know and understand as “gospel music”.  So, for thousands of years those who loved and served God have made their personal boast in the LORD.  Now, some millennial musical churchmen have decided that this personalization is out dated and no longer capable of speaking to or relating to post postmoderns. 

Many 20^th  and now 21^st  century church musicians have regarded personal references to God’s grace, mercy and help to be incongruent with the spirit of true public worship.  It is true that public worship is not about individuals but rather God.  However, when a Christian makes his or her boast in the Lord, such effusions of a grateful heart bring glory and honor to God.  Without such current and living experiences of God’s workings among His people, public worship often tends to be routine and sterile.  

Thought for the Day

I believe that the removal of all personal testimony in public worship has been one of the gravest misconceptions of what public worship should involve.  I remember many times when some humble saint would rise to his or her feet and give honor and glory to god for God’s current working in his or her life.  Many times these praises to God brought an exceeding weight of glory to the worship service that caused us all to worship.

Gospel Songs under Fire—part 2

Gospel Songs under Fire—part 2

Praise is the Christian’s response to God, i.e. thanks, adoration, and love for the trinity—it is what a worshiper “does” in response for what God Has done him.  Gospel songs explain very vividly what God has done and what He is “doing”.  My soul is blessed when I think about the difference between Christianity and the other world religions.  Christianity’s God is alive and is “doing” because He is not merely a god who “was”, but on the authority of His Word, He declares, “I AM THAT I AM”.  It is no wonder that Christians want to sing gospel songs as a way to brag on this God who is alive and well and is “doing”.

 Lyric poems that expresses the pronouns “I” and “my” are not a passing novelty of the 19^th and 20^th centuries.  Psalm 34:2 states “My soul shall make her boast (halal-1984) in the LORD: the humble (anav 6035) i.e. the depressed in mind) shall hear thereof, and be glad.”  Some of the best sacred lyric poetry that has been written in the last two hundred years has been used in gospel music.  Gospel songs of the last two centuries are some of the most descriptive and well-written poems that Christians have used to make their boast in the LORD.

Thought for the Day

Religion is “mere religion” until a musician has a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.  If there is no “I” and “my” to your musicing unto God, religious music will never be much more than an art form to you.

Gospel Songs under Fire—part 1

Gospel Songs under Fire—part 1

            Regardless of what some Christian musicians who are millennials say the message of the gospel of Jesus Christ is “good news”.  That means frankly that gospel songs whether new or old are relevant and apropos in this century. All Christians desire to share this good news through their musicing.  The gospel of our triune God is much broader in scope than what we are able to express in our praise music.  Gospel songs allow a fellowship of believers to share many diverse aspects of full salvation by faith.  These songs are very positive songs that tell not only who God is but what He has done for sinful men and women in the past and what He will do for them now and what he can do for the seeker now and in the future. 

            I will be the first to acknowledge that there are gospel songs that are not high quality poems and that furthermore that their musical content and structure are not shining examples of musical and compositional excellence.   Certainly there is some gospel music that should be allowed to sink into a state of well-earned oblivion.   We all are aware that there are gospel songs that were the work of a musical hack who was not a knowledgeable composer or arranger.  However, that is not proof that all gospel music is not usable or appropriate for public worship or evangelism.   

Thought for the Day

Be careful before you categorically write off all public singing of gospel songs in an attempt to be current and trendy.

Putting Your Church’s Music Philosophy in Writing—part 9

Putting Your Church’s Music Philosophy in Writing—part 9

            Now I am going to take the liberty of ranting and raving about the silence or non-substantive comments about music philosophy that are found in the philosophical statements of churches from the Wesleyan persuasion.  I cannot speak specifically to the obvious lack of specifity in these church ministry philosophies.  The question is why are so many of these published philosophies so non-descript or are completely silent concerning the nature, value and meaning of church music?  

            Churches normally publish what they consider to be essential core values of the church’s ministry.  So, apparently many of the churches of the Wesleyan persuasion do not consider music ministry to be a core value or they omit the mention of music ministry on purpose.  Why would a church omit specifity about what church attenders will experience when they show up on Sunday morning?  Furthermore, I wonder why so many churches of different theological persuasions do not publish written philosophies on the net?  For those who are offended by my questions, I simply request that you reconsider your lack of publishing a worship philosophy that includes specificity about the nature, value and meaning of music.  Prospective attenders have a right to know how you music unto God before they attend your church’s worship services.

            If your church has not published its music philosophy on your web site, I ask you why not?  Perhaps these excellent philosophical statements about the nature, value and meaning of church music will stimulate your thinking about musicing unto God in the context of worship.  If you have not included philosophical statements about music because you do not consider musicing unto God to be a core value of your church, I ask Why not?  If you are a church of the Wesleyan persuasion and have published excellent philosophical statements about musicing unto God in public worship please send me your web site address.

Putting Your Church’s Music Philosophy in Writing—part 8

Putting Your Church’s Music Philosophy in Writing—part 8

Today we are listing the headings of the music philosophy of Keystone Bible Church in Odessa Florida.  I recommend that you read their philosophical statements placed under each of the headings of their published music philosophy.

“We are committed to using music in our worship services that reflects the following principles:

God-Centered – (Ex. 15:1, 21; Ps. 115:1; Ps. 100)

Word-Saturated – (Ps. 95, 96; Col. 3, Eph. 5)

Gospel-Focused – (Ps. 113, Rev. 5)

 Heart-Oriented – (John 4, Phil. 2:1-4, 1 Cor. 13:1)

Intentionally Diverse – (all of Psalms, Eph. 5:19)

Musically Proficient – (Ps. 33:3)”

http://www.keystonebible.org/about/what-we-believe/worship-philosophy/

Putting Your Church’s Music Philosophy in Writing—part 7

Putting Your Church’s Music Philosophy in Writing—part 7

            Today we are presenting a couple of paragraphs from the music philosophy of Second Presbyterian Church in Memphis Tennessee.  I recommend very highly that you go to their web site and read all of their excellent published music philosophy.

            The first four of the Ten Commandments concern worship; the books of Exodus and Leviticus teach Old Testament saints how to approach God with reverence and awe; the Psalms are placed in the middle of the Bible as a congregational hymnal; the first concern of the post-exilic prophet, Malachi, upon return to the Promised Land, was sincere worship. Worship is the first evidence of the indwelling Holy Spirit (Eph. 5:18-20), the great mission of the Son of God (Romans 15:9-11), the desire of God the Father (John 4:23), and the purpose of the Church (I Peter 2:9, 10).

            At Second Presbyterian, we believe that music is essential to godly worship, as revealed in both the Old and New Testaments. We are God's choristers! It is the believer's great joy to sing of God's being and His work in creation, providence, redemption, and the consummation of all things. If we fail to sing, the very rocks will cry out in our place! (Luke 19:40)  http://www.2pc.org/worship/music-at-second/philosophy/