Ministry that is Sounding Brass-

Ministry that is Sounding Brass-

I Corinthians 13:1 states, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and angles, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling symbol.”

       The sounding brass (echo chalkos-- 2278, 5475) was no doubt referring to a series of hollow brass vases found in niches in Greek theaters.  They were tuned chromatically to amplify the actor’s and singer’s voices.  However these vases gave off an unnatural sound.   Likewise, the tinkling or clanging symbols (alalazo kumbalon—214, 2950) produced a clanging hollow sound.  So our musical ministry, unless it is bathed in prayer, humility, and agape love is of little effectiveness.

       The musician who makes the loudest noise is not necessarily the most spiritual or effective music minister.   Enthusiasm is no substitute for the dunamis of the spirit.  Likewise, the most astute performer or director does not always have the most efficacious music ministry.  Church musicians and worshipers in general want to be effectively led in worship.  However, one must not only lead with skill but also with spiritual passion.  With the power (dunamis) of the Holy Spirit, religious musicing becomes a hollow empty musical offering.

Song for the day—“Love divine all Loves Excelling” by Charles Wesley

God Hears Us-

God Hears Us-

Psalm 5:2 &3 states, “Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King (Melek 4428), and my God (Elohiym 430): for unto thee will I pray.”My voice shalt thou hear in the morning O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and I will look up.”

       This Psalm of David, addressed to the Chief Musician, was written to Jehovah.  The Psalm opens by David petitioning God to hear the word of his prayer and furthermore for Jehovah to consider the psalmist’s meditation or musing.  He recognizes who God is as he calls Him “Melek Elohiym” i.e. King and Supreme God.

       When a musician earnestly petitions God he or she must believe that He is the supreme and only God and King.  However if the answer does not come quickly, this musician must approach prayer like David did on this occasion.  David looked up to God and determined that the LORD would hear his voice every morning, and that his petition would be directed to the one who could answer his prayer.  So, look up musician, the fact that your prayer has not been answered yet does not mean that it will not be answered.  God answers prayer, and He will answer your prayers if you pray and look up to Him in faith.

Prayer for the day-God Hears Us

LORD, I may not hear from You every day, but You will hear from me every day.  I want to thank You in advance for hearing my sincere petition.  I am looking “up” to You because You are willing and able to answer my prayer.  LORD I pray that Your will be done in this matter.  Help me to desire Your will instead of mine.  Thank you LORD for past prayers you have heard and answered.  Thank You that You are concerned about my problems and perplexities.  These things I pray in Your wonderful 

God Cares about Your Spiritual Problems

God Cares about Your Spiritual Problems 

Isaiah 42:3A states, “A bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench…”

       This servant’s song of Isaiah gives hope to one who is bruised or weakened by his or her own spiritual weakness or failure.  The reed or cane which grows in marshy places often has a weak stock and is easily bruised or crushed.

       One of these stalks that is crushed or broken, but not severed from the roots will be remembered by our Savior, because He is a caring redeemer.  God’s eternal, infallible, inspired Word tells us that our redeemer, Jesus Christ the righteous one, will not break off this seemingly worthless bruised or broken stock.

       For those of us musicians who do not always catch on the first time we read one of God’s wonderful promises to us, He not only stated that He would not break off a bruised reed but also that He would not snuff out a smoking or smoldering flax (probably a flax stalk used as a lamp wick).  God has promised to not cut off the broken Christen because He is a loving, caring, and concerned Savior and he is the divine Paraclete.

       Albert Barnes stated in his commentary on the Book of Isaiah that, “The sense is, that he will have an affectioned regard for the broken-hearted, the humble, the penitent, and the afflicted.”  Barnes’ Notes on the Old Testament, [Heritage Ed.], Isaiah, p. 100.  If you are a Christian musician who is bruised and broken and if you feel that the “Oil of the Spirit” is burning low in your soul, look up to our Redeemer who will rescue and restore you!

Prayer for the day-God Cares 

Loving Savior, I am bruised and broken.  Restore me and heal me, and lift me up into your mighty arms.  Forgive me of my spiritual failures and restore unto me the joy of my salvation.  Help me to trust that You will take care of me.  I know that I must have your help to keep ministering for you.  Help me to receive from You so that I may continue to give to others.

Thought for the day 

One has said, “I may be knocked down but I’m not knocked out.”  I say, “If you have never been knocked down, then you probably have not been the fight.”

Believing What God Has Said-Part 2

Believing What God Has Said-Part 2

       Yesterday we started a discussion about believing the Genesis record.  I believe that the Genesis record should be trusted to mean exactly what it states.  That belief includes a real six day creation.  It takes  blind faith to believe that the created plant life lived a thousand, or perhaps a million years without sunlight. 

       Again, one may ask, “Why does a musician care whether creation took six days, six thousand or six million years?”  A Christian musician cares because of the fact that if one cannot trust the Genesis record, he or she will find it hard to trust the remaining Scriptures to be accurate.  If the Bible is not accurate in what it says then a Christian musician’s truth basis fails. 

       It is no wonder that so many Christian musicians have trouble trusting what the Bible says about musicing unto God.  Why should a musician trust what the Bible says about music if he or she cannot trust the Genesis record to be accurate.  Remember that St. John 1:1 states,  under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that, “In the beginning  was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” 

This means that one cannot separate God from what He says.  Before creation i.e. the Genesis record Jesus was with God and was God.  Therefore, we can trust every word about the creation of the world.

       At this point you are probably wondering, “What is the devotional thought for the day?”  The devotional thought is that “direction determines destiny”.  When a Christian musicians goes down the philosophical path that “One cannot trust what is written in the Genesis record then there is no stopping place and the result is that one believes that the Bible is not always accurate.  With such a false philosophical basis, one erroneously concludes that the creation account is not literal and therefore not to be trusted.

       If we are going to make it into the City of God, we are going to need the comfort, guidance, and hope  of God’s inspired Word.  If we cannot trust His Word to be accurate,  then we cannot trust what God has said to us.  If one believes that part of it is accurate and other parts are not accurate, then just what part or parts can we trust?

Prayer for the day-Believing God-Part 2

Lord, thank you for your Word.  Thank You that You are the Word!  Thank You that no one can ever separate You from Your Word.  I am asking You to help me to trust Your Word and help me to start trusting it in the Genesis 1:1.  Lord I am asking You to help me to not be led astray by humanists, philosophers, agnostics, secular and theistic evolutionists.  Please let the Logos Christos dwell in my mind abundantly and in all wisdom which the Holy Spirit teaches.  These things I pray in your strong name.  Amen.

 

Believing What God Has Said-Part 1

Believing What God Has Said-Part 1 

        Genesis 1:11& 13 state,  “And God said, Let the earth bring forth grass, the herb yielding seed, the fruit tree yielding fruit after his kind whose seed is in itself, upon the earth: and it was so.  And the evening and the morning were the third day. “

       The first chapter of the Book of Beginnings gives us a clear record of all the growing things created on the third day of creation.  On the next day God created the sun and the moon so that his creation would have the lights to sustain photosynthesis which is essential to sustenance and growth of all the plant life He had created the day before. 

       Those who believe that each day was at least a thousand or perhaps a million years apart have a hard time explaining scientifically how all those plants lived at least a thousand years without light.  I guess they have faith that God suspended his laws of nature so that all those green things could exist until a thousand years or a million years had passed. 

       Christian musicians often get sucked into this non-literal view of an inaccurate Genesis record which leaves them ripe for all kinds of exotic hypotheses about a theistic evolution.  When one considers something in the Bible to be non-literal then he or she needs to have a concrete reason why it is non-literal.

       Why should we care?  One of the reasons we should care is that if one starts to consider, without concrete logical reasoning, that the Bible record does not mean what it says—then there is no stopping place in such faulty reasoning.  We should remember that the Word clearly asserts that the evening and the morning consisted of one day.  Those who purport that a day is as a thousand years with the Lord are forgetting that we have no reason to assert that when the Word states” the evening and the morning were the third day” that it is in any way referring to a thousand years.  We will continue this discussion tomorrow.

Thought for the day-Believing What God has Said-Part 1

There is a difference between interpreting figurative language used in the Bible in a figurative manner and refusing to believe a direct statement given in the Bible in order to support a person’s philosophy of a Theistic evolution. 

Sewing with the Right Water

Sowing with the Right Water

Psalm 126:5&6 state, “   they that sow in tears shall reap in joy [or with songs of joy].  He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again rejoicing [ranan 7442, i.e. singing], bringing his sheaves with him.”

       This is a precious promise for those who bathe their ministry in tears.   Sometimes we sow and sow and sow in tears and there seems to us that there is no fruit for our ministry.  However, God’s Word promises that they that sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. 

       If you have been praying for a long time for some situation or someone, do not give up!  Psalm 30:5 promises that “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”  The night of trusting God may be a long one, but God is faithful to keep all His promises.  Weeping connotes heaviness of heart and burden of soul, but the promise that we shall doubtless come again rejoicing with singing gives us hope.

       If you are now in the long night of waiting and trusting God, keep praying and keep trusting believing that God will answer your prayers.  Are you patient?  I’m not very patient.  However, I have seen God work miracles in His time.  God knows best; His clock keeps perfect time, and He never slumbers or sleeps. 

Thought for the day—Sowing with the Right Water

Perhaps the tears a Christian Musician sheds in his or her music sowing are proper water for the crop.

Training Our Own-

Training Our Own-

I Chronicles 25:3 states, “Of Jeduthun; Gedaliah, and Zeri, and Jeshaiah, and Mattithiah [and Shimei [mentioned in verse 17], six under the hands of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp, to give thanks and to praise the LORD.”

       This Scripture is a wonderful example of a godly musician in ancient Israel who was wise enough to train his own sons in the “songs of the LORD” (verse 7).  These six sons were “under the hands of” their father.  Praise God, this is a wonderful example of a musician who took time for his own family’s music education.  He did not send them to the Philistines to receive their music lessons. I believe that he had musical “massa” (4853) or burden for the musical training of his own household like Chenaniah mentioned in I Chronicles 15:22. 

       The concept of training our own is not only an Old Testament concept but also a New Testament principle.  I Timothy 5:8 states, “But if any provide not for his own [kindred-cf. Cambridge KJV], and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.”  Although this N.T. verse does not specifically mention music education, I believe the conception mentioned here is broader than the care of widows.

       I am amazed that so many parents who love and serve the Lord do recognize the great need for the next generation to be “instructed in the songs of the LORD”.  Many parents who are not Christians are more consistent in training their children musically than Christian parents.

     One more concept is note-worthy in this passage of Scripture.  Jeduthun prophesied (to sing by inspiration) with his harp.  It is significant that he sang by inspiration, but it is just as important that he taught his six sons to prophesy with their musicing unto God.  He taught his sons to give thanks i.e. hold out their hands in avowal and thankfulness to God.  He also taught them to praise (halal 1984) and to show or to boast of the self existent, eternal God.

       Are your children being trained under your hands i.e. under your supervision and tutelage?  Are you personally mentoring them in how to music unto God?  Are you teaching them by example how to praise and thank the Lord through music making?

Thought for the day-Training Our Own Sept 15

I believe that it is the responsibility of Christian parents to instruct their children Christian music teacher as a proxy. 

Jesus Expects Our Help

Jesus Expects Our Help-

Mark 6:35A states, “He [Jesus] answered and said unto them [His disciples], give ye them to eat.”

       After Jesus taught the people, his disciples wanted Jesus to send those He had taught away so the people could go somewhere and buy something to eat.  The disciples were overwhelmed at the enormous task of feeding about 5,000 people.  The job was too costly and too big for them, but it was not too big for Jesus.

       Christian musicians are often just as overwhelmed at the tasks before them.   Eighty thousand dollars for a new organ, seventy-nine thousand dollars  for a new piano, two Sunday morning  worship services, an adult choir, a youth choir, a children’s choir, an Easter pageant, and a Christmas Production with a special choir ,orchestra, sets, lights and drama are definitely too much pressure and too taking. 

       It often seems that Jesus is saying ‘do it all yourself”.  What we often forget is that He does expect our meager “five loaves and fish” but when we present them to Jesus, HE BLESSES our work and HE provides for the five thousand.  Jesus takes whatever we have and when He has blessed it is enough and it will be sufficiently proper to accomplish the ministry task. 

       It is our job to give of our best to the Master, and it is His job to bless our musical ministry so that it will be efficacious.  Jesus did say that it is our responsibility to feed the souls of those who attend our worship services.  However, He does not expect us to do it with our own strength or power.  We are required to give Jesus all that we have but we must remember that our musicing will accomplish the desired task if we will let him bless and break it so that will feed all those who attend our worship services. 

Prayer for the day-Jesus Expects Our Help

I am asking you Lord to forgive me for misunderstanding You and trying to do your work in my own strength.  I need and want your help.  Here is my musical lunch.  It is meager but it is all yours.  Please break it, bless it, and feed the hungry multitude.  This I Pray in your strong name.  Amen. 

Song for the day—“Take My Life and Let it Be” by F.R. Havergal 

 

Thought for the day—Jesus Expects Our Help

Jesus will never ask more than you are capable of giving. 

Ancient Hebrew Singing Recorded in the Bible—part 3

Ancient Hebrew Singing Recorded in the Bible—part 3

          The question of importance to Church Musicians today is, should we or should we not use women in church music?  Should we consider the purported disuse of women in the music of Temple worship, and the Biblical silence about women in public worship as "proof" that women should not be used in church music today?  The Bible is silent concerning the use of women in Temple worship.  However, this silence does not implicate that women should not be used in church music today.  Remember that part of the reason that women were not used in Temple music was because of the type of music they sang and played and the association of women's music with harlotry.  However, the ancient customs of Israel concerning women did not allow for them to be used as Temple musicians.  It is safe to conclude from the research that there is no Biblical evidence to cause us to exclude women from church music today.

Thought for the Day

The New Testament statement in 1 Timothy 2:12 that is not proper to let a woman “usurp authority over the man” is not any form of New Testament prohibition of the use of women in twenty first century church music.

Ancient Hebrew Singing Recorded in the Bible—part 2

Ancient Hebrew Singing Recorded in the Bible—part 2

          The discussion of who and to whom music should be sung reveals that there is a multiplicity of reasons for singing unto God.  The Bible teaches that that there is a universal responsibility for all to sing unto God.   Those who consider religious music to be merely a vehicle to display the church musician’s talents misuse sacred music.  Rather than using it as a vehicle of communication with God, they reduce its mission and purpose to a mere hocking of a talented (or not so talented) musician’s musical wares.

          It is no doubt true that women were excluded from participa­tion as Temple musicians in both the first and second Temples.  This does not infer that women musicians were inferior in talent or intellect.  There is evidence that it was the customs of ancient Israel and the type of music that women performed which kept their species of music separate from that of men.  I have not found any implication from the study of music in the Bible that women should be excluded from church music today.

Thought for the Day

A study of sacred musicing in the Old and New Testaments reveals that sacred musicing was not conceived by the ancient Hebrew musicians to be an art form to be consumed on the church musician’s desires.

Ancient Hebrew Singing Recorded in the Bible—part 1

Ancient Hebrew Singing Recorded in the Bible—part 1

          When a musician studies learn singing in the Bible, he or she will learn that vocal music was without doubt the most important component of ancient Hebrew music.  Ancient sacred music was conceived as a handmaiden of the "word of God".  Also, singing and playing are mentioned in both the Old and New Testaments.

          The study of Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs reveals a special responsibility for church music to be theologically sound.  As I have studied sacred music in both the Old and New Testaments, it has become apparent that it was a vehicle for the word of Christ.  As one makes application to church music in this century, it becomes apparent that it may become a means of grace to the Christian.

Thought for the Day

Christian musicians who suppose that studying ancient sacred musicing mentioned in the Bible to not be relevant miss a tremendous opportunity to gain an understanding of the relevance of sacred musicing.

Musicing about God, for God with God’s Grace-part 4

Musicing about God, for God with God’s Grace-part 4

             A musician who performs or leads others in sacred music must have the grace (charis 5485) God in his or her heart.  This Scripture is not referring to man’s charisma but rather God’s grace.  Although it appears that in the late 20^th century and now in the 21^st century many Bible translators have taken the view that charis should be translated in this verse as gratitude or in a graceful manner.  I see no logical reason t not follow the majority opinion of the earlier Bible exegetes that this Greek word should connote the grace of God that has been shed abroad in the hearts of men and women who have been truly “born again”.  Tis word should here represent God’s saving grace that changed the whole-life of the “new man”.

          With the aforementioned exegetical understanding, this verse strongly teaches that church musicians must be “born again” before they sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs in God’s house.  No amount of artistic, graceful, respectful, or thankful musicing can take the place of the church musician being a born-again Christian who has the Grace of God operating in his or her life.

Thought for the Day

Even in the Old Testament, the Levite musicians were commanded to live a holy life.  Mal 3:3 states, “And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.”

Musicing about God, for God with God’s Grace-part 3

Musicing about God, for God with God’s Grace-part 3

           The Christian musician who is performing the psalms, hymn, and spiritual songs does so as a vehicle for giving thanks to God the Father by the mediatorial agency of God the Son.  We should not forget that musicing unto God is always done as a performance.  However, performing music for God’s glory is a much different performance than performing for the aggrandizement of the performer.  The Christian musician should consider all sacred musicing to be musical offerings unto God.  All this musicing should be musicing about God that is strictly for God.

          Although it is hard for many Christian musicians to view all sacred musicing as musical offerings rather than artistic musical sacrifices made unto God, that is exactly what they should be.  A historical look at music in the Temple in ancient Israel reveals that the evites did not consider sacred music to be an art form as we do in Western culture today.  It appears that ancient Temple musicians viewed it as a means of connection with JHVH.  Also, they considered their music to be a sacred trust that was at the center of all their musicing.

Thought for the Day

Although worship is not primarily about quality, a study of the Old Testament sacrificial system reveals that worshipers were commanded to give God the best offering that they were capable of giving.

Musicing about God, for God with God’s Grace-part 2

Musicing about God, for God with God’s Grace-part 2

          There is also another companion passage found in Ephesians 5:19-21, “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.”

          I would like to take a brief moment to remind Christian musicians of the main reasons that we music mentioned in Colossians 3:16.   We must always music “in the name of the Lord Jesus”.  The Greek word used her is kurios (2962) which connotes supreme authority, or the one who is the Christian’s Savior, Lord and Master.  Christian musicians often tend to get lost in the fact that they are giving a music performance or that they work for and represent a particular church or Christian organization. All of the above may be true, but a Christian musician’s supreme authority is God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

Thought for the Day

Although many musicians do not think much about it, the way we lead others in their musicing will affect them spiritually.

Musicing about God, for God with God’s Grace-part 1

Musicing about God, for God with God’s Grace-part 1

          Colossians 3:16-17 teaches, “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.  And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.”  Many speakers and writers miss the lessons taught in these verses because many skip these verses in their comments or at least they make little or no mention of the music lessons taught here.  I suspect they were so intent on getting to the eighteenth verse so that they could once again tell women to submit that they miss the musical import of these verses in Colossians chapter 3.

Thought for the Day

What a musician fills his or her mind with will determine how that person does.  So be careful about what you see, hear, read, because it will affect how you music.

Music Philosophy Questions

Music Philosophy Questions

Below are ten questions that I have often asked my music philosophy students.  Take some time and see if you can answer them.  If you cannot perhaps you should give them further consideration.  For many of the questions there is no right or wrong answers.  I believe that every Christian student of music philosophy must struggle with these questions.

1  What is the general belief of the meaning of the term philosophy?

2  When considering Christian ministry in general, what does the Bible identify as the main thing?

3. What happens when music takes preeminence over preaching?

4 Explain why you believe that music can or cannot have a profound moral effect on the hearer.

5. What did ancient philosophers believe about music’s power?

6. Explain why you believed that music style is or is not neutral and therefore amoral.

7. Explain why you believe that music does or does not belong to the Christian performer, arranger or composer.

8. Why did Thomas Aquinas’ theory of nature and grace open “Pandora’s Box” philosophically?

9. What does the Bible teach about kosmos and aion and the Christian? Make application to how these terms relate       to the Christian musician.

10. How does man’s wisdom concerning church music differ from God’s wisdom?

Thought for the Day

One of the problems that Cristian musicians often have when conversing with musicians who are not Christians is that many believers are not able to articulate their philosophical music beliefs.

Doing the Work of God Deceitfully—part 2

Doing the Work of God Deceitfully—part 2

          God’s ways are higher than the ways of the world.  We, as Christian musicians, should notice that the world sells everything from food to liquor with sex.  The world uses man’s depraved nature and man’s natural sexual appetite for that matter, to present a multiplicity of products.  Why can’t Christians take advantage of man’s depraved nature and his natural sexual appetite for that matter to present the good news of the gospel?  The reason is that as Galatians 5:17 states, “For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.”

           The Galatian writer makes it very clear that the flesh and the sprit are contrary one to the other when verse seventeen tells us that the flesh lusts against the spirit.  The Bible teaches that the flesh and the spirit are not compatible.  It is a mystery to me that so many Christian musicians are determined to try to work them side by side as a team.  Placing the flesh and the spirit side by side is like placing a lion and a lamb in the same harness.  If one does, there is no doubt about it; the lion will eat the lamb.

          There is another reason that Christian musicians should not sell sacred things with sex.  It is deceitful to get people’s attention with sexual innuendoes and then hit them with the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ.

Thought for the Day

As Christian musicians we sometimes erroneously believe the notion that, since we love and serve the Lord, we are exempt from being influenced by this present world system.  This happens to us because of the constant subtle ways that the various popular music styles influence our psyche.

Doing the Work of God Deceitfully—part 1

Doing the Work of God Deceitfully—part 1

          What many Christian musicians have forgotten is that direction determines destiny.  If you start west on I 70 from Indianapolis, you will not arrive in Columbus, Ohio, no matter how much you desire to go east to Columbus, Ohio.  Getting a crowd’s attention by emphasizing the flesh will by no means draw them to Christ.  If a performer maximizes the physical, by doing so he or she minimizes the spiritual.  If a performer sings religious music and at the same time draws attention to the flesh, he or she will get a message across to the audience, but this message will not be good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  The reason one cannot successfully sell sacred things with the sensual is that the Bible states in Galatians 6:6-9 that it just won’t work.

          Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teacheth in all good things.  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption: but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Thought for the Day

Certainly Christian Musicians should have discernment when it comes to musing unto God. However, a Christian musician’s perceived understandings of the proper way to music unto God should be firmly grounded in Bible principles of music and musicing.  Although the Bible is not an exhaustive source of musical truth, what it does teach is “true truth”. 

Teaching the Next Generation to Music--Part 4

Teaching the Next Generation to Music--Part 4

          An often much overlooked necessity is studying music seriously.  It is no joke that “knowing is doing”.  A Christian cannot teach what he or she does not know.  In our highly educated world today it is ludicrous for one to try to instruct others in how to music and how to develop a 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.

          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.

Thought for the Day

          Why is it that many Christians both young and old believe that II Timothy 3:16, but have never considered that its truth extends to the whole of music?  It is over simplistic to pick and choose which verses on music to believe.  The fact that the Holy Writ and what it teaches is many times difficult to understand and interpret in the light of modern twenty fist century post-postmodern culture does not give a  musician the right to ignore the Bible’s teachings on music and musicing.  1Cointhians 13:12 explains very vividly, “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”  The fact that, as 1Corinthians 13:9, “For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.” does not give us the right to ignore the truths taught in the Holy Writ about music.

Teaching the Next Generation to Music--Part 3

Teaching the Next Generation to Music--Part 3

          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.  II Timothy 3:16

          If the Bible is accurate and inspired, and it most certainly is, all of the six hundred plus Scriptures referring to music are profitable to us today. This truth is attested to in II Timothy 3:16.  The problem is gaining a knowledge how they are profitable.  They teach us generally about musicing and especially the doctrine of how to make 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.

Thought for the Day

I read a book about worship the other day.  As usual, every writer has some opinion about what the Bible says about music and musicing.  This author solved all the problems about what the Bible teaches about music.  He simply stated that when the Bible mentions music that mention is never about the music.  Wow!  He summarily dismissed what the Bible says about the music part of music with one easy statement.  The only problem with what he asserted is that it is just not accurate!  So, if you are having trouble with understanding what the Bible says about music—just deny that any of its statements are meaningful.  You will be wrong, but it will give you an easy way out!

Teaching the Next Generation to Music--Part 2

Teaching the Next Generation to Music--Part 2

Unwise choices in music and cultural blind spots in the fine arts should not be equated with a person’s relationship to Christ.  Parents should not make statements like, “If you ever really come to know the Lord, you would not 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 should Christians catechize 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.

Thought for the Day

          A cultural blind spot in music is not being aware of the import one’s own musical behavior and practices. Many Christian musicians so not seem to realize that we all have cultural and spiritual blind spots.  It is not as easy as it may seem for a musician to recognize just what these blind spots are.  They are very similar to spiritual blind spots.  If we knew what they are they would not be blind spots.  For his reason we all need a musical mentor who has a personal relationship with Christ and has had a long broad study of music. 

Teaching the Next Generation to Music--Part 1

Teaching the Next Generation to Music--Part 1

 I have often mentioned in my writing 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. 

Thought for the Day

What is the cause of a lack of communication about music between one generation and another?  Why do young people and their parents often experience a musical generation gap which is often brought about by differences in musical tastes, values, and outlook?   Those of you who are ministering with the great art of sacred music today must remember that the greatest way to bridge the music gap is with genuine heart-felt musicing.  Every generation engages more quickly when they can see and feel that you care deeply about the music.

Music’s Historic Place in Education

Music’s Historic Place in Education 

            Music had an important place in education in the ancient civilizations

of Sumer, Akkad and Egypt. It was also important in ancient

Israel since the time when the first and second books of Chronicles

were written. 1 Chronicles 25 states, “Moreover David and the captains

of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of

Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries,

and with cymbals… So the number of them, with their brethren

that were instructed in the songs of the LORD, even all that were

cunning, was two hundred fourscore and eight” (verses 1 and 7).

Music education in ancient Israel was the responsibility of the Chief

musicians Asaph, Heman, and Jeduthun (and their sons and brethren).

            The Hebrew phrase yad ab shiyr (3027 ,01,7892), translated in

verse six as “under the hands of their father for song” in the AV,

means literally that the Levite musical sons studied sacred music under

the hands of their God-fearing fathers who were chief Levite

music directors and music educators. Music education in Israel was

uniquely different than in the cultures of its neighbors. In verse seven

in the AV the Hebrew phrase lamad shiyr JHVH (3925, 7892, 3068),

translated “were instructed in songs of the LORD,” speaks directly to

the fact that the Levite sons received training specifically in sacred

music. It is important to note that the essence of music education in

ancient Israel was preparation for music ministry.

Thought for the Day

Every parent has the responsibility to train their children musically or hire a proxy.

What is Theology?—part 4—Dr. Fry

What is Theology?—part 4—Dr. Fry

Dr. David Fry holds a PhD in Systematic Theology and is the lead pastor of the Bible Holiness Church in Frankfort Indiana.  Portions of one of his writings have been used here with his permission.

          Theological reading, then, is our purpose to read in order to shape our thinking about God in doctrine and practice.  Some popular books, for instance, Rick Warren’s 1995 book Purpose-Driven Church, hardly qualify as a theology book. A pastor who consumes a steady diet of books like this is probably theologically malnourished. I’m sure one could find something theological in Warren’s book; you just have work really hard to find it. Reflection on doctrine or practice is not Warren’s purpose for writing. This is not to denigrate Warren’s book. I have found it helpful on many points. But it is not a theology book in my understanding. But neither does a theology book have to be as dense as John Zizioulas’s Being as Communion (1997).

          So what is a theology book? A theology book is any book whose express purpose is to shape our thinking about God in doctrine and/or in practice. The best theology books include both doctrine and practice. I am not sure that our greatest concern is that pastors are not reading theology books. Perhaps a greater concern is that pastors are not reading theology books theologically or at least theologically well. People read theology books like David Platt’s Radical (2010) without thinking much about its implicit teaching about God.

          I believe Radical is a good example of a theology book written for a popular audience while containing significant theological content (some of which should be very problematic for Wesleyans). Many books written for Christians and pastors emphasize the practice without getting much into the doctrine, yet while making huge doctrinal assumptions.  We read theologically well when our thinking conforms to God’s Word and is guided by the Holy Spirit. 

          In summary, pastors, we ought to read theology and we ought to read theologically. Obviously, theology books should be read theologically, but so also should our other reading material. And, pastors should read theology books whose express purpose is to shape our thinking about God in doctrine and in practice. For this reason, we should choose our books carefully.

Thoughts for the Day—G. Wolf

          There is much more about reading theology, reading theologically, and reading theologically well in Dr. Fry’s article, but we will stop here before we get in so deep at we drown in his admonishments to do all of the above.  I am concerned that Church musicians and Christian music educators are trying to relate to seeker and saints without the tools to make prescriptive decisions about whether or not the texts of the songs they lead in worship are accurate or not. 

          It is a huge mistake for an educator or a worship leader to continue on his or her musical journey while ignoring theology in the music being presented to congregations or their music organizations in Christian schools, Bible colleges and Universities. Jesus very clearly stated in Matthew 18:6 “But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea.”  Theology matters!  Church music matters!  Music that is taught in a Christian school or university matters!  So, once again I am contending that all Christian musicians must know what they believe theologically. 

         

What is Theology?—part 3—Dr. Fry

What is Theology?—part 3—Dr. Fry

Dr. David Fry holds a PhD in Systematic Theology and is the lead pastor of the Bible Holiness Church in Frankfort Indiana.  Portions of  one of his writings have been used here with his permission.

          What counts as theological reading and what counts as reading theology?  A theology book is a book whose express purpose is to shape our thinking about God in doctrine and/or in practice. The richest theology books include both doctrine and practice. The most difficult ones deal only with the doctrine; and the shallowest only with practice. Our job as pastor-theologians is to connect the dots between doctrine and practice (theology is both).

          Pastors ought to read theologically as well as read theology. What’s the difference? Theological reading is more about how we read than what we read. For instance, I am currently reading (more like struggling through) a novel by Rick Riordan written for teenagers. Riordan’s novels put ancient mythology into a modern setting. I don’t particularly enjoy the book, but I’m reading it theologically because several teenagers in my church have read it under the guise of pure amusement. I’ve only read one chapter so far and I can affirm that there is plenty of material to provoke theological thinking. Riordan is not claiming to have written a theology book. But, I would argue, if one does not read his writing theologically then one may be unwittingly shaped theologically. On the other hand, if I wanted to read a theology book I would choose something expressly written for that purpose. This is the difference between reading a theology book and reading theologically—we must do both.

          So what counts as reading theology? There is no neat line that can be drawn. Does Riordan’s mythological novel count as theology? Broadly speaking, yes, if we define a theology book as anything book whose content involves God (or the gods, in Riordan’s case). But as pastors that’s rarely our concern. More narrowly, I define (for the time being) a theology book as a book whose express purpose is to shape our thinking about God in doctrine and/or in practice.

Thoughts for the Day—G. Wolf

          Musicians who are reading these posts are probably convinced, at this point, that I have lost my mind. Dr. Fry wrote the original article for pastors and not musicians.  However, I suggest that you do not hold your breath until someone writes this quality of article for Christian musicians.   He was writing about reading theologically as well as reading theology. So, if you will follow my thinking I will attempt to apply some of his thoughts to practicing Christian musicians. 

          Perhaps one should first try to convince musicians that 1) reading is important, 2) that reading theology is important before trying to convince busy ministering musicians to read theologically.  I was struck by the fact that a busy pastor was reading a book theologically because he feared teenagers in his church who had read it had been influenced by Riordan’s novel.  Think about it, how often do you and I read something that the young musicians in our Christian school or our church are reading?  Not only are we ignorant of the things that they are reading about music, we are also willingly ignorant of how these musical writings are shaping their thinking.  How are these writings shaping their musical paradigms?  I confess that I do not often read theologically.

What is Theology?—part 2—Dr. Fry

What is Theology?—part 2—Dr. Fry

Dr. David Fry holds a PhD in Systematic Theology and is the lead pastor of the Bible Holiness Church in Frankfort Indiana.  Portions of his writings have been used here with his permission.

           We are called to equip the saints for ministry. We are not merely to equip them with “practical” know-how, but also the “doctrinal” know-how, that is, why we minister in some ways and not in others. For example, why should or shouldn’t our parishioners engage in inter-faith humanitarian efforts? Or, how is it possible for a dying man to be saved without being baptized?  These are five reasons (among others) why pastors should read occasionally pull a theology book off the shelf and read it.  “I’m too busy to read theology.” 

          There are certain kinds of theology books that pastors are too busy to read. It’s okay to leave those for others and attend occasions where we can receive the condensed version. From time to time I am asked by a fellow pastor to recommend a theology book. Since I am a pastor myself, I am well-acquainted with the time constraints of pastoring. So I have a couple of criteria that I use for making recommendations. I know that most pastors don’t have the time or mental energy to   

read a 700-page theological dissertation so I recommend books that are less than 250 pages and contain chapters with short sub-divisions that can be read in 10-15 minutes. With these two criteria in mind, I will later share some good theological books that fit the bill.

Thoughts for the Day—G. Wolf

Dr. David Fry holds a PhD in Systematic Theology and is the lead pastor of the Bible Holiness Church in Frankfort Indiana.  Portions of one of his writings have been used here with his permission.

          When I read Dr. Fry’s statements in part 2, I thought about the fact that I have never been told by anyone that ministers of music are called to “equip the saints for ministry.”  We seem to have a notion that if the saints worship with music that it will automatically prepare them for life and ministry.  I am afraid that we often have more interest in the emotion of music in worship than we are about the theology of our music being a major goal, or any goal, of music in worship.

          Wow, where do I start on ministers of music reading!  We have a difficult time getting them to read about music let alone reading about theology.  The reason is that ministers of music just do not believe that theological study is the slightest bit necessary. 

What is Theology?—part 1—Dr. Fry

What is Theology?—part 1—Dr. Fry

Dr. David Fry holds a PhD in Systematic Theology and is the lead pastor of the Bible Holiness Church in Frankfort Indiana.  Portions of  one of his writings have been used here with his permission.

          Theology, etymologically, simply means the study of God. But Christian theology is so much more. In a nutshell, theology is something we do, being “less theoretical than it is theatrical.” Kevin J. Vanhoozer, Faith Speaking Understanding: Performing the Drama of Doctrine (Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 2014), 20.  While some people’s theology is more pie-in- the-sky, Christian theology is all about down-to-earth living. There are two aspects to Christian theology: doctrine and practice. Doctrine has to do with what we say about God; practice has to do with how that translates into living for God.  Both are essential elements of Christian theology. Doctrine and practice go hand-in- hand in Christian theology. So much so that we might say that one does not truly know his doctrine until he knows how to live it. Kevin Vanhoozer writes, “Church without doctrine to direct it is blind; yet doctrine without the church to embody it is empty.” Ibid. 147. Hypocrisy occurs when there is a disconnect between our doctrine and our practice. This disconnection is something less than God’s will for His followers.

          Thought for the day—G. Wolf

          Ministers of music many time are so caught up in music sequences that follow a theme that the last thing on their minds is a disconnect between doctrine and practice.  As a matter of fact theology is often low on their order of importance list and practice is not even on the list of things to think about when they are planning music for Sunday morning worship.