Religious Musicing about “Self”

Religious Musicing about “Self”

Some church musicians have forgotten the admonition in Isaiah 48:1 “Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the LORD, and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth, nor in righteousness.”  Furthermore in Isaiah 48:11 God explains that, “For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.”  At this time in the history of ancient Israel YHVH’S servants were with their mouths making mention of God but YHVH declared that they were not doing it in righteousness.

I know that I could be accused of eisegesis because these Scriptures in Isaiah say absolutely nothing about music.  However, I believe this Bible example is apropos to Christian musicians in the 21^st century church.  In ancient Israel it is recorded in Isaiah 48:2, “For they call themselves of the holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel; The LORD of hosts is his name.”  Today some musicians call themselves “of the holy city” but their musical actions which exude from their music philosophy have led them to believe that religious musicing is about “self” rather than “for mine own” [God’s] sake. 

Scripture Thought for the Day

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