The Fountain of Living Waters

The Fountain of Living Waters

Jeremiah 2:13, “For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water.”

          I have written and spoken from this verse in many times but I have always concentrated on the concept of “broken cisterns”. I was reading this verse the other day and a new thought occurred to me.  God’s people had committed two evils one of the evils was hewing out broken cisterns but the other evil was the greatest evil.  God said, “They have forsaken me the fountain of living waters”.  YHVH declared that His people had forsaken Him.

          It is noteworthy that God referred to Himself as “the fountain of living waters”.  God was not only living waters but more importantly He referred to Himself as a “fountain”.  Maqowr (4726) connotes, among other things, a natural continuous flowing source.  This continuous source was not merely water but living water.  Christian musicians are constantly in danger of forsaking the source that will sustain spiritual life.  All busy people have to do is fail to drink of the living water YHVH supplies and, according to this verse they are forsaking God. 

           Azab (5800) was translated here in the AV as forsaken but this Hebrew word also connotes “refusing”.  My father used to say, “You can lead a horse to water but you can’t make him drink”.  The simple lesson found in Jeremiah 2:13 is that God has provided a continuous flow of “living water”, but Christian musicians have the responsibility to drink.

Song for the Day--Springs of Living Water by John W. Peterson

Prayer for the Day

          Our dear Heavenly Father I want to thank and praise You for providing an ample supply of living water to sustain all who love and serve you.  I am asking largely today.  I am praying that you will give your musician’s the good common sense to not only come to this source but to drink of this sustaining water.  I am also asking that You will cause Your busy ministering musicians to  be wise enough to not let Satan cause them to forsake God by refusing to drink and thereby be sustained spiritually.  This I am asking in Your wonderful name.  Amen.

Musicing with Spirit and Understanding

               Musicing with Spirit and Understanding

          1Corinthians 14:15 has this admonition for Christian musicians, “What is it then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the understanding also.”  Along the same thought, Psalm 47:7 states, “For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding (sakal 7919).”  Some exegetes of Scripture render “with understanding” as or, “every one that hath understanding”,

          Albert Barnes made these comments about 1 Corinthians 14:15, I will sing with the spirit. It is evident that the same thing might take place in singing which occurred in prayer. It might be in a foreign language, and might be unintelligible to others.  The affections of the man himself might be excited, and his heart engaged in the duty, but it would be profitless to others. Paul, therefore, says that he would so celebrate the praises of God, as to excite the proper affections in his own mind, and so as to be intelligible and profitable to others.” 

          He went on to explain. “The words should be so uttered as to be distinct and understood. There should be clear enunciation as well as in prayer and preaching, since the design of sacred music in the worship of God is not only to utter praise, but it is to impress the sentiments which are sung on the heart, by the aid of musical sounds and expression, more deeply than could otherwise be done. If this is not done, the singing might as well be in a foreign language. Perhaps there is no part of public worship in which there is greater imperfection than in the mode of its psalmody. At the same time, there is scarcely any part of the devotions of the sanctuary that may be made more edifying or impressive. It has the advantage--an advantage which preaching and praying have not--of using the sweet tones of melody and harmony to impress sentiment on the heart; and it should be done.”

          The FBN states, “With the understanding; with the right use of it, in words which the hearers understand. The object of a wise and good minister is not to display himself, but to impart instruction, and thus be useful to those who hear him.”

          Thought for the Day

It is one thing for a Christian musician to understand the intent of what he or she musics, but is another thing for that musician to music in such a way that the hearers are made clearly aware of what the musician’s musicing means. 

A Prescriptive Approach-Part 9

A Prescriptive Approach-Part 9

In yesterday's discussion we considered whether it was proper to music unto God with noise-based music.  Many people misunderstand the OT words for great joy, great acclamation, shouting for joy with hamown that definitely means noise.  However, the Bible does say in Ezekiel 26:13, “And I will cause the noise (hamown 1995) of thy songs to cease...” and Amos 5:23, “Take thou away from me the noise (hamown 1995) of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.”  The word hamown used in the aforementioned Scripture does not mean strength or joy or acclamation but rather NOISE.

            If God said in the Book of Amos that He would not hear the melody of their viols because of the noise then what causes a contemporary Christian musician to conclude that God will accept noise in church music today?  If God said take this musical noise “away from me”, what makes a twenty-first century church musician believe that he has changed His mind today? (See  Church Music Matters by Garen L. Wolf  chapter 11 Aesthetics and the Christian Musician)

            This discussion of Bible principles concerning music could continue here for pages and pages.  However, I will leave that discussion to those mentioned above.  If you are interested, I suggest you read my book, Music of the Bible in Christian Perspective, which treats this subject thoroughly.  We know that there are Bible principles that make a prescriptive approach to music philosophy biblically sound.  By Bible standards, church music is not all a matter of taste.  The Bible teaches that there are principles that do govern all music practice including both secular and sacred.  It only makes sense that when the Holy Spirit admonishes us in the musical discourse of Ephesians 5 to prove “what is acceptable unto the Lord”, that He would also provide from the Word of God principles that would enable us to go about the process of “proving” what is or is not acceptable unto the Lord.

            So, twenty-first century Christian musicians do not need to be “programmed” or “caught in the wheel” since they may choose to retain God in their musical knowledge and be renewed in the spirit of their mind.  Church musicians do not have to accept the world’s music matrix but rather they may elect to believe the principles set forth in the Bible and base a Christocentric music philosophy on these eternal principles.

Thought for the day-A Prescriptive Approach-Part 9

I believe that parents who involve their children in high quality musical experiences at a very early age [at age 2--4], have less problems with their children getting involved in destructive styles of music .

A Prescriptive Approach-Part 8

A Prescriptive Approach-Part 8

What are some principles of music found in the Bible?  Vocal music was most important since it was a vehicle for the word of Jehovah to ride into the hearts of the worshiper.  The instruments used to accompany vocal music were mostly string instruments that would not cover up the words.  Percussion was used but it was used to mark beginning and pauses and never used as a continuous driving beat.  Instrumental music was used for music therapy purposes.  We have every reason to believe that this instrumental music was melody oriented and produced a pleasing beautiful, restful effect on the listener.  We have absolutely no reason to believe that it was ugly, raucous or harsh sounding.  There were two species of music mentioned in the Bible, men’s music, which was controlled by melody and words, and women’s music, which was controlled by rhythm.  The use of women’s music is nowhere traceable in either the first or second Temple.

            Not all music was considered appropriate for public worship.  There were many instruments mentioned in the Bible but only some of them were used in Temple worship.  Some music was no doubt used for sensual purposes including harlotry.  Loud music was played at funerals by the hired professional mourners.

       A word by word study of dance in the Bible reveals that most of the references do not refer to any type of religious dancing.  Some of the dancing was used specifically for idol worship and some of it was possible used for human sacrifices.  Dancing and furious drum beating was certainly never used in the Temple in the worship of Jehovah and dancing or rhythmic movement is nowhere traceable in the first or second Temple.

       Although some secular music was used for improper purposes, not all references to secular music in the Bible were considered improper.  The term “joyful noise” of the authorized version is most unfortunate since the Hebrew word translated “joyful noise” meant with power, acclamation and great joy, NOT NOISE.  However, the Bible does say in Ezekiel 26:13, “And I will cause the noise (hamown 1995) of thy songs to cease...” and Amos 5:23, “Take thou away from me the noise (hamown 1995) of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.”  The word hamown used in the aforementioned Scripture does not mean strength or joy or acclamation but rather NOISE.

Thought for the day- A Prescriptive Approach part 8

Sometimes I hear Christians indicate that if a person becomes a Christian he or she will not have problems in this life.  Christians will have problems, but God will see them through their problems.  I used to tell my college choir and Symphonic wind and string ensemble members, "Serving Jesus Christ is not always hippity-hop over the top."  However, it is worth it regardless of how things are going for a Christian.

A Prescriptive Approach-Part 7

A Prescriptive Approach-Part 7

 Today we return we return to the question, “Does the church have the right and responsibility to prescribe what is best suited for music worship?”  Yes, the church has both.  How to go about making these choices has become difficult but that does not remove either the right or  the responsibility of establishing standards for church music.

       Does anyone but churches approach music from a prescriptive standpoint?  Could you imagine playing “Three Blind Mice” for a university piano entrance audition?  How far would you get?  Why the necessity of playing something like a Beethoven piano sonata?  Why does a university prescribe what music is proper, suitable, and appropriate for an entrance exam?  The reason is that they believe in all of the above as well as profundity in music.  Most university piano professors actually believe that Beethoven’s sonatas are more profound than “Three Blind Mice”.

       So, when it comes to wise choices for undergraduate or graduate study they prescribe which music is proper etc. for every student to perform.  Why?  Because public universities believe that Music Matters.  They certainly believe in making wise choices and “Three Blind Mice” is simply not the appropriate music for undergraduate or graduate study.

       To these professors music is most definitely an art form with standards of correctness.  Why shouldn’t Christian musicians have equally high expectations for church music?  Where did church musicians get the philosophy that there is no profundity in church music, no absolutes, and no standards of correctness or appropriateness?  Whether educating or edifying, there are absolutes in music.  Therefore it is possible to make wise and unwise choices of both.

Quote for the day-Prescriptive Approach Part 7

"If they [non-Christians] are tired  of the noise which the world offers and seek music which feeds the spirit, does your church music attract them or does it have the same qualities and sound as the world's?"  Music in the Balance, Frank Garlock & Kurt Woetzel, pg. 92.

A Prescriptive approach to Church Music Part 6

 A Prescriptive approach to Church Music Part 6

       Public music worship should not be a platform for the pastor’s or the minister of music’s personal tastes in music.  The assembly of believers does not gather to receive a music lesson on J.S. Bach or accapella choral techniques or to revisit the oratorios of Handel, Mendelssohn and Gounod.  Neither is the purpose of congregational singing to keep the hymns of Watts, Wesley and Fanny Crosby alive. Special singing is not an opportunity to fan the minister of music’s latent desire to sing bass in a famous southern gospel quartet or a country gospel band.  Richard S. Taylor sums up the matter quite well, “The fact that some people may like this or that is not sufficient reason for the church to use it.  The church should lead the way in such standards, not abjectly follow every fad and custom which happens to be “in” at the moment.  The Church has no business adopting the philosophy, “If you can’t lick ‘em, join ‘em.”  We should be governed by basic and eternal principles.  There are music forms, whether secular or sacred, which create moods of pensiveness, or idealism, or awareness of beauty, of aspiration, and of holy joyousness.  There are forms of music which create moods of recklessness and sensual excitement.  Surely it doesn’t take much judgement to know which forms are most appropriate for religious function.”1

So, church music selections should line up to Bible principles of music in worship.  Choices should not be made solely on personal preference but rather what this style of music will do to the whole life of the individuals who worship with it.  From the time of Plato and Aristotle philosophers have believed, more or less, that good music would cause one to tend toward the moral virtues and that bad music would cause one to tend toward moral decadence. 1 A Return to Christian Culture, p.87  Richard S. Taylor 

Quote for the day-prescriptive Part 6

Rebels always miss the most exquisite pleasures of the senses.  By defying the law, they settle for junk, and junk doesn't give the same satisfaction as quality--at least to a normal mind."  A Return to Christian culture, Richard S. Taylor, p. 39.

A Prescriptive approach to Church music part 5

A Prescriptive approach to Church music part 5

             The reason the church has historically taken a prescriptive approach to music ministry is that the monkey is on our back.  It is not God’s responsibility to provide a Bible verse that says, “Thou shalt not sing or play a certain genera of music.”  It is our responsibility to have spiritual discernment to only use music that is of good benefit and is well pleasing or fully agreeable to the perfect or complete will of God.

            With Romans 12:2 in mind, we can understand why a careful Christian develops a conservative musical conscious.  It is very possible for a careless minister of music to principles that govern music.  By this statement I am not capitulating my belief that there are styles that are or are not appropriate etc., I am simply pointing out that there is room for more than one style of music in public worship. draw the line in the wrong place or to fail to draw any line and thereby fall into the error of synthesis thinking that there is no objective truth or “true truth” concerning church music.  This philosophy throws caution to the wind since church music is supposedly a standardless art with no absolutes.  Remember philosophically, direction determines destiny.  Once a church musician has accepted the world’s matrix of music, it seems only proper that the fads and trends of worldly styles of music are now the most appropriate for worship.

            So, what kinds of music should a church prescribe for public and private worship?  The answer to this searching question is not a simplistic one.  Many conservative Christian musicians have simplistically narrowed church music down to what I call “the seven songs God approves of”.  When a musician begins to specifically name the only arrangers, hymn and gospel songbooks, and the single style of music that is suited to the awesomeness and solemnity of worship, big problems emerge.  It’s virtually impossible to support such claims with Bible principles that principles that govern music.  By this statement I am not capitulating my belief that there are styles that are or are not appropriate etc., I am simply pointing out that there is room for more than one style of music in public worship.

Thought for the day-Prescriptive part 5

Psalm 89:15 states' "Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound..."  If there is a "joyful" sound then conversely there must be sounds that Jehovah considers to not be "joyful” over music.  By this statement I am not capitulating my belief that there are styles that are or are not appropriate etc., I am simply pointing out that there is room for more than one style of music in public worship.

A Prescriptive Approach-Part 4

A Prescriptive Approach-Part 4

It is not the purpose of this blog to try to tell church musicians exactly where to draw the line musically speaking.  The greatest problem with church music today is not that various Christian fellowships don’t agree exactly on what styles of music are best suited for public worship.  The big problem is that churches are no longer drawing any lines when it comes to music style.  In the midst of these troubled musical times churches have abdicated.  They have given up all responsibility for sorting out what is proper or improper, appropriate or inappropriate, suitable or unsuitable and certainly good and bad in church music.

Does it matter where a person draws the line musically?  Yes it matters because Church Music Matters to all serious Christians and certainly because Church Music Matters to God.  Remember that Ephesians 5 reminds us that “proving what is acceptable unto the Lord” is necessary in our properly “making melody unto the Lord”.  In Philippians 1:9-11, Paul admonishes the Philippian Christians

               And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight,

               So that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ,

               Filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ-to the glory and praise of God. (NIV)

Surely, there is much need for the 21st century church to be able to discern what is best for music in worship.  If we need a godly depth of insight in order to discern what is best then conversely there must be that which is not the best.  Style of church music would certainly fall in this category of good and bad, best and worse, and appropriate and inappropriate.  Furthermore, the admonition in Romans chapter 12 to not be conformed to the pattern of the world system goes on to say in verse 2:13, “...that ye may be able to prove what is that good (agathos 18), and acceptable (euarestos 2101), and perfect (teleios 5046), will of God”.  The Holy Spirit inspired the Roman writer to use three Greek words in this passage.  We may argue about exactly what these words mean, but one thing is not arguable, the Holy Spirit never stutters.  If they all mean exactly the same thing, the writer would have repeated the same word three times.

       So, there is agathos (18), which means that which is of good benefit, and there is euarestos (2101), well pleasing or fully agreeable, and there is teleious (5046), complete or perfect.  As church musicians, we must prove (dokimazo 1381) or approve, discern, and examine all our spiritual acts of worship or service to God -- including music we sing and play unto Him.

Thought for the day-Prescriptive Part 4

When we read the Revelation we learn with certainty that God is going to hold the church responsible for what it does or does not do.  I believe a part of that judgment of God will be how we musiced into Him.

A Prescriptive approach to Church Music Part 3

                                 A Prescriptive approach to Church Music  Part 3

Is church music completely a matter of personal taste?  If so, whose tastes do we cater too musically?  This dilemma has caused what I term the worship-gap.  First, the church decided to cater to musical tastes of the baby-boomers.  This did not work, so the church had two Sunday morning services.  Now the baby boomers don’t like the music of the baby-busters, so we have three Sunday morning services.

There is nothing wrong with having two worship services or three or four for that matter.  The problem comes when the basis for these added services is only musical style.  It is one thing to have two services because of seating space in the sanctuary, but another when the second service came about because of a musical feud going on in the church.  When we segregate worshipers on the basis of music style, music has become the “main thing”.  Music is not the “main thing” when it comes to matters of worship.

Hebrews 10:25 reminds us to, “Forget not the assembling of yourselves together, and so much more as ye see the day approaching.”  In my opinion, the late 20th century concept of dividing the congregation into heterogeneous assemblies has divided the congregation until they can no longer take advantage of the warmth and strength of having the different age groups worship together.  Older people need the energy of youth in public worship and younger people need to see God’s exceeding weight of glory on those who have loved and served Him for many years.

So, having multiple services to accommodate the schedules of a very busy congregation may be very helpful, but splitting up public worship solely on the basis of music style is unfortunate in many ways.  It seems on the surface that dividing into worship groups will solve all the problems of style of church music.  However, it doesn’t.  The church must struggle with style and form in music just like it deals with all the other practical nitty-gritty issues of Christian living.  Dividing congregational worship only avoids the problems of musical worship.

A Prescriptive Approach to Church music-Part 2

A Prescriptive Approach to Church music-Part 2

In yesterday's post we started a series of discussions on "A Prescriptive approach to Church Music".  The church that takes a prescriptive approach to church music believes most people who recognize that they are sick and go to a doctor’s office expect to come away with a prescription.  They have faith that the doctor has the ability and has the right to prescribe what will make them well.  Most people would be disappointed in a doctor who said, “Sir, you are very sick-as a matter of fact you are sick enough to die.  However, getting well is completely a matter of your opinion.  So, what medicine do you like best?  Let’s see, I have big pills and little pills, I have round ones and rectangle ones.  I have green, yellow, red and pink ones.  I have sweet, sour, bitter and salty ones.  Remember, it’s all a matter of taste and likes and dislikes, so what is your choice?”

          Now in the 21st century when it comes to church music, people go ballistic when the pastor, minister of music and church board prescribes what they believe, in the fear of God, are the best styles of church music suited to the awesomeness and solemnity of the worship of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

            Until 1960, for centuries the church has always had the right to prescribe what they believed was the beset choices for church music.  Now in this synthesis-thinking world ( i.e. there is no right or wrong), the church has lost the right  to make musical choices ,since  many believe that music is all a matter of personal preference.  Any church that does limit music styles is also believed to not be seeker sensitive.

Thought for the day-Prescriptive Part 2

If the church would be more concerned about "leadership" than "leader-shift" church music would not be in the mess it is in in the 21st century.

A Prescriptive Approach to Church music-Part I

                                   A Prescriptive Approach to Church music-Part I

        Believers who adhere to prescriptive thought believe that the church has the authority and responsibility to prescribe what styles of music are most appropriate for public worship and evangelism.  This type of thinker not only believes that most people who attend church expect sacred music to be of a different character than the music of the world.  They also believe that sinners often have no problem making a distinction between sacred and profane music.    

       Philosophically this body of believers thinks in terms of the world as needy sin sick souls who come to the church for new life.  This church believes that if those in need will listen to the gospel of Jesus Christ preached and sung by the church since sinners want to hear “good news”.  This church believes that the gospel is good news because it gives sinners the prescription for eternal life.  This thesis thinking church believes in absolutes.  They believe in absolutes in theology.  Therefore it is easy for them to believe in absolutes in church music.

       They believe most people who recognize that they are sick and go to a doctor’s office expect to come away with a prescription.  They have faith that the doctor has the ability and has the right to prescribe what will make them well.  Most people would be disappointed in a doctor who said, “Sir, you are very sick-as a matter of fact you are sick enough to die.  However, getting well is completely a matter of your opinion.  So, what medicine do you like best?  Let’s see, I have big pills and little pills, I have round ones and rectangle ones.  I have green, yellow, red and pink ones.  I have sweet, sour, bitter and salty ones.  Remember, it’s all a matter of taste and likes and dislikes, so what is your choice?”  Now in the 21st century when it comes to church music, people go ballistic when the pastor, minister of music and church board prescribes what they believe, in the fear of God, are the best styles of church music suited to the awesomeness and solemnity of the worship of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Thought for the day-Prescriptive Part I

Many people will accept a prescriptive approach to theology, but they recoil when a church sets limits or prescribes which styles of music are appropriate for Sunday  morning worship.

Secular Spirituality in Musicing

Secular Spirituality in Musicing

Writers who are non-believers  sometimes refer to the term “spiritual” which refers to spiritual philosophy without adherence to any religion or to one’s relationship to Jesus Christ by virtue of the born-again condition of a true Christian.  Used this way these writers are not referring to the forgiving power of Christ or to being dead to sin and alive unto Christ.  Under this philosophical paradigm the term “spiritual” takes on a secular spirituality emphasis.   

Secular “spirituality” refers to personal growth and inner peace of the musician, rather than a relationship with the divine.  So, secular spirituality is the search for meaning outside of a religion or the saving merits made possible by the forgiveness of sins or the cleansing, purifying power of our Savior Jesus Christ.   Feeling “spiritual”, to the secular humanist, simply  means one's relationship with the self, others, nature, music charisma, and performance effectiveness etc. etc. etc.  To the secular humanist, and I fear some religious humanists,  feeling spiritual during a musical performance is a self-act and a experience in satisfying self-actualization.  Such an experience may be analogous to holiday but it is in no way related to what a Christian musician experiences when the blessed Holy Spirit comes upon a n earnest Christian musician with divine assistance that, as it were, “breaks and blesses the musical loaves and fish” and feeds a congregation’s hungry hearts as they seek to worship Him.

More on Musical Truth Found in the Bible-part 2

More on Musical Truth Found in the Bible-part 2

Every reference to music mentioned in the Bible, as 2 Timothy 3:16 states, is “…given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.” It is the Christian’s responsibility to follow the admonition in 2 Timothy 2:15: “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

In order to have true and unified knowledge, one should be careful not to try to prove a point with Scripture without regard to context. It stands to reason that such use of Scripture does not result in biblical accuracy or what Schaeffer called “true truth”. However, one should be careful to not assume that one who quoted it is using it without regard to how it was used by the original author. We should also remember that New Testament authors quoted verses from the OT to support their arguments. Jesus quoted Deuteronomy 8:3 when he was being tempted by Satan (see Matthew 4:4 and Luke 4:4). So, it isn’t quoting Scripture that constitutes proof texting, but rather misrepresenting the original intent of Scripture or the principle that the original Scripture represented.

Thought for the Day

Modern man tended to believe that Scripture contained both truth and error.  Post modern man tends to believe that the Scripture passages that mention music are no longer relevant.  Post postmodern man tends to  not even consider the Bible passages that mention music in his or her philosophical basis.

More on Musical Truth Found in the Bible-part 1

More on Musical Truth Found in the Bible-part 1

All Christian music educators should be concerned about the authenticity of what they use in the instructional process. Should a Christian music educator refer to Scripture as an historical and philosophical basis for musical convictions? At least two concepts are important to the process of Christian music education. First, what the Bible has to say about music and musicing is relevant to music education in the twenty-first century. Second, the music educator should quote Scripture and treat it as authoritative truth concerning music. Many music educators are overly concerned about whether or not they are qualified to quote both Old and New Testament Scriptures that mention music because they are not sure what they mean or how they are applied to modern day musicing. It is true that the Bible does not deal with every aspect of music that twenty-first century Christian musicians encounter.

 Although the Bible does not provide us with exhaustive truth concerning music, what it does tell us is always true. As Francis Schaeffer wrote, “It is an important principle to remember, in the contemporary interest in communication and in language study, that the biblical presentation is that, although we do not have exhaustive truth, we have from the Bible what I term ‘true truth’. In this way we know true truth about God, true truth about man and something truly about nature, thus on the basis of the Scriptures, while we do not have exhaustive knowledge, we have true and unified knowledge.”  Schaeffer, Escape from Reason, 21.  

Thought for the Day

We know that all Scripture (both Old and New Testament) is profitable.  It is the Christian musician’s responsibility to struggle with what these passages of God’s Inspired Word mean.

No Divisions Among Us

No Divisions Among Us

1Corinthians 1:10,12-13, “Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment…Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.  Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?

Today I am going to meddle rather than try to exegete Scripture.  Christians need each other.  We often have the same problem that the Christians at Corinth were plagued with at the time St. Paul wrote this letter to them.  It is proper for a person to be loyal of his or her church or denomination.  However, it does not stop there.  We fight, we squabble, and deride each other without just cause. 

We are facing a secular society, that hates the name of God and all those who claim His name.  We must be sure that, although we hate sin, we do not hate the sinner.  Also, we must be careful as Christian musicians not to fight with other Christians needlessly. St. John wrote the words of Jesus under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit,10:16, “And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.”  I think that perhaps some of us will need to have a special cloud prepared for us in heaven since we do not play well with others!

Theology Ministered as Doxology

Theology Ministered as Doxology

Revelation 1:5, And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Time and time throughout the Bible we are given examples of the truth of theology that leads the believer to doxology.  This example in the Holy Writ recorded in the Revelation of St. John the divine is an excellent example.  A doxology is an expression of praise to God, often this is accomplished by the use of a short hymn sung as part of a Christian worship service.

Christian musicians have the awesome opportunity to rejoice in the truth of theology by acknowledging that “Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood… be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”  God truly did a wonderful thing when He took all my sins away and removed them as far as the east is from the west.  Why wouldn’t I want to express this theological truth in the form of a musical doxology?  Whether it be a short doxology or a very long developed musical exposition of God’s saving power, I thoroughly enjoy “making my boast in the LORD.  Psalm 115:1 teaches us that it is, “Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.”  The Christian musician not only sings about God’s mercy but also “for thy truth's sake.” 

Scripture Thought for the Day

Zechariah 8:16, “These are the things that ye shall do; Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbor; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates: And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbor; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the LORD.”

Daily Musical Decisions

Daily Musical Decisions

Making daily musical decisions shapes the tenor of every Christian music educator’s music praxis. All music education praxis exudes from music philosophy. Let me repeat that a music education philosophy is a series of systematic statements (beliefs) about the nature and value of the whole of music education. That understanding of music’s nature and value gives the music educator an inner peace that is absolutely essential to following a congruent musical praxis. There is a peace that comes with being in the center of the Lord’s will and teaching with a foundation of the biblical principles of the changed life of a Christian musician. Without that inner witness of the Holy Spirit, a music educator is destined to be driven about by the latest trends of what is popular in the world’s opinion. 

Furthermore, a Christian music education philosophy must be Christocentric; Christ’s teachings must be at the center of a Christian music educator’s musical beliefs. A Christian’s music philosophy may be systematic, but if it does not follow the clear teachings of the Bible, it will be faulty. There is objective truth concerning music education. That truth is always Bible-based and congruent with the separated life of a Christian. Christian music educators must always consider what their music praxis will do to the whole-life of their students because no one musics in a vacuum. Proverbs 23:7 reminds us that, “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.” All musicing is referential; students will muse on what they perform and listen to, and it will have an effect on their whole life.

Thought for the Day

Before a Christian is able to develop a Christian music education philosophy, each person must decide that CME is a  conviction rather than a  mere educational choice.

What is a Music Philosophy?-part 2

What is a Music Philosophy?-part 2

Since philosophy is the love and pursuit of wisdom, Christian musicians must not develop a music belief system based on the rudiments (stoicheioin, 4747) of this world. To paraphrase this passage of Scripture, do not let the world (kosmos, 2889) spoil (esomai, sulagoges, 2071, 4812) or seduce you when you develop your philosophy, by arranging or ordering it the way the world orders or arranges the philosophical principles of music and musicing. God (thesis) orders things a certain way and the world, controlled or arranged by Satan (antithesis), has confused or rearranged the order of things. Do not let the world take you captive by believing the empty delusion caused by what it believes to be the nature and value of music.

Without systematic guiding principles a Christian musician will likely make musical choices that are faulty. Biblical principles that relate to musicing must be the foundation of a philosophy of music. The Christian musician must be careful to analyze the fundamental grounds and concepts that govern all music and musicing to be sure that all philosophical beliefs are Christocentric. Furthermore, all of a Christian musician’s philosophy of music must be in alignment to the matrix of God and His Word.

Thought for the Day

Christians should not be surprised that systematic music philosophy has largely been ignored by evangelicals since systematic theology has also been ignored.

What is a Music Philosophy?-part 1

What is a Music Philosophy?-part 1

What is a music philosophy? It is a series of systematic beliefs concerning the nature and value of the whole of music. What is a Christ-centered philosophy of music? It is a series of systematic beliefs (statements) concerning the nature and value of the whole of music in which Christ has preeminence— thus we use the term Christocentric. Christ’s teachings are at the center of this philosophy which is the antithesis of a humanistic music philosophy where man is the center of all philosophic endeavors. If we are going to keep God at the center of our beliefs concerning the nature and value of all of music endeavor, then we must, as Colossians 2:8 warns, “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ” (NIV).

          In order to discuss the development of a philosophy of music we must be able to define what it is. Many church musicians and music educators that claim they do not have a music philosophy are outspoken about what should or should not happen in church music and in music education. Although they declare that they do not have a philosophy of music, they do have one; it just is not systematic, thorough or written. These beliefs should be written, and they should be systematic. A Christian musician who does not want to be ashamed must “Study to shew thyself approved [i.e., tested or approved 1384] unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15)

Thought for the Day

It appears that many Christian musicians must believe that if we ignore the problems that surround music ministry, they will go away.  Are they going away?

Keeping Musical Meditations “Sweet”

Keeping Musical Meditations “Sweet”

Psalm 104:33-34 I will sing unto the LORD as long as I live: I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.  My meditation of him shall be sweet: I will be glad in the LORD.

          This psalmist takes the responsibility to remain glad and to be sure that his musical meditations remain sweet.  We do not know who this psalmist was, but he purposed in his heart to have control over his emotions.  Verse thirty-three explains that he will travel around and sing (shiyr 7891), and play i.e. touch or play a stringed instrument (zamar 2167), and celebrate JHVH.  He was declaring that he would on purpose sing and play the praises unto the LORD with a glad (samach 8055) heart.

  Furthermore, he purposed to keep his musical praises sweet (areb 6149) i.e. with pleasantness or pleasure.  If there is anything that a church should experience, it is to observe a musician who sings and plays the high praises of God with great pleasure.  Certainly they should not have to endure a musical performance by a Christian musician who looks like he or she has just eaten an unusually sour lemon.

Thought for the Day

Happiness is a choice.  Joyfulness is a choice.  Musicing in a positive way is a choice.  A positive attitude about musicing unto God and people is a choice. A joyful heart is a choice They are all right choices for ministering musicians to make.  Are they the choices that you have made?

Prayer for the Day

Thank You Lord for making it possible for making it possible for all my musicing and all my meditations to be sweet and positive.  Lord I am asking You to help me to be a positive musicer and to be a “sweet musician”.  Please don’t let me ever ger sour or bitter in my spirit.  I want to always minister to You in a positive way.  I want to let Your Spirit flow through me and be exhibited in all my musicing.  I want those who experience me musicing unto You to see a musician whom you have kept since July 22, 1967.  Help me during my senior years to be a celebrating Christian instead of a disgruntled senior musician.  This I am asking in Your powerful name.  Amen.

The New Song-part 5

The New Song-part 5

      .  Because Jesus paid the price for the sins of the whole world, you and I are able to be a new creature in Christ Jesus and ipso facto can truly have a new song to sing. When we study new song in the Bible we learn that the words "new song" do not refer to a new composition but rather to a song of a higher or renovated character.  Psalm 40:1-3 identifies what the term new song means.  It states, "I waited patiently for the Lord, and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.  He brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.  And he hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it and fear, and shall trust in the LORD." There are several observations of this Scripture passage to be made that will influence our philosophical beliefs about the "new song" of the Bible...

        First, note that the word even is in italics in the A.V. which means that it is not found in the Hebrew text.  So, we learn that the chadash (2319) shiyr (7892) is without doubt tehilah (8416) Elohiym (430) i.e. "a new song of praise to God".  The song of the "new man" is different than the song of the "old man" who was dead in trespasses and sins.  The Christian musician who is a new creature in Christ Jesus has a new song which is of a renovated character.  The psalmist's new life brought about a song of praise to God.  He performed music in a "new key", so to speak.  When he passed from death to life spiritually had a new song, a new theme, a new "tune" and a new purpose in his musicing.  Why?  Because his music philosophy had changed since he became different on the inside.  (In our dispensation the new man is truly "born again".)

        Second, it appears that the psalmist David was writing of the time when God brought him out of the pit of sin (or noise) and established him musically and spiritually.  The Cambridge scholars put the words "a pit of noise" in the margin. Note that Elohiym the supreme God had to lift the musician out of a pit of noise before he could establish (kuwn 3559) the musician's goings (ashur 838). Also  note that the God  had to remove the uproar or noise that surrounded the musician ( yaven -3121 tiyt -2916) with dregs that swept him away i.e. hindered or held him down spiritually.  I believe that the sense and import of this statement is that he had to change the psalmists' music before he could establish him spiritually.

The New Song-part 4

The New Song-part 4

      A Christian musician doesn’t take advantage of man’s depraved nature and his natural sexual appetites to present the good news of the gospel.  Galatians 5:17 explains, “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 spirit are contrary one to the other.  Therefore it is deceitful to gain people's attention with sexual innuendos and then present the "new song" which is the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ.

      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 present the "New song" and the lust of the flesh side by side as a team of horses.  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. 

Thought for the Day

Part of the changes that the new birth spiritually will bring about in our lives will be some changes in our musicing.  Is there anything about the music that you listen to and perform that would hinder your spiritual life? As we mentioned yesterday, on this Easter Sunday we should all seek to remove any music that is not compatible with a whole-life philosophy that is Christocentric. 

The New Song-part 3

The New Song-part 3

           It matters how a Christian presents the "New song" which is mentioned in the Bible. What many Christian musicians have forgotten is that direction determines destiny.  If you start west on I 70 from Indianapolis Indiana in the USA, you will not arrive in Columbus, Ohio, no matter how much you desire to go there because you are going the wrong direction.  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 it will not be the "new song" of the gospel. 

The reason one cannot successfully sell sacred things with the sensual is that it just won’t work. Galatians 6:6-9 states:  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.

      God’s ways are higher than the ways of the world. The "new song" of the Bible always takes the high road.  The world uses man’s depraved nature and man’s natural sexual appetite to sell its music.  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?

Thought for the Day--part 3

Have you ever considered why some Christian musicians cling so desperately to music styles that represents the "old life" of undegenerated man?  One of the best ways to break away from the "old life" of sin is to sing a new song!  Tomorrow is Easter Sunday. It is the day that represents Christ's victory over sin.  It is a day of re-beginning.  Why not establish a re-beginning of your music listening habits if they tend to defeat you spiritually? 

The New Song--part 2

The New Song--part 2

            The concept of “new song” in the Bible connotes music making that is of a higher or renovated character that always renders praise to God--not man.  II Corinthians 5:17 states, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away: and behold all things are become new.”  A part of the old things that pass away is the “old song” and the old self-aggrandizement and worldly musical performance practice.

            If the essence of a musician’s music making is the presentation of self, then God cannot receive the preeminence.  The new man, singing "new song", in a new way, seeks to exalt Christ not self.  As we know, in the new song of the Bible, God receives all the praise all the time.  If our performance practice results in the lifting up of self and the performer’s talents, then the musician’s performance becomes merely religious music rather than sacred music.  Remember, in the beginning God created music for His honor and His glory.

            Earlier we discussed ownership of music and were drawn to the conclusion that we do not own it.  Why?  Because music is God's creation, he holds the deed to its ownership.  So, since we are singing and playing HIS SONG, we relinquish the sense of ownership. When we were dead in trespasses and sins, as musicians, we thought we owned OUR music.  We were autonomous when it came to OUR music praxis.  At least we acted like we were a law to ourselves when we performed OUR music.  We sang OUR own song which was what I call "old song".  There is something wonderful about singing HIS song in HIS sanctuary for HIS glory.

Thought for the Day-part 2

Is there any difference between the music you listened too and performed before you were born again and the music you have in your life today?

The New Song-part 1

The New Song-part 1

          The words "new song" are mentioned in the Bible nine times.  In the Old Testament they are recorded six times in the Book Of Psalms (33:3, 40:3, 96:1, 98:1, 144:9, and 149:1) and once in Isaiah 42:10.  In the New Testament, new song is found only in the Book of Revelation 5:9 and 14:2.  Philosophers have not said much about the biblical principle of new song and I have never read after any music philosopher who even mentioned it.      Writers on church music most often misunderstand these references and use them as proof texts to support the idea of contemporary Christian music.  Others suppose them to mean that we are commanded to compose new musical compositions.  Often in my music of the Bible class students have queried, "Are we required to write and perform new songs?"                

There certainly is a continuing need for new music literature to meet the needs of the church today.  It is also a fact that if Christian musicians do not perform this new music, it will not get performed.  I am convinced that God is pleased when his "chief musicians" compose and arrange new music that follows Bible principles of musicing.   However I am convinced that these Bible references To "New Song" do not connote musical compositions that are "new" in relation to time.  These verses in the Bible have a different meaning and we will be discussing this meaning in the next few blog posts.

Thought for the Day

It should be no mystery that after a Christian's" new birth" spiritually he or she will have a "new song” because this person has a new heart and is a "new creature in Christ Jesus".  

The Musician Serves a God Who is Worthy

The Musician Serves a God Who is Worthy

Revelation 5:8-10 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.  And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

               These three verses taken  from the Revelation are not easy to exegete.  Daniel 4:3 reminds us, “How great are his signs! and how mighty are his wonders! his kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion is from generation to generation.”  God’s kingdom will not end even when time, as we know it, will end.  Why?  Because His kingdom is an “everlasting kingdom”.  What does all this mean to a Christian musician who is out there in “Smirgley Junction”  ministering for the LORD? 

          God is worthy.  So, we keep working and let the end-time take care of itself.  We should not fret because we do not have it all figured out.  I like this portion of Ira F. Stanphill’s gospel song I Know Who Holds Tomorrow, “Many things about tomorrow I don't seem to understand but I know who holds tomorrow and I know who holds my hand”.  This writer had the important part figured out. A Christian musician doesn’t have to have everything figured out to be at rest in this life.   So, If you are perplexed about world affairs or the darkness that seem to loom in the future of this sin-cursed world,  sing “new song” which is a song of praise to God who is worthy and wonderful.

Song for the Day, I Know Who Holds Tomorrow by Ira F. Stanphill