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.