Musicians in Perpetuity

Musicians in Perpetuity

1Chronicles 25:6 states, “All these were under the hands of their father for song in the house of the LORD, with cymbals, psalteries, and harps, for the service of the house of God, according to the king's order to Asaph, Jeduthun, and Heman.”  Have you ever wondered why the level of music worship developed to such an advanced level during the time of the first and second Temples?  When I was a Bible College divisional chair some of the largest churches in Cincinnati would call me because they did not have accompanists enough to meet their ministry needs.  They had money, facilities, and equipment but they did not have musicians in perpetuity.  They had planned and prepared for future music ministries, but they had not accepted the responsibility to train their own Church musicians.

1Chronicles 25:7 explains that the Levite musicians who were in  charge of the music of the  ancient Jewish Temple trained musicians in perpetuity when it states, “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.”  Many churches and Christian elementary and secondary schools do not even include music education in their church education program or in their school academic curriculum.  They seem to not consider music education to be a priority.  Therefore, it is of little wonder that they do not have enough qualified musicians to meet the needs of their music ministry needs. Also they fail to realize that failure to educate students musically will result in a shortage of adult musicians that understand sacred musicing.  As I have said many +times , Christians cannot expect secular music educators to make sacred music a music education priority.

Reading Hymns Can Shapes Our Faith Part 2

Reading Hymns Can Shapes Our Faith Part 2

 Serious music worship leaders are not trying to lead a congregational musical event but rather a time of valuable musing (thinking).  We all know that the majority of great hymn text were written first as lyric poetry and then later were set to a tune.  I doubt that any thinking church musician would deny that they have great value as poems.  Perhaps we consider the reading of poetry to be a task undertaken only by those who gather to partake of tea and crumpets and recite the works of dead poets.  So, since we know that quoting this great poetry skillfully can have a positive effect on a worshiping body of believers as well as being a form of catechism to those who are unchurched, why not practice up on our dramatic reading skills and give this form of hymn usage a try?

There is another point that should be considered in our discussion of quoting hymn texts.  I remember my former pastor Rev. R.E. Carroll saying that he often took not only his Bible but also his hymnal to his trysting place with God.  We pray out loud so why shouldn’t we read hymns out loud during our time of devotion.  It is a fact that praying out loud keeps my mind from wondering during my time of private devotion. Quoting hymns from memory or reading them during private devotions can be a wonderful experience.  Telling God how you feel or what troubles you by reading to Him can be an expression of prayer and praise.  

Thought for the Day

Praying the words of a well written hymn can be an effectual way of telling God how you feel about Him.  If our own words simply fail us in the time of prayer, the words of a great hymn may help us to express our heart’s petition to God.

Reading Hymns Can Shapes Our Faith Part 1

 Reading Hymns Can Shapes Our Faith Part 1   

I was reading in James Sydnor book the other day and ran across a statement that made me ponder on the worth and relevance of hymns. “In corporate worship and in daily life, hymns can have a profound, sustaining, and complex effect on a person.  Therefore, leaders who are interested in improving congregational singing should spend some time pondering the means whereby hymn reading and hymn singing can shape the faith and influence the daily lives of their congregational members.” Hymn and Their Uses, by James Sydnor, p. 23 Those of us who believe that hymn singing is a valuable part of worship, do not need to be convinced that Christians may be edified by singing the great hymns. 

          However, I must confess that over the years I have not taken advantage of utilizing speaking the words of hymns as calls to worship and as transitions to hymn sequences.  Church musicians like me have the faulty notion that we have to sing hymns to derive value from them.  I have quoted hymns many times in my lectures on worship but I am woefully negligent when it comes to reading hymn texts in public worship.  Think about it.  The skillful presentation of part of a hymn text can be a source of valuable congregational cognition.  

Thought for the Day 

Worship musicing should always be musing—i.e. it should cause us to think.

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Joseph Scriven’s late 19^th century hymn is many times published in standard hymnals with only the first three verses.  The first verse introduces the hymn’s prayer theme by establishing that it is truly a privilege to take everything to our God through prayer.  The second verse teaches that we should not let life’s troubles discourage us because we are able to take our weaknesses, trials and temptations to our faithful friend Jesus.  The third verse reminds us that when we are weak, heavy-laden, and even forsaken by our earthly friends, our precious Savior will take us in His arms where we may find solace.

The forth verse adds a wonderful final dimension to this wonderful hymn.  It reminds us that as Hebrews 4:15 teaches we do not have to bear our burdens alone, “For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.”  It also teaches that Jas 5:16b states, “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”  Finally, this verse states that the Christian will soon be in the presence of our Lord where prayer will be replaced with endless worship.  Praise God for this last verse which should always be included when we sing this great prayer hymn.  Read it and rejoice! 

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
Thou wilt all our burdens bear;
May we ever, Lord, be bringing
All to Thee in earnest prayer.
Soon in glory bright, unclouded,
There will be no need for prayer—
Rapture, praise, and endless worship
Will be our sweet portion there. 

Prayer for the Day    

I want to thank You precious Savior that You are truly my friend.  Thank You that You are always bigger than my troubles.  I also want to thank You for the privilege of coming to You in prayer.  In the time of trouble and temptation I can always come to You our sinless Savior for help.  Even if my earthly friends were to forsake me, You are a friend that will stick closer than a brother.  Lord, help me to draw close to You so that You can take me up in Your strong arms and shield me from life’s stormy blasts.  Thank You for being such a wonderful Savior and friend.  Amen.

More on Good and Faithful Musicians Part 4

More on Good and Faithful Musicians Part 4

          Nehemiah 8:10  states, ”Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”  Psalm 89:15 states, “Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound [teruah 8643—great acclamation of joy]: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance.”  Psalm 149:1-2, “Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.  Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful [giyl, 1523] in their King.”  The word giyl is used in a great variety of applications in the OT but it most often connotes gladness and rejoicing.  These scriptures are only a few of the multitude of Scriptures that teach worshiping with much joy.

 Certainly the fact that the Bible repeatedly mentions singing with joy should encourage us to music with outward joy and emotion.  1Chronicles 15:16  states, “And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of musick, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy [simchah, 8057-exceeding gladness and pleasure].”  Isaiah 12:2-3 states, “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.  Therefore with joy [sasown, 8342—cheerfulness, gladness and mirth] shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.”  Zepaniah 3:17 states, “The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy [giyl, see above] over thee with singing [rinnah, 7440—singing with gladness and joy].”

          I believe that sacred musical performance that has been devoid of the aforementioned characteristics has been one of the reasons that so many Christian musicians becoming disillusioned with traditional sacred music.  One of the other reasons has been that some busy musicians have failed to seek the aid and anointing of the Holy Spirit upon their sacred musicing.  Therefore, I contend that a part of being a faithful servant (pistos doulos 4103, 1401) is being completely submissive to the leadership of the Holy Spirit.  Furthermore, I believe that a part of faithful musical servanthood involves being as passionate, and being even more passionate, about sacred musicing than one is about secular musicing.

Quote for the Day

“The importance of song as attracting to the House of God, as interesting and spiritually benefiting those engaged in worship, and as finding audible expression for devout feeling, should be fully enforced.  It therefore becomes the duty of all who have the gift to lay it on the altar of God’s service in the sanctuary.”  The Pulpit Commentary, 1 Chronicles, p. 95, Canon Spence & Joseph Exell editors

More on Good and Faithful Musicians Part 3

More on Good and Faithful Musicians Part 3

          I strongly believe that the good and faithful musical leader should and must be moved deeply by the message of the music that is being used as a worship vehicle.  It is one thing to be moved intellectually by the meaning of the music but it is another to have the dunamis (1411) of the Spirit which  I believe comes to only to good and faithful Spirit filled musical servants.  As I have often stated in my philosophical writings that many Christian musicians seem to forget the great musical discourse in the fifth chapter of Paul’s Epistle to the Ephesians not only includes verse nineteen but also verse eighteen that states, “And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit.”  To me, what is taught in verse nineteen can only happen to those who are living a life in the Spirit.  I believe that verse eighteen teaches a continual life in the Spirit after the Christian is once filled.  The good and faithful musical servant that is spoken of in the fifth chapter of Ephesians is also admonished to let the Holy Spirit have control of his or her life and music ministry. 

          The influence of the Divine upon the human can and should be a reality in the twenty first century.  The musician who is touched and moved by the Holy Spirit has the right to be passionate about the music that he or she uses as a vehicle of worship.  All of the Christian musicians that I have had the privilege to know, who were accomplished musicians, have been very passionate about their secular musicing.   However, some of them believe that their sacred musicing should be very sedate and staid and should be executed in a manner that is seemingly almost detached from any passion or emotion.  I see no place in Scripture where Christian musicians are instructed to perform sacred music in a manner that is devoid or outward emotion; outward evidence of meaning (understanding); or outward physical expression of being passionate about the music being performed .  Therefore, I am drawn to the philosophical conclusion that although sacred musicing is very serious business, we may and should perform it with joy.

Quote for the Day

“One hallmark of the Spirit’s filling will be a desire to give vocal expression to the heart’s devotion to the Lord by the use of canticles and songs which the Spirit inspires.”  The Broadman Bible Commentary, Vol. 11, p. 166, Ephesians by Ralph P. Martin

More on Good and Faithful Musicians Part 2

More on Good and Faithful Musicians Part 2

Matthew 25:21states, “His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”

 A part of being a faithful musical servant is learning how to use music as a worship vehicle.  Even if a musician loves music and is passionate about performing it, he or she is not necessarily a faithful musical servant.  There is a vast difference between loving music so much that one worships it and loving God so much that one has a great passion to use music to worship the God who created music.  As we all know the Bible condemns worshiping created things (see Romans 1:25).  The faithful musical servant leads others in worship and at the same time worships God through the music he or she is using as a worship vehicle. 

          The faithful musical servant is not only a leader and a worshiper but also a

 faithful teacher.  Faithful musical leadership includes teaching others to worship God by musicing unto Him.  The faithful musical servant utilizes teaching skills in their most profound form i.e. teaching by example.  The faithful musical servant is not only a technical leader but also a “touched” leader.  I contend that the touched servant is an anointed servant.  Starting late in the twentieth century Christian writers and music philosophers began to make acrid comments about those who sought the anointing or the Holy Spirit as though such philosophical belief was egotistical or somewhat fanatical.  Although it may not be a popular concept among Christians in this century, the visitation of God upon human servants is certainly a biblical concept.  For examples see Leviticus 7:35, 8:12, 1 Samuel 15:1, Isaiah 10:27, James 5:14, and 1 John 2:27.

Quote for the Day

“Faithfulness over a little opens the way for one to be entrusted with much. The reward for faithful service is also known in terms of entry into the joy of one’s master.” The Broadman Bible Commentary, Vol. 8, p.225 by Frank Stagg et al

More on Good and Faithful Musicians Part 1

More on Good and Faithful Musicians Part 1

Matthew 25:21states, “His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.”

          A musician can be a good servant morally and not be passionately faithful to the responsibilities of the music ministry where God has placed that musician.  Christian character is what makes a musician a good (agathos 18) person.  The word agathos means good in any sense but its meaning is different than the word pistos (4103) which means objectively “trustworthy” i.e. in the case of a Christian musician, one who experiences the actual reality of being a completely trustworthy servant musician of Christ.  It stands to reason that moral goodness is a necessary requirement of the ministering musician who is a bond servant (doulos 1401) of our lord and savior Jesus Christ.  Ralph Earle stated that, “these are the only two things God requires of everyone—that he be good in character and faithful in service.”  Beacon Bible Commentary, A.F. Harper, Editorial Chairman, Vol. 6, p. 237  Although God requires both, I do not believe that being a morally good person automatically makes one a quality musician or does it make one a faithful trustworthy music leader.

Quote for the Day

Lenski states that the master who is a type of Christ pronounces this verdict, ‘“Slave excellent and reliable!’ and thus furnishing his master great satisfaction.  No higher commendation can come to any believer from the lips of Jesus” The Interpretation of St. 

Christian Musicians Must Reason

Christian Musicians Must Reason

Isaiah 1:18a, Come now let us reason together saith the LORD…  I Samuel 12:7 Now therefore stand still that I may reason with you…    Romans 12:1, I beseech you therefore brethren by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  Acts 17:2, And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three days reasoned with them.

       Isaiah, in his prophecy to Judah, uses the Hebrew word yakach (3198) which has been translated reason in the AV.  It means “to cause one to decide to be right’.  In Samuel’s exhortation to Israel, the Hebrew word shaphat (8199) was used and it has been rendered reason in the AV.  It means literally to “pronounce sentence or to execute a judgment” on someone.  The Roman writer used the Greek word logikos (3050) which the AV translated as reasonable.  This Greek word means to use rational thinking or the use of logic.  St. Paul used the Greek word dialegomai (1256) in his three day disputation in the Synagogue at Thessalonica.  It is translated reason in the AV and it means to dispute or argue thoroughly with logic.

       God’s Word and God’s way is always logical and reasonable.  If Satan is trying to get you to think unreasonable thoughts or follow a path in life that is unreasonable, resist him in the name of Jesus Christ and he will have to flee from you (James 4:7, Jude 1:9).  Satan will not have to flee because of your logic or what you believe, but rather because you invoke the strong name and power of the Lord Jesus Christ who is sitting at the right hand of the Father making intercession for you at this very moment.

       God is never the author of confusion or irrational thinking/reasoning.  Musicians are emotional and sometimes irrational thinkers.  Sometimes they just do not think before they leap.  If your thinking does not line up to the Word of God, change your thinking.  If you cannot defend your thinking with God’s reasonable Word, then what you are thinking is wrong.   Do not leap if you haven’t prayed and followed the clear leading of the Holy Spirit.  If you are in doubt, don’t do it!

      If a thorough discussion of God’s Word proves your thinking to be faulty, you are, as my father used to say, “Leading your ducks into a poor pond”.  Don’t speak or act before you think.  Be sure that you never act in haste.  Satan whispers “You must act fast”.  Our wise heavenly Father says, “Come now let us reason together.”

Developing a Christocentric Bible Based Music Philosophy

     Developing a Christocentric Bible Based Music Philosophy

           A concern that I have had for some time is that there is next to nothing published that will systematically assist church music and music education majors in Bible Colleges, Christian Colleges and Universities in developing a Christocentric Bible based music philosophy.  Christian musicians often think different things about music philosophy than secular music philosophers who do not love and serve Our Savior Jesus Christ.  However, more importantly, they think differently about the nature, value, and meaning of music. Because they think differently about what the Bible teaches about the nature value and meaning of music and musicing, they are at loggerheads with most secular music philosophers.

            If the only difference was that they thought different things about music and musicing, it would not be impossible to reconcile their philosophical differences.  Since there is such a wide chasm between the thinking of most Christian and secular music philosophers, it is my sincere hope that what is written in this eBook will cause Christians to think seriously about sacred music and musicing and also cause them to think seriously about their musical thinking – a process now commonly called metacognition.

Thought for the Day

When it comes to true truth found in the Bible, what it teaches cannot be true and not true at the same time.

About the Use of Scripture

About the Use of Scripture

            There are over 600 references to music that are found in the Bible (Some Bible scholars arrive at a much larger count depending on what they consider a reference to be). These Scriptures have made it possible for the serious music minister and music educator to have a great amount of guidance in the development of a faith-based music philosophy and praxis.  However, it is a mistake to suppose that these aforementioned direct references to music and musicing are the only verses in the Bible that have meaning in the development of a Christocentric music philosophy.  Therefore, I often use Scriptures to guide my philosophy development that are not direct references to music and musicing. 

            The Christian musician is a Christian first and a musician second.  For this reason, it is necessary to include verses taken from the Bible that, in the context of where they are found, there is absolutely nothing specifically mentioned about music and musicing. The reason for considering these Scriptures is because they are germane to living a Christian life and therefore are essential when a Christian musician is developing a series of systematic beliefs about the nature, value and meaning of music and musicing.

Treating the Old and New Testaments with Respect.

Treating the Old and New Testaments with Respect. 

           All words found in any language have meaning based on how they are used in sentences.  Words mean something, and the writers of Scripture, who were inspired to write sentences under the direct (plenary) inspiration of the Holy Spirit, wrote exactly what they meant to say.  It does not make any sense to suppose that an inspired writer of Scripture would have used words that meant exactly what he did not intend to say.  Misunderstandings of Scripture are most often the result of the reader not having a grasp of the original language; an understanding of the meaning of the words; or an understanding of how the inspired writers used these words in the context of writing Scripture.

           When I commit my beliefs to pen and ink, it is possible that I spend more time with the English dictionary, Bible language dictionaries, and lexicons than I do writing my own thoughts.  My writings are far from inspired, but that does not mean that I do not labor over each word, phrase and sentence. I would be greatly offended if my readers were to suppose that I had intended to write the opposite meaning of my intent.  So, if a writer expects readers to trust his supposed meanings of the original Bible words in his writings, that author must treat the ancient inspired writings of the Old and New Testaments with much respect. 

Brain Responses to Music

Brain Responses to Music

            The need for regularly occurring rest in music is more than a mere notion. Because Jesus declared in Matthew 11:28, “Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest”, the principle of rest should be a concomitant sacred musicing.  The mental and emotional effect of the music part (i.e. the formal properties of the music) of a Christian’s sacred musicing must be congruent with the concepts of sacred musicing that are taught in the Bible. Continuous unresolved loud sounds and incessant unreleased tension result in a driving forward propelling directionality (produced from the formal properties of a piece of music) that is not a proper concomitant for the message of the gospel.

          Hodges wrote, “Emotional responses can be evoked when a strong musical rhythm influences internal body rhythms.  Rock music often has this visceral effect, harnessing heart and breathing rates to the beat.”  A Concise Survey of Music Philosophy by Donald Hodges, p.161.   Hodges was not trying to influence Christian music by his statement, but was merely explaining No. 2 of the BRECVEMA model. The BRECVEMA model is an acronym used in Patrick Juslin study on brainstem responses to music. This research has provided the means to explain the triggering of every-day and aesthetic emotions.  Ibid. p.153.

 Since research results have shown that this type of music harnesses “heart and breathing rates to the beat”, Christian musicians should take account of what this music does to the seeker or would be worshiper!  I contend that the emotions that are triggered by religious music of this type have the power to render the worship experience ineffectual.  Although admittedly no one can say with certainty that all listeners will respond negatively to this harnessing of their emotions, it is worthwhile for the worship leader to consider what it means for the musical vehicle to have this kind of visceral effect on the auditor. 

Thought for the Day

Christian musicians who have seriously doubted the authenticity of much of what has been written about the dangers of the music part of many styles of religious music are now face to face with Patrick Juslin’s BRECVEMA model which was carried out under scientific controlled conditions.

Musician Who Choose to Love Others

Musician Who Choose to Love Others

1 John 4:7, “Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.”

               I am not sure that I completely understand what this verse means, but I do understand that those who love God are required to love others.  The ability to love others is a God given thing.  Mankind is generally self-involved, selfish, self-centered and prone to rejecting those that do not think and act in the same manner as the one who is judging another.

Musicians often get a double portion of self-centeredness.  One sobering thought is that persons who do not love others, do not truly love God.  This verse teaches musicians that those who truly know God in a personal way love others.  This verse does not teach that those who love God only love others who  love and know God.  Those of us who are the slightest bit honest will have to admit that other musicians can at times be very annoying!  How does a musician go about loving another musician who is annoying?  1 John 4:7 very teaches that loving others is a choice.  We choose to love other musicians who sing and play a bit off pitch or play all soft sections at a ff.  We choose to love musicians who regularly come late to rehearsals. 

Verse seven begins by stating, “let us love one another”.  Loving others is something that we as Christian musicians often have to work on in order to be in harmony with what this verse teaches.  This verse reminds Christian musicians that “love is of God” so God can and will help us to love others.  I am a bit puzzled by the statement “everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.”  I have decided to work on the part of this verse that I do understand.  I am going to work on my attitude toward other musicians that I do not understand.  I know that at times I need a lot of help in this area, but I know that God requires me to love others and that since He is the author of love He will help me to love others that I do not understand.

Prayer for the Day

Thank You Lord for loving me.  Thank you for loving me when I did not love you.  Thank You for helping me love others that do not act like they love me.  Thank You for being a God of love.  Thank You in advance for helping me each day to work on my attitude toward others and helping me to make the choice today and tomorrow to love others.  This I am asking in Your loving and powerful name.  Amen.

Christian Musicians Must Maintain a Relationship to God

Christian Musicians Must Maintain a Relationship to  God

 My music blog is often of a devotional nature since Christian musicians need to maintain their relationship to the God we music about when we music on Sunday morning. This blog is also often a discussion about music philosophy rather than a work about music administration.  To put it simply, this work is about thinking about music and musicing rather than about the act of doing it.  That is not to say that there is not a continuing need for writing about how a church musician or a music educator should go about doing what he or she does.  Musicians are doers not merely those who think about doing.  However, a musicer should have a solid faith basis, and more specifically a Bible basis, for what he or she intends to do before doing it.  

So, a musicer who is a Christian should not attempt to music unto God without first having a deep faith in God; a personal relationship with God; and a Bible basis that will shape that musician’s understanding of the nature, value, and meaning of the whole of sacred music and musicing.  Only then will a Christian musician be equipped with the tools that are necessary to develop a faith-based music philosophy that will serve to help guide all of that person’s on-purpose musical doing (praxis).  Although this discussion does not explain how a Christian musician executes his or her music praxis (the on- purpose way of doing music which we call musicing), praxis cannot be totally  omitted from a discussion of music philosophy.  I like to think of music philosophy as a musician’s faith in what he or she believes about doing  music and that music praxis is about works i.e. the on-purpose way that one actually does music. 

It is my prayer that this blog will be helpful to Christian musicians as they continue to music unto God in the presence of a great group of those who experience the Christian music unto God.  I have often said to college choir and symphonic wind and string ensemble members who traveled with me to churches, “You can’t feed others if you don’t partake of the divine fruit yourself.”

Joyful Musicing unto God

Joyful Musicing unto God

Psalm 27:6, “ And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.”

          The psalmist declared that he would sing with acclamation of joy (teruah 8643).  He also declared that his musicing would be sacrifices of joy.  The Hebrew word zebach (2077) is used 153 times in the OT.  This word refers to various sacrificial offerings made unto God.  This reference is no exception since it refers to a musical sacrifice unto the LORD.  Musicing as here mentioned was made unto God with great acclamation of joy. 

          What should the 21^st century Christian musician gain from this OT reference to musicing?  I am not sure of all the meaning to be found in this musical reference, but I believe that the crux of this discussion is the element of joy.  If we are going to music unto God with singing, it must be of a joyful sort!  There is no room for bitter, sad, negative singing.  The psalmist David declared “I will”. What exactly was he declaring that he would do?  He said, “I will sing” and I will make my singing a musical offering.  Furthermore, he declared that make my musicing to be “sacrifices of joy”.  Also he affirmed that his musical sacrifices would be presented “unto the LORD”. 

The world experiences much hate and negativism.  The unbeliever does not need to experience more of it from church musicians who have “a bur under their  saddle”.  Are your musical offerings great acclamations of joy that exude from a holy heart that is crammed full of joy and gratitude unto our wonderful Lord and Savior Jesus Christ?  If you feel a need to complain unto God, I suggest that you do it privately during your one-on-one time with God.  Make sure that you do not put your dirty laundry on the line in the sanctuary so that those who have come to worship are drawn to feel sorry for you and the multiplicity of overwhelming vicissitudes of life that have overpowered you during the previous week.  God deserves a joyful musical offering on Sunday morning.

Bach's Jesu Meine Freude and Romans 8:1

Bach's Jesu Meine Freude and Romans 8:1

I love the way Luther’s German Bible states Romans 8:1, “So ist nun nichts Verdammliches an denen, die in Christo Jesu sind, die nicht nach dem Fleisch wandeln, sondern nach dem Geist.” (LGB)  The AV translates this verse, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” (KJV)  J.S. Bach’s text in his Motet Jesu Meine Freude reads as Follows,” Es ist nun nichts, nichts, nichts, Verdammliches an denen, die in Christo Jesu sind, die nicht nach dem Fleische wandeln, sondern nach dem Geist.”  His musical setting emphasizes the fact that there is not, not, not any condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. 

What a wonderful fact that we can be without any condemnation in God’s sight.  The German makes it so clear that a Christian does not have to wander after the flesh (“die nicht nach dem Fleische wandeln sondern nach dem Geist.”)!!!  Praise God ,He has made it possible for the Christian to live a life in the Spirit rather than to have to wander throughout life in a manner that is not after God.  It is true that Jesus in my Friend i.e. Jesu Meine Freude.

Prayer for the Day

Thank You precious Lord for being a friend of all of us who were once dead in trespasses and sins.  Truly, You are my friend.  You are my great friend because You had the power to forgive me of all my sins.  Because of Your great  You made it possible for me to live in this sin cursed world without having to walk or wander around  after the flesh.  Thank You making it possible for me to not, not, not have any condemnation for sin.  This I am gratefully praying in Your strong and forgiving name.  Amen.

Ordering the Building Blocks of Music

Ordering the Building Blocks of Music

A composer who is not a Christian may order the building blocks of music in a fashion that will make a piece of music congruent with the purposes of sacred musicing.  However, it is the responsibility of the Christian composer, arranger and performer to study music thoroughly and be filled with the Holy Spirit in order to be able to make wise choices of religious music.  Without such understanding it will be difficult to guard against the influence of Satan.  Romans 8:6-8 instructs Christians to be filled with the Spirit “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”  Furthermore, 1 Corinthians 2:14 explains, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”   However, 1 Corinthians 2:6 promises that Christ can guide the Christian’s musical endeavors, “For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.”

          The way a composer or arranger organizes and utilizes the building blocks of music will give them the propensity to either be *congruent or incongruent with the purposes of sacred musicing to a high and holy triune God.  It is not the building blocks of music that are good or evil, but rather it is how they are arranged and performed that gives them positive or negative meaning.  To be more specific, it is not diatonic seventh chords, incomplete dominant ninth chords, augmented sixth chords, Neapolitan sixth chords, syncopated rhythms, push beats, dynamics, or hemiolas that are profane.  It is the way that a composer, arranger or performer uses them that determines their appropriateness or inappropriateness.  There is no such thing as an evil chord, dynamic or rhythm per se, but every astute performer, composer or arranger understands that they may be used inappropriately in a given situation.  Furthermore, the inappropriate *juxtaposition or *amalgamation of styles of music is capable of making subtle, or not so subtle, jest of the very thing that a Christian musician is supposed to be expressing while musicing unto God.

Thought for the Day

A composer, performer and music director should proceed with an attitude of servanthood rather than ownership.   If I own I am the final authority.  If am a servant all of my sacred music and musicing is done in order to please God. 

Avoiding Sweeping Generalizations about Church Music

 Avoiding Sweeping Generalizations about Church Music

 Issues like whether Christian musician considers a particular selection of music to be “musical junk”; “not music at all” or that it is “not of enough musical quality” to be aesthetically effective are not the sole determining  factor or factors for rejecting it in the context of worship.  The problem with the statements like those just mentioned is that  they are simply not always accurate statements. So, every musician must carefully consider the validity of such statements before making  sweeping generalizations out a particular piece of music.

 Although the conservative Christian musician is continually guarding the practice of musicing unto God, overstating one’s position on music aesthetics is not the answer.  When it comes to the use or disuse of many pop styles of music in public worship, the simply stated facts about its appropriateness as a worship vehicle is a much better argument than making statements about a style of music that cannot be substantiated. 

          What really matters about the use or disuse of a style of music when one is worshiping a high and holy triune God is much more complicated than mere musical or aesthetic quality—although musical and aesthetic quality does matter.  What really matters is what a particular style of music communicates to the musicer and the listener and what that communication has the potential to do to a person mentally and spiritually.

Thought for the Day

Think before you make unfounded generalizations about music.  That being said, one should proceed with caution.  “Know before you go.” 

Lead or Be Led

Lead or Be Led

Psalm 59:2 Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloody men.  For, lo, they lie in wait for my soul: the mighty are gathered against me; not for my transgression, nor for my sin, O LORD.   

               Although we do not like to dwell on anything negative the world is not, and has never been, a friend of grace.  Every Christian musician must be aware that he or she will either be a leader or they will by default become the victim of some other leadership. 

               My wife and I were walking the other day at Northgate Mall and a lady started walking with us.  After some small talk my wife immediately began to thank the Lord for His goodness to us.  The lady said that she had been raised a Baptist, but she was now a “pagan”.  I think she was without doubt mixed up on her terminology, but I was impressed that my wife did not let her dominate the conversation when it came to spiritual matters.

                A Christian has the choice to let non-Christians control the conversation or to lead by proclaiming the name of Jesus even when it is not popular to take a stand.  If a Christian continually keeps silent when the name of God is reviled or made light of, that Christian’s faith becomes damaged.  So, stand up for Jesus, and Satan will have to withdraw and Jesus your advocate will stand up for you!

Prayer for the Day

Heavenly Father I want to thank You for helping me to not be intimidated by those who do not love and serve You.  Thank You for giving me the strength to stand up for Your righteous and Holy name.  I am asking You to keep delivering me from the subtle influences of those who are “workers of iniquity”.  Thank You for delivering me who “from those lie in wait for my soul”.  Help me to praise Your name and to resist the false philosophies of this present world.  These things I am praying in Your strong name.  Amen.

Music Ministers that Minister in Love

Music Ministers that Minister in Love

1Corinthians 13:4, “Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up…”

            The Revised Standard Version translates1Corinthians 13:4, “Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful” Love in action is patient even if the Christian has to suffer for a long time. Some unfortunate situations do not go away quickly.   If a music minister has the heart of a pastor he or she will have to endure some things (and some people) that are hard to endure.

            If all that a minister of music had put up with was a soprano who sings under pitch he or she would live a charmed life.  I remember one afternoon when one of my fine technical assistants was working in the auditorium at the top of a sixteen feet tall step ladder when a most annoying young man came and stood at the base of the ladder spouting off acrid comments to the technician.  I will never forget what the no nonsense technician calmly said to the student at the base of the ladder—“Go away”.

            I did not chuckle, but I thought to myself that at that moment that although I had remained silent, on the inside I was not inwardly patient or kind.  As I look back on that short event many times I have realized that what I lacked at that particular time was the agape love spoken of by the Corinthian writer.

Prayer for the Day

            Lord Jesus I am asking You to daily fill me with Your grace so that not only outwardly but also inwardly I will suffer long and be kind to those who goad and test me time and time again.  I confess that when I say that I wish to be more and more like You, although I mean it, I recognize that I need your grace every day if I am going to minister the way You want me to minister.  Lord I am asking You to so fill m today with Your Spirit that I will be able meet the love requirements of the love spoken of in 1 Corinthians chapter thirteen.  This I am praying in Your loving name.  Amen.

About the Use of Scriptures

About the Use of Scriptures

        There are over 600 references to music that are found in the Bible.  These Scriptures have made it possible for the serious music minister and music educator to have a great amount of guidance in the development of a music philosophy and praxis.  However, it is a mistake to suppose that the direct references to music and musicing are the only verses in the Bible that have meaning in the development of a Christocentric music philosophy.  Therefore, I often use Scripture references as the basis my philosophical and devotional thoughts for musicians although they are not direct references to music and musicing. 

The Christian musician is a Christian first and a musician second.  For this reason, it is necessary to include verses that, in the context of where they are found in the Bible, there is absolutely nothing specifically mentioned about music and musicing.  I use them simply because they are germane to living a Christian life and therefore, are essential when a Christian musician is developing a series of systematic beliefs about the nature value and meaning of music and musicing.

       I never wish to be divisive  about the use of any translation of the Bible.  I believe that the Bible is inspired “God breathed” true truth.  The God’s Word has been preserved over many centuries with great accuracy.  Therefore, it must be treated with great respect. The use of a translation of God’s Word should always be to make the Holy Writ understandable to the reader while preserving the accuracy of the original texts.  The main reason that I use the AV text is because it is the most universal and because there are so many study helps that use it and are keyed to Strong’s Exhaustive Concordance.  I never use a version of the Bible that obviously strays from to the accuracy of the original texts in order to make the Bible “more readable” or modern.  A translation of the Bible should always accurately represent what the original texts meant instead of what the translator wishes that it meant.  A translation should preserve the accuracy of the original texts actually said rather than interpret or expand on what the writer presumes that they meant.

Music styles--part 2

Music styles--part 2

       One of the objectives of these posts on music styles is to apply music philosophy to music praxis.  Music philosophy is actually only so much rhetoric until it is put into practice.  One’s music philosophy may look excellent on paper, but unless it is applied to music “doing” it only serves to ease a musician’s conscience.   It is one thing to say you believe something, but it is entirely another to back it up by what we actually "do" when you music.      

         If the words of the songs we sing unto God are completely biblical, then they embody truth.  They represent absolute truth because their message is absolute truth. They represent what Francis Schaeffer would call “true truth”.  If the words are congruent  with biblical principles then it stands to reason that the style of singing should also be congruent with the words sung.  the words and the music must send the same message.

        I Corinthians14:7-8 states, “And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, [melodies] how shall it be known what is piped or harped?  For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?”  There is much deeper musical truth in this Bible music reference than is commonly understood. When a soloist’s vocal performance style allows scooping up to pitches, breathy indiscriminate nonvocal sounds, delayed vibrato (or no vibrato), the result is without doubt an “uncertain sound” vocally speaking. The vocal performance style actually belies the constant truth of the message of Christ crucified.  So, when a vocalist juxtaposes biblical “true truth” with a vocal performance style that is not accurately in pitch, constant or aesthetically presented, then the musical message, which affects the spiritual message, is greatly hindered, diluted and therefore obscured.

Thought for the day-styles-part 2

It is one thing to sing the song "Give of your best to the master", but it is another thing to perfect one's musical offering by careful vocal study.

Music styles--part 1

Music styles--part 1

       Dr. Robert Berglund once said, "Why is it that almost every music appreciation textbook written deals with style in music?  The obvious answer is that it is through style that music assumes much of its meaning to the listener." A Philosophy of Church Music p. 22.    Roger Scruton explained that, "The first step towards understanding music, therefore, is to understand sounds as objects of perception." Understanding Music, p.5.  So, it is universally understood by music philosophers that style matters.  Furthermore, music understanding is achieved through many means, but paramountcy through  the understanding of sounds delivered through music style.

       Why should the Christian care about music styles?  It is believed by many Christians that style is only a matter of musical taste and therefore of little or no concern to the spiritual outcomes of sacred music.  The only problem with this "all styles are ok" notion is that this notion is just not ok!  In our posts for the next few days we will be considering music styles and their effect on both sacred and secular music in the life of a Christian.

Thought for the day--music styles-part 1

How do Christians deduce that if they read the Bible, attend church, and pray they will become so spiritually fortified that they can listen to any type of music they wish and it will have no negative effect on them?

“Is all music created equal?”

“Is all music created equal?” 

 Although the quality of the music we bring to God as an offering matters, musical offerings are not solely about  quality musical performance or high-quality musical art forms. Amos 5:22-23 states, “Though ye offer me burnt offerings and your meat offerings, I will not accept them: neither will I regard the peace offerings of your fat beasts. Take thou away from me the noise of thy songs; for I will not hear the melody of thy viols.”  God declared that He would not accept Israel’s musical sacrifices because of their spiritual condition and refers to their musical offerings as noise.  God was referring to the spiritual condition of those who “leave off righteousness in the earth” rather than, at least in this case, the quality of their music.  I am drawn to this conclusion by what is recorded in Amos 5:12, “For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: they afflict the just, they take a bribe, and they turn aside the poor in the gate from their right.”  The Bible lesson is clear that our musical melodies and our instrumental music will be considered to be noise by our heavenly father if we attempt to music unto him with sin in our hearts.

Now I will attempt to answer the question “Is all music created equal?”  First of all, only God can create.  Man always takes something that already exists and uses his God given gift of creativity to construct  musical compositions in new and wonderful (or not so wonderful) ways.  Odd as it may seem, the spiritual condition of the creative musician’s heart does not always dictate the nature and value of a musician’s creative musical works.  It is sometimes difficult to reconcile the statement above with  Luke 6:45 which states, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.”  Because of the evil condition of a composer’s heart, he or she may not use his or her artistic efforts to produce music that is suited for worship.  However, that musician could artistically arrange the formal properties of a piece of music that is appropriate and useful for Christian worship.  So, according to how a composer arranges the building blocks (the formal properties of the music), the music part of the music composition will take on meaning.  This meaning will have the propensity to affect the listener either positively or negatively.  Thus all music compositions are not created equal.

Musicing—The Gospel part 5

Musicing—The Gospel part 5

Romans 1:6, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.”

I am no sure that St. Paul was a musician—at least he never mentioned that he personally musiced unto God.  However, he mentioned musicing unto God in his Epistles.  As a matter of fact what he had to say about music and musicing unto God was very pungent.  He may or may not have musiced unto God but one thing I believe—if he did I am sure that his musicing  was “gospel” musicing and it was done without fear or favor because he definitely was not ashamed of the gospel of Christ. 

Paul showed time and time again during his life and ministry that, as he said in his Epistle to the church at Rome, he was “not ashamed of the gospel of Christ:”  I wish that all Christian musicians understood that sacred musicing is not primarily about music as an art form but rather about musicing the gospel of Jesus Christ that makes it the power of God. The Bible never says that music is itself the power of God.

  David, who was a psalmist and a great Old Testament musician said in Psalm 40:9, “I have preached righteousness in the great congregation: lo, I have not refrained my lips, O LORD, thou knowest.”  David understood, even in the Old Testament dispensation  long before Christ came to earth, that he needed to music righteousness to  the congregation.  So, it is not about a Christian musician’s musical ability or his or her performance skills, but rather about musicing the Gospel of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that makes a Christian’s musicing efficacious.

Thought for the Day

Sacred musicing should always be from a ministry and a referential standpoint.  The music part of music is vitally important, but the gospel of Jesus Christ is brought to the experience of musicing from outside of the formal properties of the music.