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.