Thoughts on Spiritual Horticulture--Part 3

Thoughts on Spiritual Horticulture--Part 3

          There are also some things that the spiritually green tree does do in order to stay green.  This tree makes God his strength  does not trust in wealth; does not strengthen  himself in wickedness.  This spiritually green tree praises God continually (for ever and ever) because he understands that the source of spiritual chlorophyll A and B is God and God alone. 

The spiritually green tree trusts in the mercy of the Lord.  This is necessary because musicians are often self-starters who have a propensity to be self-centered, self-trusting.  Hebrews 11:6 warns, “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”  It is one thing to believe in God but another to believe that HE is the rewarder rather than SELF.  Psalm 121:2 reminds us that “My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.”  It is the  spiritual chlorophyll from God that sustains spiritual life of the green tree Christian.

Thought for the Day

In Psalm 52:7b the Psalmist stated I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints.  The green-tree Christian has developed a wisdom that causes him or her to wait on God.  Are you comfortable waiting on God?

Thoughts on Spiritual Horticulture--Part 2

Thoughts on Spiritual Horticulture--Part 2

. Psalm 52:7b But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.  I will praise thee forever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints.

David  states in this verse that he is a green tree and since it is a green olive tree it is a spiritually productive tree.  Olive trees are capable of living and producing olives for many, many years.  Notice that earlier in this Psalm David mentions some things that the spiritually green tree does not do.

 I know that it is not politically correct to mention things that the Christian who is alive and productive does not do, but God’s inspired word lists some of them in Psalm 52. In Psalm 52:5 the green tree is warned that if he or she does these things “God shall likewise destroy thee forever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah.”  Also, Psalm 52:7 warns,  Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.”

Thought for the Day

Psalm 28:7 teaches, The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

Thoughts on Spiritual Horticulture. part 1

Thoughts on Spiritual Horticulture.  part 1

Psalm 52:7 Lo, this is the man that made not God his strength; but trusted in the abundance of his riches, and strengthened himself in his wickedness.  But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God: I trust in the mercy of God for ever and ever.  I will praise thee forever, because thou hast done it: and I will wait on thy name; for it is good before thy saints.

          In this Psalm David pains a word picture of the man who is a dead tree.  This person’s tongue is sharp and deceitful.  This tree is spiritually dead because it fed on evil more than righteousness and feasted on lies rather than righteousness.  The Psalmist lets the hearer of the music and words fill in the blanks of the specifics of the things that caused his spiritual death.

          When I read this passage it struck me that the tree died because it loved evil more than righteousness.  The psalmist did not say that this tree did not love righteousness; he simply stated that the dead tree loved evil more.  Evil surrounds the Christian in this post postmodern world.  If the Christian musician is not careful he or she will develop a taste for both righteousness AND evil.

Thought for the Day

Be careful little eyes what you see and what you listen to—music videos are everywhere.  We are surrounded with easy access to them.  If you develop a  taste for an amalgamation of evil and good it will cause you to shrivel up and die spiritually.  Music fusion mixed with sensual videography is a killer of green trees.

The “Roaring 2020’s

The “Roaring 2020’s

Will the decade beginning this year be the beginning of a decade that we can term the “Roaring 2020’s”.  “The 1920s in the United States, called “roaring” because of the exuberant, freewheeling popular culture of the decade. “The Roaring Twenties was a time when many people defied Prohibition, indulged in new styles of dancing and dressing, and rejected many traditional moral standards.”  https://www.dictionary.com/browse/roaring-twenties   

               One hundred years ago the roaring 20’s also included new freedoms in music.  Liberated and hedonistic social behavior and the development of jazz and ragtime.  The attitude of many people was termed “roaring”  for many reasons but new music freedoms were very much a part of these new rebellions.

          I am concerned that churches who have resisted destructive musical changes for many years are beginning to capitulate due to weariness and a lack of solid Bible based, faith-based music understanding.  Because of the philosophical confusion that pervades conservative churches at the onset of the 2020’s, many pastors and church boards do not have the philosophical equipment that is absolutely necessary to ward off the current  musical freedoms that that are so pervasive at the beginning of this “Roaring” decade.

Thought for the Day

If your church does not have a written series of systematic statements concerning the nature, value and meaning of both secular and religious music, your fellowship of believers is most vulnerable to the flood of secular musical influences that have the propensity to vilify and debauch sacred music in your church.

The Right Music for the Right Place

The Right Music for the Right Place

The notion that a particular style of music fits all occasions is faulty.  One size fits all leads to problems when it comes to the use of music as a worship vehicle.  This argument has gone on since the beginning of worship turmoil of the 1960’s.  Is there right and wrong when it comes to appropriate musical choices?  The answer is ,”YES”.  In my book Church Music Matters I discussed this subject at length.  I still have the same opinion. 

          Worship leaders must make appropriate choices of the music that that they choose for worship.  Some styles of music are never an appropriate choice to represent the and uplift  our triune God who is high and holy.  Simply put, some types of music always send the wrong non-verbal communication so, they are never appropriate.  Although it is not politically correct to use the word never, I know that taking such a stand will not make me popular. 

Thought for the Day

God is watching and God is listening.  We must be careful that we do not connect His name to music styles that do not represent Him is a proper way.

God Hears the Postlude Too

God Hears the Postlude Too

After the worship service the other Sunday, I was shocked at the canned music that was playing on the sound system.  It was as if we were communicating that Worship was over and God had left the Sanctuary so we could sneak in some  rock-based music.  I guess we had a memory lapse that God is omni-present.  We, as musicians, are not able to sneak away from his presence.

          If we need to be careful of our musical choices during the worship service, and we do, we also need to be careful after the service is over as well.  If we believe that God is Lord over the music we use in the context of worship, and we do, He is Lord of the music we utilize after the service is over.  The world is very confused about music, so I suggest that we should not confuse them more.  What we say we believe should be practiced as we leave the sanctuary.

Thought for the Day

If churches would publish a music philosophy which includes systematic statements concerning the nature, value and meaning of music, they would not have to spend so much time putting out music fires.

And Can It Be?

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

And Can It Be?

I am amazed that the mighty love of God reached a farm boy in Eastern Kansas.  I know that the wages of sin is death.  I understand that the law and justice of God demands penalty for sin.  Even when I was a bitter young man that did not love and serve Jesus Christ, I never doubted the existence of God or that I would have to someday pay for my sin.  I never doubted that God new and saw my rebellion against Him.

          As I look back on those rebellious years, I understood God to be stern more than loving.  I did not understand the infinite grace of God that sent His Son to die for me.  I did not fully understand that Christ “Emptied Himself of all but love”.  It still amazes me that “He left His Father’s throne above, So free , so infinite His grace!” 

          “And can it be that I should gain an interest in the Savior’s blood?  Charles Wesley explained my sinful depraved condition very well when he wrote, “Long my imprisoned spirit lay, fast bound in sin and nature’s night.”  However, praise be to God, “Thine eye diffused a quickening ray, I woke; the dungeon flamed with light!  My chains fell off; my heart was free.  I rose, went forth and followed Thee.” 

          Wesley caught the reality of the born-again experience when he penned the words, “No condemnation now I dread; Jesus, and all in Him, is mine!  Alive in Him, my living Head,  And clothed in righteousness divine, Bold I approach the eternal throne and claim the crown, through Christ, my own.”  Praise God for His love that made it possible for this Kansas farmer to be forgiven and freed from a life or rebellion and sin.

Song for the Day  And Can it Be? By Charles Wesley

Prayer for the Day

My dear Heavenly Father I want to thank You for sending Your Son Jesus Christ into this sin cursed world to die for me.  Thank You that Christ really died to pay the penalty for my sins.  I am not worthy to have an interest in my Savior’s love.   Thank You that Christ emptied Himself of all but love for me.  Thank You that instead of wrath, I received mercy.  Thank You for amazing love that reached a sinner like me.  This I am thankfully praying.  Amen.