Is Music a Closed System?--Part 4

 

Is Music a Closed System?--Part 4  

If music is totally benign, knowledgably mute, sealed in a “bubble”, and therefore helpless to communicate any meaning, the writer of this first letter to the Corinthian Christians would not have used the Greek word ginosko (1097) which means “to perceive” or “to understand”.  As I said earlier in this discussion, music alone (music without text) is not capable of communicating exactly like a spoken known language, but it does have the power and ability to communicate meaning—thus the term meta-language is applied here to music being able to “say something” or communicate meaning.

The hypothesis that music contains understandable meaning has existed since the time of the ancient Greek music philosophers.  I contend that this belief is as old as the writings of the Old Testament.  The OT writings gave credence to the belief that music represents, says, reflects, and conveys powerful meaning to those who experience it in or outside of public worship.  The NT also gives music a place of importance, value, and in the lives of all who experience it.  Therefore, the student of music philosophy who is seeking a Bible basis for his or her music philosophy should be skeptical of modern-day writings that reduce or deny music’s power.

 

 

Is Music a Closed System?--Part 3

 

Is Music a Closed System?--Part 3  

   Although the use of this musical reference in the fourteenth chapter of I Corinthians is in the middle of another discussion, it is still a musical reference.  Verse six explains that distinct speaking brings about clear communication.  Likewise, verse seven explains that clear production of musical sounds brings about a clear musical communication which establishes message and meaning.  Therefore, one may safely conclude that music is at least a meta-language in that it communicates meaning in an analogous manner to language.  Musicians are cautioned by this verse that clear production of musical tones will insure a clearly communicated musical message and meaning much like clear language communicates an understandable message.

 I am not saying that clearly spoken language and clearly produced musical tones function exactly alike.  However, because they have the ability to function in somewhat similar ways, I lean toward the conclusion that music functions as a meta-language.  The import of the use of this musical reference in I Corinthians 14:7 is that clearly produced music can and does communicate meaning to the performer and the auditor.  Therefore, the music part of music does matter because it communicates real understandable meaning.  A careful look at verse seven reveals that the inspired Word of God teaches that music that gives a clear distinction in its sounds has the potential to cause the performer and the auditor to “know” i.e. gain information and meaning from the musical sounds. 

 

Is Music a Closed System?--Part 2

 

Is Music a Closed System?--Part 2            

 In the Book of Genesis it is stated very clearly that ALL of God’s creation, which without doubt had to include music, was created in a very good (maod towb 3966, 2896) condition (see Genesis 1:31).  God always gives man a choice.  If man had not listened to Satan he would not have fallen from that wonderful state where he walked and talked with God in the Garden of Eden (See Genesis chapter three).  However, he did listen to Satan, fell spiritually when he disobeyed God, and took on Satan’s sinful rebellious nature.  Since man has a choice today, he can either arrange musical sounds in ways that honor God or that feed the lust of sinful men and women and that can be a source of spiritual failure of Christians.

I Corinthians 14:7 states, “And even things without life giving sound, whether pipe or harp, except they give a distinction in the sounds, how shall it be known what is piped or harped.”  This Scripture has been subjected over the centuries to a *plethora of confusion of opinions concerning its meaning.  We know that the Greek words translated giving sound (didomi phone-1325, 5456) in verse seven mean something that yields sound.  The words “give a distinction in the sounds” (didomi, diastole, phthoggos 1325, 1293, 5353) mean to yield a distinction of musical notes in the process of utterance of musical sounds.

Is Music a Closed System?--Part 1

 

Is Music a Closed System?--Part 1            

    The belief that music is a closed system is a spurious notion because, as a closed system, music would be independent of any outside influences. If music is not related to real life it would be completely amoral and independent of any moral jurisdiction. That condition would allow the Christian musician to become autonomous in his or her musicing.  There is no aspect of a Christian’s music philosophy that may be allowed to become autonomous simply because we are accountable to God in every area of our life.  Therefore, I cannot believe that God, who in the beginning created music, created it as a closed system. I believe God created the mathematical ratios that produce sound so that we could worship Him with these sounds.  I also believe that He created these ratios that produce pitches so that these sounds could become a part of the abundant life that the Christian should enjoy.  This “abundant life” or perissos (4012) which is spoken of in St. John 10:10 means that God has created music, among many other things, in superabundance or exceedingly and abundantly above and beyond the necessary things for mere existence. 

    As can be expected, Satan is always present in this dark world to assist men and women in messing up God’s wonderful creation called music.  Any philosophical belief about music that denies that God intends music for our good and that Satan intends to use his influence to pervert it so that music can aid our spiritual failure is simply a naive and over simplistic misguided belief system.

What May Happen if We Remove the Ancient Landmarks?—part 2

 

What May Happen if We Remove the Ancient Landmarks?—part 2

       What will we have of value after we remove all the time-honored principles of musicing from public worship?   One thing for sure, we will not recognize public worship in one generation if we as Christian musicians do not exercise some musical caution about adding the profane and subtracting everything traditional from our music worship. There are Bible principles of how-to music unto God.  We may deny that they are in the Bible or we may consider them to have outlived their relevance, but that will never change the fact that they are there, and they are profitable to us in this century.
        We know that the kind and quality of music matters to God.  We know that according to God’s Word, (see Amos 5:23, Isaiah 5:12,14:11) He reserves the right not to hear some music and He considers other music to be noise and states that He will not hear such musicing.  If you have further interest, I have discussed these and other Bible principles of musicing in the books, Music of the Bible in Christian Perspective and Church Music Matters.  So, in conclusion, we may remove all traditional ways of musicing from our so called "worship" but if we do we will be worshiping "we know not what" (St. John 4:22).  We will also be impoverished spiritually by removing these time-honored Bible principles of worshiping through music.

What May Happen if We Remove the Ancient Landmarks?—part 1

 

What May Happen if We Remove the Ancient Landmarks?—part 1

         The last thing that I would ever wish to do would spend my time preparing books on music philosophy that always predict gloom and doom for the future of church music and Christian music education.  However, in the musical discourse of Ephesians chapter five, verses fifteen and sixteen warn Christians to, “See that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” 

When I was being trained in the U.S Army, our instructors drilled us on the concept that, when we were part of a patrol, everyone must walk circumspectly.  That means that, as the patrol advances, every patrol member must be looking at all times and that the patrol as a whole must be looking in all directions at all times.  Certainly that training has proven valuable to me over the past forty years as a conservative Christian musician.  Every time in my life that I have made the conscious decision to exercise caution instead of disregarding time-honored principles of musicing unto God, I have been thankful later.

 

Bible Music Increased the Performer’s and Listener’s Understanding

 

Bible Music Increased the Performer’s and Listener’s Understanding  

Our English word music is derived from the word muse that means "to think".  From as far back in history as there is a record of music, it has been considered by some cultures as not only an emotional but also an intellectual art form.  Although the ancient music of the Bible was definitely an art form, it was not merely an art form to be consumed on man’s desires and pleasures.  The Ancient Hebrews did not consider it to be primarily an art form but rather a means of connection with YHVH.  

The music of the Bible was not written by heady high-minded composers who were seekers of musical artistic self-actualization, entertainment, fame, and fortune. Music was created by JHVH as a means to honor and worship the blessed trinity. It was created for God's glory and man’s edification, education, and enjoyment as part of the abundant (perissos 4053) of life God created for His created beings.  There is also music mentioned in the Bible that did not honor God.  However, the Bible does not put a premium or approval on such music.  As a matter of fact, the Bible condemns it. (Exodus 32, Amos 6, Isaiah 23).

Why Musicians Do What They Do—Part 1

 

Why Musicians Do What They Do—Part 1

             This blog often considers how people think.  If one wishes to gain insight into why musicians do what they do, then one must learn not only “what they think”, but also “how they think”.  As has been stated, modern, postmodern, and post postmodern   synthesis thinkers not only think different things about music, they also think differently than the thesis thinkers do about music.  They think from a different epistemology.

           The reason one must know how they think is that understanding their way of “knowing” will enable a thesis thinker to discuss the non-discussible with the synthesis thinker.  Remember that the non-rational, non-logical autonomy of the synthesis thinker removes all need or responsibility of discussing or defending one’s philosophical basis of musical thought since this thinker considers that he or she is a free independent thinker without responsibility to anyone or any philosophy. Many times this Christian musician believes that he or she is on a winding musical journey with God that results in   constant philosophical change. If this musician is in a leadership position, leader-shift is considered a strength rather than a confusing and upsetting dilemma for those who are trying to follow his or her musical direction.

God Created Music -Part 2

 

God Created Music -Part 2

            So, the concept that God does not have anything to say about sacred and secular music is false.  As a matter of fact, this faulty view actually denies God’s authority over the whole of creation which includes the whole of music.  It behooves all of us to study His Word and discern just what His will is concerning music.  It is also safe to conclude that all Music Matters very much to God. Although it is presumptuous to claim to know exactly all that God thought when he thought music into existence, we do know from His infallible *inspired Word more about how to music unto Him than many Christians suppose.

                   As we have already considered, music in its beginning, is not the original concept of primitive mankind, but rather the concept of God who is alpha and omega the beginning and the end.  To assume anything less is false and has no basis in or outside of Scripture.  God created the mathematical ratios that form sound or tone, the basis of music, and it has existed from the time of creation. As we have stated before, man did not evolve into existence, and likewise music did not evolve into existence. Although mankind has developed music over the thousands of years since creation, these advancements in the way that the building blocks of music are fitted together are not actually creations.  They are only constructions or artistic arrangements of God’s creation.

 

 

Should All Christian Musicians Study? Part 2

 

Should All Christian Musicians Study? Part 2

          It is a fair question to ask why I purport that all ministering musicians.  The answers to this hypothesis are found first in the statement in 2Timothy 2:15: “Study to shew thyself approved (dokimos 1384) unto God”. Dokimos means, in this situation, that the musician’s serious and accurate study will cause that musician to music in a way that will render this music and musicing acceptable in the sight of God.  This phrase would also connote that the musician has, by study, has “tried” the music and the way he or she plans to musics so that it will be acceptable unto God.

          Second, the statement “a workman that needeth not to be ashamed” is self- explanatory—those who study music and music in the Bible are a lot less apt to later be ashamed of how thy musiced unto God, than those who rush in like a bull in a china shop and find themselves in the unfortunate situation mentioned in 1Timothy 1:5-7,. “Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.” 

 

Scripture for the Day

2Corinthians 10:18, “For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.”

God Created Music -Part 1

 

God Created Music -Part 1

We know that God created the mathematical ratios that form the basis of the musical scale as an on-purpose part of his six-day creation, because He created everything. The Genesis record in chapter 1:31 explains that at the end of the sixth day of creation “God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.”  Therefore, as I have stated many times in my philosophical writings, we know with certainty that in the beginning God created music.  In verse thirty-one God’s opinion is that the system of music He created was very good.  I don’t know about you, but for me, I trust God’s opinion since He *embodies absolute truth concerning all aspects of music. So, when His Word said that music was created in a very good way, I believe What God said I created music and, as I conceived it to be, it was very good.

          One may honestly ask, “What is God’s opinion concerning music?”  This is an honest question, so it deserves an honest answer.  Some of God’s ultimate and perfect opinion concerning music is found in the more than 600 references to music in the Bible.  Many Bible doctrines are only mentioned a few times in God’s Word, but music is so important to God that He mentions it hundreds of times in the inspired infallible Word.

 

Theology, Philosophy, Psychology, and Music Part 3

Theology, Philosophy, Psychology, and Music Part 3

It is of little wonder that Christian musicians in this century are many times convinced that the way that the world musics is more attractive than musicing in traditional conservative ways.  Most of those who have written in the past century and now in the 21^st century who have written about music philosophy and psychology have not been committed Christians whose life purpose has been to bring honor and glory to God by their life endeavors. The Colossians 1:18 statement “And He is the Head of the body, the church, who is the Beginning, the First-born from the dead, that He may be pre-eminent in all things” (MKJV) has not been central in the minds of many of these scholars works and writings.  Bible teachings and faith-based philosophy have not been evident, or even remotely suggested, in their conclusions about music and musicing.

Most of us who have spent many years of our lives studying the Bible, philosophy, and psychology as they relate to sacred and secular musicing, have all gleaned valuable information from secular writers in these fields of study.  As a matter of fact, we have all more or less been influenced by these writer’s conclusions.  The reason being that these writers were and are scholars, and they have shared with us many valuable insights about how performers and listeners respond to music.  However, everything that secular writers have concluded must be filtered through the true truth of God’s Word. Because the way that the world many times musics is based on the philosophical, psychological, and sociological reasoning that is often at loggerheads with what the Bible clearly teaches, there must many times come a parting of the ways between the way that committed Christian musicians and secular musicians music.  Separation from the world is much larger than just matters of lifestyle.  This separation must of necessity include how a Christian musics in and out of church. 

Theology, Philosophy, Psychology, and Music Part 2

 

Theology, Philosophy, Psychology, and Music Part 2

Psychology of Music is the study of the psychological and emotional processes of humans responses to: listening, playing, composing, arranging, and improvising music.  This discipline often utilizes empirical, computational, as well as theoretical methods to derive an understanding of how a person responds to music.  “Psychologists, computer scientists and musicologists all make contributions to this highly interdisciplinary research domain, and their research encompasses experimental work on music perception and cognition, computer modelling of human musical capacities, the social psychology of music, emotion and meaning in music, psychological processes in music therapy, the developmental psychology of music, music and consciousness, music and embodiment, and the neuroscience of music.” https://www.music.ox.ac.uk/research/disciplines/psychology-of-music/

          Although there is much disagreement about there being a connection between theology, philosophy, and psychology, these three disciplines do have connections to the study of how people respond to music that can assist the Christian musician in his or her quest for understanding secular sacred musicing.  The problem with all three of these three ways of studying music is that all of them can be so easily secularized.  Christians who write in all three of these disciplines are all susceptible to being squeezed into the world’s mold.  The way that the world thinks is many times convincing when the Christian musician forgets that the spirit of this age is not a friend of grace. 

 

 

Should All Christian Musicians Study? Part 2

 

Should All Christian Musicians Study? Part 2

          It is a fair question to ask why I purport that all ministering musicians.  The answers to this hypothesis are found first in the statement in 2Timothy 2:15: “Study to shew thyself approved (dokimos 1384) unto God”. Dokimos means, in this situation, that the musician’s serious and accurate study will cause that musician to music in a way that will render this music and musicing acceptable in the sight of God.  This phrase would also connote that the musician has, by study, has “tried” the music and the way he or she plans to musics so that it will be acceptable unto God.

          Second, the statement “a workman that needeth not to be ashamed” is self- explanatory—those who study music and music in the Bible are a lot less apt to later be ashamed of how thy musiced unto God, than those who rush in like a bull in a china shop and find themselves in the unfortunate situation mentioned in 1Timothy 1:5-7,. “Now the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and of a good conscience, and of faith unfeigned: From which some having swerved have turned aside unto vain jangling; desiring to be teachers of the law; understanding neither what they say, nor whereof they affirm.” 

 

Scripture for the Day

2Corinthians 10:18, “For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.”

Theology, Philosophy, Psychology, and Music Part 1

 

Theology, Philosophy, Psychology, and Music Part 1

A literal definition of theology is “the study of God," but it is generally now understood to mean the study of religion. It is also understood to mean man’s relationship to God and God’s relationship to man. “[Theology is] the field of study and analysis that treats of God and of God's attributes and relations to the universe; study of divine things or religious truth; divinity.”  https://www.dictionary.com/browse/theology Understanding the God whom we love, and worship is largely made possible by a knowledge of theology.

  The classic definition of philosophy is the pursuit of wisdom. Music philosophy is the study of the theoretical basis of knowing and experiencing music. Many of the doctrines that are germane to the study  and understanding of Christianity have important philosophical implications.  Therefore, there is a strong connections between theology, philosophy, and wisdom of how Christians should music unto God.  These connections help the Christian musician to understand how humans experience and music and musicing.

Merely Sounding Brass—part 3

 

Merely Sounding Brass—part 3 

            The Christian musician must be sure that he or she musics with love for others.  When a very gifted performer stands before a congregation of worshipers, it is easy to center all attention on the performance rather than on ministry.  Some Christian musician performers have a tendency to worship the created thing (music) rather than the creator (God).  Romans 1:25 refers to those, “Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature (2937) more than the Creator (2936), who is blessed forever. Amen.” Strong’s Concordance states that ktisis (2937) refers to original formation (properly, the act; by implication, the thing, (literally or figuratively).  Strong also states that ktizo (2936) means the one who created.

            So, with this knowledge we deduce that the Bible condemns worshiping music rather than the God who is the creator of music.  A common error of church music performers is worshiping worship.  It is also wrong for the musicer to worship music.  A Christian musician must love the God who created the art form of music rather than the music itself.  Although there is nothing wrong with a Christian performer enjoying performing sacred music, but if the love of music or performance becomes the main thing, it will become an idol rather than a vehicle of praise to God.

 

Song for the Day—They’ll Know We are Christians by Our Love by Peter Scholtes

Merely Sounding Brass—part 2

 

Merely Sounding Brass—part 2 

            There are a host of opinions about what the Greek words echo chalkos (2278 5475) which were translated sounding brass mean. The best explanation that I have found of the Greek words <echeo> <chalkos>, (sounding brass) comes from the writings of Marcus Vitruvius Pollio who lived in the 1st century b. c.  He was a Roman architect, engineer, and author of the celebrated treatise De architectura (On Architecture), a handbook for Roman architects.

            Vitruvius explained that the echo chalkos were tuned acoustic brass or bronze vases that were strategically placed around the Roman out-door theaters.  Each vase was tuned chromatically and when a particular pitch was produced by the human voice, that particular vase would amplify the actor’s voice.  However, these metal sounding vases produced a hollow sound that was not a true representation of the actor’s voice quality.           

          So, when one reads “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity i.e. love that acts, I am become as sounding brass” with the knowledge of what we learned from Vitruvius, we understand that if a person says that he loves his or her neighbor but does not really care for them—this person’s speech is hollow like the sound produced by the Roman hollow sounding vases that amplified sound in the roman theaters.

 

 

Song for the Day—I Want To Be Like Jesus by Thomas O. Chisholm