Musical Actions Matter

 

Musical Actions Matter

A Christian’s actions and associations matter because alignment with the actions of the unrighteous places the Christian musician in agreement with them.  For this reason Christians are warned to “come out from among them”.  What this means is that any music or musicing that identifies the musicer with the world and what it stands for is a poor choice for sacred musicing.  A Christian is considered to be bigoted when he or she follows the admonition “come out from among them”. Although it is not a popular thing to do, God has promised to those who follow this admonition that, “I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.”

Since the last half of the 20^th century there has been intense pressure placed on church musicians to conform their musicing to the way the world musics.  They are often told that for a church to acquire its rightful “market share” or have a relevant music ministry, it must admit all genres and music fusions that the world uses in its secular musicing.  The concept of separation from the world has been replaced with the notion that in order to win the world to Christ it is necessary to use music that is as much like the music of those who do not know Jesus Christ as is possible.  A concomitant of this faulty praxis is the philosophical belief that the end justifies the means. This philosophy has permeated much of current religious music philosophy and praxis. The basis for sacred musicing should be faith in God rather than likes and dislikes, musical taste, and musical style conformity.

Thought for the Day

Have you ever considered why you music the way you do?  Every Christian musician must know why he or she has chosen to follow a course of musical action.  Start the new year knowing where you are going musically.