Musicing in Christ—part 2

 

Musicing in Christ—part 2

In St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans (12:1-2)  he gives a strong admonishment to those who are Christians,  “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 [logikos 3050-rational] service.  And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”  The words not conformed (me suschematizo 3361, 4964) teach us that, in the process of presenting ourselves to God, we must not let ourselves be fashioned into the pattern of the world’s paradigm*.  It is interesting to note that the original meaning of the word paradigm first appeared in English sometime during the 15th century and meant "an example or pattern".  However, since the 1960’s the word paradigm has developed the meaning of a framework containing a person’s basic assumptions and ways and limits of thinking and knowing, i.e., that person’s epistemology. 

Why all the fuss about a Christian parent’s musical paradigm and music philosophy?  Over the many years that I taught music, I have experienced numerous problems with students that were a result of their parents musical paradigm.  For instance, one of my female voice students broke into tears in the middle of a voice lesson.  Naturally, I inquired of the problem and found that her mother had counseled her, “do not let them teach you to sing with vibrato.” 

 

Thought for the Day—Whether or not a Christian parent considers himself or herself to be a musician, that persons musical paradigm will  affect how his or her children view music and musicing.  Therefore, no Christian parent can escape the responsibility to study music.