Musical “Truth” Found in the Bible part 1

 

Musical “Truth” Found in the Bible part 1

          All Christian music educators should be concerned about the authenticity of   what they use in the instructional process.  Should a Christian music educator refer to Scripture as an historical and philosophical basis for what he or she believes about music?  At least two concepts are important to the process of Christian music education.  First, what the Bible has to say about music and musicing is relevant to music education in the twenty first century.  Second, the music educator should quote Scripture and treat it as authoritative truth concerning music. Many music educators are overly concerned about whether or not they are qualified in the process of music education to quote both Old and New Testament Scriptures that mention music.  It is true that the Bible does not deal with every aspect of music that twenty first century Christian musicians encounter.

 Although the Bible does not provide us with exhaustive truth concerning music, what it does tell us is always true. As Francis Schaeffer wrote, “It is an important principle to remember, in the contemporary interest in communication and in language study, that the biblical presentation is that, though although we do not have exhaustive truth, we have from the Bible what I term ‘true truth’.  In this way we know true truth about God, true truth about man and something truly about nature, thus on the basis of the Scriptures, while we do not have exhaustive knowledge, we have true and unified knowledge.” Escape from Reason, by Francis Schaeffer, p. 21  Every reference to music mentioned in the Bible, as II Timothy 3:16 states, is “… given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness.”  Ephesians 5:18 commands the Christian musician to “be filled with the Spirit”. 

 

Thought for the Day

 

Christian musicians must not fall into the philosophical trap of believing that the truth concerning music which is found in the Bible is relative.