Musical “Truth” Found in the Bible part 2

Musical “Truth” Found in the Bible part 2 

  “Proof texting is the method by which a person appeals to a biblical text to prove or justify a theological position without regard for the context of the passage they are citing. Proof texting is the method by which a person appeals to a biblical text to prove or justify a theological position without regard for the context of the passage they are citing.”  http://www.theopedia.com/Proof_texting It stands to reason that such use of Scripture does not result in biblical accuracy or what Schaeffer called true truth.  However, one should be careful to not contend that quoting Scripture connotes that the one who quoted it is using it without regard to how it was used by the original author.  We should also remember that New Testament authors quoted verses from the OT to support their arguments.  Those who quoted OT passages of Scripture included Jesus who quoted Deuteronomy 8:3 when he was being tempted by Satan (see Matthew 4:4 and Luke 4:4).  So, it isn’t quoting Scripture that constitutes proof texting but rather mis-representing the original intent of Scripture or the principle that the original Scripture represented.

What I am contending, for example, is that an author stating that a Christian musician should not music unto God with carnal songs, based on the use of pneumatikos  oide (4152 5603) in Ephesians 5:19, does not constitute the unwarranted use of Scripture which is called proof texting because lexicographers generally agree that pneumatikos oide means spiritual i.e. non-carnal songs. As we know, indiscriminate quoting of Scripture to try to prove a point will many times result in incorrect conclusions, but so will taking the usual meaning of an English word or words used in a Bible translation without regard to the meaning of the word or words used by the original author.  Words have meaning but their meaning is greatly influenced by how they are used in sentences.  However, how an author interprets what words mean in context is many times a matter of opinion. 

 

Thought for the Day

 

Even though some Christian musicians misquote and misinterpret Scriptures that mention music, Christian music educators can and should treat what the Bible has to say about music as authoritative.