Some Musicians Remind Me of Fancy Pigeons—part 6

 

Some Musicians Remind Me of Fancy Pigeons—part 6

          Some Christian musicians remind me of a type of fancy pigeon called a Jacobin.  There are both good and bad things that I see when I compare this type of pigeon to Christian musicians.  First, let me tell you that this pigeon is one of the most attractive pigeons that I have ever seen.  I like the sorrel colored ones the best.  These birds have a sleek beautiful feather covering and a feather hood that completely covers their heads from the side view.  Jacobins have an upright graceful stance and they also move about in a stately manner.  Unlike the Oriental Frill mentioned in the last post, they are excellent parents.

          Some Christian musicians seem to have a musical philosophical hood that obscures their side view.  Like Jacobins, these Christian musicians are vulnerable to being hit from the side because they only see what is directly in front of them.  They have absolutely no global view of music ministry.  They can only understand the “seven songs that Jesus approves of”.  They are unable to help Christian musicians who are from other cultures to “sanctify” the music and muscing from their culture that is capable of being amenable to the Lordship of Christ.  Because they only see through “Western eyes”, they do not see the need of helping young Christian musicians who are from another Country and another culture develop a Christocentric music philosophy  that follows what the Bible teaches about music and musicing unto a high and holy Triune God. 

          It is commendable that these musicians are excellent at passing to the next generation the time honored traditions of our Christian culture.  These Jacobin-like Christian musicians are excellent at training the “household of faith” who come from Western cultures.  However, a Christian musician who will be returning to minister in a different culture must be trained to use appropriate music that is taken specifically from that culture.  Everything musical that by association does not bring approach to the cause of Christ in that specific culture or that is not in conflict with the changed life principles taught in the Bible may be considered for possible use in a particular culture.  Christian music teachers must be able to guide these students in appropriate ways to use music that is capable of being amenable to the lordship of Christ and will represent the moral nature of God in appropriate ways in the context of a Christian culture.  So, if the Christian musician who may be compared to a Jacobin pigeon is to be of any value outside that musician’s specific cultural surroundings, he or she must learn to think more globally.