A Music Education Credo

 

A Music Education Credo

          The more than 600 references to music in the Bible are given by inspiration of God and are profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction (that includes music and musicing) today. The Bible provides timeless, relevant, and practical spiritual guidance for twenty-first century musicians.  The principles of musicing set forth in the Bible are relevant for developing a music education philosophy and praxis.  The only completely safe teacher of Christian music education and music philosophy is the Holy Spirit who is willing to guide Christian musicians into all truth concerning music education in this century.  

           There are absolutes concerning music education and its place in a Christian organization’s ministry.  A prescriptive Christian music education philosophy must be   built on Bible principles of musicing, profundity, appropriateness and standards of correctness.  There is room for taste in music in the context of music education, but the use of music in education is not all a matter of personal taste since it must be congruent with the principles of a changed life.  God thought music into being.  He owns it and His Word addresses it specifically.  Therefore, we should study Gods Word to *ascertain what He thinks about music and musicing. The Old Testament teaches that it is the responsibility of Christians to educate their own musically so that good causes in music may be served.  His Word commands us to instruct our children in “the songs of the LORD”. (1 Chronicles 25:7)

           Although Christian musicians live in this present evil world, they are not of this present world system and therefore a philosophy of Christian music education should be of a higher renovated character than secular, humanistic philosophies of music education.  A Christian music educator’s music philosophy matters to God, and although there is much evil in this century, conservative Spirit-filled musicians can effect changes in Christian music education that will have a positive influence in this century.  Parents, churches, Christian schools, and Bible colleges who have a Chistocentric music philosophy can and should catechize the next generation of Christian musicians.