Singing—A Means of Grace—part 3

Singing—A Means of Grace—part 3

            Philosophers have always believed that music had great power over everyone.  It has only been since the 20th century that some Christian philosophers have come to the conclusion that style in music is neutral and therefore amoral.  Under this new “liberated” philosophy anything goes in church music.  To them, church music exists in an absurd universe and is a standardless art.  Since church music is without absolutes or any standard of correctness it is merely a matter of personal taste.  These modern church music philosophers quote St. Matthew 7:1, “Judge not, that ye be not judged.”  They purport that Jesus put an end to judgement when it comes to Christian living.

            The real question before us is, “Will we be judged for what we do (music included) in this life?”  Therefore, these synthesis thinkers have missed the point.  They say we should not criticize each other’s church music since it is merely a matter of taste anyway.  Since, to them, all musical roads lead to heaven, it is wrong to criticize anyone’s style of church music performance.  It is my belief that every church musician will give an account to God at the judgement for what he or she did with the great art of music.

 

Singing—A Means of Grace—part 2

Singing—A Means of Grace—part 2

            What does the Scripture lesson taught in 1Corinthians 1:18 mean to the 21st century church?  First of all, there is and always has been a war going on between the wisdom of God and the specious arguments of the present age.  Every Christian musician should be sure that he or she is following biblical wisdom when developing a music ministry philosophy.  Second, there are very logical sounding arguments that are prevalent today that simply do not line up with Scripture.  Beware that you are not led astray by what seems to make sense at least by the world’s standards.  If your philosophy has caused you to not keep the main thing then it is faulty. 

            Ancient philosophers believed that music could have a profound moral effect on the hearer. We know from history that, “All ancient peoples of whom we have knowledge gave music a place of honor, they considered it a potent religious and moral force, intimately related to the most formal, as well as the most informal aspects of life.”  Music in Europe and the United States, Edith Borroff, Pg. 4.  It has only been the product of modern man’s mind that music is amoral.  Although philosophers and musicians have argued for centuries about how music affects us or exactly what moral effect music had on the auditor and the performer, they have always believed that music had a message.

 

 

Singing—A Means of Grace—part 1

Singing—A Means of Grace—part 1

            Corporate worship through singing is a valuable means of grace to the believer.  Singing can be a valuable teaching tool.  Singing can be used by the Holy Spirit to convict and convert sinners.  However, 1 Corinthians 1:18 above states that preaching is “the power of God.”  Music, although it has power and charm is never spoken of in the Bible as the “power of God”.  Verse twenty of chapter one of I Corinthians says, “Where is the wise [sophos 4680]? Where is the scribe?  Where is the disputer [suzetetes 4804] of this world [aion 165]?  Hath not God made foolish [moraino 3471] the wisdom [sophia 4678] of this world [kosmos 2889]?

            The sophists were ancient Greek philosophers notorious for their specious arguments. To many their arguments sounded logical and correct but they often were far from being correct.  The disputers were philosophers who were debaters involved in controversial discussions.  Paul declared here that God has shown how insipid their arguments were.  The arguments of the sophists were, as verse twenty tells us, based on the wisdom of the aion or the present system of the age.  It was wisdom based on the matrix of Satan.

 

God Will Not Share Glory With Musicians

God Will Not Share Glory With Musicians

            Psalm 146:1 “Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul.  While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.” Verse one declares that it is the responsibility of every believer who loves Yahh (3050) to praise YHVH.  Those who love God still have the responsibility to praise.  The Hebrew word used in verse one is halal (1984) which means, according to Strong’s dictionary, “to shine; hence, to make a show, to boast; and thus to be (clamorously) foolish; to rave; causatively, to celebrate”.

            When we music unto God we should boast, shine, and celebrate!  Our celebration should always be a celebration of who God is and what He does.  Musical worship is never about the music or the musicer, but rather it is always about the blessed Trinity.  If we worship music, our musicing is an act of idolatry—nothing more and nothing less.  If we celebrate the musicer, our gratitude is by no means an act of worship.  When the performer is the center of attention, what could have been true worship becomes a musical event or a concert.  Isaiah 48:10-11 “Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction. For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.”   Again Strong explains that the word “glory” i.e. kabowd (3519) properly, weight, but only figuratively in a good sense, splendor or copiousness:--glorious(-ly), glory, honour”.  So, God has declared that He will not share His splendor and honor with anyone—which includes musicians.

 

Thught, Song, and Prayer for the Day

Thought for the Day

We used to say on the farm back in Kansas “It does not do much good to close the gate AFTER the cows are out”.  The same is true of a Christian’s music listening habits. 

Song for the Day Guard Your Heart by Steve Green   

Prayer for the Day

My Heavenly Father I am asking You to help me to guard my thoughts and actions today.  Help me to be the kind of gate-keeper that refuses to open the gate to temptation.  I am also asking you to “Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.” (Psalm 34:13)  Help me to fill my mind with music that will honor You.  These things I am asking You, trusting that You will answer according to Your perfect will.  Amen.

 

 

Guard Your Heart

Guard Your Heart

            Whether music we listen to and perform is or is not directly addressed to God is not the major issue.  Many people believe “you are what you eat” but ignore the fact that “you are what you hear” and “you are what you perform”. How does a Christian musician come to the conclusion that Christians are immune to the effects of the music they listen to and perform?  If any “musing” takes place in a person’s passive or active musicing, then it stands to reason that it will have a positive or negative effect on the whole life of that individual. 

            Proverbs 23:7 explains that “For as he thinks (shaar 8176) in his heart so is he...” If this Scripture is true, and it is, Christians will be what they muse.   The word shaar means to open as a gate-keeper.  Although God will help us, we as Christians are responsible to not open the gate of temptation.  Therefore, all musicing must be done advisedly since it will have a positive or negative effect on the heart life.  Proverbs 4:23 warns, “keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”  What makes a Christian conclude that one may feed on musical filth for hours at a time and still maintain a holy heart life?

 

Does God Call Music Teachers? Part 3

Does God Call Music Teachers? Part 3

 Earlier in this three post sequence we referred to Ephesians 4:11 and Romans 12:6-8.  It is interesting to note that this Scripture passage instructs Christians to keep doing what God gave them the gifts to accomplish.  The teacher is instructed to keep teaching i.e. “he that teacheth on teaching (didasko en didaskalia 1321 1722 1319).  It seems self-evident that God would not instruct teachers to keep on teaching unless He considers teaching to be a sacred trust i.e. a calling.

So, to answer the question “Does God call teachers?” the answer is definitely yes!  Since God calls teachers and instructs them to keep teaching, it only stands to reason that He calls Christian music teachers and instructs them to keep teaching music.  God not only calls music teachers but also beseeches them to present their bodies as a living teaching sacrifice. Also, according to Romans 11:29 teaching, for the called music teacher, is not an option, “For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.” The reason for this logical conclusion is that the Greek word ametameletos (278) translated “repentance” here in the AV means that when God bestows gifts and callings they are irrevocable.

 

 

 

Does God Call Music Teachers? Part 2

Does God Call Music Teachers? Part 2

Of special interest is a reference in Ephesians 4:11 where pastors and teachers (poimen, didaskolos 4166 1320) are referred to as one instead of different callings.  Because of this reference some believe that being a teacher is a concomitant gift of a pastoral calling rather than a separate calling.  The fact that God endows some pastors with the gift of teaching does not preclude God calling others to be teachers.  It seems perfectly clear from I Corinthians 12:28 where the inspired writer is careful to include teachers among the various classifications of callings. The words “God hath set” clearly indicate that God places (tithemi, 5087) or calls Christians into these several ministries including those who are called with specifity to be teachers without any indication that they are also pastors.

Also noteworthy is Romans 12:6-8 where it states, “Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.”  Among the long list of gifts that Christians are given by the grace of God, teaching is specifically included.

 

Does God Call Music Teachers? Part 1

Does God Call Music Teachers? Part 1

Students who are in a music education degree program often wonder if teaching music is a sacred trust and therefore a calling of God.  During my lifetime I have seen very little written on the subject of whether or not music teaching is a calling of God like being a pastor or a missionary. Also, I have never had the privilege of hearing anyone (except myself) give a lecture on music teaching being considered a *sacred trust. 1Corinthians 12:28 states,  “And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.”

First of all, before I answer the question “Does God call teachers?” it is necessary for me to identify the Bible definitions of the words teacher and teachers and false teachers. In I Corinthians chapter twelve, verses twenty eight and twenty nine both use the word didaskalos (1320) which means a master or instructor. II Peter mentions false teachers (pseudodidaskalos 5572) which has the connotation of *spurious teachers. The same Greek word is translated master several times in the AV.  Sometimes it was referring to Jesus and others who were also referred to as “master’.  It was translated once in James 3:1 as many masters (pokus didaskalos 4183 1320). 

 

Thank you for a Great Month of July

       Thank you for a Great Month of July 
            This month was the 43^nd month of my blog which contained devotional and philosophical thoughts for Christian musicians. I have written over 2,472 posts since this blog was started in January of 2013. There have been several times this year when I have experienced a certain amount of writer’s burnout.  However, I am praying that my posts in 2016 will stimulate both the regular and new blog members to remain faithful to their musical Ministeries. It is my continued prayer that each new post will bring honor to our heavenly Father in 2016.  The over 1,200 page views of my blog this month were experienced by people who read a mixture of philosophical and devotional thoughts.  

       Since we began on January 2 of 2013 we have received a total of over 70,800 page views with over 1200 views in June which is about 100 less than we had in June  of 2016.  Since I started this blog the page views have come from 119 different countries. 

            These views have come from Afghanistan, Albania, Algeria, American Samoa, Argentina, Armenia, Angola,  Aruba, Austria, Australia, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Cayman Islands, Chile, China, Czech Republic, Colombia, Congo [DRC], Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji, France, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Honduras, Hong Kong,  Iceland, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland (Republic of),  Iran, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordon, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kuwait, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macau, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Moldova, Mongolia,  Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar (Burma), Nepal, Netherlands, Netherlands (Antilles) New Zealand, Nigeria, Northern Ireland, Oman, Palestine, Paraguay, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru. Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Porto Rico, Qatar, Réunion, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Taiwan, Tanzania, Thailand,  Tunisia, Turkey, Turks & Caicos Islands, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, USA and Zimbabwe .  We would like to welcome Barbados which had its first page views this month, to our blog family. Also, for the first time in the history of this blog Russia had more page views than the USA.

             The ten countries with the most page views this month were: Russia, USA, Germany, France, China, Ukraine, Portugal, Mauritius, United Kingdom, and Brazil.

          If you are from a country that has had page views in the past 43 months and has been omitted from the 119 countries listed above, please email me your country’s name.  Please pray with me that God will allow this Music Philosophy Blog to continue to go places where I will never have the opportunity to minister musically in person. Please pray for me, as I have mentioned before, I am in the process of writing a general music philosophy book and a devotional book for musicians. My philosophy book is now in the hands of the content editor. Please pray the editor of the devotional book is in the process of moving to Scotland and is very busy at this time.

       Once again I want to thank all of you who have taken the time to view my music philosophy blog during the month of July and a special thanks is in order to those countries that faithfully view this blog month after month.  Please continue to pray that God will guide each post and allow it to reach those who need encouragement to keep ministering for our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

The main reason that I started this Music Philosophy blog is that, although there is much music philosophy information on the net, not very much of it is from a biblical perspective.  Please share the blog address with your friends.   If you have an area of music or fine arts philosophy that troubles you, please feel free to let me know and I will include it in our discussions.  My email address is Garenlwolf@gmail.com.

Prayer for this Blog in August

             It is my sincere and earnest prayer let this blog will go around the world to places where I cannot go.  Lord, thank You that You are answering my prayer by guiding people from 119 countries to find and read my blog posts. Please continue to help me in 2016 as I prepare a post for each day to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit.

            Only You know Lord who is out there ministering musically that needs a fresh anointing for musical ministry.  Help me to know which philosophical and devotional thoughts will help these busy pastors and musicians.  Lord, as I continue to develop posts for the month of August, I am not sure which aspects of music education and music ministry to write about that will stimulate and encourage the blog family.  Please anoint the blog, the blogger, and the blog readers during 2016. If it is your will I am asking that the number of page views will increase during each month.

             Lord, I am praying that you will help the content editors for the two books that they are now editing and making final preparations so they can be sent to the publisher. Also, thank You Lord for helping me to proof  the 17 chapters of the philosophy book to make corrections. These things I ask in your great and wise and wonderful name.  Amen.