Music Philosophy in Christian Perspective

Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Prescriptive Thought—part 4

So, having multiple services to accommodate the schedules of a very busy congregation may be very helpful, but splitting up public worship solely on the basis of music style is unfortunate in many ways. It seems on the surface that dividing into worship groups will solve all the problems of style of church music. However, it doesn’t. The church must struggle with style and form in music just like it deals with all the other practical nitty-gritty issues of Christian living. Dividing congregational worship only avoids the problems of musical worship.

It is not the purpose of this discussion to try to tell church musicians exactly where to draw the line musically speaking. The greatest problem with church music today is not that various Christian fellowships don’t agree exactly on what styles of music are best suited for public worship. The big problem is that churches are no longer drawing any lines when it comes to music style. In the midst of these troubled musical times churches have abdicated. They have given up all responsibility for sorting out what is proper or improper, appropriate or inappropriate, suitable or unsuitable and certainly good and bad in church music.

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Prescriptive Thought—part 3

Until 1960, for centuries the church has always had the right to prescribe what they believed was the best choices for church music. Now in this synthesis-thinking world, the church has lost that right since music is all a matter of personal preference. Is church music completely a matter of personal taste? If so, whose tastes do we cater too musically? This dilemma has caused what I term the worship-gap. First, the church decided to cater to musical tastes of the baby-boomers. This did not work, so the church had two Sunday morning services. Now the baby boomers don’t like the music of the baby-busters so we have three Sunday morning services.

There is nothing wrong with having two worship services or three or four for that matter. The problem comes when the basis for these added services is only musical style. It is one thing to have two services because of seating space in the sanctuary, but another when the second service came about because of a musical feud going on in the church. When we segregate worshipers on the basis of music style, music has become the “main thing”. Music is not the “main thing” when it comes to matters of worship.

Hebrews 10:25 reminds us to, “Forget not the assembling of yourselves together, and so much more as ye see the day approaching.” In my opinion, the late 20th century concept of dividing the congregation into heterogeneous assemblies has divided the congregation until they can no longer take advantage of the warmth and strength of having the different age groups worship together. Older people need the energy of youth in public worship and younger people need to see God’s exceeding weight of glory on those who have loved and served Him for many years.

Monday, October 3, 2016

Prescriptive Thought—part 2

Believers who adhere to prescriptive thought believe most people who recognize that they are sick and go to a doctor’s office expect to come away with a prescription. They have faith that the doctor has the ability and has the right to prescribe what will make them well. Most people would be disappointed in a doctor who said, “Sir, you are very sick-as a matter of fact you are sick enough to die. However, getting well is completely a matter of your opinion. So, what medicine do you like best? Let’s see, I have big pills and little pills, I have round ones and rectangle ones. I have green, yellow, red and pink ones. I have sweet, sour, bitter and salty ones. Remember, its all a matter of taste and likes and dislikes, so what is your choice?” Now in the 21st century when it comes to church music, people go ballistic when the pastor, minister of music and church board prescribes what they believe, in the fear of God, are the best styles of church music suited to the awesomeness and solemnity of the worship of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit.

Sunday, October 2, 2016

Prescriptive Thought—part 1

Believers who adhere to prescriptive thought believe that the church has the authority and responsibility to prescribe what styles of music are most appropriate for public worship and evangelism. This type of thinker not only believes that most people who attend church expect sacred music to be of a different character than the music of the world. They also believe that sinners often have no problem making a distinction between sacred and profane music.

Philosophically this body of believers thinks in terms of the world as needy sin sick souls who come to the church for new life. This church believes that if those in need will listen to the gospel of Jesus Christ preached and sung by the church since sinners want to hear “good news”. This church believes that the gospel is good news because it gives sinners the prescription for eternal life. This thesis thinking church believes in absolutes. They believe in absolutes in theology. Therefore it is easy for them to believe in absolutes in church music.

Saturday, October 1, 2016

Thank you for a Great Month of September

Thank you for a Great Month of September

This month was the 45^th 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 975 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 75.000 page views with over 975 views in September which was less views than we had in August of 2016. Since I started this blog the page views have come from 121 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, Macedonia (FYROM) 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, Turkmenistan, Turks & Caicos Islands, Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Uruguay, Venezuela, Vietnam, USA and Zimbabwe . We would like to welcome to our blog family Macedonia and Turkmenistan that had their first page views this month.

The ten countries with the most page views this month were: USA, Germany, France, Portugal, China, Ukraine, Philippines, Poland, Netherlands, and Canada.

If you are from a country that has had page views in the past 45 months and has been omitted from the 121 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 September 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 October

I want to thank You Lord and Father for the three new countries last month that brings the totals to 121 countries that are a part of our blog family. 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 120 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 October, 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. I am asking that you will be with both of the content editors who are very busy at this time.These things I ask in your great and wise and wonderful name. Amen.

Thank you for a Great Month of September

This month was the 45^th 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 975 page views of my blog this month were experienced by people who read a mixture of philosophical and devotional thoughts.

The ten countries with the most page views this month were: USA, Germany, France, Portugal, China, Ukraine, Philippines, Poland, Netherlands, and Canada.

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 October

Friday, September 30, 2016

The Song of Saints—part 2

Christians should take account of the second command in Psalm 149:1, “Sing unto the LORD a new song” I will not go deeply into Old and New Testament meaning of chadash (2319) and kainos (2537) but may it suffice to assert that “new song” as used in the Bible connotes more than something new in relationship to time. It means a song of a new or renovated character. It is a song of a higher character than the song of the old man and his or her old life.

The new song mentioned in Psalm 194:1 is a song that praises God rather than man. It is a song about the new life that YHVH gives to those who love and serve Him. In Psalm149:1 it is the song of saints (chaciyd 2623). I is the song of the upright, godly, good and holy me and women. In Revelation 5: 8&9 it is the song of saints (hagios 40). In other words, this new song is the musical offering of the pure or morally blameless. With these understandings of new song, we can understand why the AV translators used the word saints in both the Old and New Testaments. from the time of the ancient Levite musicians, God has used men who were righteous as we learn in Malachi 3:3, “And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver: and he shall purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver, that they may offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness.”

Song for the Day--Glorify Thy Name by Donna Adkins

Prayer for the Day

Father, I love You, I worship and adore You. I am thanking You for Your grace that has made me one of Your dear children. I am praying that You will help me to music into You and unto your saints. Please help me to so live that I may be able to offer unto the LORD an offering in righteousness. Please help me to guard my heart so that I may sincerely offer you musical offerings that You will accept. This I am asking in Your powerful name. Amen

Thursday, September 29, 2016

The Song of Saints—part 1

Ps 149:1, “Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.”

At the risk of trying to rehash a much used phrase from the Bible, I am going to add my two cents to the phrase “Praise ye the LORD” from the next to last psalm in the Book of Praises or Sepher Tehilliam. I think that this subject bears repeating since we are directly instructed to sing unto YAH (3050) the Lord most vehement. Once in a while Christian musicians need to take account of who they music unto in and out of church.

We know from Ephesians 5:19 that we are to sing to one another and unto the Lord at the same time. Verse one quoted above also teaches us that His praise is to be proclaimed “in the congregation of saints.” As I have often said to my classes the ultimate goal of all sacred musicing is a response to God through our lavishing praise upon His wonderful name since He and He alone is the object of our musical worship. Therefore, we must be sure that we are bringing a musical offering to God rather than merely hocking our musical wares to an audience.

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

They Musiced Distinctly---part 3

Although the meaning and understanding of religious texts are often lost in the musical trappings that surround our religious musicing, causing worshipers and seekers to understand the good news of the Gospel should be the prima fascia case for our sacred musicing. As we should remember as Christian musicians, the musical arts are not the doorway to the God’s kingdom. However, we are instructed very clearly in Ps 100:2 to “come before his presence with singing.” As Dr. Watts put it, "Let those refuse to sing who never knew our God; But children of the heavenly king must speak his praise abroad." One of the most effective ways of “speaking His praise” has been, over many centuries sacred musicing.

Song for the Day—We’re Marching to Zion by Isaac Watts

Prayer for the Day

LORD, I want to thank You for your Word. I also want to thank You for creating music so that we are able to speak Your praise abroad by musicing the food news of the Gospel.

Also. Like the ancient Levite musicians, please allow me to cause the people to understand as the Holy Spirit anoints my musicing unto You. This I am asking in Your wonderful and worthy name. Amen.

Thought for the Day

It is the message of our sacred musicing not that is most important but the music part of our musicing is also very important because style reflects on the hearer’s pinion of the message of our lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

They Musiced Distinctly---part 2

So, when one applies current scholarship that all OT Scripture was musically notated with the te’amim above and below the text to our Western understanding of this passage in the eighth chapter of Nehemiah, one can deduce that it probably was the intoning of the Scripture that “caused the people to understand the law”.

The AV clearly states that “they read in the book in the law of God distinctly”. This distinctness no doubt was made possible by the Levite musicians singing this portion of the OT Law. Once again the Bible has left us principles of musicing that are still valuable to Christians in this century. One of the principles that we should gather from this Bible lesson is that singing Scripture texts and song texts that are biblical will add specificity and spiritual understanding to our church music.

Monday, September 26, 2016

They Musiced Distinctly---part 1

Nehemiah 8:8, “So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. Also Jeshua, and Bani, and Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, caused the people to understand the law: and the people stood in their place. So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.”

Have you ever thought about how the Levites actually “caused them to understand the reading”? We have a tendency to read this Scripture passage “through Western eyes” with “Western understanding”. Protestant Bible scholars have generally not understood, or have at least glossed over the fact, that during ancient times all Scripture was sung i.e. intoned by the Levite musicians.

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