A Unified Field of Knowledge –part 2

A Unified Field of Knowledge –part 2

Philosophy has been historically a pursuit of the systematized principles that give a wisdom that reveals truth and a unified filed of knowledge based on truth and error or thesis and antithesis.  Somewhere in the early 20^th century many philosophers began to give up hope in a unified filed of knowledge based on thesis (right) or antithesis (wrong).  They began to believe the philosophy of Georg Wilhelm Frederick Hegel (1770-1831).  Hegel believed that every idea belonged to an all-embracing mind in which every idea (thesis) elicited its opposite (antithesis) and the result of these two was a unified whole which he called synthesis (“the both and belief system”).  His “unified” whole was epistemologically different since it derived “knowing” from a new synthesis thesis.  This “knowing” brought about a new truth that was always found somewhere between truth and error. In my opinion Hegel’s “somewhere in the middle” synthesis laid the groundwork for pluralism.

Before Hegelian synthesis thought, the Scripture in I John 2:15, “Love not the world”, meant just that, don’t love the world or become controlled by the system of “this present age”.   After acceptance of Hegelian synthesis thought, it became acceptable to be a Christian whose thought patterns were conformed to the fashion of this world...  Those who accepted this viewpoint no longer believed the Bible when it said that if you loved the world, the love of the father was not in you.  Under this autonomous philosophy you could love the world, think like the world, and act like the world and love the Lord at the same time.

A Unified Field of Knowledge –part 1

A Unified Field of Knowledge –part 1

            I am deeply indebted to the work of Francis Schaffer for opening to me a very clear basic understanding of how philosophical thought has shaped the thinking of modern and postmodern Christians.  After reading his Escape from Reason and The God Who is There as well as other of his great works, it became clear to me how many Christian musicians came to believe that there are no absolutes in music.

            For centuries philosophers believed that it was possible for all thought to come under a unified field of knowledge.  They often fought bitterly over just what that unified field of knowledge included.  Although philosophers did not agree on the content of that unified knowledge, they did agree that philosophical endeavor could and should bring about a philosophy of hope to the world.

Remember, Direction Determines Destiny!

Remember, Direction Determines Destiny! 

Christian musicians often question the necessity of developing a series of systematic beliefs concerning the nature and value of the whole of music.  Furthermore, they often seem to believe that those values set forth by major public colleges and universities are adequate for Christian musicians.  After all, aren’t the elements of music the same for Christians and non-Christians?  The philosophy of a musician who does not bring his entire musical endeavor under the Lordship of Christ should never be trusted. Not only can you trust a communist to be a communist, you can also trust an unregenerate musician to be worldly in his or her philosophical basis. 

Remember, direction determines destiny!  Any musician who believes the end of all human endeavors is the gratification of self will ultimately come to different philosophical conclusions than a musician whose life is sold out to Christ.  For the committed Christian, music begins and ends with God.  To the humanist, music begins and ends with self.  The musician who has submitted his or her music to the Lordship of Christ believes that all church music is sung and played to glorify God since God owns music.  Conversely, the secular humanists (and the religious humanists) believe that music belongs to man’s true humanness since all music is about self-actualization.  This type of thinker owns his or her music.

What the Bible teaches about Music is True Truth

What the Bible teaches about Music is True Truth

            A host of Christian musicians believe that the Bible contains but does not necessarily embody truth, or is the whole truth or true-truth.  To modern and post-modern man it is truth mixed with error.  They think like Porgy that, “Those things that your liable to read in the Bible, they ain’t necessarily so.” It is often hard for the thesis thinker to understand that Christian musicians who are pluralists actually believe that the Bible not only contains truth about music but that also it contains error.  As a matter of fact, many of them believe that the references to music in the Bible have outlived their relevancy.

            These pluralistic musicians have a non-rational, non-logical autonomous faith in Christ that is not totally Bible based. Their autonomous faith goes beyond the truth of Scripture since synthesis faith (a faith based on truth and error) is based on their personal encounter with Christ that does not come under the scrutiny of Scripture.  These musicians may not even believe creation, in the Deity of Christ, the Trinity, the virgin birth, a literal hell, and eternal punishment, the witness of the spirit, a personal relationship with Christ, a literal creation or original sin.

             So, it is important that you operate from the presupposition that the Bible is the infallible, completely accurate, inspired Word of God and that it does not contain a mixture of truth and error. It is important to understand that post-modern Christian musicians do not often believe II Timothy 3:16 when it asserts: “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:”   If a Christian is unable to trust much of what the Bible teaches about music and musicing, that musician’s musical beliefs are developed without Scriptural basis.

My Credo

My Credo

Every so often I publish my Credo so that those who are new to the blog family will gain some insight into my beliefs. I have often read sketches of a person’s writings only to find out later that they do not consider the Bible to be inspired, accurate or trustworthy.  So here are a few of the things that I consider important.

 I believe that the more than 600 references to music in the Bible are given by inspiration of God and are profitable doctrine for reproof, correction, and instruction today.  I believe that the Bible provides us with timeless, relevant, usable, practical and spiritual guidance in the 21^st century.  I believe that the only completely safe teacher of church music philosophy is the Holy Spirit who is capable and willing to guide us into all truth concerning music ministry in this century. 

I believe that there are absolutes concerning music ministry.  I believe in profundity, appropriateness and standards of correctness in church music.  I believe that all music matters and therefore Church matters to every Christian and that it matters to God.  I believe that although there is room for taste in church music ministry, it is not all a matter of personal taste.  I believe God created music and that He thought it into being.  I believe that since God thinks about music it behooves us to study his Word to ascertain what He thinks about music.

I believe that good causes in music may be served.  I believe that even though we live in this present evil world, we are not of this present world.  I believe that conservative Spirit filled musicians can effect positive changes in church music.  I believe that churches, Christian schools and Bible colleges who have a Christocentric music philosophy can catechize the next generation of music educators and church musicians to put on the “whole armor of God” that they may resist the stratagems of Satan that surround us.  I believe that conservative Christian musicians may be renewed in the spirit of their mind in such a way as to affect positive change in Bible believing church music ministries.  I believe that under the anointing of the blessed Holy Spirit, conservative Bible believing ministers of music may fulfill the Bible mandate in Genesis 1:26 that man made in God’s image should have dominion over all the earth which includes music.  

Passing Our Music Values on to the Next Generation – Part 9

Passing Our Music Values on to the Next Generation – Part 9 

            It seems odd that Bible college boards cannot seem to see that the greatest threat to public worship as we know it now is church music.  Many college boards and administrations desire that young people develop a conservative tradition of church music while at the same time they require little or no church music courses in the broad-based general education of all degree programs.  Church music is the “war department” of more churches than any one other single issue affecting public worship today.  Music has split and divided many Christian fellowships in the last quarter of the twentieth century.  With this fact being common knowledge, thousands of Bible colleges and Christian Liberal arts colleges are still graduating church leaders with a meager two hours of church music.  Many Bible colleges do not require any church music in the core curriculum of all students. 

            Music has divided the senior adults from  the baby boomers until the millenials so severely that they can no longer worship together.  Now we have three factions separated by church music – seniors, baby boomers and baby busters.  In the history of evangelical Christians, nothing has ever been able to separate, alienate, isolate, and divide the different age groups except music style.  Admittedly, the solution to all church music problems is not more hours of music in college.  However, a more thorough understanding of church music would help to better prepare Christians for the Lord’s work.

Passing Our Music Values on to the Next Generation – Part 8

Passing Our Music Values on to the Next Generation – Part 8

            If Bible College Music Departments are going to exert a conservative influence on the next generation of Christians, they must be staffed by music faculty who are committed to a Bible based music education.  Music philosophy that merely adds music worship as an added dimension to a worldly philosophy of the fine arts will only add insult to injury to the music philosophy of the next generation of church musicians.

            If we believe that Church Music Matters, then we must act like it matters.  Bible College curriculums that include only two to four hours of music are the result of the lackluster philosophy that music is not very important in the process of higher education that prepares the next generation of pastors, missionaries, educators and laymen that will soon take the helm of the church.  Many Bible colleges have failed to realize that it will be Bible College graduates who have developed a Christocentric Bible based music philosophy that will be the only hope for church music in this century.  How can these graduates possibly be prepared musically with a meager two to four hours of music?

Passing Our Music Values on to the Next Generation – Part 7

Passing Our Music Values on to the Next Generation – Part 7

            Next to the Christian home in influence is the Christian school.  Music education must be a preferred claim on our Christian school budgets.  The fine arts always cost.  In the history of the Christian schools, Christian liberal arts and Bible colleges they have not completely paid for themselves.  Many times music is included in Christian school and college curriculums for public relations efforts, student recruitment and money raising purposes only.

            Every Christian school and Bible College student must be given an opportunity to develop a Bible based music philosophy and to experience music making from the basis of a Christocentric music philosophy.  Therefore, Christian school and Bible College Music Departments are not a luxury but rather a necessity if traditional church music is going to survive the first part of the twenty-first century.

Passing Our Music Values on to the Next Generation – Part 6

Passing Our Music Values on to the Next Generation – Part 6 

            The nitty-gritty of making musical choices will many times be difficult for teenagers.  They will explore and they push the limits set by the home, church, and the Christian school.  The lines of communication between parents and teenagers must be kept open.  There must be no name-calling, no unwarranted accusations, no anger, and no rancor in parent-teenager musical discussions.  Parents should remember that if a young person’s musical choices do not involve extreme musical styles that are associated with anti-Christ living and if the music is clean morally, teenagers have a right to likes and dislikes in music.  Just because a parent doesn’t like a particular style of music is not sufficient reason to deny a child or teenager access to that music.  I want to make it very clear that I am not referring to rock music or popular music that is of an offensive nature.

            Parents have the responsibility to set limits concerning both the secular and sacred music that their children purchase, perform and listen to in and out of the home.  However, an overbearing parental approach that makes all the decisions all the time for children thwarts a child’s ability to make wise choices of sacred and secular music.  The ultimate musical wish of parents for children should be that as adults the next generation will make wise choices of both sacred and secular music.  In order for this to happen, our children must be catechized, educated, mentored and prepared to accept the role of adulthood.  If they develop a Christocentric music philosophy, it will largely be the result of parental guidance that was also Christ-centered and Bible based.

Passing Our Music Values on to the Next Generation – Part 5

Passing Our Music Values on to the Next Generation – Part 5

             If we would show some emotion, meaning and enthusiasm in the corporate music experience, our children as well as the unchurched and new converts would “catch” the genuine energy, sincerity, and excitement of our musical participation.  Nothing succeeds like success.  The Psalmist David testified in Psalm 138:1, “I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.”  Remember, if we will do the right thing the right way we will have much less problem convincing the next generation that traditional music worship is not outdated.  If we relate to music worship, our children will relate to it as well. 

            Where should the process of shaping children’s music philosophy begin?  First, start by providing good quality music in your home.  If parents provide many good choices of both secular and sacred music in their home, children will develop enriched musical tastes at an early age.  Second, parents should get involved by taking their children to music concerts and discussing what went on at those concerts including the performers, and the styles of music performed.  Third, get your children involved in music lessons at an early age.  Positive involvement in music making is a very valuable influence in a child’s development of likes and dislikes in music.  The more musical knowledge and music skill a young person acquires, the more equipped him or she will be to make educated, mature decisions about music.  Fourth, make every effort to insure that worship music in church is vibrant , relevant and well executed.  A good time to start is today since today is Sunday!