Can a Song be too Creative?—part 3

Can a Song be too Creative?—part 3

            The preaching of Christ crucified is considered in the New Testament to be the main thing as we can see in 1Corinthians 1:23-24, “But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness; But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.”  Furthermore, St. Paul prefaced his statements in verses 23-24 by 1Corinthians 1:21 which says, “For because, by the purpose of God, the world, with all its wisdom, had not the knowledge of God, it was God's pleasure, by so foolish a thing as preaching, to give salvation to those who had faith in him. (BBE)  God’s word never states that He wills to save people by singing or musicing any other way.

            Church music should prepare the people’s hearts (both Christians and non-believers) for the preaching of Christ crucified.  I believe that worship music is a means to an end rather than being an end in itself.  It is a mistake in philosophical judgment to consider the Sunday morning service to consist of a time of worship with music and then the unfortunate pastor has to start over with his message after the fun time has ended.  I will say in closing that sacred musicing is a preparatory time for the presentation of the Logos Christos.

Thought for the Day

Why do so many church musicians believe that they must bring the time of singing in worship to a climactic moment?  There are no patterns of worship in either the Old or New Testament that teach that muscing should be the high point of public worship. 

Can a Song be too Creative?—part 2

Can a Song be too Creative?—part 2

            I am not intimating that our worship music should be dull, uncreative, mundane, banal, and uncreative.  I am simply saying that good quality; appropriate religious music should be about God and should support the aims and purposes of worship.  The music part of church music should be a vehicle for the Logos Christos to find lodgment in our hearts and minds.  As I have stated for years I my writings, sacred music should mirror the music of the Bible.  It should be a Melos (words and music written as a unit) as we now have evidence that the music of the Old Testament was. The melodies of the Bible (the te’amim) were always the handmaiden of the text.  The melodies of the OT were never in competition or in contradistinction to the meaning of the text as many melodies written and set to sacred texts are today.

            As Christian musicians we should always be cognizant of the fact that our religious music and musicing is “mother’s little helper” rather than the “star of the show”.  I suspect that many Christian musicians get caught up in the creative process and product rather than lifting up the God we are “advertising”.  I have contended for years that when it comes to church worship we need to keep the main thing the main thing. 

Thought for the day

Creativity in music, although appropriate for worship music, is not the doorway to the kingdom.  Although creativity is in no way contradictive or incompatible with public worship, the Lord awards his servants on the basis of being good and faithful rather than on the basis of being talented or creative.

Can a Song be too Creative?—part 1

Can a Song be too Creative?—part 1

            When speaking of a song that is a commercial, Bennett Reimer, in his A Philosophy of Music Education (p.48) stated, “If the song were so interesting aesthetically that people forgot the product in their enjoyment of the purely music qualities of the commercial (a rather likely occurrence), the song-writer could justifiably be accused of being “too creative.”  Ministers of music universally claim to be extoling Christ with their music and musicing.  They claim to be bragging on Jesus not hocking their musical wares in front of an audience who came to church to worship God.

            I believe that our worship music is truly extolling God for who He is, what he has done, and what he desires to do for those who love and serve Hi, I believe that this music is analogous to a music commercial.  So, I believe that Christian music can be so creative that the message sent to a worshiping body of believers is about the music and the musicer rather than about the God whom we love and serve.

Thought for the Day

Somewhere between the music part of church music that is so trite that it bores us all musically and music that is so wild and cluttered that it obscures the message of the text is sacred music that provides a quality support and representation of the moral nature of the God we are supposed to be worshiping.

ANCIENT MINISTERS OF MUSIC

ANCIENT MINISTERS OF MUSIC

            Sometimes we think of the concept of a minister of music as being a modern invention.  However, if one aspect of Levite Music Administration could be pointed out as most important it would be the office of the "chief musician."  In the Bible the minister of music is called by several names.

            The Book of Psalms refers to the chief musician fifty-four times.  The words chief and musician are translated from the Hebrew word natsach (5329) and mean to be eminent, to glitter from a distance and to be superintendent.  These musicians were chosen to supervise the business of music making in the Temple.  Other names for these musicians were:  chief singer (natsach 5329) in Habakkuk 3:19; overseer (paqiyd 6496) in Nehemiah 12:42; principal (rosh 7218) in Nehemiah 11:17, meaning to be first, in rank or to be captain; chief (sar 8269) of the Levites in I Chronicles 15:22, meaning a head person or a master musician; and chief (rosh 7218) of the fathers of the Levites in I Chronicles 9:33.  All of these names carry the meaning of a person in charge that is a leader and has skill and one who is a responsible person.

Thought for the Day

It is a foreign concept to many sincere Christians that God wants His chief musicians to stand out as leaders so much so that they would be very charismatic or “glitter from afar”.  The fact that a Christian musician  has submitted his or her life to the authority of God does not mean that this music leader should stoop his or her shoulders and act the part of a lowly bashful introvert.

All Musical Roads Do Not Lead to Heaven

All Musical Roads Do Not Lead to Heaven

            Multitudes of Christian musicians are now so squeezed into the world’s mold that they do not seem to realize that the whole belief-system that music is amoral is the result of autonomous music philosophy.  It is no wonder that you can trust a humanist to conclude that all music endeavors begins and ends with man.  The philosophical bias of a humanist will always be that all meaning in life (if there is meaning in life) will be the result of self-actualization and the act of a person’s free will.  More and more Christian musicians are joining secular humanists in believing that the music part of music is incapable of saying, meaning, or representing anything and therefore is amoral.

            This musical mind believes wholeheartedly that in the beginning was “ameba” or worse yet in the beginning was “nothing”.  This musician believes within himself that man came from nowhere and is ultimately going nowhere.  It is not hard for him to believe that man exists in a purposeless universe and that he is “caught in the wheel of time”.  This musician also believes that music came from nowhere and is ultimately going nowhere.  To this humanistic musician the only thing that really matters is “me”.  This type of thinker concludes that music is amoral since man is god and god is man therefore god is in man because man created god.  So, man is god of his music.  Any music that he composes or performs is god’s music i.e. all man’s music is created in god’s image since god is created in man’s image.  Any music that pleases man will also please God and conversely no music that displeases man is pleasing to God.  So, if you can wade through all the previous mumbo-jumbo, you will be able to understand why a synthesis thinking religious humanist, who is autonomous, believes that all musical roads lead to heaven – why there is no profundity in music – why all music is appropriate for public worship and ultimately why music is all a matter of taste.

Grace from the Lord Jesus Christ

                          Grace from the Lord Jesus Christ

1Corinthians 1:3, “Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”

This was St. Paul’s prayer for the Christians at Corinth.  I am so grateful that I have personally received God’s Grace, mercy, and peace instead of His justice.  I tremble when I think about where I would be today if I had not received God’s mercy and love.  St. Paul reminded the saints at Corinth that grace and the peace that ensues when one is a recipient of the grace of God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

In 1Corinthians 1:4-8 St Paul states, “I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ; That in everything ye are enriched by him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; Even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you: So that ye come behind in no gift; waiting for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall also confirm you unto the end, that ye may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul reminded them that those who were recipients of God’s grace were enriched in utterance, knowledge and gifts, and that Christ’s testimony was attested to by their godly lives.  The most precious thing that Paul said was that they were confirmed blameless in the sight of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. 

St. Paul prayed for them, but Jesus is at this moment sitting at the right hand of God the Father praying for you and me as  Ro[GW1] mans 8:34 attests, “Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.”  With this in mind, every ministering musician should rejoice in the true truth that Christ the righteous judge is our advocate before the Throne of God at this very minute.

Thought for the Day

 It is the truth that God’s grace is amazing. It is the truth also that none of us will make it into the City of God without God’s grace.

Song for the Day  “God’s Great Grace” by Floyd W. Hawkins

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 [GW1]ans

Who Do You Intimate?

Who Do You Imitate?

Ephesians 5:1-2, “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor.”

            The ASV renders verse one, “Be ye therefore imitators of God, as beloved children” since the Greek word used here is mimetes (3402).  If a Christian musician is going to mimic someone it makes sense that he or she should try to be like God.  This passage says that Christians should mimic the actions of God with the simplicity of dear children.  They are not ashamed to mimic the actions of their earthly father, so St. Paul admonishes Christians to take on the pride-less simplicity that is not ashamed to try to be little shadows of our awesome God.

Notice that the Christians at Ephesus were to mimic Christ’s love for others by loving enough to become a living offering and sacrifice by being Christ-like in their love for people.  Note that such action is the opposite of humanism and its belief that everything that matters in life begins and ends with self.  St, Paul reminds the Christians at Ephesus that love and sacrifice for others is a “sweet smelling sacrifice” to God.  Our all-wise God who is omniscient can discern the thoughts and intents of a musician’s heart and know immediately if a Christian’s music ministry is about self.

Thought from Scripture for the Day

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 “He Shall Purify the Sons of Levi” by G.F. Handel

Giving Thanks on Thanksgiving

Giving Thanks on Thanksgiving

           In the US we celebrate on a special day which has ben designated as Thanksgiving.  On this day colonial Americans and native Americans got together for a time of feasting and thanksgiving to God who was responsible for making for the bountiful harvest possible.  This time of giving thanks was later made an official holiday in the USA.

           My family always celebrated this holiday.  I remember so distinctly those thanksgiving weekends when the whole family would gather at mom and dad’s place.  If it was not snowing we would go quail hunting and if it was snowing or had snowed the day or two before, we would go rabbit hunting.  I think the best part of rabbit hunting was walking through the snow covered fields taking in all the beauty that God had provided by the pure white covering he had painted over all the areas that our eyes could take in.  For as far as we could see observing those Kansas rolling pastures and fields that had been harvested earlier in the fall.

            We took this Kansas utopia for granted as though those hunts on Thanksgiving Day would go on forever.  In the earlier days dad would hunt with us but in the years that followed he would only go as far as the barn yard and then he would disappear in the distance as we got farther and farther away.  Those were wonderful times, but of course they did not last.  Like a vapor those times of hunting have disappeared.  Dad and mom are both gone.  He farm has been divided into three different tracts of land with three different owners.  The smokehouse, chicken house and all the pigeon pens are gone.

            As I look back on those Thanksgiving days, I would like to say to all of you out there who are meeting together at your mom and dad’s house, don’t take these times for granted.  Hug your mom and dad and tell them how much you love them.  If you are now “grandpa and grandma” and the married children and your grandchildren are gathered around your table, be sure that you include Christ our blessed savior in your festivities.

Worship the Creator Not the Created—part 8

Worship the Creator Not the Created—part 8

With the information discussed in the previous seven posts in this series, we can now discuss why this discourse in Nehemiah is so often left out of commentators and modern day writers. First, many Bible scholars have glossed over these verses because they have hot had sufficient knowledge of the Levite musicians (and all Jews who “read” the Torah) intoned, cantillated or, if you will, sang the entire Old Testament during public reading in ancient worship in Israel.  The precisely accurate intoning of Scripture by the Levite musicians was accomplished by cheironomers using hand signs which provided the musical notes (te’amim) to the Levite instrumentalist(s) and vocalist(s) who played and sang the Old Testament Scriptures.

Second, a great host of Bible scholars in the19th, 20^th and now, 21^st. century have not been aware that the entire Old Testament Scripture was intoned (sung) by those who “read” it in public in ancient Israel. Third, Bible scholars have not had knowledge of the fact the te’amim represent a musical notation or that they represent a precisely accurate musical notation.  The te’amim are the ancient symbols above and below the entire Old testament texts.  The symbols below the texts are a precise musical scale system and the symbols above the sacred texts are deviations in the note movement mush like the musical embellishments that are used in music today. 

Many scholars have considered music to be an aid to memory and a means of facilitating didactic poetry with emotion and meaning (a far to detailed discussion to discuss here).  May it suffice to say that it is by no means farfetched to consider that the intoning of the texts here mentioned in Nehemiah could and, as the discourse in chapter eight attests, “gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading”. Although the meaning of the music part of the discourse in Nehemiah chapter eight has become more and more esoteric over the many centuries since it was written, it is still, as 2Timothy 3:16 teaches, “…profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness”. We must again be reminded that the distinction and understanding that was made possible by this ancient musicing of The HOLY WRIT was for worshiping YHVH rather than artistic musical performance. Its ultimate purpose was worshiping the Creator rather than the created thing—music.

Worship the Creator Not the Created—part 7

Worship the Creator Not the Created—part 7

In verses six and seven the explanation of “worshiping with understanding” is further explained.  “And Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God. And all the people answered, Amen, Amen, with lifting up their hands: and they bowed their heads, and worshipped the LORD with their faces to the ground.  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.”

…”  Furthermore, Nehemiah 8:8, explain, “So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly, and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading. The Levite musicians were involved with Nehemiah’s “reading” of the Torah.  Nehemiah 8:9, “And Nehemiah, which is the Tirshatha [the governor], and Ezra the priest the scribe, and the Levites that taught the people, said unto all the people…”  Knowledge of how the Levite musicians “read distinctly” has become very esoteric in the centuries that have led up to the 21^st. century.  Think about what was happening in this public worship of YHVH in ancient Israel.  The Word declares that the Levites “read” distinctly.  What was the nature of this “reading”?  The word used in the AV is distinctly (parash 6567) means to separate[GW1]  mentally or to give specificity.  So, we can hypothesize reasonably that the intoning of the Torah helped the people to understand it more perfectly.

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 [GW1]

Worship the Creator Not the Created—part 6

Worship the Creator Not the Created—part 6

In the eighth chapter of the Book of Nehemiah there is an account of ancient Jewish public worship.  Ne 8:1-3, “And all the people gathered themselves together as one man into the street that was before the water gate; and they spake unto Ezra the scribe to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded to Israel.  And Ezra the priest brought the law before the congregation both of men and women, and all that could hear with understanding, upon the first day of the seventh month.  And he read therein before the street that was before the water gate from the morning until midday, before the men and the women, and those that could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive unto the book of the law.”  The reason that understanding was so important was because it is understanding that enables people to worship the creator rather than the created thing---music.  It was the created thing—music—that facilitated understanding of the Torah which was God breathed.

Worship the Creator Not the Created—part 5

Worship the Creator Not the Created—part 5

The worshipper must know the fundamental truths about God and His nature before musical worship can be authentic or real. Furthermore, the worshipper must be living in fellowship and relationship with God before musical worship can be authentic and real. Jesus told the Samaritan woman that “Ye worship ye know not what.” Jesus said in St. John 4:24, “God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.” Paul told the Corinthian church in I Corinthians 14:15b “I will sing with the spirit (4151 pneuma - spirit, Holy Spirit), and I will sing with the understanding (Greek 3563 nous – intellect, i.e. mind either divine or human) also.”  Psalm 47:6-7 states, “Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. ⁷For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.” (Hebrew 7919 sakal – to be circumspect, with prudence, skill, wisdom, or intelligence).

If you have an Oxford KJV, look at the center reference and you will see that the Oxford scholars rendered “with understanding” as “every one that hath understanding.” If our praise singing is to be efficacious or effective, it must be done by a congregation of people who have spiritual understanding. What this means in Kentucky Greek is “how can you have ‘spiritual understanding’ if you don’t know God?” Above all else our musicing unto God must be done by a congregation of people who are walking in the light of the truth of their knowledge and understanding of God and His will for their life.

Worship the Creator Not the Created—part 4

Worship the Creator Not the Created—part 4

Verses 16-18 of the second chapter of Hebrews continues, “For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behooved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succor them that are tempted.” Hebrews 4:14-16 caps it all off with these words, “Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” 

The ancient Jews who were musicians did not think of music as a “fine art” or an artistic medium.  It is common knowledge among Jewish musicologists that the ancient Hebrews thought of music as the “handmaiden of the Word of YHVH” and as a means of worshiping God and responding to who He is and does for His people.  Although music was a fine art in ancient times which was performed by skillful musicians, it seems from Scripture that they did not have the problem of worshiping the “created” instead of the “Creator”.  It is worth noting very briefly some Scriptures that attest to the fact that these worshiping musicians musiced skillfully.  1Chronicles 15:22 states, “And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was over the song: he instructed about the song, because he was skillful.”  Later in 1Chronicles 15:27 it states, “And David was clothed with a robe of fine linen, and all the Levites that bare the ark, and the singers, and Chenaniah the master of the song with the singers: and David had upon him an ephod of linen.”

Worship the Creator Not the Created—part 3

Worship the Creator Not the Created—part 3

Genesis 1:1 states that “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Colossians 1:16 tells us “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:” Hebrews 2:10-12 further explains why we music unto God when it says, “For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.”

The Scriptures above establish the Lordship of Christ over all music and musicing.  The reason that it is so important philosophically to acknowledge this Lordship is that since God created music He owns it.  Since He has rightful ownership to music, He should receive all the worship that surrounds it and its performance. Thus we are logically drawn to the conclusion that we must worship the God of music (the Creator) rather than the music (the created thing).

Worship the Creator Not the Created--part 2

Worship the Creator Not the Created—part 2

 It is dangerous to worship music. As a matter of fact, it is idolatrous to worship music. Worshipping musical performance is the result of a fundamental misunderstanding of the purpose of Church music in worship. The listener-performer phenomenon is a misuse of music in worship. 

Have you ever pondered on the thought of why we include music in our public and private worship of God? Why don’t we just speak all our worship to God? Why do we music unto Him? Musicing unto God helps us to understand and express effectively who God is and what He does. In the act of musicing, we are able to express our response to the claims of God upon our lives. Sometimes words alone cannot fully express the depth of our response to God. So, we music unto Him.

Worship the Creator Not the Created—part 1

Worship the Creator Not the Created—part 1

Colossians 1:16-17, For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.” 

These verses in Colossians are packed with information that is pertinent to Christian musicians.  God created all things which means that He created music.  Since God existed before creation and since He created music from nothing, He owns it.  Since He owns it, all music and musicing must come under His Lordship.  The invisible and the visible part of music belong to Him.  This means that sound which is the invisible part of music must come under His ownership and Lordship. 

Since music was created for God’s glory, every Christian musician must be sure that all of his or her music and musicing must be done ultimately for His glory.  When it comes to sacred music and musicing, God must always have preeminence in all of a Christian musicians musicing.  Sacred music and musicing must all be done to bring honor and glory to God rather than bringing honor and agrandizment to the musician. 

Amen, and Amen

Amen, and Amen

Re 1:5-6, “And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, and the first begotten of the dead, and the prince of the kings of the earth. Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood; And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”  Take some time to think about what “Amen” means.  The word amen used in this verse in the NT is a Hebrew loan word that means ‘of verity’ or ‘so be it’.   When I think about Jesus Christ is a faithful witness that loved me so much that He loved me in spite of my sin, I say halleluiah amen!  Think of it, the prince of the kings of the earth loved me enough to die for my sin.  When I ponder on the wonder of His love I am amazed that He suffered and died for a small sinful boy who grew up on an eighty-acre farm in eastern Kansas.  

Wow! I’m about to get blessed and make some noise.  I’m not sure that I am capable of sitting here much longer without praising my Lord and Savior loudly.  I’m about ready to make a joyful noise to express my happiness.  Those around me will not understand what is going on in my inner most soul right now.  They may take me away and restrain me with a straight jacket, but that’s ok because my wonderful Lord will understand.  If I tell them that I am thinking about my Savior who is the first begotten of the dead and my soon coming king, they will consider me to be just another religious fanatic but that’s ok because my Lord and Savior will know that I am perfectly sane.

My Savior knows how many sins His precious blood washed away in an instant.  He knows how he transformed me into a king and priest unto His glory.  Christian musician look up with joy.  Take heart because he has done the same for you.  Let your mouth be filled with many Amens and Hallejuiahs unto the victorious Lamb of God.  Remember that you are on the winning side because you serve a God who will have dominion and glory forever, Amen.

Thought for the Day

Thank God that His Son has washed us of our sins.  He has made us clean so that we can serve him as Kings and Priests unto God.

Song for the Day  “O Make Me Clean” by George W. Bennard

Prayer for the Day

I want to thank You Lord for loving me so much that You washed me of my sins in Your efficacious blood.  Thank you for suffering, dying, and rising again victorious over sin.  Please help me to give you praise, honor and glory for your sacrifice for the sins of the world, which included my awful load of sin.  Please help me by Your grace to be a king and priest unto your name.  This I am praying. Amen. 

Praise the LORD for His Goodness

Praise the LORD for His Goodness

Psalm 107:8, “Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!” 

            We all know it.  At various times, we all seem to forget it.  We need to be reminded of it when things get tough.  We know it is true.  We have all experienced it.  We must never let those around us forget it .  THE LORD IS FILLED WITH GOODNESS.  He isn’t good only part of the time—He is good all the time.  

            The psalmist reminds us that He has done wonderful things for us.  He admonishes us to praise.  Ps 33:1 speaks to those who live righteous lives. “Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.”  Musicians who are upright (yashar 3477) i.e. just, straight and upright are the ones who are able to give honest praise to God because their lives are a living sacrifice unto Him. 

So, why not take some time right now to say to God, “…Alleluia; Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power, unto the Lord our God.”  Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.” (Revelations 19:1 , 7:12).

Thought for the Day

Are you cumbered with a lot of problems?  Try praising God for who He is and what He has done and what He is capable of doing in your life.

Chorus for the Day “It’s Amazing What Praising Can Do”

Prayer for the Day

Dear and merciful Savior, I want to confess that Salvation, and glory, and honour, and power belong unto the Lord our God.  I want to confess before all I meet that blessing, glory, wisdom, thanksgiving, honour, power, and might, belong unto You who are our God for ever and ever.  Please help me to confess and bless Your name now while I am living on this earth. This I joyfully confess.  Amen.

Blended Music Before “Blending” Was Cool-Part 4

Blended Music Before “Blending” Was Cool-Part 4

       With the introduction, given in yesterday’s discussion, I want to explain why gospel hymns like “What a Wonderful Savior” by E.A. Hoffman are appropriate for 21^st century public worship.  Each verse of this song is a clear confession of faith taken from the fundamental doctrines of the Bible.                                   

                                    Christ has for sin atonement made,                                                                We are redeemed: the price is paid.

                                    I praise Him for the cleansing blood-

                                    That reconciled my soul to God.

                                    He cleansed my heart from all its sin-

                                    And now He reigns and rules there-in.

                                    He gives me overcoming power-

                                    And triumph in each trying hour!

                                    To him I’ve given all my heart.

                                    The world shall never share a part.

Each thought of each line is followed by the corporate (choral) response: “What a wonderful Savior!”  Each complete verse is then followed by the strong chorus:

                                    What a wonderful Savior is Jesus, my Jesus!

                                    What a wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord!

This gospel hymn has the best of everything.  It includes:

                                                Atonement

                                                Redemption

                                                Cleansing by the efficacious blood of Christ

                                                Reconciliation

                                                Cleansing from all sin

                                                Christ reigning in the believer’s heart

                                                Christ’s overcoming power given to believers

                                                Triumphant Christian living

                                                A life sold out to Christ

                                                Freedom from the power of this world

       This gospel hymn also is loaded with expressions of repeated praise to our wonderful Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  This song is a classic example of many songs that may be found in any standard Hymnal.  Although the musical vehicle is simple harmonically and rhythmically, it is a proper vehicle to support this mighty lyric gospel hymn.  Next Sunday give this  gospel hymn a try in Sunday morning worship.  The fundamental understanding of the Bible doctrines imbedded in this song will help you in your presentation of this wonderful song to your congregation.  P.S. note the importance and credence that punctuation gives to this lyric poetry.

 

                                              Thought For the day-Blending

Music is an aid to memory.  This song contains ten times the theological thoughts that some “one thought” choruses contain.

 

Blended Music Before “Blending” Was Cool-Part 3

Blended Music Before “Blending” Was Cool-Part 3

        Many fundamentalist churches have shortened or removed revivals, camp meetings and evangelistic campaigns from their schedule of public services.  These same churches sing a repertoire of praise songs on Sunday morning and Sunday evening and at the midweek service, with little or no songs that catechize the audience in the cardinal doctrines of the church.  When should the church music present the claims of the gospel and give people an opportunity to come to know Christ by a personal profession of faith?

 It seems that, if the modern fundamentalist churches are attempting to be seeker sensitive, they need to add an element of evangelism to their worship musing in order for it to be a proper concomitant to the preaching of Christ crucified.  I want to emphasize again that I believe praise and worship music must hold a place of centrality in all the public services of the Assembly of Believers.  However, although praise music is fundamental to Christian worship, so is the exposition of the other cardinal doctrines of the church.    

                                               Thought for the day-Blending-

Nutritionists constantly stress the importance of a balanced diet.  Good quality gospel hymns are, in my estimation, some of the balanced catechism tom insure a balanced theological diet.

 

Blended Music Before “Blending” Was Cool-Part 2

 Blended Music Before “Blending” Was Cool-Part 2

       Although there are numbers of gospel songs that are anything but “classics”, time has already shown that they are not the only religious songs that often rightfully fall into obscurity after a short period of popularity.  At this point in time there is an emphasis on worship music that centers almost entirely on God with little or no content about man’s relationship to God.  The claims of the gospel are purposefully omitted from the bulk of praise and worship choruses. Certainly, praise to God is not an option but rather a necessity for worship musing.  However, as I have said often, so are songs of prayer, confession, contrition, the Trinity, Christ’s suffering, death, and resurrection, the second coming, and a host of other doctrinal and creedal.

       So, the gospel hymns written by the hymnists listed above were an integral part of the Moody, Sankey worship and evangelistic services.  Louis F. Benson notes that, “Their work [the gospel hymn] was appropriated in Dwight L. Moody’s English campaign and his later call upon American churches to add evangelism to worship.”  The Hymnody of the Christian Church, by Louis F. Benson, p.266   The concept of having an element of evangelism and fundamental doctrines of the church as a part of public worship is not popular in many churches today.  My philosophical question to those who oppose an element of evangelism in worship is, “Just when are songs that teach fundamental doctrines and have an evangelistic appeal appropriate for the modern audience?”

Thought for the Day

Maye the reason some ministers of music do not esteem the content of the gospel hymn is that they are afraid of songs that address man’s sinful nature and how it separates men and women from God.

Blended Music Before “Blending” Was Cool-Part 1

Blended Music Before “Blending” Was Cool-Part 1

       About 100 years before blended music for worship became popular in public worship as part of the worship the worship renewal movement, Elisha A. Hoffman wrote the words to “What a Wonderful Savior”.  This song may be defined as a gospel hymn.  There are several definitions given for the gospel hymn by various authors.  These definitions run from a “mixture song” which includes praise to God mixed with clear fundamentalist doctrine to “simple songs with an elaborate chorus”.  Some of the definitions that I have found have been positive but others are very negative considerations of this musical genre especially because they stress adherence to the fundamental doctrines of the Bible.

        Notably, the early gospel hymns were developed first by George Root (1820-1895), William Howard Doane (1832-1915), Robert Lowery (1826-1899), Philip Bliss (1838-1876), et al.  There have been a host of writers who have produced these mixture songs in the 20^th century.  Current writers are particularly negative about gospel songs that exhibit clear fundamentalist doctrine and the fact that these songs are quite simple harmonically[GW1] .

Thought for the Day

1.    Although a host of millennials who now lead worship believe that gospel songs are not relevant in this century, I have never seen the results of any research study that supports that notion.[GW2] 

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 [GW1]

 [GW2]

An Unbroken Chain of Teaching-part 3

An Unbroken Chain of Teaching-part 3

After years and years of being taught that church music doesn’t matter and that the music part of music doesn’t matter, we are shocked and chagrined when our children look, act and sound like Philistines when they music unto a high and Holy God.  What we have failed to understand is that when much musical and spiritual garbage goes into the minds of our children some or most of that garbage will come out in our children’s musicing.  When they have received their musical instruction from music professors who do not love and serve Jesus Christ, our children will music like the world when they reach adulthood. 

            The reason that Christian parents are often forced to place their children under those who are often antagonistic toward what committed Christians believe about music and musicing unto a high and holy triune God, is because there are so many Christian musicians that refuse to follow St .Paul’s advice given to Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:1-2.  Many talented Christian musicians refuse to commit their musical knowledge to the next generation of Christian musicians who will “be able to teach others also”.  Instead of giving their musical gifts back to God by teaching our Christian youth, these Christian musicians consume their musical gifts on their own artistic lust.  By this refusal they break the continuous chain of teaching our Children to music “the songs of the LORD” that is taught o clearly in both the Old and New Testament. 

An Unbroken Chain of Teaching-part 2

An Unbroken Chain of Teaching-part 2

Have you ever tried praying that God would anoint your rehearsal conducting methods?  Christians often talk about receiving God’s help but sometimes prayer comes after failure or the presence of disruptive behavior rather than before the rehearsal takes place.  I believe that the Holy Spirit desires to anoint the Spirit filled conductor’s efforts.  I know that this is possible because I have been the recipient of the Holy Spirit’s anointing upon my choral and instrumental rehearsals.

            Note that 2Timothy 2:1 admonishes the Christian teacher to “be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus”.  Being filled with the Spirit requires a continuous life in the Spirit.  This fact must be established before we discuss an unbroken chain of Christian teaching.  I believe the reason that church music is in such a condition of disarray is because Christian music educators have often failed to educate their students “in the songs of the LORD”   Can you imagine the ancient Jewish people sending their Levite sons to the Jebusites, Amalekites, Hivites, or Philistines to receive their music education?  They would not because they realized that it was their responsibility to train their own.  Often Christians do not recognize that their children will grow up to be Philistines if they are trained by the Philistines. 

An Unbroken Chain of Teaching art 1

An Unbroken Chain of Teaching art 1

2Timothy 2:1-2, “Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.  And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.” 

            ST. Paul admonished Timothy to invest his energies in faithful teachers who would in turn teach others so that there would be an unbroken chain of teaching and learning take place after he was gone.  As I look at this wise advice I am reminded that the chain of music education that the chronicler recorded in 1 Chronicles 25:1—31 was broken when the temple was destroyed in 70AD.  Because of this tragedy, the advanced condition of sacred music and musicing in ancient Israel the positive influence of music worship was silenced.

            It is one thing for music teachers to be faithful but it is another for them to “be able to teach others also”.  I do not ever want to make light of those who are faithful in the music classroom, but I must stress that every music instructor must accept the responsibility to continue to hone his or her teaching skills.  Being knowledgeable in the field of music is absolutely necessary but so is the ability to get the job done effectively with young people.  Every Christian music educator must continually search for more effective ways to facilitate leaning in the music classroom and rehearsal room.

Wise as Serpents, Harmless as Doves

Wise as Serpents, Harmless as Doves

Matthew 10:16, “Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”  Romans 12:2, “And be not Ps 144:9 ¶ I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee. Ps 144:9 ¶ I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

            Christian musicians need to be very wise in this post postmodern world. As a matter of fact, Scripture admonishes Christians to be as wise as a snake.  I have found out that is very hard to fool a snake or to slip up on him.  You can try, but it probably will not work.  It is his wisdom that keeps him alive in the unfriendly world around him.  Although Christian musicians should not live a life of negativity, they must never forget that this world is not a friend of grace.

            I am so glad that the Holy Writ is always balanced.  This verse In Matthew teaches Christians that we can be as harmless as a dove and at the same time be wise as a snake when we make musical choices.  My dad used to say, “Believe only half of what you see and none of what you hear.”  I believe that this is good advice for Christian musicians.  Just because you observe some music practice, you should not take at as the right thing to do musically.  Furthermore, do not let the world squeeze you into its latest music praxis because some church musician says that it is the right thing to do to insure you of getting your “market share”.  Christian musicians should always exhibit a holy and harmless attitude, but they should, at the same time, watch their backs when taking musical advice.

Considering Anti-Music-part-part 6

Considering Anti-Music-part-part 6

        Lest I be misunderstood as a worshiper of musical tradition rather than  a worshiper of God, I am not purporting that all musical tradition is worthwhile.  That being said, those of us who believe and practice free worship must constantly guard against what I term traditional worship “rutual”.  Those of us who do not practice a formal worship ritual are in danger of getting in an unorganized rut.  If we would be the slightest bit honest we would have to admit that our patterns of weekly use of music in worship are far from free and worship would probably be much better if our patterns were organized and purposeful.  For instance, those who often pride themselves in the fact they have eliminated all, or mostly all, of the traditional hymns and gospel songs in favor of fresh new choruses, fall into the “rutual” of singing the same chorus sequences Sunday after Sunday until the worshipers do not need to look at the screen because they know what will be coming next.

            No doubt part of the reason that millennials are hocking their new strange musical wares on congregations of worshipers is that they are bored with traditional predictable worship music.  The answer is not the “hock and awe” of anti-music.  Although part of the answer must be discussed in another blog sequence, a fresh anointing on the worship leader will add reality, excitement and believability to musical worship.  Fresh new approaches to music used in public worship are not wrong in and of themselves.  The answer is reality and believability in the music that one uses in the context of public worship.

Scripture Thought for the Day

Psalm 144:9, “I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.”

Considering Anti-Music-part-part 5

Considering Anti-Music-part-part 5

            The ancient Levite musician Chenaniah desired understanding and utilized music as a means to accomplish his purpose and mission borne in upon him of YHVH.  As one studies the OT, it becomes very clear that the work and purpose of the Levite musicians was not art music, anti-music, or noise-music, but rather the better understanding of the worshiper.  Whether a Christian musician likes it or not, the music part of worship music (the te’amim) or melodies of the entire OT was steeped in worthy tradition. This tradition of music worship was established by high authority as described in 1Chronicles 25:1, “Moreover David and the captains of the host separated to the service of the sons of Asaph, and of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, with psalteries, and with cymbals…”

            1Chronicles 25, explains that this established worthy and worthwhile tradition or music praxis was established in ancient Israel by the chief Levite musicians and their sons (see verses2-31) and “according to the order of” i.e. the hands of King David, “Of the sons of Asaph; Zaccur, and Joseph, and Nethaniah, and Asarelah, the sons of Asaph under the hands of Asaph, which prophesied according to the order of the king.  Whether we like it or not, the Bible teaches very clearly in the 25^th chapter of 1 Chronicles (and at other places in the OT) that all musical tradition is not to be avoided by the worship leader.  According to the Book, the Levite musicians were not turned loose on the ancient Israelite worshipers to hock their strange and shocking musical inventions.

Scripture Thought for the Day

Psalm 33:2, “Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.”

Considering Anti-Music-part-part 4

Considering Anti-Music-part-part 4

            Composers have often purposed to shock and anger audiences by composing music that is truly considered to be avant-garde music.  They have often expressed a desire to break with any established musical traditions.  One of the reasons has been their desire to leave a shocking footprint on the current musical scene in a particular generation.  This desire as come from a deep humanistic belief in “self” rather than having massa or spiritual burden borne in upon them of God. This desire is spoken of in 1Chronicles 15:22, “And Chenaniah, chief of the Levites, was for song: he instructed about the song, because he was skillful.”  

            Chenaniah’s musicing was not about self but rather about God.  He did not desire to cause shock and chagrin among those who worshiped but rather to music in a way that would cause the congregation to understand more fully the Word and will of YHVH.  This purposeful music praxis of the Levite musicians is mentioned in Nehemiah 8:8, “So they read in the book in the law of God distinctly (they intoned i.e. sang the Holy Writ), and gave the sense, and caused them to understand the reading.”  The Levites desired understanding in worship rather than novelty or obscurity.   

Scripture Thought for the Day 

1Chronicles 25:7, “So the number of them, with their brethren that were instructed in the songs of the LORD, even all that were cunning, was two hundred fourscore and eight.”

Thank you for a Great Month of October 2017

Thank you for a Great Month of October 2017 
            This month was the 58th month of my blog which contained devotional and philosophical thoughts for Christian musicians. I have written over 2,921 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 2017 will stimulate both the regular and new blog members to remain faithful to their musical work. It is my continued prayer that each new post will bring honor to our heavenly Father in 2017.  The over 2,600 page views of my blog this month were experienced by people who read a mixture of philosophical and devotional thoughts.  We have had over 99,800 page views since the blog was started in January of 2013.  Since I started this blog the page views have come from 124 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, Czechia ,Czech Republic,  Colombia, Congo [DRC], Costa Rica, Croatia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt, Ethiopia, Fiji, France, Finland, Georgia, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, Guyana, 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, Rwanda,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 .  

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