Is Music a Language?—part 1

Is Music a Language?—part 1

          In a recent ad for the Book How to Listen to and Understand Great Music, 3^rd Edition by Robert Greenburg this statement was made, “Music is a non-verbal language that can encode volumes of social, historical, and even philosophical information, provided you know how to understand it.”  Greenburg seems to have a modified theory about music being a language.  Some believe that music is a language; others consider it to be a universal language; while still others believe music to be no language at all.

          Greenburg touches on another major argument that questions whether or not we can understand music’s meaning at all.  Some summerly dismiss the question of understanding music’s meaning by simply asserting that music does not have any meaning at all.  Still others believe that music has meaning but that its meaning is an isolated meaning that is not related to life or any understanding that is related in any way to life outside of music’s little bubble.

Philosophical Outcomes—part 3

Philosophical Outcomes—part 3

One thing for sure, public education will not directly teach the next generation of church musicians wrong things about God because they are not allowed to openly teach the knowledge of God (as taught in the Bible) in their music philosophy.  Although federal law has mandated that public education can no longer retain God in our educational knowledge, the fact that they will not directly teach false concepts of God does not indicate that no “God-education” will take place in public schools and universities.  By eliminating God as the Creator and Lord of music education, public education relays strong false messages about the nature and value of music to our young people.

 Public education in the United States can no longer recognize God in the development of a philosophical basis for music education.  As a matter of fact, teaching God as the basis of all philosophical thought is forbidden.  The only safe path in public education is to omit the authority of God in any philosophical discussion of music.  In public education, no sacred music concerts are legal and the sacred classics may only be taught or performed as music literature.  It is often mandated that there be no Christmas or Easter concerts.  The only time that it is totally legal to mention God in the music classroom is when the music instructor stubs his toe on the desk leg.

Thought for the Day

The fact that public music education can not consider Christ to be preeminent in the music education process is reason enough for Christians to consider Christ centered music rduation to be a conviction.

Philosophical Outcomes—part 2

Philosophical Outcomes—part 2

 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 humanist) 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.

 We cannot trust public education to produce Christ-centered musicians who have a Christocentric music philosophy.  Christians never should have trusted the world to formulate music philosophy for Christian young people.  It has always been the responsibility of Christians to train their own. Although many Christian parents have ignored it, the world has never been a friend of grace.  Could you imagine the ancient Hebrews calling in the Philistines to train their Levite sons?  The 20^th century church did just that--they called in the worldly musicians who outwardly profaned the name of Christ to train church musicians.  The result was generation after generation of Christian musicians filled with Philistine philosophy.

Thought for the Day 

Musicians are, of course, human but their humanness is not the most important aspect of their musicing.

Philosophical Outcomes—part 1

Philosophical Outcomes—part 1

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 not be completely trusted. Christians must remember that you can also trust an unregenerate musician to be worldly in his or her philosophical basis.

  Matthew 12:34b reminds us that “…out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh”.  Although Christians and non-believers will agree on some issues concerning music philosophy, they will not agree on many of the major issues that will affect how a musician ultimately musics. .  Remember, direction determines destiny!   The committed Christian will not only think different things about musicing but will also think differently about music and musicing.  The reason is that the Christian musician believes that “…he [Christ] is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. (Colossians 1:18)   Any music philosopher who is unwilling to put Christ and what the Bible teaches about music first in his or her life will not come to the same philosophical conclusions concerning music and musicing as the committed Christian.

Thought for the Day

Christian musicians not only need to think about music and musicing, but they also need to think about what they have often thought about music and musicing.

The Seven Note Creation-part 2

The Seven Note Creation-part 2

       When we study the te'amim (which is the musical notation found above and below the texts of the entire Old Testament), we find that both the psalmodic and prosodic systems of notation have a tonic note.  (See chapter 8 of my book, Music of the Bible in Christian Perspective and The Music of the Bible Revealed. by Suzanne Haik-Vantoura, Berkley: Bibal Press, 1991.).  This tonic note is called "silluq".  This term means "end" and has the same function as the tonic note of our "modern" diatonic scale. God created and rested in seven days and God made a seven note scale with a resting note.  After the seventh day the sequence of days re-begins and after the seventh note the musical scale re-begins--all this is more than a coincidence!  It is the work of an omniscient creator.

       Outside of our knowledge of the te'amim, the Pentateuch is relatively silent as to the specifics of the beginnings of music.  However, we do know that God imparted musical knowledge to man before the flood.  Genesis 4:21 explains that Lamech’s son Jubal “was the father of all such as handle the harp and organ."  We also know that Adam was given domain over the erets (776) so he no doubt had wisdom concerning music. The more we learn about God’s seven note creation the more we are drawn to the conclusion that a God this wise is capable of guiding us in developing a unified Christocentric music philosophy in the twenty-first century.  Praise God!

Thought for the Day

When a composer or arranger repeatedly avoids the use of the tonic, he or she obscures the finality which is necessary for the proper presentation of the gospel.

The Seven Note Creation-part 1

The Seven Note Creation-part 1

        We have often discussed God's creation of the seven note musical scale.  Before God created man, He created, “the heaven and the earth.”  It is important that we understand the significance of God creating the mathematical ratios that make the seven note scale possible. The perfectness of the number seven is a part of Gods eternal laws. The world was brought into being and set in motion at the will of God in accordance to His laws.

        A part of these laws was the eternal concept of seven days ending with a Sabbath and a re-beginning on the eighth day.  God, without doubt, created music in the beginning to conform to these laws.  The eighth note of the musical scale is essentially the same as Sunday of the next week.  Sunday is the eighth day or the day of re-beginning of the same sequence just like the eighth note of the musical scale.  If you sing the diatonic major scale and stop on the seventh degree which is a leading tone in the major scale this tone demands resolution.  The note of resolution is the eighth degree of the major scale which is the same as the first degree i.e. the tonic.   The concept of seven degrees in a musical scale cannot be improved upon since the number seven is always the number of perfection in Scripture, and eight is the number of regeneration and re-beginning. 

Thought for the Day

The fact that the music of the Occident used a seven note scale made it amenable to correct organization that made much of it congruent with the purposes of public worship.

“I Am Helped”

“I Am Helped”   

Psalm 12:7 states, “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusteth in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.” 

       The psalmist David expressed that his shield is the self-existent eternal God who is.  He also acknowledged that he received his strength from Jehovah.  Sometimes church musicians only think of the struggles of public music ministry.  They forget to remember and say “I am helped”.  They also often forget just who it is that has helped them.  Practice the presence of God”.  When we receive help in our musicing unto God we need to practice saying out loud “Thank You Lord for helping me”.   It will help you and Satan will not like it because he will know that you have your head on straight. 

       The psalmist David acknowledged that God helped him and, since Jehovah was working in his life, he said, “My heart greatly rejoiceth”.  Do you rejoice when God helps you in your musicing?  Do you greatly rejoice?  Do you really praise God like David with your “song’?  Do not forget that if you need God’s help today, God is just as interested in helping you as he was David in ancient Israel.

Prayer for the Day  

Lord You know what is best for my life.   When something continually perplexes me, I want You to solve it as soon as I bring it to you.  Help me to be aware that You working in my life even when I do not understand why this trial has come into my life.  Help me to believe that Your grace is sufficient for me at this time.  This I am praying in Your name.  Amen.   

Song for the Day “Make Me a Servant” by K. Willard.   

Thought for the Day  

We are often ashamed of our areas of weakness.   God uses these “thorns” to cause us to realize that we need Him.

Singing to the Rock of Our Salvation-part 2

Singing to the Rock of Our Salvation-part 2  

       Because we joy in the presence of the LORD, we shout aloud the praises of the self-existent, eternal God who is.  We enhance our praise music by singing with instrumental accompaniment.  Because Jehovah is worthy of praise, we lift up our hands in avowal to the triune God. 

       Chief musician, is your heart full of mighty praises to our wonderful Lord?  If not, remember that God is the Rock of your salvation.  As you remember who He is and what He has done, and what he is capable of doing, you can actually come into His presence with praiseful musicing. 

Prayer for the Day  

I want to thank You Lord that You are my strength and shield.  Thank You for helping me in my spiritual walk with You from day to day.  I also want to thank You Lord for giving me special help with my musicing this very week!  Help me to not forget that is You that have brought truth and joy to my life.  I want to take time right now to say “Thank You, thank You, thank You.”  Now Satan knows exactly where I stand today!  These things I pray in Your Strong and mighty and wonderful name.  Amen.   

Singing to the Rock of Our Salvation-part 1

Singing to the Rock of Our Salvation-part 1   

Psalm 95:1-2 states, “Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.  Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song.”  (NIV)

       Why do we sing unto the Lord?  We sing because our hearts are joyful.  We are so excited about Jesus the Rock of our salvation that we shout aloud because of the thanksgiving and praise that wells up in our hearts.  Because of this joy we come before His presence with thanksgiving.

       What does it mean to extol the Lord with our musicing?  The word ruwa (7321) which is justly translated extol in the NIV means to shout aloud or to music with great strength.  It does not connote noise making as the AV would suggest.   The word todah (3034) which is translated thanksgiving means literally to extend the hands in worship. The words music and song in the NIV and psalms are derived from the Hebrew word zamiyr (2158) means to accompany a song with instrumental music.  So when we extol God with our musicing we sing with great strength songs accompanied with musical instruments. 

Song for the Day “Spirit of the Living God” by Daniel Iverson   

If you really want to “practice the presence of God” in your life, you might try meditating on the Decalogue “day and night”.

Singing about Our Chief Corner Stone

Singing about Our Chief Corner Stone

          My Son in law sent me the quote below by pastor Jim Cymbala the other day and I have been thinking about it ever since.  It is one thing to sing about Christ but it is totally another to have a personal relationship with the Christ about whom you are singing!  We as Christian musicians need to be sure that when we sing the gospel we are worshiping Christ rather than the gospel music.  A Christian should never sing or play sacred music for his or her aggrandizement.  As you will see when you read the quotation below, pastor Cymbala got it right when he said, “Sadly, some people use gospel music as a platform to go higher in their field…”  Gospel music should never be used by a musician as a stepping stone.  The gospel message should never be a stone to step upon because it is the message of our Chief “corner stone” Christ Jesus.

Quote for the Day

          "Gospel music has become very popular in recent years. Unfortunately, there are people involved in gospel music today who have no acquaintance with the gospel itself. The truth is that without the good news of Jesus Christ, there is no hope, no matter how much money a person may have earned in the music industry and how well they are known. Without Jesus there is no joy and no peace. The world testifies to that every day. So many celebrities have all the things this world has ...to offer, yet they have to stay drugged up to keep going. When you have Jesus, you don’t need escapism, because you can give your burdens to him and have hope not just for the here and now, but for eternal life.

          Sadly, some people use gospel music as a platform to go higher in their field; but you can’t go higher than the gospel! There are songwriters who try to write lyrics for gospel songs that are general enough to cross over into mainstream music, and so the gospel message is watered down. Whether we sing gospel music, or listen to it, we need to be a partaker in what we’re singing about. The next time you’re singing a gospel tune, whether the song sings the Lord’s praises or tells about the attributes of God and what he’s done in a person’s life, or shares the good news of salvation in Jesus Christ, think of the words you are singing – or writing – and let them come from a heart of gratitude for all that he has done!" ~ Pastor Jim Cymbala

Scriptures for the Day

Ephesians 2:20, “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.”

 1Peter 2:6, “Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.”