Viewpoints on Making MUSIC for Christ. |
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JESUS calls US to be |
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The Christian religion is the worship and service of Jesus Christ. It’s not Mary we worship, but her Son. We worship neither saints, angels, a law code, nor even God’s Spirit. It’s JESUS who is to be honored. The Bible is our guide. |
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Singing is an enjoyable pastime for many. Most people can "carry a tune," and get considerable pleasure from singing and listening to music, whether in shower stall or in concert hall.Whenever Christians get together, we generally enjoy singing together. We don't, however, all like the same music sung the same ways.
Some like it hot. Some like it cold. Some like it fast. Some like it slow. Some like it marching. Some like it galloping. Some like it stately. Some like it only when it's loud. Some like music that's NOT loud. Some groups in some parts of any country prefer differing styles from groups in other parts of the world. We suppose God is able to enjoy whatever music WE like.
I propose, in Viewpoint Study #24 that when Christians get together, since their primary purpose is to edify one another, that the songs selected for their singing should be aimed at encouraging and strengthening one another. I think the "dumbing down" of our song services, the substitution of choruses for hymns, with an obvious need to repeat each chorus at least once in case it might seem better the next time, and the change from musical instruments that can produce beautiful music to instruments best at producing noise, is not good for any church. A brother disagrees, suggesting that perhaps some people don't like music that requires thought or musical ability, and we need those people in our services. (Another view is expressed in Viewpoint Study #4-A.)
Well, that's not the way he words his thought, as you'll see if you read the study. He's thinking maybe the "new" music is at least as good as the old, that the switch to "worship" instead of exhortation is possibly even an improvement. It's a deep subject, and one important to every Christian, for we all do like our singing, and our emotions run high one way or the other about the changes that have taken place and are taking place in our meetings. This is a part of a study on worship. Other studies are listed in the section on Christian worship.
Please consider that the Bible calls for Christians to worship every day, in all we do, whether together or apart from our brothers and sisters. Whatever we decide about singing and Christian music must pertain to singing in gatherings and also what we do when away from places of meeting. We must love our brothers and sisters greatly even if their ideas about appropriate music differ from our own.
7/22/98 -- I've recently inserted an additional page
about Christian music. An e-mail brief study
followed by two of the comments received.1/4/99 -- I received this note by e-mail today -- From: JLEROBERTS@aol.com -- For those interested in the music in Scripture, Richard Wolfe, a colleague who followed me in French missions ( he spent 20 yrs in Liege, Belgium after I left. A music major from Harding, Richard helped write and edit one of the finest hymnals we have in French) - he has just written 'Songs, Cymbals and Tambourines: The Music of Scripture'.
He surveyed every passage in scripture on the subject and produced a work we should all be aware of. You can get a copy direct from Richard or at 21st century Christian. Write Richard E.Wolfe, 1808 Summit Drive, Urbana, IL. 61802-7028. $12.49 includes S&H. J.Lee Roberts
