Music in Fundamental Churches

[Bob Alkire]

So, do we have Bible evidence or principles to support the idea that rhythm based music causes the spiritual side of our makeup to starve and grow weak?

Roger, I don't know. However in seminary I was taught that the early Christian music or church music must have been Jewish. I know one could say that was the culture or the times.

As a child growing up we would have between 2 and 4 pieces of music played or song in a service, but Saturday or Friday nights there would be 2 hours or more of music. But growing up I was a Presbyterian and in seminary didn't become a Baptist till after seminary.

In seminary we were taught that there must have been very little music at church or there was very little said about it in the NT. That would leave a lot of room for the mind to travel in either direction.

I don't know but I would think music is a bigger thing today than when I was coming up. We know the OT from the Psalms that music could have been a large part of there service.

 

[swaimj]

Be patient - I have more things going on in my life than just this one issue.

You have to understand, Todd, for some of us, the BB is all we have! :laugh:

 

[Todd W. White]

Thanks - it's been hectic, but I'm getting closer to getting it finished. It's not complicated, but it is a different approach than I've used before, for the most part, and I'm trying to make sure it's clear and easy to understand. One of the problems Dr. Garlock has had is people who don't know anything about music having difficulty grasping some of the musical concepts he presents. I want this to be easy for anyone to understand, whether they understand music or not.

My goal is to get it posted before Wednesday, perhaps sooner.

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

'm trying to make sure it's clear and easy to understand. One of the problems Dr. Garlock has had is people who don't know anything about music having difficulty grasping some of the musical concepts he presents.

Yet there are plenty of people who do know a lot about music who disagree with him. Thats why we are looking for Bible support for this contention that rhythm based music weakens the spirit.

 

[annsni]

Yet there are plenty of people who do know a lot about music who disagree with him. Thats why we are looking for Bible support for this contention that rhythm based music weakens the spirit.

Yeah - I'd honestly much prefer to hear Biblical support rather than music theory. Music theory is not Biblically based nor does it deal with the unregenerate and regenerate heart.

 

[Todd W. White]

That's why I'm trying to approach it differently. There will be some overlap, which, of course, can't be helped because of the subject we're dealing with, but the approach I'm working on is an attempt to demonstrate how certain principles of Scripture apply to music.

 

[NaasPreacher (C4K)]

an attempt to demonstrate how certain principles of Scripture apply to music.

I don't doubt that Bible principles apply to music.

I do doubt that the Bible says or implies that rhythm based music weakens the spiritual aspect of man.

 

[Berean]

I enjoy all types of music although I must admit I have not aquired a taste for rap. As far as music as it relates to "church" I break it down into several groups; worship, praise, inspirational and entertaining. I am moved by the text more then the "beat". I think music with no lyrics is strictly entertaining. I also think an anthem such as "When I Survey the Wondorus Cross or How Great Thou Art" proceeding the Word on Sunday morning concerning the Holiness of God would be much more suitable then "When They Baptised Jesse Taylor in Gator Creek Last Sunday" Also just how far do poetic license allow one to be creative with the Word when it comes to lyrics? Example; I find no place in the Scripture where it says that the Angels sing or ever will. It does say they can't join in the song of redemption.

 

[Dale-c]

Berean, I certainly think we should have a different standard for music in church than for everything else.
Not so much with style but with reverence.

I prefer very conservative music in church because I have grown up with that.
I even like to sing acapella some.

BUt I listen to a lot of "rythm based music otherwise, including some that is very uplifting, such as the Sons of Korah, who only sing psalms.

But we must almost great liberty to other congregations who do things in manners different from ours where the Bible is silent.

 

[Dale-c]

Oh, and I hope Pastor White in his delay is coming to the same conclusions I did when I was studying this issue...the Bible is just silent on the morality of music style.

 

[rbell]

I enjoy all types of music although I must admit I have not aquired a taste for rap. As far as music as it relates to "church" I break it down into several groups; worship, praise, inspirational and entertaining. I am moved by the text more then the "beat". I think music with no lyrics is strictly entertaining. I also think an anthem such as "When I Survey the Wondorus Cross or How Great Thou Art" proceeding the Word on Sunday morning concerning the Holiness of God would be much more suitable then "When They Baptised Jesse Taylor in Gator Creek Last Sunday" Also just how far do poetic license allow one to be creative with the Word when it comes to lyrics? Example; I find no place in the Scripture where it says that the Angels sing or ever will. It does say they can't join in the song of redemption.

No, no, no.

The reason you aren't edified by "When They Baptised Jesse Taylor in Gator Creek Last Sunday" is because they baptized Jesse Taylor in Possum creek.

 

[SBCPreacher]

No, no, no.

The reason you aren't edified by "When They Baptised Jesse Taylor in Gator Creek Last Sunday" is because they baptized Jesse Taylor in Possum creek.

Wow, all this time I thought it was Cedar creek.

 

[Todd W. White]

Dale-c wrote:

Oh, and I hope Pastor White in his delay is coming to the same conclusions I did when I was studying this issue...the Bible is just silent on the morality of music style.

Sorry, but I'm not - it's just taking a while to arrive at a manner in which to explain it that is different than most of what folks here have heard. That, coupled with the other duties I have in life, is causing it to take some time to get it put down in a cogent form.

 

[rbell]

Wow...if it takes this long, this will either be one of the best posts ever on the BB...or one of the longest.

 

[annsni]

If Scripture is against certain music in church, we'd like the verse.

We're not looking for a dissertation of proof-texts to go around and say that because Scripture says A and we know that A goes with B and science teaches us that B means C, and we find that we feel D when listening to A, music is wrong.

It doesn't take this long to say that Scripture says that getting drunk is wrong or that sex outside of marriage is wrong. It doesn't take this long to say that murder is a sin or that we are to love the bretheren. I don't know - I'm not holding out much hope for this.

 

[ray Marshall]

No, no, no.

The reason you aren't edified by "When They Baptised Jesse Taylor in Gator Creek Last Sunday" is because they baptized Jesse Taylor in Possum creek.

The Bible has never said that the Angels sing. I had looked that up in the Bible years ago and you are right. I agree.

 

[Todd W. White]

Sister Ann,

You know that it isn't possible to cite a single verse stating that "xyz" style of music is wrong for Christians to listen to, any more than it is possible to find a single verse that plainly states, word-for-word, that it is wrong for a Christian to consume alcohol. So, don't try to back me into a corner with that fallacious line of argument.

While some things, such as fornication, are spelled out in the Bible, others are not. Those that are not must be examined in light of the truths found in the Word, and then applying them to the item in question. And, yes, sometimes that does mean you have to take passage "A", passage "B", etc., and find out the answer, because putting them together is where the answer is found. Please don't react ahead of time to what I haven't even said yet based upon what you've reacted to before to people who've said something you don't agree with - at least be open enough to look at it with an open heart, and give me the benefit of posting it first before you start to shoot it down.

It's not going to be a long dissertation - it's actually going to be pretty basic.

I'm working on it as I can, in between everything else I to do. More importantly, I am carefully praying about what I have and will be putting down in writing - I want it to be accurate Scripturally, not just an opinion or some "spiritual surmizing" of what I want the Bible to say.

I just want it to be what I believe God would have me say from His Word.

And in His time frame, not mine.

 

[Bro. James]

Make a joyful noise unto the Lord--with whatever He has blessed.

He may not be favorably impressed if we spent more on musical instruments than the preaching of The Word in Spirit and in Truth.

Who gets the glory? (royalty?) And what are the fruits? Who are we applauding? Man or God? Choose wisely.

Some of us have become so sound, we have fallen asleep--sound asleep.

Judgement begins at Bethel.

Wake up--trim the lamps. The Bridegroom is coming.

Selah,

Bro. James

 

[Dale-c]

You know that it isn't possible to cite a single verse stating that "xyz" style of music is wrong for Christians to listen to, any more than it is possible to find a single verse that plainly states, word-for-word, that it is wrong for a Christian to consume alcohol. So, don't try to back me into a corner with that fallacious line of argument.

Exactly! because there is no prohibition to a Christian consuming alcohol in a moderate way. Ann does not make a fallacious argument at all. I think you assume that Ann and others would use this a-b-c- type of reasoning with others but in fact, using sola scriptura and tota scriptura we are left without specific guidelines to music style.

 

[annsni]

Exactly! because there is no prohibition to a Christian consuming alcohol in a moderate way. Ann does not make a fallacious argument at all. I think you assume that Ann and others would use this a-b-c- type of reasoning with others but in fact, using sola scriptura and tota scriptura we are left without specific guidelines to music style.

Amen!! That's what I'm talking about.