Hey all, the following is an article by Nathan, and does not reflect my beliefs... Read my comments...
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In the beginning man was perfect. He lived in a perfect relationship with the triune God. Within this communion, everything was a beautiful song, like a poem written out by a perfect poet. When man broke this covenant, he was marred forever, he no longer could “dance” the “dance” of perfection. His mind was marred, and he rebelled against God. No longer would he be able to do things perfect, he would not be able to live the poem out perfectly. God in His awesome grace came down to him to find him. There in the garden, He established a new beautiful covenant with Adam. Within that covenant He told Adam of the war that was going to happen between the seed of Eve and the seed of the Serpent. This was the beginning where history would work towards man living in perfect, beautiful fellowship with God again (by God’s grace).
Throughout history man has tried to mar the things that God has created good.[1] In and of itself music is not inherently evil; it is what man does with it that makes it evil. No one could ever say that Genevan tunes, Gregorian chants, or Wesley’s tunes are perfect. What the church was trying to do here though, was to attain to the beauty and perfection that will reflect the beauty of communion with God. Someday all these tunes will attain perfection when we come into perfect communion with God.
Man in his sinful state has marred the music which God has made good. How are we supposed to redeem music that has been marred? God has called us to make it good again. Do not condemn all rock because of this. We are called to change it to make it beautiful again, because man in his sinful state has made it ugly. Generally rock is ugly because wicked men have made it that way. It cannot work to stick beautiful words with ugly music. Christians are not called to keep rock the same, they are called to change it, to make it beautiful again. Music will then change from rock to what is more beautiful, something which reflects the beauty of our relationship with the triune God. Just imagine the beauty of it. This relationship is not being whipped up into a frenzy, but it is a deeper relationship.
The church should not go to the world to find music that will display a genuine relationship with God. How can that work when the world does not have a genuine relationship with God? What the world has made ugly, God will in His grace change to look beautiful again. This does not mean that we enjoy rap and rock where it is at. In fact we damn it, because it is the sinful world’s evidence of it’s hate towards God. We work together within the holy communion of believers to show an evidence of the deeper context of faith, of communion with the triune God. No more dissonance in music, but a deeper melodic rhythm which will show our relationship with the triune majesty. Let us strive to bring down the satanic beat of rock, but to build a new foundation where we will dance to the melodic rhythm of the triune God. Let us work within the fellowship of God’s saints to perfect the deeper wonders of Genevan tunes, classical music, Gregorian chants, Wesleyan music, and maybe even some contemporary music so that we can dance the beautiful dance of the triune majesty. We break down the ugly music of this satanic world, in order to build a music that praises the wonders of God’s amazing glory.
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6 comments:
Hey Nate, thanks for the article...
I appreciate what you're saying, but I hope you'll support some of your points.
1. At first you said "
Throughout history man has tried to mar the things that God has created good.[1] In and of itself music is not inherently evil; it is what man does with it that makes it evil.", but then right after that you said: "Generally rock is ugly because wicked men have made it that way. "
So is rock inherently evil or not? "Rock is ugly"-what science/Scriptures support that perspective?
3. "Christians are not called to keep rock the same, they are called to change it, to make it beautiful again."
I agree completely. This is why I'm a fan of the group Apologetix, for taking worldy music and reforming it. Making it Christian. One example: http://youtube.com/watch?v=S17Mvfx2Z5g&feature=related
4. "Music will then change from rock to what is more beautiful, something which reflects the beauty of our relationship with the triune God."
See Nate... The problem is... Me along with many of our friends find rock beautiful. We are worshipping God through it, and unless Scripturally rock is proven ungodly or unholy-we will continue to worship God with it.
5. "This relationship is not being whipped up into a frenzy,"
This is an inference to the assumption that rock and rap music work the body into a frenzy. Do you have some evidence or examples of this?
6. "The church should not go to the world to find music that will display a genuine relationship with God."
Why not? Don't we go to the world for classical music? Oh, but I guess classical music is exempt from being considered worldly, because it doesn't have drums :P
7. "What the world has made ugly, God will in His grace change to look beautiful again."
Yup, for sure :) I agree. The world can make rock and rap appear ungodly, but in the end by the presupossitions of my mind and the grace of God I can enjoy the beauty of rock and rap made to glorify God!
8. "In fact we damn it, because it is the sinful world’s evidence of it’s hate towards God."
I simply abhor this statement. I would seriously consider the use of "damning" of a music genre, especially since in doing so you are damning songs and artists who praise God with the gifts God has given them. You are also damning people(such as myself) when you say that, because rock and rap are as much a part of me and my life as hymns.
9. "No more dissonance in music, but a deeper melodic rhythm which will show our relationship with the triune majesty."
I already stated that dissonance is a necessary part of music in all. Such an example is the flat notes at the end of the tenor line of Nearer Still Nearer. Those are dissonant notes that ultimately resolve.
10. " Let us work within the fellowship of God’s saints to perfect the deeper wonders of Genevan tunes, classical music, Gregorian chants, Wesleyan music, and maybe even some contemporary music -----AND ROCK, RAP, JAZZ, BLUES, SOUL, HIP-HOP, AND EVERY OTHER MUSIC GENRE IN THE UNIVERSE!!!!!!-------so that we can dance the beautiful dance of the triune majesty."
11. "satanic beat of rock" please defend this grotesquely wide generalization.
12. "We break down the ugly music of this satanic world, in order to build a music that praises the wonders of God’s amazing glory." Amen brethren!
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But if someone says to you, "This has been offered in sacrifice," then do not eat it, for the sake of the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience— 29I do not mean(A) your conscience, but his. For(B) why should my liberty be determined by someone else’s conscience? 30If I partake with thankfulness, why am I denounced because of that(C) for which I give thanks?
1 Corinthians 10:28-30
Wow.... that is a lot to think about. I almost completely agree with you Aaron.
I want to get into this a little more later.
sorry nate but I can't help seeing huge flaws in the structure of that essay.
You know what?
This discussion is going in circles. I am getting tired of this argument. I could give more arguements but this whole discussion is gonna go on and on and on. Let's both continue to study on the topic, and listen to wise mentors. I just want to leave you with two thoughts though.
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things (Ph. 4:8)
"Everything is permissible for me"-but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible for me"-but I will not be mastered by anything. (I Cor. 6:12)
Everybody should read a book called: Can We Rock The Gospel?
it is written by John Blanchard and Dan Lucarini.
Published by Evangelical Press.
You can get it from Speelman's.
-Nathan-
Hey! :)
Its me... :) chris
Umm I just wanted to say a couple things.
I'll use the point form that seems so popular here! :)
1) Good discussions. It always good in my mind to disscuss about the christian life, as long as it is done in a loving/christian way.
2) music, just like any other art form, can be used for, or against God's glory. It is not the tool (like a pencil, camcorder, or drum.) it is what comes from it, and what we make (a book, movie, or song) should be to God's glory.
3) There are books, movies, and songs that are not for God's glory and are against God.
This does not make specific genres or art forms inherently bad, but many songs and pictures are.
4) Some forms of art were made in rebellion against God and his beauty to mock and fight against him.
hmmmmm I've noticed that I haven't put in any referances to scripture in this... (not a good idea) but I'll try to find some ..
Heyhey! I forgot about this! We should all rewrite our argument... :)
-Nathan
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