Music "Ministry."
Today's Christian music is neither a reflection nor a product of Scriptural example and teaching. It is a culturally based human contrivance, yet, for some reason, it is thought to be substantive, effectual, and sacred.
The following features of modern Christian music are unrelated to anything in Scripture:
1.) Using worship songs to conjure up the Holy Spirit on cue, "Welcoming Him into our presence." In fact, the Holy Spirit "goes where it wills," and His "presence" is the real issue, not our "presence."
2.) Using music to "Set the tone and mood" of a service. The Word of God, according to Hebrews 4:12-13, is the dynamic factor for our state of being before God, not our experience with music.
3.) Using music as a necessary and integral part of preaching events. In fact, neither Jesus nor The Apostles even suggested this is true.
4.) Using music to "Bring us into God's presence." This is never demonstrated in the New Covenant, which alone provides for entry into the Throneroom by means of Jesus' propitiation.
5.) Using music to uniquely convey the message of the Gospel. Nowhere in Scripture is music used for this. Lyrics and melody are not assigned any special potential for communicating Devine revelation to humans.
6.) The control and conduct of church music by paid "professional" musicians on staff is not hinted at in Scripture, as is compensation for teachers. Only Levitic Priests and occasionally others promoted corporate use of music, but only under the Old Covenant.
7.) Neither music which is soft, alluring, and hypnotic nor music which is blaring, pounding, and decibly intrusive is ever used to influence the worship of God in Scripture in the New Covenant.
8.) Music is never called a "ministry" in Scripture.
9.) Music is never used to elicit intuitive and spontaneous responses from its advocates and listeners, except for the mentally ill King Saul. It is never characterized as "inspirational."
10.) Music was never used for its subtle background effect to influence the responses of a crowd to appeals for salvation, committment, repentance, financial giving, or prayer.
Let me know if you find specific Scripture to refute any of this. Also, let me know if your responses to any of this have substantive basis, or if your responses are just kinda intuitive.
JoWilli.
Today's Christian music is neither a reflection nor a product of Scriptural example and teaching. It is a culturally based human contrivance, yet, for some reason, it is thought to be substantive, effectual, and sacred.
The following features of modern Christian music are unrelated to anything in Scripture:
1.) Using worship songs to conjure up the Holy Spirit on cue, "Welcoming Him into our presence." In fact, the Holy Spirit "goes where it wills," and His "presence" is the real issue, not our "presence."
2.) Using music to "Set the tone and mood" of a service. The Word of God, according to Hebrews 4:12-13, is the dynamic factor for our state of being before God, not our experience with music.
3.) Using music as a necessary and integral part of preaching events. In fact, neither Jesus nor The Apostles even suggested this is true.
4.) Using music to "Bring us into God's presence." This is never demonstrated in the New Covenant, which alone provides for entry into the Throneroom by means of Jesus' propitiation.
5.) Using music to uniquely convey the message of the Gospel. Nowhere in Scripture is music used for this. Lyrics and melody are not assigned any special potential for communicating Devine revelation to humans.
6.) The control and conduct of church music by paid "professional" musicians on staff is not hinted at in Scripture, as is compensation for teachers. Only Levitic Priests and occasionally others promoted corporate use of music, but only under the Old Covenant.
7.) Neither music which is soft, alluring, and hypnotic nor music which is blaring, pounding, and decibly intrusive is ever used to influence the worship of God in Scripture in the New Covenant.
8.) Music is never called a "ministry" in Scripture.
9.) Music is never used to elicit intuitive and spontaneous responses from its advocates and listeners, except for the mentally ill King Saul. It is never characterized as "inspirational."
10.) Music was never used for its subtle background effect to influence the responses of a crowd to appeals for salvation, committment, repentance, financial giving, or prayer.
Let me know if you find specific Scripture to refute any of this. Also, let me know if your responses to any of this have substantive basis, or if your responses are just kinda intuitive.
JoWilli.