“Thy statutes are my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.”
- Psalm 119:54
In one concise statement David introduces us to the Hymnbook of Heaven elucidating the triumvirate of Christian service - doctrine, worship and life. Thy statutes (doctrine); are my songs (worship); in the house of my pilgrimage (life). Just as the doctrine of justification by faith alone is like Atlas bearing on its shoulders the entire evangelical knowledge of saving grace[1], so is doctrine, worship and life the three central pillars for music ministry. True Christian music is God-conceived (doctrine); Christ-centered (worship); and Spirit-controlled (life). Take away any one of these pillars and the building topples. For example: a powerful doctrine sung in glory to Christ with an impure life is noise to the ears of our holy God.[2] Conversely, an obedient life given in worship to Christ absent of sound doctrine will be empty praise and on the path to error.[3] Lastly, right theology sung out of the beauty of holiness but vacant in worship to Christ leads to pride or self-glory[4] and the chastisement of the Father.[5]Knowing God - Not Feeling God
In Christian music we are missing the key pillar, the cornerstone, which the other two rely upon - sound doctrine! There has already occurred a much needed return to praise and worship in the church and we’ve observed that across the board in evangelicalism. There is also a renewed heightened call for more personal ecclesiastical accountability.[6] Though we have not arrived in those areas, we are on the path, nevertheless, the Achilles heel of our industry is the blatant absence of sound biblical theology which has effected every level of Christian music.
This is most evident in it’s message. Christian music, originally called Jesus Music that once fearlessly sang about the gospel, now sings of a Christ-less, watered-down, pabulum-based, positive alternative, cream of wheat, mush-kind-of-syrupy God-as-my-girlfriend thing. There is an obvious reason this has taken place: artists primarily feel; theologians primarily think. We need artists who will balance their zeal with knowledge[7] to invest their lives in the daily discipline of Bible study, and then, to write with the fire, passion and enthusiasm which that study has illumined to communicate the glorious language of the church - the holy Word of God! Until this occurs, we are guilty of sentencing a generation of Christians to simply “feel” their God, rather than to know their God! In the early days of my own music ministry I wrote songs that neither represented good music or precise theology. It is out of the crucible of those experiences that God convicted me, which drives me to speak passionately to these issues.
Procrustean Pied-Pipers; Tailor Made Truth to Fit Anyway You Want
In Greek mythology there is portrayed a villainous son named Procrustes, of his father Poseidon, who would arbitrarily prescribe ruthless, torturous phenomenon for patrons of his hostel. He would force his travelers to fit into his "procrustean bed" by stretching his victims or severing off their limbs. In much the same way, there have been men throughout the ages that have tailored the truth of God's Word[8], having laid it upon the "procrustean beds" of deceived, depraved minds[9] stretching its truth or lopping it off to suit their itching ears.[10] The Apostle Paul says, “we are not like, as so many, peddling the Word of God for profit.”[11] Though others did, he would not succumb in making retail of the truth - selling it as cheap merchandise for whatever worldly prominence or power might be bought. Truth to the Apostle was a non-negotiable. Paul’s commitment to the truth wasn’t for sale.[12]
In 1 Timothy 3:15, Paul says that the church is the pillar and support of the truth.” How we handle the truth of God’s Word determines and defines everything - our worship, our fellowship, our missions outreach, our music, our daily walk with the Lord, our effectiveness in ministry and ultimately our eternal destiny! You see, no one ever lives greater than their view of God![13] And our view of God is formed by what He has revealed in His Word. We may see His invisible attributes, eternal power and Godhead revealed through general revelation,[14] but the self-revelation of who God is and His redemptive plan for man is solely revealed in special revelation - the Word of God![15] Therefore, if in our worship we pervert His Word, we pervert the truth about God. If in our music we distort His doctrine, we distort a right view of Him. If in our song we misrepresent the Scriptures, we misrepresent the Savior. And if in our ministries we twist His truth, we dishonor His character.
What’s at stake here is not preferred shelf space at Target or Wal-Mart; but actually the gospel, the authority of Scripture, the life of the church and the character of God! That is why a proper, systematic theology consistent with the totality of Scripture must saturate our musicology. Under the banner of Soli Deo Gloria, this must be the predominate purpose of all our psalms, hymns and spiritual songs,[16] to preserve, promote, proclaim, protect and preach the Word.
CCMI-On The Down-Grade?
History is a lucid teacher and we can learn from her. Give ear to the account of one man’s battle against the roaring lion[17] of modernity in his time:
Brethren, God’s judgment is assuredly upon the Christian Music industry. Like the street courtesan, she has been sold by the “gatekeeper pimps” to the “secular johns” who have the deepest pockets and make the sweetest promises! It has patterned itself after the ways of the world rather than doing the work of God, by the will of God, according to the Word of God! There is no hope for gospel music apart from Heaven’s intervention. We need revival; we need renewal; we need repentance; and we need a new Reformation!
Biblical Theology Still the Greatest Need of the Hour
Much like in Spurgeon’s era, or in the days of Paul, sound doctrine is at wholesale rates and godly character is at bargain bin prices. The question still confronts us, why is biblical theology vital for the life of the church and the spiritual health of the believer? Why is it essential for the future survival of Christian music? Answer: because sound doctrine clearly taught and obeyed will always produce godly living and bring glory to God; but unsound doctrine disseminated will be nothing more than gangrenous[20] words to the body of Christ - producing nothing but poisoned, sinful lives. Even if expressed through the most gifted of orators or sung through the most stirring of melodies, in the end, it weakens the entire church!
When our grip on the sword of the Spirit[21] is loosened and our spiritual muscles have atrophied, the “once for all delivered to the saints faith”[22] is hastily replaced by a saber of our own carnal invention.[23] We cannot fight the good fight of faith with fleshly weaponry![24]
The Song of Tolerance
We can see the effects of the dumbing-down of doctrine by the pervasive tolerance of another gospel[25] which has resulted in redefining Biblical language. Sin is no longer called sin, but sickness; disobedience is called disease; and acts of transgression are now just addictions. This psychological sanctification has replaced the Scriptures and the work of the Holy Sprit in the predetermined work of God to conform us daily to Christ.[26] “Sanctify them by Thy truth, [Jesus said,] Thy Word is truth.”[27] Only the truth of God’s Word is sanctifying truth for all matters of life and godliness![28] “The sum of Thy Word is truth.”[29] We are to be “ handling accurately the word of truth.”[30] We are to proclaim “The word of truth, the gospel.”[31] Why? For God has “exalted His Word even above His name.”[32]
It is infinitely hazardous when the church embraces a Freudian anthropology justifying oneself for the purpose of abandoning personal responsibility (the abuse excuse) and allowing one to attach the blame outwardly to one’s environment, or on Mom and Dad, rather than finding solutions that come from only God Himself. Giving people a sense of becoming and belonging, addressing felt needs instead of real needs is the “theology” of the hour. Churches now hire full time psychological counselors fortuitously replacing faithful pastors and elders who are the ones called by God to shepherd His flock![33] “Preach the Word…”[34] is no longer the mandate of men of God but rather, “Go ye into all the world and relate!” In other words, I must increase - He must decrease![35]
Self-The New Audience of One
Os Guinness is spot on in his analysis when saying,
“A new religion has been initiated, which is no more Christianity than chalk is cheese; and this religion, being destitute of moral honesty, palms itself off as the old faith with slight improvements, and on this plea usurps pulpits which were erected for gospel preaching.”[37]
“An aversion to doctrinal Christianity has been growing for several decades, along with an increasing intolerance for doctrinal and confessional accountability. Evangelicals have embraced the technologies of modernity, often without recognizing that these technologies have claimed the role of master rather that servant.”[38]
Theological Ebonics
Church growth expert, George Barna, arguing for how the church must find new ways to reach a post-church generation with the gospel, says, “Busters do not believe in absolute truth. This means that they, for the most part, reject the Bible as having any real answers. Thus, proposing Jesus Christ as the solution to a person’s sin problem is not likely to make any significant impression.”[39] Did you hear that? Dear people, the gospel never begins with man and his need but with God and His glory![40] Truth by definition is exclusive. When we declare the Scriptures to be the truth and Jesus Christ as the way, the truth, and the life,[41] who is full of grace and truth,[42] we are declaring that every other claim to “the truth” is false. Every other way is a dead end. Every other faith system asserting eternal life is a path leading to death.[43] Crossover that! Make that seeker-friendly! Commercialism won’t tolerate a God-conceived, Christ-centered message! You can crossover the artist to the world pop genre, but you can’t crossover the message, why, there is an offense to the cross![44]
In a culture where absolute truth is considered obsolete it’s only inevitable that people will sink to the lowest common denominator to try to make sense of the extremes between depravity and salvation. Again, Barna gives evidence of this: “It is critical that we keep in mind a fundamental principle of Christian communication: the audience, not the message, is sovereign.”[45] The evolution of his disconcerting ideology is significant: Contemporary Christian Music began declaring Jesus Christ as Lord. Within a few years His name was replaced by the generic but proper title of God. Still too offensive for some, dilution occurred, filtering the name of God to He, Him, “It”, or to the non-specific cognomen, “Love.” Today, His name is reduced to a multitude of pseudonyms: “The Man Upstairs”; “The Boss”; “The Big Guy”; “Chairman of the Board”; “My Higher Power”; “My Buddy’, “My Pal” and “My Lover”- ad nauseam… ad infinitum! This biblical illiteracy is theological ebonics - biblical language diminished to cultural unintelligible chatter affirmed as profound, acceptable spiritual truth.
It's About the Gospel Beloved
Artist, Minister, or Entertainer?
What does all this have to do with the responsibility of the musician to Biblical Theology? The answer is - everything. You see, music very rarely sets the course for the church or society, but most times it mirrors what is already taking place. To encapsulate, if there be a famine of God’s Word in the pulpit, then the music that we are hearing in the pew will be just as weak, just as diluted and just as compromised. Remember, music is not fundamental but supplemental.
J.I. Packer saw this trend many years ago,
Pounding on Wittenburg's Door
We need to be pounding on Wittenburg’s door again - back to the foundation and convictions of the Reformers - back to the truth of Sola Scriptura… Scripture alone!
The songs that we compose and the ministries that we forge must square with the Word of God: “Thy statutes are my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.” Also in verse 172, “Let my tongue sing of Thy Word, for all Thy commandments are righteousness.” Here we have the content and theme of David’s song before the Lord, “Thy statutes…and Thy Word… for all Thy commandments are righteousness.” The subject matter is crystal clear, it is God’s Word. Is there any greater message to sing? Is there any greater love to proclaim? Is there any greater desire in our hearts than to do what Psalm 69:30 says, “I will praise the name of God with song, and shall magnify Him with thanksgiving.” Truth always results in praise!
Procrustean Pied-Pipers; Tailor Made Truth to Fit Anyway You Want
In Greek mythology there is portrayed a villainous son named Procrustes, of his father Poseidon, who would arbitrarily prescribe ruthless, torturous phenomenon for patrons of his hostel. He would force his travelers to fit into his "procrustean bed" by stretching his victims or severing off their limbs. In much the same way, there have been men throughout the ages that have tailored the truth of God's Word[8], having laid it upon the "procrustean beds" of deceived, depraved minds[9] stretching its truth or lopping it off to suit their itching ears.[10] The Apostle Paul says, “we are not like, as so many, peddling the Word of God for profit.”[11] Though others did, he would not succumb in making retail of the truth - selling it as cheap merchandise for whatever worldly prominence or power might be bought. Truth to the Apostle was a non-negotiable. Paul’s commitment to the truth wasn’t for sale.[12]
In 1 Timothy 3:15, Paul says that the church is the pillar and support of the truth.” How we handle the truth of God’s Word determines and defines everything - our worship, our fellowship, our missions outreach, our music, our daily walk with the Lord, our effectiveness in ministry and ultimately our eternal destiny! You see, no one ever lives greater than their view of God![13] And our view of God is formed by what He has revealed in His Word. We may see His invisible attributes, eternal power and Godhead revealed through general revelation,[14] but the self-revelation of who God is and His redemptive plan for man is solely revealed in special revelation - the Word of God![15] Therefore, if in our worship we pervert His Word, we pervert the truth about God. If in our music we distort His doctrine, we distort a right view of Him. If in our song we misrepresent the Scriptures, we misrepresent the Savior. And if in our ministries we twist His truth, we dishonor His character.
What’s at stake here is not preferred shelf space at Target or Wal-Mart; but actually the gospel, the authority of Scripture, the life of the church and the character of God! That is why a proper, systematic theology consistent with the totality of Scripture must saturate our musicology. Under the banner of Soli Deo Gloria, this must be the predominate purpose of all our psalms, hymns and spiritual songs,[16] to preserve, promote, proclaim, protect and preach the Word.
CCMI-On The Down-Grade?
History is a lucid teacher and we can learn from her. Give ear to the account of one man’s battle against the roaring lion[17] of modernity in his time:
Charles Hadden Spurgeon spent the final four years of his life at war against the trends of early modernism which he rightly saw as a threat to Biblical Christianity. Spurgeon wanted to warn his flock about the dangers from moving away from the historic positions [of the truth]. ‘Biblical truth is like the pinnacle of a steep, slippery mountain,’ Spurgeon suggested. ‘One step away, and you find yourself on the down-grade. Once a church or individual Christian gets on the downgrade,’ Spurgeon said, ‘momentum takes over. Recovery is unusual and only happens when Christians get on the ‘up-line’ through spiritual revival.’ History has vindicated Spurgeon’s warnings about the down-grade. In the early part of the twentieth century the spreading of ‘false doctrine and worldliness’—theological liberalism and modernism—ravaged denominational Christianity throughout the world. Most of the mainline denominations were violently if not fatally altered by these influences. A hundred years later, we are seeing history repeating itself again…. ‘False doctrine and worldliness’—the same two influences Spurgeon attacked—always go hand in hand, with worldliness leading the way. Christians today tend to forget that modernism was not first of all a theological agenda but a methodological one.[18]We are seriously close, beloved, to being on the down-grade in Christian music, if, in fact, we have not already begun the slide. Though we are seeing an unprecedented interest by the secular arena with more press and publicity, I believe there are some danger signs we can’t ignore: an absence of biblical truth; a reductionist gospel; being unequally yoked with the secular music industry; syncretism; pragmatism; aberrant and heretical themes accepted in lyrics; worldliness in business practice; relativism; moral pluralism; and experientialism. Could it be that the love of money is producing all sorts of evil?[19]
Brethren, God’s judgment is assuredly upon the Christian Music industry. Like the street courtesan, she has been sold by the “gatekeeper pimps” to the “secular johns” who have the deepest pockets and make the sweetest promises! It has patterned itself after the ways of the world rather than doing the work of God, by the will of God, according to the Word of God! There is no hope for gospel music apart from Heaven’s intervention. We need revival; we need renewal; we need repentance; and we need a new Reformation!
Biblical Theology Still the Greatest Need of the Hour
Much like in Spurgeon’s era, or in the days of Paul, sound doctrine is at wholesale rates and godly character is at bargain bin prices. The question still confronts us, why is biblical theology vital for the life of the church and the spiritual health of the believer? Why is it essential for the future survival of Christian music? Answer: because sound doctrine clearly taught and obeyed will always produce godly living and bring glory to God; but unsound doctrine disseminated will be nothing more than gangrenous[20] words to the body of Christ - producing nothing but poisoned, sinful lives. Even if expressed through the most gifted of orators or sung through the most stirring of melodies, in the end, it weakens the entire church!
When our grip on the sword of the Spirit[21] is loosened and our spiritual muscles have atrophied, the “once for all delivered to the saints faith”[22] is hastily replaced by a saber of our own carnal invention.[23] We cannot fight the good fight of faith with fleshly weaponry![24]
The Song of Tolerance
We can see the effects of the dumbing-down of doctrine by the pervasive tolerance of another gospel[25] which has resulted in redefining Biblical language. Sin is no longer called sin, but sickness; disobedience is called disease; and acts of transgression are now just addictions. This psychological sanctification has replaced the Scriptures and the work of the Holy Sprit in the predetermined work of God to conform us daily to Christ.[26] “Sanctify them by Thy truth, [Jesus said,] Thy Word is truth.”[27] Only the truth of God’s Word is sanctifying truth for all matters of life and godliness![28] “The sum of Thy Word is truth.”[29] We are to be “ handling accurately the word of truth.”[30] We are to proclaim “The word of truth, the gospel.”[31] Why? For God has “exalted His Word even above His name.”[32]
It is infinitely hazardous when the church embraces a Freudian anthropology justifying oneself for the purpose of abandoning personal responsibility (the abuse excuse) and allowing one to attach the blame outwardly to one’s environment, or on Mom and Dad, rather than finding solutions that come from only God Himself. Giving people a sense of becoming and belonging, addressing felt needs instead of real needs is the “theology” of the hour. Churches now hire full time psychological counselors fortuitously replacing faithful pastors and elders who are the ones called by God to shepherd His flock![33] “Preach the Word…”[34] is no longer the mandate of men of God but rather, “Go ye into all the world and relate!” In other words, I must increase - He must decrease![35]
Self-The New Audience of OneOs Guinness is spot on in his analysis when saying,
“This… sea change is a particularly important precedent because it was not so much from Calvinism to Arminianism as from theology to experience, from truth to technique, from elites to populism, and from an emphasis on ‘serving God’, to an emphasis on ‘serving the self’ in serving God.”[36]He is devastatingly correct! Even at the seminary level that change is evident. Men are no longer being taught today to preach expositionally but experientially. The object of faith is no longer Christ but self-esteem; the goal of faith is no longer holiness, but happiness; the source of faith is no longer the Scriptures, but experience.
“A new religion has been initiated, which is no more Christianity than chalk is cheese; and this religion, being destitute of moral honesty, palms itself off as the old faith with slight improvements, and on this plea usurps pulpits which were erected for gospel preaching.”[37]
“An aversion to doctrinal Christianity has been growing for several decades, along with an increasing intolerance for doctrinal and confessional accountability. Evangelicals have embraced the technologies of modernity, often without recognizing that these technologies have claimed the role of master rather that servant.”[38]
Theological Ebonics
Church growth expert, George Barna, arguing for how the church must find new ways to reach a post-church generation with the gospel, says, “Busters do not believe in absolute truth. This means that they, for the most part, reject the Bible as having any real answers. Thus, proposing Jesus Christ as the solution to a person’s sin problem is not likely to make any significant impression.”[39] Did you hear that? Dear people, the gospel never begins with man and his need but with God and His glory![40] Truth by definition is exclusive. When we declare the Scriptures to be the truth and Jesus Christ as the way, the truth, and the life,[41] who is full of grace and truth,[42] we are declaring that every other claim to “the truth” is false. Every other way is a dead end. Every other faith system asserting eternal life is a path leading to death.[43] Crossover that! Make that seeker-friendly! Commercialism won’t tolerate a God-conceived, Christ-centered message! You can crossover the artist to the world pop genre, but you can’t crossover the message, why, there is an offense to the cross![44]
In a culture where absolute truth is considered obsolete it’s only inevitable that people will sink to the lowest common denominator to try to make sense of the extremes between depravity and salvation. Again, Barna gives evidence of this: “It is critical that we keep in mind a fundamental principle of Christian communication: the audience, not the message, is sovereign.”[45] The evolution of his disconcerting ideology is significant: Contemporary Christian Music began declaring Jesus Christ as Lord. Within a few years His name was replaced by the generic but proper title of God. Still too offensive for some, dilution occurred, filtering the name of God to He, Him, “It”, or to the non-specific cognomen, “Love.” Today, His name is reduced to a multitude of pseudonyms: “The Man Upstairs”; “The Boss”; “The Big Guy”; “Chairman of the Board”; “My Higher Power”; “My Buddy’, “My Pal” and “My Lover”- ad nauseam… ad infinitum! This biblical illiteracy is theological ebonics - biblical language diminished to cultural unintelligible chatter affirmed as profound, acceptable spiritual truth.
It's About the Gospel Beloved
“Jesus is the Truth. We believe in Him,—not merely in His words. He Himself is Doctor and Doctrine, Revealer and Revelation, the Illuminator and the Light of Men. He is exalted in every word of truth, because He is its sum and substance. He sits above the gospel, like a prince on His own throne. Doctrine is most precious when we see it distilling from His lips and embodied in His person. Sermons [and songs] are valuable in proportion as they speak of Him and point to Him. A Christless gospel is no gospel and a Christless discourse is the cause of merriment to devils.”[46]What is eternal is being traded for what is temporary with a helter-skelter recklessness. God has created man in His own image and it has been said today that man has now returned the favor! As the Lord said to a wayward Israel, “You thought I was just like you.”[47] God’s commentary on modernity is direct and clear, “Every man is doing what is right in his own eyes.”[48] Brethren, that philosophy is not just in the world, but heartbreakingly that is the pervading fundamental principle governing the minds of many in the church today as well.
Artist, Minister, or Entertainer?What does all this have to do with the responsibility of the musician to Biblical Theology? The answer is - everything. You see, music very rarely sets the course for the church or society, but most times it mirrors what is already taking place. To encapsulate, if there be a famine of God’s Word in the pulpit, then the music that we are hearing in the pew will be just as weak, just as diluted and just as compromised. Remember, music is not fundamental but supplemental.
J.I. Packer saw this trend many years ago,
“The outside observer sees us as staggering from gimmick to gimmick and stunt to stunt like so many drunks in a fog, not knowing at all where we are or which way we should be going. Preaching [and singing] is hazy; heads are muddled; hearts fret; doubts drain strength; uncertainty paralyses action…. Unlike the first Christians who in three centuries won the Roman world, and those later Christians who pioneered the Reformation, and the Puritan awakening and the Evangelical revival, and the great missionary movement of the last century, we lack certainty.”[49]Sadly, that is currently our autobiography.
Pounding on Wittenburg's Door
We need to be pounding on Wittenburg’s door again - back to the foundation and convictions of the Reformers - back to the truth of Sola Scriptura… Scripture alone!
“Theologians are called to be the church’s water engineers and sewage officers; it is their job to see that God’s pure truth flows abundantly where it is needed and to filter out any intrusive pollution that might damage health.”[50]At one time the great singer/songwriters were the great theologians. Martin Luther; John and Charles Wesley; Isaac Watts, to name a few, have given the church a wealth of tremendous music that feeds our minds and enriches our souls because they wrote out of the depth of God’s truth. That’s the distinguishing mark missing today: His Word - our music; His theology - our doxology; His lawbook - our songbook; His statutes - our songs!
The songs that we compose and the ministries that we forge must square with the Word of God: “Thy statutes are my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.” Also in verse 172, “Let my tongue sing of Thy Word, for all Thy commandments are righteousness.” Here we have the content and theme of David’s song before the Lord, “Thy statutes…and Thy Word… for all Thy commandments are righteousness.” The subject matter is crystal clear, it is God’s Word. Is there any greater message to sing? Is there any greater love to proclaim? Is there any greater desire in our hearts than to do what Psalm 69:30 says, “I will praise the name of God with song, and shall magnify Him with thanksgiving.” Truth always results in praise!
The greatest declaration found anywhere in the Bible on the sufficiency of Scripture is in a song: Psalm 19:7-9. The Psalmist again reminds us that the redeemed people of God are to sing a new song to the Lord.[51] “God gives His new creation a new song, a different song, a distinctive song, a purer song, and a more beautiful song than anything the world can produce.”[52] It is the sweet song of salvation that new creations delight to sing to their Redeemer![53] We “sing with the Spirit and [we] shall sing with the mind also.”[54] (emphasis added). Doctrine leads to the overwhelming joy of doxology for all true worship is first cognitive and begins in the mind,[55] which ultimately finds expression in shaping and transforming the life!
Theology + Hymnology = Doxology
Great doxology is born out of the depth of theology! Doxology comes from two Greek words: doxa, meaning glory; and logos, meaning word. A doxology then is a word of glory, a note of praise, a saying ascribing worth. The reason why we study theology, which is the summation of His Word, is to know Him deeply and more fully; and it is out of that knowing which comes the humble and joyous utterance of worship, melody and praise!
Doxologies in the New Testament are abundant.[56] One example is Jude 24, a majestic doxology of our future glorification with Christ: “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” This is the language of overflowing gratitude - the good theme[57] of the King’s glorious works inherited from the wisdom of the Scriptures. We are pilgrims on a journey to the Son and in this journey the Lord has given us a heavenly song to sing!
Music is powerful and must be used wisely not frivolously. No one ever buys a book, takes it home and memorizes it, but with music just after a few listens, it can be imbedded in your thoughts for a lifetime. That is why biblical truth needs to permeate the very fabric of our music. Still under the constraint of God’s Word, surely there is room for artistic license, when it comes to personal testimony about everyday life, relationships and common experiences. But we can never take artistic license when it comes to His person-hood, His acts, His gospel, His truth for fear that we might trivialize what is profound and sentimentalize what is holy. In other words, we should never unwittingly play marbles with diamonds.
We need to heed Colossians 3:16: "Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” Biblical theology in music honors the Lord when rendered with thankful hearts to Him, in response to His Word dwelling richly in our lives.
The Sand of Entertainment or the Food of the Gospel?
Spurgeon again confronts us with a riveting story of the importance of the Word of God:
Footnotes:
[1] James Buchanan, The Doctrine of Justification (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth Trust, 1867) viii
[2] Amos 5:21-24
[3] 2 Timothy 4:3f
[4] 1 Corinthians 3-4:4
[5] Hebrews 12:5-11; Matthew 18:21ff
[6] Hebrews 13:7, 17; 2 Timothy 2:1-3; Matthew 18:15-20
[7] Romans 10:2
[8] 2 Corinthians 4:2; 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Peter 3:16
[9] 1 Timothy 6:5; Titus 1:15-16
[10] 2 Timothy 4:3
[11] 2 Corinthians 2:17; Isaiah 1:20
[12] Proverbs 23:23
[13] Exodus 20:4-6; Psalm 50:21; Jeremiah 9:23f; Ephesians 1:3-14
[14] Romans 1:20; Psalm 19:1-6
[15] Psalm 19:7ff; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:16ff
[16] Ephesians 5:17-20; Colossians 3:16-17
[17] 1 Peter 5:8f
[18] John F. MacArthur, Jr. Ashamed of the Gospel (Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway, 1993), 21-23, emphasis added.
[19] 1 Timothy 6:10
[20] 2 Timothy 2:17f
[21] Ephesians 6:17
[22] Jude 3; “Once for all delivered to the saints faith”- a synonymous term for the Word of God.
[23] Isaiah 29:13; Matthew 15:6-9; Colossians 2:18-22
[24] 1 Timothy 1:18f; 6:12; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
[25] Galatians 1:6-8
[26] Romans 8:29
[27] John 17:17
[28] 2 Peter 1:3f
[29] Psalm 119:160a
[30] 2 Timothy 2:15
[31] Colossians 1:5
[32] Psalm 138:2
[33] 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-3
[34] 2 Timothy 4:2
[35] paraphrasing the antithesis of John 3:30, “He must increase, I must decrease.”
[36] “It’s The Gospel, Stupid,” regeneration quarterly, (volume 1, number 2, spring 1995), 25.
[37] “Another Word Concerning The Down-Grade,” The Sword and the Trowel (August 1887), 399.
[38] Al Mohler, “Contending for Truth in an Age of Anti-Truth,” The Formal Papers of the Alliance for Confessing Evangelicals (Cambridge, MA: April 1996), 4.
[39] “It’s The Gospel, Stupid,” regeneration quarterly, (volume 1, number 2, spring 1995), 24.
[40] Ephesians 1:3-14; Romans 3:24-26; Titus 3:1-7
[41] John 14:6
[42] ibid. 1:14
[43] Proverbs 14:12
[44] 1 Corinthians 1:22f; 2 Corinthians 6:3-10; 11:23ff
[45] George Barna, Marketing the Church (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 1988) 41,145.
[46] Charles H. Spurgeon, New Park Street Pulpit, Volume One (Pasedena, TX: Pilgrim, 1856, 1990 reprint), vi.
[47] Psalm 50:21
[48] Judges 17:6
[49] J.I. Packer, God Has Spoken: Revelation and the Bible (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1965), 11-12, emphasis added
[50] J.I. Packer, A Quest For Godliness (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1990), 15.
[51] Psalm 33:3
[52] The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Ephesians (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1986), 256.
[53] Psalm 40:3; 96:1-2; 149:1; Isaiah 42:10; Revelation 5:9f; 14:3; 15:3.
[54] 1 Corinthians 14:15
[55] Romans 12:1-2; Colossians 3:1-4
[56] Among them are: Romans 11:33-36; 16:27; Galatians 1:3-5; Ephesians 3:20f; Philippians 4:20; 1 Timothy 1:17; 2 Timothy 4:13; 1 Peter 5:10f.
[57] Psalm 45:1
[58] Charles H. Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, vol. xxxii (Pasadena, Texas: Pilgrim Publications, 1986), 385-386, emphasis added.
Theology + Hymnology = DoxologyGreat doxology is born out of the depth of theology! Doxology comes from two Greek words: doxa, meaning glory; and logos, meaning word. A doxology then is a word of glory, a note of praise, a saying ascribing worth. The reason why we study theology, which is the summation of His Word, is to know Him deeply and more fully; and it is out of that knowing which comes the humble and joyous utterance of worship, melody and praise!
Doxologies in the New Testament are abundant.[56] One example is Jude 24, a majestic doxology of our future glorification with Christ: “Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy, to the only God our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.” This is the language of overflowing gratitude - the good theme[57] of the King’s glorious works inherited from the wisdom of the Scriptures. We are pilgrims on a journey to the Son and in this journey the Lord has given us a heavenly song to sing!
Music is powerful and must be used wisely not frivolously. No one ever buys a book, takes it home and memorizes it, but with music just after a few listens, it can be imbedded in your thoughts for a lifetime. That is why biblical truth needs to permeate the very fabric of our music. Still under the constraint of God’s Word, surely there is room for artistic license, when it comes to personal testimony about everyday life, relationships and common experiences. But we can never take artistic license when it comes to His person-hood, His acts, His gospel, His truth for fear that we might trivialize what is profound and sentimentalize what is holy. In other words, we should never unwittingly play marbles with diamonds.
We need to heed Colossians 3:16: "Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” Biblical theology in music honors the Lord when rendered with thankful hearts to Him, in response to His Word dwelling richly in our lives.
The Sand of Entertainment or the Food of the Gospel?
Spurgeon again confronts us with a riveting story of the importance of the Word of God:
In the days of Nero there was great shortness of food in the city of Rome, although there was abundance of corn to be purchased in Alexandria. A certain man who owned a vessel… noticed many hungry people straining their eyes toward the sea, watching for the vessels that were to come from Alexandria with corn. When these vessels came to the shore, one by one, the poor people wrung their hands in bitter disappointment, for on board the galleys there was nothing but sand which the tyrant emperor had compelled them to bring for use in the arena. Then the merchant… said to his shipmaster, ‘Take thou good heed that thou bring nothing back with thee from Alexandria but corn; and whereas aforetime thou hast brought in the vessel a measure or two of sand, bring thou not so much as would lie upon a penny this time… for these people are dying, and now we must keep our vessels for this one business of bringing food for them.May the ship of Christian music bring to the shores of a drowning world, its galleys full of nothing except the life-preserving hope of God’s Word—through the gospel of Jesus Christ!
Alas, I have seen certain mighty galleys of late loaded with nothing but mere sand of philosophy and [entertainment], and I have said within myself, ‘I will bear nothing in my ship but the revealed truth of God, the bread of life so greatly needed by the people.[58]
Footnotes:
[1] James Buchanan, The Doctrine of Justification (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth Trust, 1867) viii
[2] Amos 5:21-24
[3] 2 Timothy 4:3f
[4] 1 Corinthians 3-4:4
[5] Hebrews 12:5-11; Matthew 18:21ff
[6] Hebrews 13:7, 17; 2 Timothy 2:1-3; Matthew 18:15-20
[7] Romans 10:2
[8] 2 Corinthians 4:2; 1 Timothy 4:1; 2 Peter 3:16
[9] 1 Timothy 6:5; Titus 1:15-16
[10] 2 Timothy 4:3
[11] 2 Corinthians 2:17; Isaiah 1:20
[12] Proverbs 23:23
[13] Exodus 20:4-6; Psalm 50:21; Jeremiah 9:23f; Ephesians 1:3-14
[14] Romans 1:20; Psalm 19:1-6
[15] Psalm 19:7ff; 2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:16ff
[16] Ephesians 5:17-20; Colossians 3:16-17
[17] 1 Peter 5:8f
[18] John F. MacArthur, Jr. Ashamed of the Gospel (Wheaton, Ill.: Crossway, 1993), 21-23, emphasis added.
[19] 1 Timothy 6:10
[20] 2 Timothy 2:17f
[21] Ephesians 6:17
[22] Jude 3; “Once for all delivered to the saints faith”- a synonymous term for the Word of God.
[23] Isaiah 29:13; Matthew 15:6-9; Colossians 2:18-22
[24] 1 Timothy 1:18f; 6:12; 2 Corinthians 10:3-5
[25] Galatians 1:6-8
[26] Romans 8:29
[27] John 17:17
[28] 2 Peter 1:3f
[29] Psalm 119:160a
[30] 2 Timothy 2:15
[31] Colossians 1:5
[32] Psalm 138:2
[33] 1 Timothy 3:1-7; Titus 1:5-9; 1 Peter 5:1-3
[34] 2 Timothy 4:2
[35] paraphrasing the antithesis of John 3:30, “He must increase, I must decrease.”
[36] “It’s The Gospel, Stupid,” regeneration quarterly, (volume 1, number 2, spring 1995), 25.
[37] “Another Word Concerning The Down-Grade,” The Sword and the Trowel (August 1887), 399.
[38] Al Mohler, “Contending for Truth in an Age of Anti-Truth,” The Formal Papers of the Alliance for Confessing Evangelicals (Cambridge, MA: April 1996), 4.
[39] “It’s The Gospel, Stupid,” regeneration quarterly, (volume 1, number 2, spring 1995), 24.
[40] Ephesians 1:3-14; Romans 3:24-26; Titus 3:1-7
[41] John 14:6
[42] ibid. 1:14
[43] Proverbs 14:12
[44] 1 Corinthians 1:22f; 2 Corinthians 6:3-10; 11:23ff
[45] George Barna, Marketing the Church (Colorado Springs, CO: NavPress, 1988) 41,145.
[46] Charles H. Spurgeon, New Park Street Pulpit, Volume One (Pasedena, TX: Pilgrim, 1856, 1990 reprint), vi.
[47] Psalm 50:21
[48] Judges 17:6
[49] J.I. Packer, God Has Spoken: Revelation and the Bible (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1965), 11-12, emphasis added
[50] J.I. Packer, A Quest For Godliness (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 1990), 15.
[51] Psalm 33:3
[52] The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Ephesians (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1986), 256.
[53] Psalm 40:3; 96:1-2; 149:1; Isaiah 42:10; Revelation 5:9f; 14:3; 15:3.
[54] 1 Corinthians 14:15
[55] Romans 12:1-2; Colossians 3:1-4
[56] Among them are: Romans 11:33-36; 16:27; Galatians 1:3-5; Ephesians 3:20f; Philippians 4:20; 1 Timothy 1:17; 2 Timothy 4:13; 1 Peter 5:10f.
[57] Psalm 45:1
[58] Charles H. Spurgeon, The Metropolitan Tabernacle Pulpit, vol. xxxii (Pasadena, Texas: Pilgrim Publications, 1986), 385-386, emphasis added.
This has been an encore presentation
