A People for His Name

Beware What You Expose Your Children To . . . !

May 29, 2013

Highly trained people know how to use music to enhance the effectiveness of violent scenes so that they influence others to the ends that they desire:

Aggressive behavior is more likely to occur when the violence is seen as part of highly exciting content (Tannenbaum and Zillmann 1975; Zillmann 1971).

Close-up shots, camera angles, and sophisticated film editing techniques can make violence even more graphic and larger than life. A steady undercurrent of music and sound effects also adds to the horror of many violent scenes. These techniques amplify fear in small children. Small children simply cannot comprehend that in real life, music rarely underscores an about-to-be-committed murder. The violent acts are often portrayed using these techniques so that the violent action becomes something of a climax. It’s an end result that brings with it a release of tension, and in that the act becomes a good thing because it relaxes the tone of the movie and the muscles of the viewer! It also releases the anxiety or suspense that has been built up in the viewer’s mind. In the real world, a child is more likely to exhibit aggressive behavior and to commit an act of violence to experience that same release of pent-up emotions. —Saturday Morning Mind Control, 57

These highly skilled people use music in such settings to manipulate young children who are defenseless against such manipulation. Beware what you expose your children to because they do not have the same abilities that you have to process highly emotionally charged situations that use music in this way!

In Discipleship, Music, Quotes

On Supernatural Evil Beings and the CCM Debate

May 27, 2013

Based on what Scripture teaches about the deceitfulness of Satan and his blinding the minds of all unbelievers (2 Cor. 4:4; 11:14; Rev. 12:9), it is understandable to me that an unbeliever would mock any suggestion that supernatural evil beings have had important influence in the origins of certain musical styles. For a likely example of such unbelieving mocking, note the response by one of the judges at the end of this brief video excerpt from an episode of American Idol: “and demons, [laugh, laugh, laugh, laugh].”

It is puzzling to me, however, when someone who is presumably a believer appears to hold a similar perspective. For example, in a recent Christianity Today article, Dr. Russell Moore, who is the Dean of the School of Theology at Southern Baptist Seminary, writes, “Myers’ critique of Christian hip-hop wasn’t a fundamentalist scold, wary of the Devil’s music” (Dr. Russell Moore, W.W. Jay-Z?, http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2013/may/ww-jay-z.html?paging=off; accessed 5/27/13; bold added). Because he does not say anything further about the subject in his article, we can only infer that Dr. Moore apparently thinks that fundamentalists are erroneously “wary” of what they mistakenly regard as “the Devil’s music.”

How is it possible for a learned believer (presumably) to hold such a view of the Devil’s influence on human music? Although I have some ideas about why he might hold such a view, I’d be interested to hear what others think about this subject.

For an introductory article that explains my view about this subject, see my post Fallen Spirits and Their Influences on Human Music—Part I

In CCM, Music, Theology

Guitar Music for "Holy Is the Lord"

May 25, 2013

Holy Is the Lord by Charles H. Davis and Franz Schubert is a good intermediate level guitar song. This PDF provides the melody notes, first stanza, chords, and chord diagrams for the song in the key of D.

Here is an audio mp3 of the song.

In Guitar Music

Christian Blogging Principles from Psalm 45:1

May 24, 2013

Obviously, blogging did not exist when Psalm 45 was written. Nevertheless, the Psalm opens with a statement that suggests some key blogging principles for Christians:

^KJVPsa 45:1 <To the chief Musician upon Shoshannim, for the sons of Korah, Maschil, A Song of loves.> My heart is inditing a good matter: I speak of the things which I have made touching the king: my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

^NKJPsa 45:1 To the Chief Musician. Set to “The Lillies.” A Contemplation of the sons of Korah. A Song of Love. My heart is overflowing with a good theme; I recite my composition concerning the King; My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

^NAUPsa 45:1 For the choir director; according to the Shoshannim. A Maskil of the sons of Korah. A Song of Love. My heart overflows with a good theme; I address my verses to the King; My tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

1. A Heart Overflowing with a Good Matter – “My heart is inditing a good matter:” (Ps. 45:1a)

A Christian blogger, like all Christians, must serve God with all his might (Eccl. 9:10). With his heart filled and overflowing by the work of God’s Spirit (Eph. 5:18), he writes about whatever good subject God burdens his heart.

2. A Message about the King – “I speak of the things which I have made touching the king:” (Ps. 45:1b)

A Spirit-filled blogger writes everything with his King in view and when his subject legitimately permits, he writes about his King. Such blogging, however, does not artificially insert content about the King where it is not fitting. Just as not all Scripture is explicitly about the King, neither does the Spirit-filled blogger write every blog explicitly about the King. In fact, he need not even mention the King directly, but whatever he writes will seek to make his readers disciples of the King (Matt. 28:19).

3. A Message Skillfully Written by a Prepared Writer – “my tongue is the pen of a ready writer” (Ps. 45:1c)

A Spirit-filled blogger writes with whatever skill God has given him and does so with the eagerness and willingness of one who has been called and discipled by God to write for the sake of the kingdom. Having acquired skill through diligence and experience, he diligently researches his subject and ponders carefully what he says (Eccl. 12:9).

He sets in order his blog post so that it skillfully communicates words of truth and uses words that communicate his delight in his subject (Eccl. 12:9-10). Through such writing, he teaches God’s people knowledge (Eccl. 12:9) and goads them to serve their King (Eccl. 12:11).

Christian Blogging to the Glory of God

Through posts written by Spirit-filled bloggers who manifest these principles in their writing, God desires to advance His kingdom and righteousness (cf. Matt. 6:33). May God grace all of us who blog to honor and glorify Him in these ways with what we write (1 Cor. 10:31).

In Discipleship, Exposition, Theology

The Precious Priceless Potential Value of Every Small Church

May 23, 2013

Applying the teaching of a remarkable passage in Genesis 18 to the world today reveals a profoundly encouraging aspect of the priceless potential value of small churches.

The Judge of All the Earth Reveals the Profound Value of Righteous People

Genesis 18 records a remarkable exchange between Abraham and the Lord, the Judge of all the earth:

22 And the men turned their faces from thence, and went toward Sodom: but Abraham stood yet before the LORD.

²³ And Abraham drew near, and said, Wilt thou also destroy the righteous with the wicked?

²⁴ Peradventure there be fifty righteous within the city: wilt thou also destroy and not spare the place for the fifty righteous that are therein?

²⁵ That be far from thee to do after this manner, to slay the righteous with the wicked: and that the righteous should be as the wicked, that be far from thee: Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?

²⁶ And the LORD said, If I find in Sodom fifty righteous within the city, then I will spare all the place for their sakes.

²⁷ And Abraham answered and said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord, which am but dust and ashes:

²⁸ Peradventure there shall lack five of the fifty righteous: wilt thou destroy all the city for lack of five? And he said, If I find there forty and five, I will not destroy it.

²⁹ And he spake unto him yet again, and said, Peradventure there shall be forty found there. And he said, I will not do it for forty’s sake.

³⁰ And he said unto him, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak: Peradventure there shall thirty be found there. And he said, I will not do it, if I find thirty there.

³¹ And he said, Behold now, I have taken upon me to speak unto the Lord: Peradventure there shall be twenty found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for twenty’s sake.

³² And he said, Oh let not the Lord be angry, and I will speak yet but this once: Peradventure ten shall be found there. And he said, I will not destroy it for ten’s sake.

This conversation reveals that the Judge would have spared Sodom, despite its exceeding sinfulness, had there been even ten righteous people in it. Thus, the presence of even ten righteous people among a vast number of exceedingly wicked people in a contemporary city, state, or country potentially could have a profound sparing effect on the entire population!

The Incomparable Potential Value of a Small Church

By applying this truth to our world, we learn that a small church of as few as ten righteous people could have a precious priceless value for a community that no other group could have for it. This reality should profoundly encourage all believers in small churches to persevere in walking worthily before God regardless of how small their ministry may be!

Because the revelation of this remarkable exchange in Genesis 18 was in the context of intercessory prayer by a righteous man, we should also learn of the immense potential value of even one righteous person who intercedes faithfully for his city, state, and country. Moreover, we should allow this passage to motivate us to be faithful to attend prayer meetings in our small churches, and we should make intercession for our communities one regular aspect of our praying for them.

May God grace all of us in every church to be true to Him, especially in private and corporate prayer for our communities.

In Exhortation, Prayer, Theology

"Un Santo del Rey"

May 21, 2013

Un Santo del Rey is my latest Spanish song! Sung to the tune of A Child of the King, this song highlights that I as a believer am a saint of the King spoken of in a glorious heavenly song:

“And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints.” (Rev. 15:3)

“Y cantan el cántico de Moisés siervo de Dios, y el cántico del Cordero, diciendo: Grandes y maravillosas son tus obras, Señor Dios Todopoderoso; justos y verdaderos son tus caminos, Rey de los santos.” (Apocalipsis 15:3)

The song is in the key of D and uses only basic chords in the key of D. This PDF provides the lyrics, melody notes, chords, and chord diagrams for the song.

Here is the audio for this song: Un Santo del Rey

In Guitar Music, Spanish

What the Sufficiency of Scripture Does Not Mean Concerning the CCM Debate

May 20, 2013

Second Timothy 3:15-17 definitively asserts the sufficiency of Scripture. Applying that teaching to the CCM debate, some argue that there must be a direct reference to things such as specific music styles in order for us to speak definitively about the propriety of their use in Christian worship.

Several passages show us that this is a mistaken approach to the CCM debate:

1. Psalm 19 teaches us that God is continuously infallibly communicating moral truth to all people without the use of any words and regardless of whether they ever hear any Scripture or not. Especially in connection with other teaching in the Psalms, God’s doing this has important implications for the CCM debate (see Natural Revelation, Music Related to God’s Providence, . . .).

2. Titus 1 unequivocally supports believers’ using statements by expert secular authorities to confirm their own biblically based assessments of moral issues in the lives of people (see Titus 1 and the CCM Debate). On the authority of Titus 1 (and other Scripture), believers are justified in arguing against the use of CCM by citing secular authorities who confirm their own negative assessments of it.

3. Mark 6 and Matthew 14 show us that Scripture can communicate authoritatively that an activity can be sensual by only mentioning the activity itself in a given context and without having to give any details about the activity. This observation validates the understanding that certain Scriptural statements about music need not be explicit or detailed in order to teach us that music can be sensual (see Will the Sensuality of CCM in Your Church . . .).

4. First Corinthians 11 is another passage that helps us to know what the sufficiency of Scripture does not mean for the CCM debate. Although its teaching and relevance are related to those of Psalm 19, this passage has unique aspects that warrant treating it separately.

Even “Nature” Taught the Corinthians That Something Was Shameful

Paul wrote to believers in Corinth to instruct them concerning the use of head coverings while they were praying or prophesying (1 Cor. 11:1-16). To support his argumentation for his teaching about that practice, he cited the teaching that even “nature” provided them:

1Co 11:13 Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?

¹⁴ Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?

¹⁵ But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

Although there are many debates about various aspects of this passage, it is indisputable that Paul held that a source other than Scripture was teaching the Corinthians infallibly that something was shameful. Paul thus believed and taught that Scripture was not the only source of authoritative information that informed believers about the moral nature of certain things.

The Specificity of Nature’s Moral Teaching to the Corinthians is Noteworthy

Paul declared that “nature” was teaching the Corinthians that if a man was having long hair, it was a shame to him (1 Cor. 11:14). A non-biblical source of information, therefore, was teaching them authoritatively about the moral character of a specific aspect of the hair of a man.

Moreover, we must note that because God made humans to have hair on their heads, hair itself is not amoral—it is morally good. Yet, a non-biblical authority was instructing the Corinthians that long hair was a shame to a man.

Does “Nature” Teach Us about the Moral Value of Music?

Before we can answer the question of whether “nature” teaches us anything about the moral value of music, we should consider at least briefly what “nature” means in this passage. Some hold that it means what is observable in the natural world that God created. Some believe that it refers to intrinsic moral perspectives that God has put within humans. Some seem to equate “nature” in this passage with culture.

Views that combine these ideas in various ways probably also exist. Regardless of what the word “nature” means here, it is clear that Paul was teaching that something other than Scripture was teaching the Corinthians that something would be shameful concerning something that in and of itself was actually moral.

For an example of how “nature” teaches us about the moral value of music, listen to the following audio with your eyes closed and try to detect impartially whether what is sung is sensual music or not: Nature’s Teaching About Music. Were you not able to know that this music was sensual in spite of there not being any sensual words sung by the singer?

As this example plainly shows, a believer does not need to have Scriptural teaching about what makes music sensual in order to know that this song was sensual. The sufficiency of Scripture does not mean that Scripture must provide an explanation of what comprises music that is sensual.

In CCM, Interpretation, Music, Theology

Beware of Calling Other Believers “Pharisees”!

May 18, 2013

Calling other believers “Pharisees” is a very serious matter. An examination of Jesus’ dealings with the Pharisees shows why you should beware of doing so.

Jesus’ Rebuke of the Pharisees

Mark 7:1-13 records an incident when Jesus sternly rebuked the Pharisees. The incident began with the Pharisees asking Jesus why His disciples did not follow certain traditions:

Mar 7:1 Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem.

² And when they saw some of his disciples eat bread with defiled, that is to say, with unwashen, hands, they found fault.

³ For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders.

⁴ And when they come from the market, except they wash, they eat not. And many other things there be, which they have received to hold, as the washing of cups, and pots, brasen vessels, and of tables.

⁵ Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands?

Jesus responded initially by using Isaiah 29:13 to rebuke them for their hypocrisy:

Mar 7:6 He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.

⁷ Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

He continued His stern dealings with them by charging them with neglecting God’s commandments in order to follow human tradition (Mark 7:8). He then rebuked them further for their invalidating God’s Word through their tradition (Mark 7:9-13).

A Closer Look at Jesus’ Response

Jesus did rebuke the Pharisees for following certain human traditions instead of keeping the word of God (Mark 7:7), but He did so based on His knowing that their hearts were far from God (Mark 7:6b). He had the supernatural ability to know their hearts, and thereby exposed them as hypocritical and vain worshipers of God.

He thus made known that they were not holding to these human traditions because they thought that they would help them honor God; they knew in their hearts that they were dishonoring God with what they were doing. Moreover, Jesus later explained to His disciples the solemn truth about the true condition of these Pharisees:

Mat 15:12 Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?

¹³ But he answered and said, Every plant, which my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be rooted up.

¹⁴ Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch.

Jesus revealed that these Pharisees were not planted by His Father—despite their religiosity, they were unbelievers.

Only Someone Who Can Know the Heart Can Legitimately Call Another Believer a “Pharisee”

When Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for their following human traditions instead of God’s Word, He did so knowing that their hearts were far from God. He had the supernatural ability to know the true condition of their hearts and thereby excoriated them for being hypocritical unbelievers.

Because no believer has the ability to know the heart of another believer the way Jesus did, it is unrighteous for him to call another believer “Pharisee.” Before you call another believer a “Pharisee,” you should think carefully about your inability to know the heart of that person.

Beware of calling other believers “Pharisees”!

In Discipleship, Exposition, Theology

Guitar Music for "My Song is Love Unknown"

May 17, 2013

My Song is Love Unknown is a beautiful hymn in the key of C. This PDF provides the melody notes, first stanza, and guitar chords for this song, including every chord change that takes place in the song.

Learning to play all the chords, including the slash chords, is challenging and requires an advanced knowledge of guitar chords and the ability to play them well. If you find the song too hard to play with all the slash chords, you can simplify it by playing all the slash chords as just the chord without the bass (for example, play G instead of G/D).

Listen to the melody:

In Guitar Music

Resources That Provide Answers to Key Issues Concerning CCM

May 16, 2013

Are you looking for help in finding answers to key issues concerning CCM? I commend these resources to you to that end and pray that God will give you the help that you are seeking (click on the links below to read the full article that explains each point)

1. Scripture itself teaches that Scripture is not the only source for authoritative information for knowing the moral character of some things

—What the sufficiency of Scripture does not mean for the CCM debate

2. A sound theology of music must account for all that the Bible reveals about music

—First Samuel 16:14-23 teaches us several key truths about music that are lacking in the theology of music of many believers today

—A fully biblical theology of sound teaches us that we should reject certain music

—God does pay attention to the instrumental music used to worship Him!

—Elisha’s calling for a minstrel to play for him, and God’s response to that music also teaches about divine attentiveness to instrumental music

3. Music without words is not amoral nor is it inherently moral

—David’s instrumental music was not amoral.

—Some believe in the amorality of music because they have mishandled the accounts of David’s music ministry to Saul.

—Natural revelation and music related to God’s providence teach us that music without words is not amoral.

—An examination of some truths in chemistry illumines the debate about the morality of music without words.

—Sound reasoning shows that we must reject the view that music without words is inherently amoral.

—A comparison between photography and music shows that it is wrong to say that music without words cannot be inherently evil.

—A careful analysis of Daniel 3 supports holding that instrumental music is not inherently moral even though God created music.

—An examination of Genesis 3:7 and 3:21 shows that it is illegitimate to say that rock music necessarily is inherently fit for human use because it is merely a combination of good musical elements that God made.

—Genesis 4:21 teaches us that it is unbiblical to assert that God created all musical styles and that supporting CCM on that basis is invalid.

—Biblical revelation about worship in Genesis 8 shows that an argument from Creation that argues that all music is necessarily inherently fit for use in divine worship is invalid.

4. Scripture can teach us that something is immoral because of its sensuality without having to say so explicitly and without having to give any details about it

—Scripture never explicitly says that dancing can be sensual, but the account of Herod and Herodias’ daughter’s dancing clearly teaches us that it can be—without saying anything directly about the dancing and without giving any details about the dancing.

—Scripture teaches us that it is not necessary for those who reject CCM/CWM to define these terms and explain in detail exactly what these terms signify and why such music is unacceptable

5. Scripture is not silent about musical styles that are unacceptable to God

—A sound handling of Genesis 4-6 shows that it is not true that all musical styles are inherently moral

—Several passages help show why “cultural racism” is not a major cause of Christian opposition to “holy hip-hop”

—Scriptural teaching about the songs of fools, drunkards, and harlots shows that there are musical styles that are inherently unacceptable to God.

—How 1 Cor. 10:23 teaches that not all musical styles are fit for use in worship

—Five Key Requirements for Acceptable Kinds of Instrumental Music Used in Corporate Worship

6. Clear biblical teaching directs us to reject CCM

—A biblical approach to music for believers must be based on the Psalms. They teach us that the Psalmists would reject CCM.

—Amos 6 provides Scriptural information that teaches us to reject CCM.

—An application of Romans 14 to the testimony of someone who was spiritually harmed by exposure to CCM in the church shows that we should reject CCM.

—Vital biblical considerations and other evidence warns us to beware endangering others and ourselves through music.

7. It is biblical to use secular sources to confirm one’s assessment that CCM is unfit for Christians

—Paul’s use of secular sources in Titus 1 to confirm his assessment of the Cretans shows that it is biblical to use secular sources to confirm our biblically based view that CCM is not fit for believers.

—Christians should heed what secular musicians and music experts say about the morality of music

—Secular testimonies about fallen spirits as the source of ungodly music are not inherently unreliable

—Using secular testimonies about demonic influence on human musicians is legitimate

8. Reliable secular sources confirm that CCM is unfit for Christians

—A brief video of a secular rock icon who advised a minister shows that CCM is not fit for Christian ministry.

9. Music can be sensual without having any sensual lyrics

—Listening to an audio of a song that has no sensual lyrics but is still clearly sensual proves that music can be sensual without having any sensual lyrics

10. My testimony concerning music that is fit for believers

—God moved me from heavy metal, soft rock, and pop to psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.

11. Other resources concerning CCM

—Shelly Hamilton has written an excellent book that provides solid answers for dealing with many of the key issues concerning CCM.

—This interesting parable should provoke your thinking concerning issues related to CCM.

—God warns us about sensual worship and sensual music

— Scriptural revelation about sensual music warns us against using contemporary worship to evangelize people

— Even if David used a harp that an ungodly man invented, his doing so does not justify CCM

— Why this “thought experiment” does not justify “Christian rock” and “Christian rap”

— First Timothy 4:4-5 and Romans 14:14 do not refute what Shai Linne says they do

—Second Kings 4:38-41 provides revelation that biblically answers one of the most common arguments used today to justify CCM

—The testimony about a “new song” in Psalm 40 does not justify using CCM to evangelize lost people

—Using passages about meat offered to idols to support the use of disputed musical styles is a serious misstep

—Demonically assigned musical meanings to rock music is another key issue to consider

—Some CCM Defenders or the Glorified Christ: Choose Carefully Whom You Will Follow!

12. The Golden Calf incident (GCI) is foundational for understanding key issues concerning CCM. This series of articles will treat the incident thoroughly from many viewpoints to explain why believers should not use CCM. To profit fully from this series, you should read the articles in order.

A. Toward Fully Understanding the Golden Calf Incident

B. More Insights about the Golden Calf Incident

C. Leadership Failure and the Golden Calf Incident

D. Religious Syncretism and the Golden Calf Incident

E. The NT Key to a Fuller Understanding of the Golden Calf Incident

F. How The Golden Calf Passages Illumine the CCM Debate: Part I

G. Is Exodus 32 a Record of Singing and Dancing without Musical Instruments

H. Is Exodus 32 a Record of an Event Featuring the Sound of Ungodly Singing

I. Poll Results and Analysis: Is Exodus 32:17-18 Divine Revelation about Worship Music?

J. What Does Ungodly Worship Music Sound Like?

(I anticipate having several more articles in this series, including an article that specifically addresses issues concerning CCM.)