At GCC, we have a worship team. I do not think the pieces chosen were of "reformed" nature, despite the insistence of it by the one choosing the pieces. These are modern pieces that appear to not take the composition seriously in the sacred, biblical sense in my view. Though I won't go as far as unbiblical. It doesn't necessarily mean they are against the Bible, though they maybe threading between a fine line between Godly and unholy. These are composed by groups like CityAlight, Sovereign Grace, etc. focusing on "reformed" lyrics but nothing about the music and melody as if they are liberal about them. Therefore, they do not heed the warnings from the golden calf exodus and the fact that all things are made after its kind, including musical style, instruments, etc. Their musical style, as far as I can tell in my limited but earnest learning in music, is closer to new age and pop. In that sense, they follow suit the Israelites who presented the golden calf as their own way of sacrifice and worship to God, these modern composers present their pop culture musical style to God.
I certainly have learned much from David Chin's 陳子虔博士 workshop on Bach 漫談音樂與信仰: (simply just google/youtube search for 陳子虔 for more)
That said, what shall I do. Do I quit the team? I had previously said to Nadia that if Tom quits, I quit. But then when she publicized it, I think I must address to difference: That my reason for quitting would be independent of Tom's. Despite difference perhaps even in theology, I believe Tom was close enough to the reformed faith, though at times I do not agree with his assessment of musical choice: i.e. his rejection of "Mary did you know" as Roman Catholic's veneration of Mary, etc. But like many English churches in NJ, I notice that you cannot do without guitars. As if every musicians here were raised in a rock star's footsteps.
So I shall remain. For guitars, rock stars, mostly draw their inspiration from Bach, who drew his discovery out of his piety to God. I best remain to trouble myself in learning the secrets of music, but with caution: So should Tom depart, my days in the team are numbered as well.
Westminster Theological Seminary
Music & Christian Aesthetics
William Edgar 1997
Textbooks:
1. Music Alone by Peter Kivy
2. Theomusicology by Jon Michael Spencer
3. Erik Routley
This is a summary of the 15 audio series:
1 Music & Christian Aesthetics: Introduction and Three Models of Aesthetics, Part I 57 min
2 Music & Christian Aesthetics: Three Models of Aesthetics, Part II 49 min
3 Music & Christian Aesthetics: Christian Perspective on the Three Models of Aesthetics 73 min
4 Music & Christian Aesthetics: What the Bible Says About Aesthetics and Music, Part I 52 min
5 Music & Christian Aesthetics: Music, Language, and Emotions—What the Bible Says About Music, Part II 50 min
6 Music & Christian Aesthetics: Music and Meaning, Part I 42 min
7 Music & Christian Aesthetics: Music and Meaning, Part II 41 min
8 Music & Christian Aesthetics: Book Discussion and Reflections on Music, Part I 44 min
9 Music & Christian Aesthetics: Book Discussion and Reflections on Music, Part II 37 min
10 Music & Christian Aesthetics: Music and the Regulative Principle 80 min
11 Music & Christian Aesthetics: Gospel Music—Refined by Fire 78 min
12 Music & Christian Aesthetics: Music and Ministry, Part I 51 min
13 Music & Christian Aesthetics: Music and Ministry, Part II 44 min
14 Music & Christian Aesthetics: Bach and the Bible, Part I 50 min
15 Music & Christian Aesthetics: Bach and the Bible Part II, and Conclusion 52 min
#4 & 5: Aesthetics and Music
James Barr mentioned as standard held by WTS for biblical interpretation: Words and concepts are not the same, not every word in the Bible is a doctrine.
3 errors to view Biblical music:
1. Trying to enact biblical time temple music. Suzanne Haik-Vantoura's The Music of the Bible Revealed: The Deciphering of a Millenary Notation, mentioned as quack. I find some demo of hers even on Youtube.
W.E.'s theory: God kept certain things from us: i.e. face of Christ, music of the temple, etc. (so that we won't turn those into idols)
2. No rules, just be honest and have integrity in the works. Thus, against the regulative principle (though W.E. was not all convinced by the R.P. fully) = we should not worship God in anyway that God did not prescribe). So the Bible does have concrete teaching on music to some degree and not just some general moral guidance.
3. Turn the words of the Bible into music (as vehicle of those words) regardless of aesthetics.
The 3 right ways to look at this:
1. Creation
Music is a creaturely mode: Since Jubal (Gen 4:21), music is human response to God, not the other way around.
Cultural mandate verse: Gen 1:28, not just stewards of the Earth, but MASTER stewards, thus includes the aesthetics activities (music, visual & poetic arts) that can be enjoyed and is good. And the Cultural Mandate was before the Fall. Thus, Genesis 4:21 is a continuity of Genesis 1, despite Genesis 3's disruption. Thus, music is a skill: 1 Samuel 16:14-23 (Gift of music therapy "find someone who plays well" = David). Music is not a special kind of transcendental journey to the divine, there's no special supernatural power in music.
Work Songs: Num 21:17 (Vineyard Song), Isa 16:10, Isaiah 27:2, Jer 25:30, Hos 2:17, etc.
War/Marching Music: Num 21:27, Psa 68, 2Ch 20:21, Exo 15:20 (Miriam song)
Instruction/Prophecy Songs (not necessarily for worship): Deu 3:19, 1Ki 4:32, 2Ki 3:15, 1Ch 25, Col 3:16
Love/Wedding/Seduction Songs: Psa 45, SS 2:12, Eze 33:32, Gen 31:27, Jer 25:10, etc.
Entertainment Music: Job 21:12, Isa 24:9, Dan 6:18
Dance Music: Exo 15:20, Psa 30:11, Psa 68:25, Psa 87:7, Mat 11:17
Songs of Division/mocking: Job 30:9, Lam 3:14, etc.
Songs of Mourning/Lamentation: 2Sa 1:18-27, 1Ki 13:30, 2Ch 35:25, Ecc 12:5, etc.
Therefore, music is no case neutral [subjective], it either religiously conditioned either in covenant obedience or rebellion. It is not some irrational encounter with the sacred which is cultivated through ritual and taboo system. Music is but life under the covenant.
There were no artificial boundaries between sacred and secular activities. But there are certainly heightened moments of religious worship (Ezra 3:10-11), thus it calls for special music in OT as in church. 2Sa 19:35 Music as sign of prosperity and peace.
Music is culturally meaningful sound. Culture decides, so it's not a neutral thing. But it can be ethically right (godly) or wrong (against God).
W.E.'s definition of music: Music is human cultural activity ordered by the covenant in the aspect of sound.
2 elements of music:
Language: Music is the universal language
To be continued...#5 @2:40
Emotion:
[Recalls boastfulness = boast about God in hip-hop culture?]
2. Fall
3. Redemption