The Purpose of Music

[8426]

For the Christians to answer me.

What good reasons would I have to study classical music? If music is meant for God's glory alone, would not only that which gives adoration expressly (like hymns) be what I should study?

I have come up with some reasons, but I would like to hear your answers first.

[go12_3]

To me classical music is God's work which has been an inspiration to many musicians thoughout the world.

best wishes,

go12_3

[jlh]

Music is a gift from God.  God created the composers who have given us so many wonderful pieces of music to study.  Hymns are rather pedestrian in so many ways --you can study them but you will get bored.

     "The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul." —J.S. Bach

That doesn't mean that you should ONLY study music if it has words that say something in praise of God!!  Religion becomes a hindrance to many people regarding ALL KINDS of music, and it is sad.  You can make ANY kind of music religious by adding 1-2 words.  Expressly Christian is not expressly what God wants.

Simply using your God-given gift to play music is in my opinion giving something back to God.

As a parallel, when you say you are witnessing to someone as a Christian, do you expressly mean you are preaching the gospel to them using words?  Is it possible to witness to someone by deeds as well?


Best,
Josh

[Bob]

On the practical side, church almost always has music.  I don't know if it's the same thing without it -- Can you take the music out and still have the same thing?  And someone has to play the music.  And everyone needs some level of singing ability (esp when you're standing next to someone who doesn't have it so much. )

The intent behind the music is difficult to define.  Hymns of course.  But counterpoint, Bach, etc.... They were writing for God.  And then Bruckner... long and drawn out, but still with a religious purpose.  Mahler too. 

I don't have an answer for the type of music to study.  I think there's plenty of challenge in classical though. 

I suppose you could look at studying "devilish" sounding music as understanding that side better, so you would have a better appreciation of the heavenly side better.  For that matter, you could say God made all the sounds and all the combinations, so studying any aspect of it is devine. 

[ahbach]

This is a really good question, I myself study sacred music and I can say I haven't been bored with it yet.

But to me music is one of the ways I worship my Lord and you can always tell what sort of music would be appropriate, I also love calssical music, I believe that music that was written for and to God is the only music that truly glorifies Him, all though I love classical I believe most of it was written just for mans use, not for God, all though there are some pieces that were written for Him.

Even today there are so called "christian songs" that I believe were not written to glorify God. But I think that a good study of classical music will improve your playing skills and help you with every aspect of piano. There is nothing wrong with learning other types of music as well, as long as you seperate them from each other and make sure you understand why you play the kind of music for God that you do.

I would love to hear your reasons if you get a chance to post them

[lostinidlewonder]

It all depends on how you channel what you play, it doesn't matter which music you play. One piece of music IS NOT more sacred than another, all music belongs to God, however when humans start to focus it away from him that it when it changes.

[javacisnotrecognized]

I view music as a container into which you pour your soul, so that it some part of it may persist past your time alive on Earth and go on to inspire those who come after you.

[8426]

I will now post my ideas. I hope they will be of help to glorifying the Great Master of the Universe.
 
Most of you ascertain that music is intended for the God's glory. Obviously any purpose falling short of this would be stupid and trivial. Why glorify man when he is so perverse?

Yet, how does music glorify God?

1. To create beauty and splendor as He did.
It is known that we should be as much like Him as possible.

2. To know and acknowledge Him to be much more beautiful than the music.
Often times the worship is glorified more than the one who deserves it.

3. It is a command and a biblical example.
 Psalm 33:3, 1 Chronicles 15:6 and passages surrounding and many others.

4. It seems that music allows one to unify your emotions and thoughts, to express your sadness of sin, to express your happiness in forgiveness. Here hymns play a vital part.
We seem to be given only examples of rejoicing in the Bible concerning music (I would like to know if any of you can tell me a passage concerning the use of music in relation to the sadness of sin). 1 Chronicles 13:8 and others

5. Simply for the furtherance of your mind and intellect.
It is generally known that music is very beneficial to your brain. If in music you benefit from higher concentration, you will be able to use it in other areas of life, etc.

6. Pleasure/rest
If music allows you to rest and have pleasure, and if this rest/pleasure helps you to honor the Creator in other areas of life. Then, it is, I would think, allowable.

Some concluding comments.

1. Note that man is totally inadequate at perfectly glorifying God. No, it would be too much to give man the title "inadequate." Thus we have need of someone to help the adoration be accepted.
Never forget Christ. The intercessor between God and man thus allowing your adoration to be accepted. Also, note the Holy Ghost that acts within us and in essence promotes the desire to honor Him.

Always remember that it is because of Christ, with the help of the Holy Spirit, for the Father's adoration. It is redundant. Being that God is in 3 persons.

The point here is: Man's inadequacy, the help the Creator gives. Thus He is honored by Himself through us.

2. All your purposes, especially the general one of glorification to God, if possible, must be made known. In your performance, in your composition, anything, tell the people about it.
What did Bach write in his compositions? S.D.G. What does it stand for?
 Soli Deo Gloria

3. I regard the usage of hymns as necessary. A hymn is explicitly helping to the unification of your thoughts and emotions.

4. 

It all depends on how you channel what you play, it doesn't matter which music you play. One piece of music IS NOT more sacred than another, all music belongs to God, however when humans start to focus it away from him that it when it changes.

No.
 I have yet to prove this point against you. It is a well debated subject about CCM. But here I am in deep waters and must open a new topic. I will do so when I am ready.


5. The above points are not in an important order. What I think is most important is the 1st concluding comment. Because all of the rest will be useless without it.

I recognize that the above may be too theological, but if this helps the student, then I think it is ok.

I note that my logic needs polishing, maybe some points were unclear. Tell me which and I will try to clear them.

For me it is entirely necessary to know the purposes. I think everyone should know exactly why they do things. Also prayer for guidance would be, I think, necessary.

With God's help and for his glorification.

[lostinidlewonder]

My perception is a little more simpler. I just give thanks that I am able to play music and thank God that it gives me such joy. I also thank God for allowing me to give this joy to those that listen to my playing too. I merely give thanks that I am blessed to be able to play music, give thanks that I do not have to suffer what so many others in this world suffer. Some people for instance can never consider studying music because in this world they live just to be able to find enough to eat the next day.

God created everything in this world, as soon as we consider ourselves a God and consider ourselves the creator of what we do, this is when what we do becomes unspiritual, unholy, whatever you want to call it.

1. To create beauty and splendor as He did.
It is known that we should be as much like Him as possible.

We can only hope to reflect him, but we are such imperfect vessels that to consider ourselves to become as God in my mind is blasphemous. The sheep do not intend to become the shepard. We certainly can worship God with our spiritual minds and be as close to God as possible, but we unavoidably serve sin through our physical body.

2. To know and acknowledge Him to be much more beautiful than the music.
Often times the worship is glorified more than the one who deserves it.

To know God is to know the Word of God. Music is more of giving thanks to God rather than being an explaination or comparison to God.

To worship God we do not do that 100% through our music, that seems illogical. Afterall we worship God through how we treat those around us, how we stay open to what God puts infront of us, how we struggle against the natural sin from within us and that we are ashamed of our sin not for any human reason but for God only.

So too it seems illogical to me to consider which music is more holy than the other. It would be like trying to say which animal in the world is more holy. Everything created comes from God, but how the human thinks about it and how the human encourages others to think about it can effect this outcome. For instance, Death Metal music, music about death and anti-life, hatred etc I cannot think that this is God inspiried.

[ahbach]

Wow!!! that is some good stuff I must say!!!! I would love to hear what you have to say about CCM!!! I think I would agree with you

1. To create beauty and splendor as He did.
It is known that we should be as much like Him as possible.

The term CHRISTIAN literally means Christ-like or little Christ, therefore we are to try everyday to be Holy, we are not to think of ourselves as gods but as ones that were made in His perfect image. He has commanded us to be seperate from the World and to leave that sort of living alone. we should also conduct ourselves in such a manner that people can tell we are different from the world. All though we give into sin God has made away out of it. 1 Corinthians 10:13 and it really is of no excuse to say oh I'm just a poor lowly person so I'm not going to be able to handle this temptation, when indeed we can be strong and conquer our temptations, God has given us the strength to do so, I'm not saying that this will happen all the time because we are human and imperfect but when we are saved we have enough strength to handle temptation if we really want to.