Post by pitbull on Jan 30, 2006 7:30:27 GMT -5
As we are discussing the difference Biblical guidelines for what defines Godly music [in comparison to secular styles of music], the Bible teaches that Christian music is a new song — not an old song.
1 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
3 And he hath put a NEW SONG in my mouth, even PRAISE unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. [Psalm 40:1-3]
When you get saved, "old things are passed away; behold, all things are become NEW" and that included our music.
· “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become NEW.” [2 Corinthians 5:17]
This may not change intentionally or dramatically as is does with some believers. It may take place over a period of months or years, but eventually all you will want to listen to and play was real Christian Music. The Holy Spirit will place that desire inside your heart. You will want only music that praised our Lord and Savior. Your desire and love for a NEW SONG will replace secular music — even PRAISE unto our God, as mentioned in the first guideline we discussed.
And we know that God cannot lie:
· “In hope of eternal life, which God, THAT CANNOT LIE, promised before the world began;” [Titus 1:2]
· “God is not a man, that HE SHOULD LIE; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” [Numbers 23:19]
After someone trusts Jesus Christ, according to the Word of God, God gives that person a "NEW song" — and notice that NEW SONG is — "PRAISE unto our God". And also notice — "he hath put" — God did it. If someone does NOT have a NEW SONG, chances are they're not even saved! All things are become NEW, especially your music!
Consider the following:
1 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
3 And he hath put a NEW SONG in my mouth, even PRAISE unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. Psalm 40:1-3
I will sing a NEW SONG unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee. Psalm 144:9
Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a NEW SONG, and his praise in the congregation of saints. Psalm
[149:1]
Fanny Crosby is the greatest hymn writer that ever lived, writing over 9,000 songs! Before Fanny got saved, at 45 years old, she wrote many secular songs. But after she got saved — things were different. Here's what Fanny said about mixing Christian and worldly music:
"Sometimes I need to reject the music proposed for my songs because the musicians misunderstand that the Fanny Crosby who once wrote for the people in the saloons has merely changed the lyrics. Oh my no. The church must never sing it's songs to the melodies of the world." (Danny Castle, video "What's Wrong with Christian Rock")
And do you know why Fanny Crosby said that — because Fanny got saved! And God "hath put a NEW SONG in my mouth, even PRAISE unto our God" inside the NEW Fanny Crosby! Fanny Crosby wrote over 9,000 songs to the Lord! Fanny used over 200 different pen names because she wanted to make sure God got the glory and not her.
But this is not confined to her. It’s amazing how many times I’ve had people tell me "Martin Luther used drinking and bar tunes in his music". And it’s even more amazing what happens when asked to provide documented evidence to their accusation — it cannot be found! In the many, many times I have asked for documentation to their claim, do you know how many produced any evidence? Exactly zero! Why? Because it is simply not true.
Here are the documented facts:
"Of the melodies to Luther’s 37 chorales, 15 were composed by Luther himself, 13 came from Latin hymns of Latin service music, 4 were derived from German religious folk songs, 2 had originally been religious pilgrims’ songs, 2 are of unknown origin, and one came directly from a secular folk song." (Data compiled from Squire, pp. 446-447; Leupold, ed., Liturgy and Hymns; and Strodach, ed., Works of Martin Luther, VI)
The one secular song was from a popular pre-Reformation (not a drinking tune!) secular song, "I Arrived from an Alien Country," and was used as the melody for the Christmas hymn, "From Heaven on High I Come to You", the first stanza Luther patterned after the folk song. (Source: Robert D. Harrell, Martin Luther, His Music, His Message, p. 18) And here's an interesting FACT — not only that, because of it’s worldly association, Luther later changed the tune!
According to historian Paul Nettl, Luther changed the tune because:
"Luther was embarrassed to hear the tune of his Christmas hymn sung in inns and dance halls." (Paul Nettl, Luther and Music, p. 48)
After researching every published work dealing with Luther’s music, Robert Harrell says point-blank:
"None of the works dealing with Luther’s music can trace a single melody of his back to a drinking song." (Robert D. Harrell, Martin Luther, His Music, His Message, p. 34)
Harrell also says:
“It seems obvious to this writer that using Luther’s music as an historical precedent for using rock and other worldly music in our churches today is completely incongruous with the facts of history. Luther did not use the barroom songs of his day, nor did he use even the worldly music of his day. In fact, he was extremely cautious in protecting the Word of God from any admixture of worldly elements. This can be seen in his words: ‘I wish to compose sacred hymns so that the Word of God may dwell among the people also by means of songs.’" (Robert D. Harrell, Martin Luther, His Music, His Message, p. 36)
Furthermore, Martin Luther was very concerned over the words and tunes of his music.
"But I would like to avoid any new words or the language used at court. In order to be understood by the people, only the simplest and the most common words should be used for singing; at the same time, however, they should be pure and apt; and further, the sense should be clear and as close as possible to the psalm." (Martin Luther, "To George Spalatin," Letters II, p. 69)
Some of Luther’s most famous chorales are paraphrases of the Psalms, such as "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" (Psalm 46), "From Deep Distress I Cry to Thee" (Psalm 130), and "Ah, God, from Heaven Look Down" (Psalm 12).
Luther is a good example from history of how this is a new song, not an old song. Another good example is “General” William Booth.
I know some will foolishly try to "recruit" to their "worldly" side General William Booth. To anyone familiar with the ministry and message of General William Booth, the comparison of “Christian Rock” to General William Booth is too funny for words. General William Booth and the "old-time" Salvation Army carried the message of the blood of Jesus Christ through "the dangers, toils and snares". Booth and his army marched against the "wiles of the wicked one". Here's how the book “Born to Battle: The Salvation Army in America” begins:
"The mob numbered thousands. They hooted, screamed, spit, cursed, threw refuse and brickbats, and charged with what the press described as 'savage ferocity'." The assaulted, marching to council in Sheffield, England, did not retaliate but continued to march forward, drums booming, flags flying, singing about the conquering Son of God. The troops were commanded by General William Booth who, despite taunts of 'Kill 'em!' and 'Down with The Salvation Army! stood riding in a open carriage with Mrs. Booth beside him. Bruised and bleeding, their uniforms muddied, torn and buttonless, the forces arrived at their fort shouting, 'Hallelujah'!" (Sallie Chesham, “Born to Battle: The Salvation Army in America”, p.21)
Here are a few quotes by General Booth:
· When someone told Booth to "talk about peace". "No!" William replied, "the best preaching is d**nation with the Cross in the middle!" (Ibid p. 37)
· "Any profession of Jesus Christ which brings no Cross is all nonsense." (Ibid)
· "I do not care how near to the bottomless pit I go in order to save mankind."
· "Soul-saving music is the music for me!"
One quote of General Booth’s that is used to justify their carnal-love for rock music is Booth's "If standing on my head and beating a tambourine with my toes will win a soul for Jesus, I will do it." The big difference is that General Booth meant it! The people whom have quoted this to me are only to justify their "love" for rock music. Trust me - that used to be me.
Would General William Booth agree with the use of worldly rock music? Not on your life! Here's a quote from General Booth: "May none of our musicians ever ape [copy] the skill of the world in the production of merely pretty sounds, not only disconnected with the quickening truth of God but often almost inaudible [perfect description of CCM rock] to those whose hearts they ought to stir. (Ibid, p. 188)"
Why wouldn’t Luther or Booth use bar tunes or adapt other secular music to praise God? God had put a NEW SONG in each of their hearts respectively. God had eliminated the OLD SONG. We need to follow the examples of Luther, Booth, and Crosby today with our own music as we seek to praise God.
What Biblical guideline am I trying explain here? That Christian music is a new song — not an old song.
1 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
3 And he hath put a NEW SONG in my mouth, even PRAISE unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. [Psalm 40:1-3]
When you get saved, "old things are passed away; behold, all things are become NEW" and that included our music.
· “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become NEW.” [2 Corinthians 5:17]
This may not change intentionally or dramatically as is does with some believers. It may take place over a period of months or years, but eventually all you will want to listen to and play was real Christian Music. The Holy Spirit will place that desire inside your heart. You will want only music that praised our Lord and Savior. Your desire and love for a NEW SONG will replace secular music — even PRAISE unto our God, as mentioned in the first guideline we discussed.
And we know that God cannot lie:
· “In hope of eternal life, which God, THAT CANNOT LIE, promised before the world began;” [Titus 1:2]
· “God is not a man, that HE SHOULD LIE; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?” [Numbers 23:19]
After someone trusts Jesus Christ, according to the Word of God, God gives that person a "NEW song" — and notice that NEW SONG is — "PRAISE unto our God". And also notice — "he hath put" — God did it. If someone does NOT have a NEW SONG, chances are they're not even saved! All things are become NEW, especially your music!
Consider the following:
1 I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry.
2 He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.
3 And he hath put a NEW SONG in my mouth, even PRAISE unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the LORD. Psalm 40:1-3
I will sing a NEW SONG unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee. Psalm 144:9
Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a NEW SONG, and his praise in the congregation of saints. Psalm
[149:1]
Fanny Crosby is the greatest hymn writer that ever lived, writing over 9,000 songs! Before Fanny got saved, at 45 years old, she wrote many secular songs. But after she got saved — things were different. Here's what Fanny said about mixing Christian and worldly music:
"Sometimes I need to reject the music proposed for my songs because the musicians misunderstand that the Fanny Crosby who once wrote for the people in the saloons has merely changed the lyrics. Oh my no. The church must never sing it's songs to the melodies of the world." (Danny Castle, video "What's Wrong with Christian Rock")
And do you know why Fanny Crosby said that — because Fanny got saved! And God "hath put a NEW SONG in my mouth, even PRAISE unto our God" inside the NEW Fanny Crosby! Fanny Crosby wrote over 9,000 songs to the Lord! Fanny used over 200 different pen names because she wanted to make sure God got the glory and not her.
But this is not confined to her. It’s amazing how many times I’ve had people tell me "Martin Luther used drinking and bar tunes in his music". And it’s even more amazing what happens when asked to provide documented evidence to their accusation — it cannot be found! In the many, many times I have asked for documentation to their claim, do you know how many produced any evidence? Exactly zero! Why? Because it is simply not true.
Here are the documented facts:
"Of the melodies to Luther’s 37 chorales, 15 were composed by Luther himself, 13 came from Latin hymns of Latin service music, 4 were derived from German religious folk songs, 2 had originally been religious pilgrims’ songs, 2 are of unknown origin, and one came directly from a secular folk song." (Data compiled from Squire, pp. 446-447; Leupold, ed., Liturgy and Hymns; and Strodach, ed., Works of Martin Luther, VI)
The one secular song was from a popular pre-Reformation (not a drinking tune!) secular song, "I Arrived from an Alien Country," and was used as the melody for the Christmas hymn, "From Heaven on High I Come to You", the first stanza Luther patterned after the folk song. (Source: Robert D. Harrell, Martin Luther, His Music, His Message, p. 18) And here's an interesting FACT — not only that, because of it’s worldly association, Luther later changed the tune!
According to historian Paul Nettl, Luther changed the tune because:
"Luther was embarrassed to hear the tune of his Christmas hymn sung in inns and dance halls." (Paul Nettl, Luther and Music, p. 48)
After researching every published work dealing with Luther’s music, Robert Harrell says point-blank:
"None of the works dealing with Luther’s music can trace a single melody of his back to a drinking song." (Robert D. Harrell, Martin Luther, His Music, His Message, p. 34)
Harrell also says:
“It seems obvious to this writer that using Luther’s music as an historical precedent for using rock and other worldly music in our churches today is completely incongruous with the facts of history. Luther did not use the barroom songs of his day, nor did he use even the worldly music of his day. In fact, he was extremely cautious in protecting the Word of God from any admixture of worldly elements. This can be seen in his words: ‘I wish to compose sacred hymns so that the Word of God may dwell among the people also by means of songs.’" (Robert D. Harrell, Martin Luther, His Music, His Message, p. 36)
Furthermore, Martin Luther was very concerned over the words and tunes of his music.
"But I would like to avoid any new words or the language used at court. In order to be understood by the people, only the simplest and the most common words should be used for singing; at the same time, however, they should be pure and apt; and further, the sense should be clear and as close as possible to the psalm." (Martin Luther, "To George Spalatin," Letters II, p. 69)
Some of Luther’s most famous chorales are paraphrases of the Psalms, such as "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" (Psalm 46), "From Deep Distress I Cry to Thee" (Psalm 130), and "Ah, God, from Heaven Look Down" (Psalm 12).
Luther is a good example from history of how this is a new song, not an old song. Another good example is “General” William Booth.
I know some will foolishly try to "recruit" to their "worldly" side General William Booth. To anyone familiar with the ministry and message of General William Booth, the comparison of “Christian Rock” to General William Booth is too funny for words. General William Booth and the "old-time" Salvation Army carried the message of the blood of Jesus Christ through "the dangers, toils and snares". Booth and his army marched against the "wiles of the wicked one". Here's how the book “Born to Battle: The Salvation Army in America” begins:
"The mob numbered thousands. They hooted, screamed, spit, cursed, threw refuse and brickbats, and charged with what the press described as 'savage ferocity'." The assaulted, marching to council in Sheffield, England, did not retaliate but continued to march forward, drums booming, flags flying, singing about the conquering Son of God. The troops were commanded by General William Booth who, despite taunts of 'Kill 'em!' and 'Down with The Salvation Army! stood riding in a open carriage with Mrs. Booth beside him. Bruised and bleeding, their uniforms muddied, torn and buttonless, the forces arrived at their fort shouting, 'Hallelujah'!" (Sallie Chesham, “Born to Battle: The Salvation Army in America”, p.21)
Here are a few quotes by General Booth:
· When someone told Booth to "talk about peace". "No!" William replied, "the best preaching is d**nation with the Cross in the middle!" (Ibid p. 37)
· "Any profession of Jesus Christ which brings no Cross is all nonsense." (Ibid)
· "I do not care how near to the bottomless pit I go in order to save mankind."
· "Soul-saving music is the music for me!"
One quote of General Booth’s that is used to justify their carnal-love for rock music is Booth's "If standing on my head and beating a tambourine with my toes will win a soul for Jesus, I will do it." The big difference is that General Booth meant it! The people whom have quoted this to me are only to justify their "love" for rock music. Trust me - that used to be me.
Would General William Booth agree with the use of worldly rock music? Not on your life! Here's a quote from General Booth: "May none of our musicians ever ape [copy] the skill of the world in the production of merely pretty sounds, not only disconnected with the quickening truth of God but often almost inaudible [perfect description of CCM rock] to those whose hearts they ought to stir. (Ibid, p. 188)"
Why wouldn’t Luther or Booth use bar tunes or adapt other secular music to praise God? God had put a NEW SONG in each of their hearts respectively. God had eliminated the OLD SONG. We need to follow the examples of Luther, Booth, and Crosby today with our own music as we seek to praise God.
What Biblical guideline am I trying explain here? That Christian music is a new song — not an old song.