This paper deals with the
relationship of the Bible to the concept of the inspirational music and the
roles It plays in church growth. The
target audience is the Church Musicians. These include the song leaders, Choir
Master/Mistress, Music Directors, Organists, and Categories of the Choirs,
Instrumentalists, and the Band, Occasional Solo / Duet Singers and the
Praise/worship teams. This topic shall be divided into two sections:
(a).
what is inspiration and inspirational Music
(b). the roles of Inspirational Music in the
Church growth.
DEFINITION OF INSPIRATION
Since this study is dealing with
the relationship of the Bible to the topic at hand, and in agreement with Dr.
Arnold Fruchtenbaum, the Biblical Inspiration can be defined as “God’s
superintendence of the human writers / composers so that, by using their
own individual personalities and styles they compose and recorded without error
His mind/revelation to man in the words of the original writers/composers”. This
detailed definition can be broken down into smaller components:
a.
GOD’S SUPERINTENDENCE: God’s superintendence means that God superintends
i.e. God’s total Control, taken over our entire being - the thinking, reasoning
and actions, in music making also.
b.
HUMAN COMPOSERS AND LYRICISTS: God used human song writers, composers and their
individual styles. Obviously, if God dictated all the inspired hymns we have
now word- for-word and their tunes, the entire various hymns would have sounded
monotonous (the same). If we compare the works of great composers/ song writers
like Moses, David, G.F
Handel, Felix Mendelshonn, J. Franz Haydn, Charles Wesley, Isaac Watts, P.P.
Bliss, Fanny J. Crosby, John Wesley, Williams Kirkpatrick, H.G. Spafford,
e.t.c. Each of these composers and Lyricist wrote in a different styles,
environments and circumstances. But because of God’s superintendence and His
control over them all, He was able to allow them to use their own individual
style of writings to produce their songs / music according to the mind and will
of God.
c.
GOD’S REVELATION: God directed some lyricists without hampering their own individuality,
style or personal interest to produce His revelations. George F. Handel,
writing the ‘MESSIAH’ – a song book containing about fifty three (53) songs
with different revelation / inspirations on each. David’s numerous Psalms,
William Kirkpatrick’s ‘Lord I’m Coming Home’, John Newton’s ‘Amazing Grace’,
e.t.c
THEORIES OF INSPIRATION
There are a number of theories of
inspiration and most of them, unfortunately, are clearly wrong and fail to give
the high view of the scripture about the inspiration as the Bible demands.
a.
FALSE THEORIES ON THE INSPIRATION OF MUSIC:
Natural
inspiration or natural intuition theory; though this theory believed that the
writers of the Bible in which Christian inspired music is taken is inspired,
but there is an overemphasis on the human side e.g. naturally, inspiration
means only pure GENIUS in this theory, there is nothing supernatural about it.
b.
THE TRUE THEORY OF THE INSPIRATION:
The only valid way of seeing how
inspiration occurred is by the true theory i.e
plenary verbal inspiration. This
means that the Bible that is the source of all inspirational music is
completely inspired. It is both the word of God and at the same time, the words
of human Author/ Lyricists. In other words, God is the source of all
inspirational music.
INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC
All
music, song or instrumental, whose source is either directly from the Bible or
as a result of special revelations, message or directive from God through Holy
Spirit while praying, studying the scripture or hymn Book deliberating on a special
issues, preparing message for the church of God; asking God for what step
should be taken and which way to go? It may also come as a result of one’s
request e.g. for a revival and its themes. At this junction, let me suggest to
you that ALL HYMNS IN OUR CHURCH HYMN BOOKS ARE INSPIRATIONAL. They were
written for various seasons, circumstances and when composers / writers had
time to seek the face of God. There were reasons and circumstances for writing
the poems turned songs. Their reasons were not commercially motivated, no
rivalry, no position seeking e.t.c. Just as it happened to the Bible (the
canonicity of the Bible) so, all the hymns we use today from our hymn books
have been canonized. They have been criticized, tested, edited by spiritually
selected group of specialists and experienced music practitioners. Some hymns
have been specially requested to be included because it has worked miracles and
wonders for the users. In summary, any song or music that lift your spirit to
receive from God, that connect your soul with God, that makes you discover the
state at which you are operating spiritually, e.t.c. are inspirational. Here, I
am not saying that we cannot write Inspirational songs now, we can. However, we
will first seek the face of God through serious prayers and study of the Bible
so as to receive directives on what to do and ask God to empower the music as
evidence that He actually directed us to do that. An example of such is E.B.H
237 – “Lord; I’m coming home” By Prof. William J. Kirkpatrick.
THE ROLES OF INSPIRATIONAL MUSIC IN CHURCH GROWTH
Here, the Church is the coming
together of the believers for the purpose of worshipping our God, studying the
Bible and praying together. They also share their problems and victories
together too.
In the 1st Christian Church Acts.
2:46 and 47; V. 47 (N.L.T) SAYS All the while praising the God----- and each day the Lord added to heir
group------( Because they were fulfilling the purpose for which God created
man) Isa.43:7 & 21; Ps.102:8.
(SING: O Lord my God \4x, our
generation shall praise your name \ 4x).
THE
ROLES
Since this paper has agreed that
Inspirational music has its solid foundation in the Bible, therefore, in the
word of Paul in his letter to Timothy in II Tim. 3:16 and 17: All scripture is
given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for
correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be
perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good woks. I add that the church that is
perfect, completely furnished into good work is growing.
According to the above passage,
Inspirational music taken from the scripture are used in worship and praising
God, when we talk about the goodness and great things He hath done, He is
doing, that He can do. He is happy and satisfied. He blesses and multiplies us.
Isaiah 43:7 & 21; Acts 2 46-47. Let us sing from E. B. H: 40. We use
inspirational songs to buttress our teaching of various topics, we use it to
correct any wrong doings noticed among the congregations, Vs 17 of II Timothy 3
says “…so that the man of God…”, we can as well say - so that the church of God
may be perfect or complete. God will completely furnish His church in every
good work. A perfect, complete church of God will grow. It is the will of our
perfect God to make His perfect church grow.
Inspirational Music encourages
and strengthens our faith. We use it to convey our prayers and petitions. It
reminds and prepares our hearts and souls for our heavenly home. It is also
therapeutic (for healing) see I Samuel 16:23 – King Saul and David playing
inspirational music.
Let us consider the following hymns;
E.B.H: 10, 07, 18, 40, 482, 483,
275
B.R.D: H 248 & 349
Y.B.H: 636, 654,658, & 659
HYMNARO: 642
May we be inspired to do our work
diligently well in the service of God. May we fulfill the purpose for which God
assigned us in Jesus name. Amen.
Truly Yours in His Service,
No comments:
Post a Comment