The Highway Forums General Discussion Theology Discussion Forum Regulative principle

Funny, but I don't find anyone who has participated in this thread even hinting that the emotive element of man isn't to be involved in worship? You bringing that up is affectionately known as a "wringer"! God is to be worshipped with the whole man, mind, emotions and will. The issue is what part each element is to play in worship and of what does worship consist?

I would contend that the emotions are that which are effected by the truth, first understood by the mind; i.e., the objective truths of God, for example through the preaching of the Word and its compliment, the singing of the Word. To focus upon the emotions apart from the mind is not biblical worship. Unfortunately, many today do exactly that by using musical "styles" to directly effect the emotions and in so doing, by-pass the mind, which is in direct contradiction to such texts as Rom 12:1, 2:

Romans 12:1-2 (ASV) I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, [which is] your spiritual service. And be not fashioned according to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, and ye may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God.

Actually, what you asked earlier was:

looking at his criteria first for determining what is 'good music', it's decidedly eurocentric/western in its' definition. There are more styles and genres of music around the world that western music. . . . who determines what is being communicated and how effectively ? What's your standard for all of this ? Is it universal ? So why doesn't eastern music, some African music and a host of other cultures fit into this mold ? . . . This is just ONE item that needs to be challenged. I don't believe music is morally neutral, but at the same time, I don't believe that one style of music is correct and others are not. Most proponents of the RPW that argue for a particular style, consciously or not, argue for a 16-18th century, western style of music and impose their values on those they criticize as the 'norm' which should be followed. It takes humility and exposure to other cultures to take off your own cultural blinders and remember that the body of Christ is indeed DIVERSE and not composed of one tribe, nation, tongue and people. And as different as the people are, expect their expression (not the CONTENT, but the expression) of the gospel and their worship (which includes the music) to be different as well.

The problem here is that it would appear that you consider "culture" to be amoral, i.e., the various cultures found throughout the world are to be considered initially acceptable from which to draw various elements; specifically their music. But I would suggest that Scripture would argue against you in that it teaches that ALL cultures by nature are antithetical to God and have been from the beginning. Culture is nothing more than the out-working/expression of men's philosophies and desires, which by nature are at enmity with God. The worship of the living God is to be "in truth" (Jh 4:24). But the nations "exchange the truth for a lie" (Rom 1:25) The apostle John tells us further what the world consists: "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." (Jh 2:16)

Secondly, music undeniably has been used by mankind to evoke the emotive element of men to serve purposes which are unseemly, idolatrous, provocative in nature, etc. A cursory study of these various cultures from which you would have us extract music shows how profane this music is when one also compares the bodily movements associated with their respective musical forms; aka: dance. One could hardly approve of such bodily expressions in the worship of the thrice Holy God of the Scriptures. One particular rhythm, the syncopated beat, has been studied in great detail and its effects upon the human psyche and emotions is well documented. The evidence gathered from these studies shows incontrovertibly that the effects of this "beat" is counter to that which Scripture enjoins upon those who would follow after Christ and who desire to be conformed to His image.

Thirdly, your objection to "euro-centric" music is easily countered by an appeal to the fact that God chose to bless certain areas of the world with His transforming Spirit and grace and to by-pass the majority of the world's population, leaving it to it's paganism, idolatry and sin. There can be no denying that the Gospel was given exceptional power in Europe whereby men where transformed by its power and from which the greatest achievements in mankind resulted. As the Gospel spread throughout Europe, men cast off their previous lifestyles and adopted those which emulated Christ and glorified God according to His self-revelation in His Word. We are given examples of this in Scripture, e.g., in Ephesus when the Gospel arrived in power, men took those things which they once held to be precious and burned them publicly. (Acts 19:19)

Much more could be said concerning "beauty" and other criteria which should be incorporated into music which seeks to glorify (reflect God's attributes and nature), but perhaps that would be best considered in a separate thread.

In His Grace,