Letters    

ON CLASSICAL MUSIC

Dear C. K.                                                                                                         April 22, 1990

      ...I grew up with classical music. Every Saturday, my father, a Methodist minister, would listen to the Texaco opera. He was very talented at the keyboard, but played only by ear.

         I used to play the piano as much as 8 hours a day. My teacher wanted to send me to the Eastman School of Music, but we moved from Rochester, New York to Concord, New Hampshire. As convictions developed in my life, I found that I did not have time to devote to the keyboard; however, my love for good music has never abated.

         Classical music has had a powerful affect upon me. When I was in high school, my parents were divorced. Every day I would listen to Chopin, and to Tchaikovsky's "Pathetique." To this day, I cannot listen to this latter due to the sadness it conjures up.

       I can understand why some composer's music is cold such as that written by Beethoven, considering his wicked death, but other composers have been a great blessing to me, and have trained my eyes upon the Scriptures. Mendelssohn's "Elijah" is pure Scripture, and how wonderful is Handel's "Messiah"!

      When Catherine and I were married, I wrote the ceremony. We did not use the familiar theme from Mendelssohn's "Midsummer Night's Dream." but rather used the hymn, "The Church's One Foundation," and when we knelt before the congregation, we concluded the service with the "Amen Chorus" from Handel's "Messiah."

     Music has had a profound affect upon me, and when I go into most Christian bookstores, I become physically ill at the preponderance of religious garbage they play over their audio systems. When I leave, I feel as though I must take a bath!

     We have never allowed modern music in our home, but we have substituted it with hymns, Gospel music that honors the Lord, and with the oratorios. My 17 and 18 year old sons go to bed at night, and rise in the morning with good Christian music.

      Let me apologize for my random thoughts, and conclude with a question. Granted that most of the classical composers were not godly men, yet when they wrote using Biblical themes and made use of God's Word, is there no benefit to be derived for the child of God? As in the case of Balaam, cannot God make a dumb ass to praise Him? And, may not a Christian understand more than the composers, as New Testament believers may understand more than the prophets of old? But if we ought to restrict our use of pious themes introduced by the heathen, why should we not also restrict our use of inventions to those of only godly men?

ON CONTEMPORARY RELIGIOUS MUSIC

Dear B. M.                                                                                                         June 19, 1991

       ...I find modern Christian music extremely offensive. I do not want to sound like a super-pious individual, but I honestly feel filthy when I go into most Christian bookstores, and if I am there very long, I become physically ill. I find contemporary religious music to be everything that music which honors God is not.

     One reason I find modern religious music so offensive is because it is irreverent. Music that honors God leaves the worshipper bowing in humble adoration before the throne of God. This is true whether the music is meditative, or filled with praise. Modern music prostrates no one but serves a God who is not to be feared.

     Second, modern religious music is sensual, and carnal instead of spiritual. This is the reason for the prevalence of hand-holding, and embracing when Scripture says, "It is good for a man not to touch a woman." This sensuality manufactures tears when it has worked up people into a pseudo-religious experience—one that will leave them as soon as the service is ended.

     Third, so-called contemporary Christian music is entertaining and theatrical. It is neither born out of the dust of prayer, nor is it given in prayer, nor does it produce prayer. There is nothing humbling about contemporary Christian music because it is the fruit of an arrogant generation, and one that sees itself as having need of nothing, and does not know it is miserable, poor, blind, and naked. Good music, i.e. music that honors the Lord, does not exalt the giver as if he or she was a performer. This is to take glory due to the Lord Jesus Christ.

     By the term "music" I mean both the musical tones which includes the beat, as well as the lyrics. Some of the music used by the modern church is excellent as far as the lyrics go. Some make use of Scripture texts, or some other truly pious themes, but when they "perform" all is prostituted.

    I have even come close to divesting myself of all Christian radio music because I am afraid of losing my ability to discern the precious from the vile. It has become as bad as the television as far as having to turn the dial to escape the polluting, corrupting influence of the day. But one of the most devastating testimonies against the music of the day is the willingness of the Church to allow people to "perform" who do not have enough Christianity to keep their children in the path of righteousness. How can we expect them to do any better with someone else's children?

    Spurgeon said (and what would a letter like this be without a quote from Spurgeon?), "When praise calms down into a solid resolution, it is well with the soul. Zeal which spends itself in singing and leaves no practical residuum of holy living is little worth." "May God Smile on You"—J. S. Bach.

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