The Theology of Music

The Church long tradition with music

My own journey in Church music

I grew up in a small churches. It was always piano, song leader and hymnal. When I was a kid, I went to summer camp and for the first time heard a person play guitar, bass, Keyboards and drums to lead us in singing.

As I got older, I started to form my own musical tastes and my groups of choose were, David Meece, Newsboys and DC talk. My parents wanted me to listen to David Meece and hated the face that I listened to “Rocky Music.” My father is a jazz nut and wanted me to learn saxophone, guitar or even piano.

However, on my 16th birthday my folks bought me a guitar. The next year they bought me an electric guitar. That forever, changed my life. I would practice music 4 hours a day. I started recording my own music at 17. I also played guitar at church. My father introduced a “Praise band” and I was the guitar player. I also formed a band that played church music and we had a very jewish folksy sound.

I found that most people could care less what you played as long as you did not play it on an electric guitar. I almost got my father fired over a weird misunderstanding. I became bitter. I had a wrong view of Church and my role as a musician in church.

My bitterness lead me to want to play music outside of the church. I formed a band that played “Rocky Music.” Our christian punk rock band was named “The Emmaus Project.” We did well for ourselves. We self release three EP’s, three mini tours, made a music video and received a record contract that was the equivalent 50,000 dollars.

I did quite the band in order to pursue preaching. However, while at frontier I still played in a lot of different bands. I was in a rock band name “Innotof.” I was in a blue grass band, heavy metal band and in a jazz band named “fourgiven.”

My senior year I was front man in a hardcore band named “red stained white.” In fact, one of my first conversations with bear was after a band practice.

I have played churches, concert halls, back alleys, festivals, county fairs, Home depot, parking lots and restaurants. I know music and the performance of music. Next to preaching I love performing music. I love music and I am excited, personally to do a sermon series talking about music.

The Church and music

The church has a rich tradition of music. In fact, as I grew up in independent churches. I have also felt that church history started in 1500’s. Yet, we sing songs that date back much further than the 1500’s. However, it is believed that be thou my vision was written in the 500’s. It is believed to have been sung by name saints throughout the ages. In fact the oldest hymn that is still sung today is “Shepherd of Tender Youth.” This is believed to have been written around 200. However the oldest hymn in Churches is the Oxyrhynchus Hymn the lyrics of the song are:

Let it be silent Let the Luminous stars not shine, Let the winds (?) and all the noisy rivers die down; And as we hymn the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, Let all the powers add “Amen Amen” VIII.Empire, praise always, and glory to God, The sole giver of good things, Amen Amen.

The church also has been major innovators in the field of music

A brief look at music history and music theory

A brief look at music history and music theory

First mention of music ()

It involved every day activities

Celebrations

Loved ones departing ()

Mourning

(NASB95) — 26 Then Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done by deceiving me and carrying away my daughters like captives of the sword? 27 “Why did you flee secretly and deceive me, and did not tell me so that I might have sent you away with joy and with songs, with timbrel and with lyre; 28 and did not allow me to kiss my sons and my daughters? Now you have done foolishly. 29 “It is in my power to do you harm, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful not to speak either good or bad to Jacob.’

Genesis 31:26–29 NASB95

26 Then Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done by deceiving me and carrying away my daughters like captives of the sword? 27 “Why did you flee secretly and deceive me, and did not tell me so that I might have sent you away with joy and with songs, with timbrel and with lyre; 28 and did not allow me to kiss my sons and my daughters? Now you have done foolishly. 29 “It is in my power to do you harm, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful not to speak either good or bad to Jacob.’

Feasts ()

Feasts ()

(NASB95) — 12 Their banquets are accompanied by lyre and harp, by tambourine and flute, and by wine; But they do not pay attention to the deeds of the Lord, Nor do they consider the work of His hands. Birthday

Isaiah 5:12 NASB95

12 Their banquets are accompanied by lyre and harp, by tambourine and flute, and by wine; But they do not pay attention to the deeds of the Lord, Nor do they consider the work of His hands.

(NASB95) — 12 Their banquets are accompanied by lyre and harp, by tambourine and flute, and by wine; But they do not pay attention to the deeds of the Lord, Nor do they consider the work of His hands. Birthday

Genesis 31:26–29 NASB95

Then Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done by deceiving me and carrying away my daughters like captives of the sword? “Why did you flee secretly and deceive me, and did not tell me so that I might have sent you away with joy and with songs, with timbrel and with lyre; and did not allow me to kiss my sons and my daughters? Now you have done foolishly. “It is in my power to do you harm, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful not to speak either good or bad to Jacob.’

Birthday Celebrations ()

Mourning

Birthday Celebrations ()

(NASB95) — 6 But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod,

Matthew 14:6 NASB95

6 But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod,

(NASB95) — 6 But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod,

(NASB95) — 6 But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before them and pleased Herod,

Celebration at the return of loved one:

Celebration at the return of loved one (, )

(NASB95) — 34 When Jephthah came to his house at Mizpah, behold, his daughter was coming out to meet him with tambourines and with dancing. Now she was his one and only child; besides her he had no son or daughter.

(NASB95) — 23 and bring the fattened calf, kill it, and let us eat and celebrate;

Mourning

(NASB95) — 17 and say, ‘We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ Worship

Worship

Work

Warfare

Crowning of a new king

Entertainment

Psychological and Spiritual help

Times of trouble