Got doctrine?
Kevin asked two great questions that I've been asked to share my responses to.
1. Why has our doctrine all but disappeared from our music?
2. Does it bother you when music is lyrically but not musically intact?
I had thought about the first question before, but couldn't really come up with anything. Since working at CSOP I've concluded that maybe we just think we already know what we believe, so why write or sing about it? Robin Johnston, the director at CSOP, got me interested in George Farrow, the writer of "It's All In Him." Some of his original letters to his fiance, Lu Lu, are in the files and I just couldn't resist reading a few. Roughly around 1913 he wrote to her of his revelation of Jesus' Name Baptism. No doubt, born from that revelation was this great hymn that we all know and love. Also, G.T. Haywood wrote many of his songs during the 1920's when the church as we know it was established. Read any of his songs and you see him wrestling with what we believe. I think it was their way getting into the hearts and mind of converts what we believe. Plus, they just wrote it all because they were so amazed at this revelation. Maybe we just take it for granted- I know I'm guilty of that at times. But how did we learn the ABC's or the books of the Bible? In a SONG!! It might be good for all you songwriters out there to revisit our doctrines in your songs for the sake of our new babies in the Lord.
Question number two, here's my response...
As for it bothering me when hymns are intact lyrically, but not melodically, well, yes and no. I think some hymns just have GREAT music. Take for example the rise in the beginning of the chorus of "Blessed Assurance" that just tears me up! On the other hand, withsome hymns, the music is okay, but doesn't make me run laps. One that drives me nuts is 4-Him's re-arrangement of "Great is Thy Faithfulness" - it sounds like the Beatles to me. Not that I'm a Beatles fan - they're before my time. One project I have students do in my Hymnology class
here at Gateway is to have them take an old hymn and rework it, lyrically or musically. I find that mostly, they don't do much to the hymns as a whole. Many students said after they worked and experimented that they found that it tainted the song and changed it too much- took away from it's meaning. You know, I like to hear reworked songs, but don't we always usually go back to the original? I'm not saying this is all my hard and fast opinion, just a thought.
posted by aahrens at
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
11 Comments:
Ann:
1.)I think I agree with your class regarding the hymns in terms of how they seem to hang so cohesively (words and music)together. In fact, that's probably my greatest problem with contemporary Christian worship as an art form--there are many songs that you can change words or music without much difficulty (eg. I can do it) and it doesn't seem to do violence to the original. This is not true across the board (many hymns can also start to sound the same), but it seems to be of greater concern in modern music.
2.)I also know of someone who was converted while listening to St. Matthew's Passion alone in his dorm room. Bach's music is powerful.
3.)One last thing regarding choosing music according to the lifestyle of an artist. Is art something that can have a life of its own apart from the artist who created it? Can one listen to Tristan und Isolde and be moved by the drama in even a deeply spiritual way without wanting to become a Nazi? I'm thinking of Dante's Comedy where Virgil is Dante's guide even though Virgil is a pagan because something in his work sparked a relationship with the Divine in Dante. In other words, if I listen to a piece of music am I automatically and unavoidably endorsing all that the artist who created that music stood for? Can I listen to Bob Marley's Redemption Song and not want to smoke weed? I don't think you are saying I can't, but I want to know what you think regarding art and its relationship to the artist. I know you said you are a sponge, but I want to sponge from you!!!
P.S. No one said anything about limiting the length of our comments! smile, wink, wink, nudge, nudge
I'm especially interested in Ann's answer to #3, because I've always wondered about that too.
Ann,
Great response and I agree...we should strive to incorporate foundational truths in our current context. Just a thought here...one reason why we might not be so eager to pen a modern "It's All In Him" is because it marks you (aha, your one of those folk). That might be a generalization in some ways, but many Christian artists (crossing over with lyrics that do but don't say something about God...could be that girlfriend or boyfriend), as well as some AP artists who have been successful, have glossed over many doctrinal distinctives, in order to build a bigger fan base for themselves. Example: Philips, Craig, and Dean. Many listeners have created a fire storm with emails, complaints, and gripes that PCD is (aghast) Oneness!
As with your comments about listening to a particular artist with regard to their lifestyle, I think it is difficult to draw a universal, definite, line of demarcation because it is more subjective than objective. A good test is to ask oneself, "Is this musical presentation drawing me away from God, or hindering my walk with God?" Every person, because of their background or what they are coming out of, will answer that question differently. I'm with Marjorie, how do you dilineate...
KB
Marjorie, Chantall, Kevin,
I've been pondering your questions all morning. I've also asked a couple of people I've bumped into some of the questions you asked just to get their angle - helps me think things through. These are people I know well and so I anticipated their responses. I asked them questions about what they listen to (both said sacred and secular music) and if they found out some artist they liked had some pretty shady characteristics, would they discontinue listening. One said yes, one said no! These were the EXACT responses I expected from each person, respectively. I know their background, testimony, age, personality, etc. And so, yes, Kevin, I agree with you 100% that it's hard to draw a hard and fast line in the sand. What could be a stumbling block to one may not be to another.
So, I have to look at my own feelings. What I'm about to say doesn't apply to everyone, just me. Do you think this is maybe one of those kinds of issues - one that is decided individually? I myself like classical, gospel, some contemp gospel, vintage (Sinatra, Martin, Astaire, Clooney, etc...). PERSONALLY, I can't listen to soft rock, country, rap, hip-hop, because I am a passionate person about everything and those styles draw my mind away from being centered on Christ. I even have to be careful not to listen to vintage music when I'm in a meloncholy mood. (Besides the fact that I think rap and hip-hop are the most chaotic sounds I've ever heard - I call it "noise", not music.) What I'm saying is what affects me may not affect someone else the same way and vice-versa. I think we as Christians need to be VERY aware of the affect of what we allow into our brains. What's that scripture that talks about "whatsoever is pure, lovely, of good report....." Oh, I'm feeling the conviction.
Marjorie, you question about the art being separate (or not)from the artist is so good! Once again, to me PERSONALLY it makes a difference. Again, I refer back to my college days of classical study. I was required to play a set of pieces by Alexander Scriabin, one of composers I advised against in my blog. I NEVER could get those pieces in my fingers, try as I might. I played them on a recital and it was a disaster! Scriabin was a spiritualist. He proclaimed himself as a god and determined to "cleanse the earth" though his music. Sometimes I really wonder if, as a Christian, I was affected by his music - very chaotic, dissonant sounds, unresolved harmonies, etc... and that was why I struggled with it so much. I don't know....
So, to sum up this long, babbling answer: I think maybe Phil 4:8 is a good standard by which to measure things in our personal lives.
I would love to hear your personal opinions!
Ann
Ann,
I like your take and thanks for the response.
KB
Yes, our movement has come a long way. In the old days, Apostolics sang George Farrow’s “It's All in Him.” Now, in the unnamed church I attend, we sing a Trinitarian song with the lyrics of Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, “these three in one.”
When the congregation sings that song, I look around and wonder if I am the only person who cares about doctrine in the song service. Can’t we change the lyrics of a Trinitarian song to be “these three are one” (from 1 John 5:7), or anything with a semblance of what we believe?
I think songs can be great teachers. But what are we teaching our people? Pap, I suggest.
The other Kevin
The other Kevin,
I think I know who you are, so I can relate to what you're saying. I wonder the same thing about this song. I find myself watching key people during the song service to see their response to that particular line. Do you think that particular part of doctrine can be confusing? Don't laugh, I mean, seriously, do we not realize what we're singing - do we THINK we're singing thelogically correct music? I really think those in charge don't sing those songs to be deliberately doctrinaly incorrect - I think THEY think they are okay. What do you think?
Ann
Ann,
Perhaps whoever continually chooses that particular Trinitarian song may think it’s OK. I’m sure it’s done with intentions as pure as the wind-driven snow.
My point is this: Our movement began with doctrine being an integral part of our lyrics. Now our lyrics often lack substance; or we are singing them simply because the song is upbeat and catchy.
You, however, are doing a stellar job in the music department. And I love your blog. People like you give us hope for the future of Apostolic music.
The other Kevin
Ann:
I think you've pinpointed exactly the underlying contention in emphasizing your PERSONAL choices. I think we should all strive to evaluate our personal musical selections as thoughtfully and as fully aware as you do. Instead of making hard and fast rules, perhaps people should be challenged to think about what they listen to and why AND then be left to decide for themselves. We need more good teachers like you who foster this kind of contemplation.
P.S. "Other Kevin": should the lyrics to that unnamed song be more correctly (doctrinally, not grammatically) rendered: "These three IS one"?
The other Kevin,
Now you've hit on what really hurts my heart, namely how we seem to be letting go of what MADE us! Again, I go back to all that I've learned by working at CSOP. Those early pioneers - Goss, Ewart, Haywood, Witherspoon, etc... - they we CAST OUT, pushed aside, spoken badly against, and yet they pushed on. They formed their own organizations all in the name of Oneness! And OH the sacrifices they made! I wish everyone could spend a week or two in that building just reading through those files and old publications - I've spent many a moment weeping over what they did to bring us to where we are - this GLORIOUS church!
Another comment - I think theologians and preachers make the BEST songwriters - did you ever think of Jerry Jones writing a song with his was of putting words together? That would be some song! Something you should think about.
Oh, and thanks for your kind words. I hope I can live up to them!
Ann
Marjorie,
Thank, also, to you for your kind words. It's nice to see that someone I respect agrees with me - nice to know that I'm not out in left field somewhere!
Ann
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