Duality and conflict have been long known by Seventh-Day Adventist musicians. On one side there is the conservative group, on the other the liberal one. And the tension hasn't gotten smoother with time, which is likely to be so, once Jesus' return approaches things tend to get more dramatic in all aspects. The truth will be clearly presented to us and we will have to make a choice. But it's not my intention now to dwell on what I believe is right or wrong concerning music itself. I'd rather like to briefly discuss the fact that there IS a difference of opinion. Even the church, as an organization, has never taken a clear position on the subject, as we all know well… And that does make room to some flexibility of thought in a given "official" SDA environment.
The guidelines the church has been issuing for decades are not specific, which makes it difficult for local units and specially for the member himself to make a decision about what is right or wrong. We as a church, at first glance, don't have someone to look up to on the subject. Thus, it is likely that differences in opinion might come up. But the question is: what if the extremes in opinion are so antagonistic and divergent? What about Paul's exhortation regarding unity of mind? (Romans 12:16) Taking a position related to sacred music and it's role is more than a matter of taste, and once taken it may cause diversion within the brotherhood. I have experienced it myself, and it's been more and more noticeable at an international level. The church has been struggling with this worldwide. And that's what I'd like to point your attention to at the moment.
Let's imagine two hypothetical brothers: A and B, who attend the same church and have more or less the same cultural background. What I've specifically seen is the following: brother A claims to be in communion with God, and so does brother B. Nevertheless brother A's opinion about music in the church is "x", and brother B's, in turn, is "y". Supposing that "x" and "y" are ideally and philosophically antagonistic and represent extremes, thought-wise, what's the problem? Aren't both brothers reading the same Bible? Aren't they praying to the same God? Aren't they supposed to be taught what to do by the one and same Holy Spirit? And yet their opinion is essentially and completely different. Once the Holy Spirit doesn't contradict Himself, what might have been the problem in the process? Is personal taste involved?
James chapter 1 verse 5 says: "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him" (NKJV). This text says that if we ask from God, he will open our minds to the importance of any subject whatsoever. He will have us understand, so that a wise choice may be made. Brothers A and B would have been favored with the same liberality, by the one and same graceful God. I believe that this current essential divergence won't be possible during the great work of reformation and revival that are proper to the last days, prior to Jesus' second coming. The features of the anti-christ, as opposed to the Lamb's, will be clearly manifested. And music is not an exception. Satan, who was the conductor of the heavenly choir himself, does have a particular place for music as an instrument to deceive humanity in this time. May we pray that God enlightens our minds so that we can discern (personal taste excepted) what way to tread on.
The guidelines the church has been issuing for decades are not specific, which makes it difficult for local units and specially for the member himself to make a decision about what is right or wrong. We as a church, at first glance, don't have someone to look up to on the subject. Thus, it is likely that differences in opinion might come up. But the question is: what if the extremes in opinion are so antagonistic and divergent? What about Paul's exhortation regarding unity of mind? (Romans 12:16) Taking a position related to sacred music and it's role is more than a matter of taste, and once taken it may cause diversion within the brotherhood. I have experienced it myself, and it's been more and more noticeable at an international level. The church has been struggling with this worldwide. And that's what I'd like to point your attention to at the moment.
Let's imagine two hypothetical brothers: A and B, who attend the same church and have more or less the same cultural background. What I've specifically seen is the following: brother A claims to be in communion with God, and so does brother B. Nevertheless brother A's opinion about music in the church is "x", and brother B's, in turn, is "y". Supposing that "x" and "y" are ideally and philosophically antagonistic and represent extremes, thought-wise, what's the problem? Aren't both brothers reading the same Bible? Aren't they praying to the same God? Aren't they supposed to be taught what to do by the one and same Holy Spirit? And yet their opinion is essentially and completely different. Once the Holy Spirit doesn't contradict Himself, what might have been the problem in the process? Is personal taste involved?
James chapter 1 verse 5 says: "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him" (NKJV). This text says that if we ask from God, he will open our minds to the importance of any subject whatsoever. He will have us understand, so that a wise choice may be made. Brothers A and B would have been favored with the same liberality, by the one and same graceful God. I believe that this current essential divergence won't be possible during the great work of reformation and revival that are proper to the last days, prior to Jesus' second coming. The features of the anti-christ, as opposed to the Lamb's, will be clearly manifested. And music is not an exception. Satan, who was the conductor of the heavenly choir himself, does have a particular place for music as an instrument to deceive humanity in this time. May we pray that God enlightens our minds so that we can discern (personal taste excepted) what way to tread on.
0 comments:
Post a Comment