The Antechamber of ParadiseIn lieu of a review, I'm posting today some connected thoughts about the power and character of music.
Music is a powerful force, for either good or evil. I think the first time I realized how powerful music can be was when I was studying music history. One the compositions I studied was Beethoven's 5th Symphony. The first movement, Allegro con brio, is one of the most famous four-note sequences in Western music. It has been compared to the knocking of fate at the door, and was used by the BBC during World War II to introduce its broadcasts, as the opening four-note motif is the letter "V" (for "victory") in Morse code.
I listened to the movement in my bedroom. The amazing sound, coming through the speakers and the subwoofer, blew me away. I was impressed by the sheer power this music had to move me deeply.
The blogger Dissidens, in his blog Remonstrans, mentioned an experience he had with music, which must have been both pleasant and unpleasant:
"There was a time in my life when I was not the sterling example of humanity poets write sonnets about. And I recall in those days putting a vinyl disk on the spindle, setting the needle and sitting down to listen to some JSB [Johann Sebastian Bach]. It was maybe eight bars into the piece and I don’t recall the words that occurred to me, but I do recall the sensation: 'You are nothing but a punk and a wretch! What gives you the right?' As I say, it was more visceral than voiced, but it was as real as a toothache."
The composition that Bach wrote was doubtless beautiful, orderly and symmetrical. Beauty and proper order in music contradicts the ugliness and disorder of our sinful natures.
This concept is well-illustrated by Theodore Dalrymple, a writer for City Journal, in his article When Hooligans Bach Down. I especially enjoyed the story he relates by one Simon Leys:
"Leys was sitting in a café where other customers were chatting, playing cards, or having a drink. The radio was on, tuned to a station that relayed idle chatter and banal popular music (you are lucky these days if popular music is banal only). But suddenly, and for no apparent reason, it played the first movement of Mozart’s clarinet quintet, transforming the café into what Leys called “the antechamber of paradise.” The customers stopped what they were doing, as if startled. Then one of them stood up, went over to the radio, and tuned it to another station, restoring the idle chatter and banal music. There was general relief, as if everyone felt that the beauty and refinement of Mozart were a reproach to their lives to which they could respond only by suppressing Mozart."
The music you listen to has power to affect you for good or evil. The music you listen to is also a reflection of who you are. I wonder: what does the music you listen to say about you?
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith” (Hebrews 12:1-2a).
The gaze of our soul needs to be constantly upon the Lord Jesus Christ. We need Him every moment of every day. Remembering Jesus and His Word will bring peace to the discouraged soul.
The other morning, I was driving along the 401 on my way to work, feeling discouraged. As I was driving, God used a passage of the Bible to encourage me. I think it was Matthew 14:22-33 (unless there is another passage in the Gospels about a storm on the sea of Galilee). The disciples saw Jesus walking on the water in a storm, and they were afraid. He comforted them with these words: “Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid” (verse27).
That morning, and one other morning that week, I wrote this poem. It was an encouragement to me, and I pray that it will be to you. If we keep Jesus before our eyes, we will have joy as we walk through our daily lives.
1. Lord Jesus, fill my vision;
The world’s display I see
Of brightly-coloured trinkets
That draw my heart from Thee.
Oh, foolish heart and sinful,
To thus believe a lie,
And drink from broken cisterns
That cannot satisfy.
2. Lord Jesus, fill my vision;
The painted lies of sin
Seduce me with their beauty
And hide the death within.
Oh, help me now to trust Thee;
Thy Word is ever true;
Delight me with Thy beauty;
My joy shall be in You.
3. Lord Jesus, fill my vision
When I am full of care,
When disappointments crush me
And life I cannot bear.
Oh, help me see Thee walking
Upon my stormy sea,
Each wind and wave controlling,
And speaking peace to me.
4. Lord Jesus, fill my vision,
That all the world may see
The brightness of Thy glory
Reflected now in me.
Through this weak, earthen vessel
Display Thy power and might,
In turning hearts of sinners
From darkness unto light.
5. Lord Jesus, fill my vision
Through all my pilgrim days,
Till death’s cold waves roll o’er me,
And I behold Thy face!
Upon the shores of glory
My song shall be of Thee,
And Thou shalt fill my vision
For all eternity!
Welcome to Grace. Music. Ministry.! For the first post, I wanted to give an explanation for the blog name, and a bit of the purpose behind it.
GRACE
We are saved by grace alone, and it is by God’s grace that we are enabled to live the Christian life. We “stand” in grace (Rom. 5:2): it is underneath us, supporting us; it is above us, protecting us; it is around us, teaching us. And it is with grace in our hearts that we are to sing: “singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Col. 3:16).
MUSIC
Music is a wonderful gift from God. As Christians, we are instructed to sing (Eph. 5:16; Col. 3:16). By God’s grace, I am aware of the dangers of ungodly music, and I want to help spread knowledge of this deadly virus that is sweeping so many churches. God has also given me a love and a passion for good music, and I want to spread a passion for godly music among God’s people.
MINISTRY
In God’s church, “all things” are to “be done unto edifying” (I Cor. 14:26). The goal of our music must be twofold: firstly, to glorify God (Psalm 29:9; I Cor. 10:31), and secondly, to teach each other; in other words, to minister to each other (Col. 3:16). If our music doesn’t minister, then we have failed.
I hope that this blog will be a blessing to those who read it, and that all will be encouraged to sing with grace in their hearts, to listen to and sing godly music, and to minister to each other in song in the local church.
