~ The Spiritual Gift of Music – Great
Composers ~
Opening Comment ~ “Do
not be deceived, my beloved brethren. Every good gift and every perfect gift is
from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no
variation or shadow of turning. Of His
own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of
firstfruits of His creatures” (James 1:16-18).
Quotes ~ (1) The following quote
is from: “THE GIFT OF MUSIC: Great Composers and Their influences” by Jane
Stuart Smith, Betty Carlson Crossway Books.
Johann Sebastian Bach: The outstanding
member of the greatest musical family the world has ever known. The Bach ancestors left Hungary rather than
give up their Biblical faith. The focus
of Bach's spiritual life was in Christianity and in the service of religion
through music. Bach's Christian faith
and his music are inseparably united.
His belief in the reality of heaven caused his music to be timeless.
On the title page of
his copy of “Little Book for the Organ” Bach wrote, “To the glory of God alone
in the highest and to further the learning of everyone.”
He believed that the
primary reason for music should be for the glory of God and the recreation of
the mind. Many critics consider Bach the
greatest of all composers. In him we have the supreme uniting of a person's
faith and his talent.
Bach, in a sense,
placed himself “in the pulpit” to expound the gospel, and his cantatas reflect
the depth of Christianity. Bach wrote
his music as an act of worship in the true mystical sense, and his faith and
music are unified.
Often Bach wrote on
manuscripts, “With the help of Jesus,” or “To God alone be the glory,” acknowledging
that his gift of music was from God.
Johann Sebastian Bach
was one of the spiritually wisest musicians the world has known. Art comes from the being made in the image of
God, and we know. God is for the arts and has relegated to men and women
wonderful gifts of creativity. Often
these gifts have not been used for God's glory...
“God, who richly
provides us with everything for our enjoyment” (1 Timothy 6:17b).
Most critics agree
that Bach is the greatest composer of all time.
Many of the greatest composers have acknowledged their indebtedness to
Bach.
(2) Jewish conductor
Felix Mendelssohn became a Christian shortly after his second performance of
“The Passion According to Saint Matthew” by J.S. Bach. That same piece led Nancy Ginstling to think
about Jesus for the first time. She
ultimately became a Christian, and wrote the book “The Jewish Case for Jesus.”
(3) “I feel strongly
that all the arts, and particularly music, should be placed in the service of
Him who has created and given them.” —Martin Luther
Note ~ As
individuals turn further and further from the personal, infinite God, the Giver
of gifts, the more dehumanized and twisted will be that which he or she
creates. May the great gift of music be used for the glory of God.
Closing Comments ~ “Let
no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in
conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity. Till I come, give attention to reading, to
exhortation, to doctrine. Do not neglect the gift that is in you,
which was given to you by prophecy with the laying on of the hands of the
eldership. Meditate on these things;
give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all. Take heed to yourself and to the
doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing
this you will save both yourself and those who hear you” (1 Timothy 4:12-16).
“Therefore
I remind you to stir up the gift of God
which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us a spirit of fear,
but of power and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Timothy 1:6-7).
“As each one has received a gift, minister it
to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God” (1 Peter
4:10).
~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW blog.
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