From the President

“Words make you think a thought. Music makes you feel a feeling. A song makes you feel a thought” (E. Y. Harburg).

There are debates about music in our Christian life, as well there should be because of its power.

Conversations on music have tended to concentrate on genre/style differences as we’ve decried one kind of music over another. This, often a personal or cultural like or dislike, has fractured friendships and churches all the way back to Gregorian chants of the middle ages. It begs the question, what constitutes appropriate music for personal and worship use?

One of my favorite composers is Sergei Rachmaninov. Rachmaninov’s magnificent Piano Concerto No. 2, Op. 18 is a wonder of classical music that speaks to deepest human emotion with nostalgic, evocative chords.

In 1975, Eric Carmen wrote “All by Myself”, a song inspired by the second movement. You may not know Eric, but his song was made famous by Canadian chanteuse Celine Dion.

Celine’s hit was produced by David Foster, who arranged it to have the sad, nostalgic feeling of Rachmaninov’s piece. However, Foster adds a ritardando (a gradual slowing) that takes the song from pessimism to optimism through an a cappella key change said to be “the most elegant key change in all of popular music.”

Few would know Rachmaninov’s concerto, but many have listened to Celine’s song time and again. Why? Because it makes us feel. Music can calm us or make us angry. It makes us cry, inspires us, helps us remember good and bad times.

King Saul’s tormenting spirit comes to mind (1 Samuel 16:14-23). It is only through David’s music that Saul’s pain is lessened. Music benefited Saul in the midst of an attack by creating an atmosphere where evil could not continue to be. In verse 22, Saul was “refreshed” by the music. That word in Hebrew is ravach, which means to breathe freely. The word is also used in Job 32:20 where Job seeks relief from terrible abdominal pain. This usage suggests that Saul’s body felt complete relief from his affliction as a result of David’s musical abilities.

I love music. It’s part of my daily commute and on Sabbath afternoons I enjoy listening with the volume turned up, much to my family’s chagrin! I like a wide variety of musical styles and artists as I’ve lived in many countries and have experienced cultural influence on musical genres, but I never forget music’s power. I use four principles to help determine the spiritual appropriateness of the music I’m listening to:

1. Will this inspire me in terms of the battle between good and evil? 2. To what or whom is it pointing me? 3. Is it consistent with the Fruit of the Spirit in Gal 5:22-23 and my Christian values? 4. Does it create an atmosphere where evil cannot be?

Music can be the ravach of our lives or it can add to our agony. How will you use it wholistically to beautify your life?

Terry Johnson