“...which music does better than preaching any day.”I missed what preaching did better. He was either talking about a particular point of truth or the ability to communicate in general. I question the statement.
The Bible makes a clear statement about the role of preaching.
(Romans 10:14 KJV) How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?Jesus made it clear that preaching was His most important activity.
(Luke 4:18 KJV) The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,I asked myself the question, “Does the Bible lift up music anywhere?” My personal opinion was, “No.” It turns out I was ignorant. Don’t assume you know what the Bible has to say just because you have not noticed it. I did a few simple searches on my Bible software. I love Bible software, even when it shows me my ignorance.
I started with a search on “sing” in the KJV. I was surprised at how many times it was used. In its basic form it was used 119 times. In defense of my original position, it seemed in a quick look through that the singing was toward the Lord, not to communicate truth to others. “Singing” was used 29 times. “Song” came up 78 times. Okay. I am impressed.
In looking through the verses that used “song” I came across this:
(Deuteronomy 31:22 KJV) Moses therefore wrote this song the same day, and taught it the children of Israel.We see that Moses was writing songs to teach the congregation. I began to wipe the mud from my face. Just a few verses before that I found,
(Deuteronomy 31:19 KJV) Now therefore write ye this song for you, and teach it the children of Israel: put it in their mouths, that this song may be a witness for me against the children of Israel.So Moses is writing the songs to bring people to conviction.
I lose. Music is given of God as a means of communicating truth. I don’t know if it does it better but I am afraid to look deeper. I have been wrong enough for one day.
I hate it when that happens. But I love to grow in my knowledge and understanding of the things of God.
homo unius libri
I'd put music at the top of the list, but music might reach some folks that preaching might not, just like different TYPES of preaching reach different types of people.
ReplyDeleteSo right you are. It always amazes me how different we all are. What I am trying to figure out is how my children came to enjoy liver and onions.
DeleteI constantly remind myself that just because I like a certain type of music doesn't mean others will and just because I don't like it does not mean it is from the devil.
Grace and peace.