Of Music and Art

Have finished two stimulating books - Singing and Making Music, by Paul Jones and Art for God's Sake, by Phil Ryken.

Paul's book is a collection of essays grouped in four sections: Corporate Worship, Hymnody and Psalmody, Issues, and Composers and Composition. I stronly recommend your reading if only to understand your music director's approach to worship music (and for that matter, Tenth's philosophy). You will be struck first of all by the depth of biblical research he brings to the subject. No one doubts the high level at which music is carried out at Tenth, but that very level causes some to question if music has too high a position here or that "professionalism" is valued over heart-felt worship. However one may agree or disagree with all his conclusions, you will be struck by his zeal to be biblical and to glorify God.

Phil's book is a brief dissertation of biblical principles for understanding the place of art. He writes, "To summarize, this is the Christian view of art: the artist is called and gifted by God - who loves all kinds of art; who maintains high aesthetic standards for goodness, truth, and beauty; and whose glory is art's highest goal." A good read for all Christians, it is especially a good book to give to nonChristian friends who are skeptical of how Christians perceive the place of art and of artists.