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Pop-Idiom Music
In Worship and Evangelism
by Dr Peter Masters
Dr Peter Masters is minister of the Metropolitan Tabernacle, London,
England (C.H. Spurgeon's church) and has kindly granted us permission
to reproduce "Pop-Idiom Music" here. If you have any questions
or queries about this article, please feel free to write to Dr Masters
at the address given below, or
contact us at Freedom Ministries.
Section 2
God Hates Pride and Exhibitionism.
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In worship, and in the presentation of the Gospel, all the glory must be
the Lord's. The clear principle of the Scripture is that truly
Spirit-filled ministry is God-centred, modest and non-exhibitionist -
For we have not heralded ourselves, but Christ as Lord (2 Corinthians 4.5)
... He must increase, but I must decrease (John 3.30) ... No flesh
should glory in his presence (1 Corinthians 1.29), for God has said, my
glory I will not give to another (Isaiah 42.8).
Pop-idiom methods are undoubtedly saturated with exhibitionism. It is
heartbreaking to see youngsters (some of whom undoubtedly have true faith)
being encouraged by pastors and Christian leaders to imitate secular
performers in the way they draw attention to themselves, bow for applause,
and preen themselves for adulation. Professing believers are encouraged to
be conceited and vain, and to relish the flattery of this world.
The Bible says that young believers should not be commissioned easily and
quickly for the proclamation of the Gospel because of the great temptation
to become puffed up, yet here we have a most destructive form of personal
showmanship pressed upon the youngest Christians in church youth activities
etc.
Speaking about how we must draw near to God the epistle of James says
- God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble (James 4.6).
This is one of a very large number of scriptures (including the
Magniftcat) emphasising that God deals with and uses the humble
spirit.
God resists the proud. In other words if the ego is inflamed, if
we are admiring ourselves or our art and abilities, or if we are hoping to
be noticed and applauded by other people - then God will resist us.
He will not listen to our praise and He will not bless our witness either.
He will withdraw from us and deal with us as He dealt with Cain of old.
No flesh may glory in the presence of Almighty God. No person may at the
same time worship God and vaunt himself. In true worship all
individualism must recede into the background. A believer in
Christ must never adopt, imitate, revel in, or give himself to the vain
exhibitionism of this passing world.
The simple musical aids which God trusts His people to use with discretion
should never have been distorted into a means by which people are admired
for their 'performances' and their beautiful voices and gifts are praised.
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But what about the gifted?
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Sometimes people say, 'But if it is not right to have special music and
the singing of many solos, what will happen to those very special
Christians who have been gifted with beautiful voices and wonderful
musical ability?' Such questions are often asked in a tone of amazement,
as though it is unthinkable that such gifts should not be put on public
display. What is to be done with the person who has such very special
gifts?
But let us answer the question with another question: what shall we do
about the person with a special gift to play cricket or rugby?
What shall we do for the gifted cook, or the gifted mathematician?
Everyone has a special gift for something, but all our capabilities cannot
be employed in direct spiritual worship. We must always watch out for the
human tendency to magnify the flesh, to esteem men, to serve the ego;
and to be lovers of their own selves...boasters, proud .. lovers of
pleasures more than lovers of God (2 Timothy 3.2-4).
These articles remain
© Copyright Dr Peter Masters 1983
The Metropolitan Tabernacle
Elephant and Castle
London SE1 6SD
England, UK
who should be consulted before any further copying, storing or distribution, either
in whole or in part is made by any means.
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