Music Style & Guidelines
Adventist worship is generally restrained and carefully organized. Ellen White, on the topic of appropriate music, referred Adventists to the Bible and her writings. She encouraged believers to use judgement and hindsight when considering music that is uplifting. "Those things which have been in the past will be in the future. Satan will make music a snare by the way in which it is conducted. God calls upon His people, who have the light before them in the Word and in the Testimonies, to read and consider, and to take heed. Clear and definite instruction has been given in order that all may understand. But the itching desire to originate something new results in strange doctrines, and largely destroys the influence of those who would be a power for good if they held firm the beginning of their confidence in the truth the Lord had given them. " Believers should not abandon music which has been proven beneficial in order to chase after new, popular, or secular forms of music.
The Adventist leaders used her advice and have based a theory of music worship on verses such as Job 38:7, 2 Samuel 6:15, Psalms 150:3, 1 Corinthians 10:31, Phillipians 4:8, Revelations 4:9-11, 14:1-3, and 19:1-8. These verses advocate the use of music to uplift and praise God. The General Conference voted to propose a list of general music guidelines based on the principles that "music is not morally and spiritually neutral" and that "we cannot be indifferent to it." This led to the following nine principles, summarized here:
- Music should actively glorify God. Anything else weakens a relationship with him.
- Music should strive for heavenly perfection.
- Music should be socially acceptable.
- Music should be appealing and uplifting.
- Music should implement melody, harmony, and rhythm effectively and enjoyably.
- Lyrical music should be rich in content and of sound Biblical qualities.
- Lyrical and instrumental musical elements should complement.
- It maintains a judicious balance of spiritual, intellectual, and emotional elements.
- We should recognize and acknowledge the contribution of different cultures in worshiping God. Musical forms and instruments vary greatly in the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist family, and music drawn from one culture may sound strange to someone from a different culture.
Read more about this topic: Seventh-day Adventist Worship, Worship Service
Famous quotes containing the words music and/or style:
“People today are still living off the table scraps of the sixties. They are still being passed around—the music and the ideas.”
—Bob Dylan [Robert Allen Zimmerman] (b. 1941)
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—Stephanie Martson (20th century)