'The goal of theology is doxology...' (J.I.Packer)
Hi there, and welcome to this site. If you have an interest in music in the context of Christian worship and theology, it is my hope and prayer that you will find something of interest in these pages. The actual word 'theomusicology' is not very common, and as such not widely understood. However, there are a wealth of opinions regarding not only this word itself, but every possible area of interest within the nexus of theology and music.
I acknowledge that some very serious and thoughtful work was undertaken by Jon Michael Spencer in his 1991 treatise, subtitled 'Introduction to Theomusicology.' Spencer is widely understood as having actually coined this word. However, such a word was always going to become more important to those who take both theology and musicology very seriously, and I mean no disrespect when I say - as a fully-confessional and practising Seventh-Day Adventist Christian professional musician with very serious research interests in theology, worship and music – that I have a somewhat different understanding of 'theomusicololgy' to Spencer and several other thinkers with interests in the interface of religious studies and music.
When I speak in terms of 'theo' and 'musicology' – I am in part talking about what Christians refer to as 'music ministry.' It is my contention that this paradigm has been grossly abused by far too many believing Christians (and I absolutely include many Seventh-Day Adventists in this indictment) who have made a mockery of worship through music in the sanctuary, and certain of those of us with responsibilities for pastoral oversight of so-called music ministers need to do more than we are doing to stop the perfidy. Ministry is a very, very serious thing. Not all of us are called to pastoral ministry (as clergy), even if we can preach and teach well! Why would all those with musical talents necessarily be called to minister in our worship services?!
Despite countless seminars, weekends, emphasis days, worship seminars, and suchlike, ‘music ministry’ has not really been given the sustained theological and musicological focus that it deserves, and God will hold us to account for this if we do not get our theological house in order sooner rather than later. ‘Theomusicology’ is, in fact, much more than the study of music ministry – I understand the word to both connote and denote the serious study of that ‘Venn-diagram’ area where theology and musicology meet – and as the study of God collides and elides with the study of music as both process and product, theory and practice, as culture and in culture – in theomusicology we are looking at one of the most important neo-disciplines that exists!
The John Packer quote above (taken from Concise Theology) really does encapsulate my understanding of what it is that those engaged in the study of God (theologians, pastors AND laypeople) and those engaged in 'Christian music' - particularly liturgical musical participants - are supposed to be doing. In an age where, even for many people in the Church, the concept of absolute truth as a viable intellectual paradigm is increasingly viewed as being hideously outmoded, I am here to ally myself to what seems to be a real minority of Bible-believing, reasonably 'conservative' Christians who are totally committed to:
a) understanding God's Word to the absolute best of their ability;
b) understanding the actual phenomenon of music itself to the absolute best of their ability;
c) making music to the highest standard possible – as instrumentalists, singers, songwriters, composers, worship leaders, praise team members, even as congregational liturgical musical participants, be they hymns, choruses, etc;
d) propagating thoughtful ideas, statements and manifestos regarding Christian music that are based on the Word of God as explored through rigorous scholarship and prayerful consideration, resulting in careful statements that are based on solid evidence and argument – as opposed to mere statements that owe more to personal taste, sentiment, aesthetic constructions, traditions, and the ‘feelings’ of the one making the statement.
Anyone can make a statement – but to make an argument worthy of the name requires a little more effort – including the willingness to question one’s own cherished opinions...
I have observed that many very fine theological minds are musicologically deficient - and conversely, far too many church musicians have deified music itself over God Almighty - in both cases, to the utter detriment of worship services across the globe. If these liturgical musical participants knew God as He has revealed Himself in His Word, many of them would make more of an effort to be more theologically aware. ‘God is not mocked!’
There is a serious work to be done in this area if we are not to remain divided by culture and aesthetics as members of a global worshipping community. While absolute consensus is inevitably impossible (there will ALWAYS be those who disagree with others), I hope to encourage as many people as possible to consider - and re-consider - what constitutes their worship theology. Is it based on a solid hermeneutic of God's Word - or have we unconsciously processed our inherent socio-cultural constructions that prioritise certain cultural aesthetics first, and formulated our worship theolog(ies) to suit our tastes?
Why is the world Church so divided on musical matters? How can music - a paradigm long associated with the breaking of boundaries and the bringing together of peoples and personalities across culture and race - be the source of such division, strife and animosity within congregations of people who claim to be brothers and sisters in Christ?
This is one constituent part of my effort to address this thorniest of areas - as musician, as burgeoning academic, and as regular church member. There is literally no point in evangelistic outreach if the souls who accept the Gospel then find themselves discouraged by the 'dryness' of their church communities. In too many churches the worship formulae are leaving the congregants ‘cold and dry’ spiritually. Hymns and organ are not necessarily a sign of great piety. Contemporary 'praise and worship' is not necessarily a sign of greater engagement with the Holy Spirit. You can sing and play groove-driven praise choruses with much fervour and STILL be as dry as a bone spiritually!
This site is not exhaustive – it is the beginning of a journey. But do read what is here and see what you make of these ideas. But more than that, go and find other people to engage with, 'reason together' – despite the inevitable differences - and PRAY that God will show us what He requires from us as we seek to better worship Him ‘in spirit and in truth.’ This way, we can all see what we can learn from each other as we journey to the Kingdom.
God bless you!
Alexander Douglas