Second Argument

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Apr 3, 2024

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1 Kenders Jonathan Kenders Mrs. Gilbert Senior Bible 10 January 2024 Worship Through the Art of Music The Prevalence of Worship Music across the world and religious spectrum A universal way to prove the wonder and superiority of music in the Christian faith as a method of worship is to open it up to the entire world of religions. Without having knowledge of the world, it is impossible to make an educated conclusion. This can be seen in our world today with extreme divisions between races, genders, nationalities, religions, and identities. Paul warns against dissenters in Romans 16:17, saying, “I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught.” He continues telling the church to avoid those who cause divisions, but what if the church is causing divisions? Taking Romans 16:17 as counsel, it could be seen only as vigilant to bolster the claim that worship through music is the most heartfelt and honorable way to praise God by investigating how other non-Christian religious persons, approximately 53% of the population (Pew Research Center), treat music in worship. Analyzing the identities forged for religion through music as well as the roots of popular music today, the claim that music is the most heartfelt and honorable way to praise God. Worship music is the root of much of the secular music in the world today. Author Charlie Kerlinger in his piece “The Relationship Between Popular Music and Religion” compares mainstream music with religious pieces. He states that much of the music that formed the American identity was inspired by religious music (Kerlinger). He acknowledges artists like

2 Kenders N.W.A. (Niggaz With an Attitude), and how difficult it is to credit religious music with its origin, but Kerlinger explains how. “Rap music, in essence, is a collection of rhymes and improvised narration of the artist’s thoughts… a similar method to what the church uses in the music they use to compliment what they preach” (Kerlinger). Hip hop is deeply influenced by old spirituals, hymns and praises, and is not the only genre. Today, we see what Kerlinger calls a “culture merger”, or the way two or more cultures combine elements of each to make something new (Kerlinger). Sacred music, as it’s called, is being created today, allowing artists to have an outlet for the spiritual and giving them a connection to an identity. On page 13, he states that many people in this world, especially in western society tend to attach their identity to an artist or influencer. However, Christians should attach their identity to the attributes of Christ (Kerlinger). Rather than identifying in the realm of rock music, hip hop, or the subgenre of punk that panders to “Goth culture”, Christ followers should use music as a way to praise and place their identity in the Lord. What does it mean to have an identity? According to psychologytoday.com, identity is what it means to be someone. Identity relates core values to the decisions to make (Heshmat). Identity answers the questions Who am I? What do I represent? What do I value? In no greater place is identity of worship in diverse religions found than in the music. Religions from all over the world have decided the values they represent in praise through instrumentation. For example, the Azerbaijan region, worshippers of Allah, made their unique impact on music with the creation or augmentation of instruments fitting to them. In the “Asia Society” article entitled “Alim and Fargana Qasimov: Spiritual Music from the World of Islam”, instruments used by the Azerbaijani musician Alim are described in a section titled “About the instruments”.

3 Kenders Here can be seen a few instruments like the Balaban, an oboe-like instrument made of apricot wood and played with a double reed that makes a “soft, breathy, and often mournful sound” (Merguerian). Among the Balaban is the Daf, a frame drum decorated with metal rings, the Kamancha, a spherical spike fiddle with a resonating chamber made of catfish skin, and a Tar, a plucked lute. Each of these instruments are used in worship and festivities, not the same as Christians, but in their own way. Easy to see with these instruments as well is a standard instrument used all over the world. The Daf is practically a Djembe, the Balaban is a slightly higher tuned clarinet, and the Kamancha is just like any other bowed instrument like a violin (Merguerian). So why are they special? Why does this prove the claim that music is the most heartfelt and human way to worship? It is because although religions have such different practices, followings, and divisions, music being a tool for praise is one constant seen everywhere. Followers of the religions of the world creating unique versions of musical instruments just cements the idea that they, Christians included, utilize music as the most meaningful tool for worship. God enjoys hearing music because he created music. He gave man the ability to create and explore and music is one of the most complex ways to create. God made music and it was good. James 1:17 states that “Every good and perfect gift is from above coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” God, the creator of all things good, spread the art of music across the earth, and allowed humans to make beautiful sounds to praise the holy name of the careful and complex creator of the universe.

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4 Kenders Works Cited Heshmat, Shahram. “Basics of Identity.” Psychology Today , Sussex Publishers, 8 Dec. 2014, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/science-choice/201412/basics-identity. Kerlinger, Charlie. “The Relationship between Popular Music and Religion.” Ben Vaughn , 14 Oct. 2022, www.benvaughn.com/the-relationship-between-popular-music-and-religion/. Merguerian, Elaine. “Alim and Fargana Qasimov: Spiritual Music from the World of Islam.” Asia Society , 2010, asiasociety.org/media/press-releases/alim-and-fargana-qasimov- spiritual-music-world-islam.

Second Argument

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