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GEMLOsm.gif (1973 bytes)  Article 1. 
Topic: Music Ministry.   
Title:    Setting Standards for Effective Music Ministry. INTRODUCTION 
Author: Grant Eaton. Date:
Original: July, 1997.  Last modified: 08 January, 2003

Setting Standards for Effective Music Ministry

by Grant Eaton

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Introduction

Why do we need to Set Standards?


Prov 29:18

Where there is no revelation, the people cast off restraint; but blessed is he who keeps the law.

Exo 32:25
Moses saw that the people were running wild and that Aaron had let them get out of control and so become a laughingstock to their enemies.

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People want leadership, and in the absence of leadership, they will listen to anyone who steps up to the microphone.

Michael J Fox as Lewis in The American President.

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Jer 23:16

This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Do not listen to what the prophets are prophesying to you; they fill you with false hopes. They speak visions from their own minds, not from the mouth of the LORD.

(Rom 12:2-3 NIV) Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will. {3} For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

Psa 19:14 (NIV)

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.

Dan 3:7 (NIV)

Therefore, as soon as they heard the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp and all kinds of music, all the peoples, nations and men of every language fell down and worshiped the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar had set up.

 

 

 

 
  1. WITHOUT A VISION, THE PEOPLE PERISH: (Prov.29:18)
bulletWhere there is no vision - no Standard - people throw off restraint
bulletThe same Hebrew word is used to describe the behaviour of the Israelites at the golden calf episode.
bulletWithout a standard, they looked around for an outlet for their creativity and latent need for self expression.
bulletThey saw others apparently enjoying themselves, and followed suit.
bulletThey were then seen ‘running wild’ and ‘out of control’
bulletAnd they became a laughingstock.
  1. We tend to follow the crowd

Without appropriate, measurable, and attainable standards, we are in danger of following unrestrained, any trend or fad that comes along.

  1. Man-made visions, philosophies are empty

Will the world be able to see anything distinctive about us and our music?

Or will we become a laughingstock?

Will God be glorified by the expressions of our hearts, our lives, our lips, and our instruments?

  1. We need Models to follow

Which Models are we following? Like it or not, TV and all mass media, project clear images which are becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. Christians are not immune from believing lies. "If you're above a size six, you're too fat! If you're over 30, you're too old! If you're not beautiful, you're not valuable!" If a woman hears such lies often enough, she may begin to believe them, and allow her self esteem to plummet. It must concern us when we hear the way we talk about ourselves. Clearly even Christians are listening to wrong voices.

The fact of the matter is that, in both very subtle and quite obvious ways, we can be influenced by the images of success and worth portrayed by the media.  Our values, standards and the way we think and communicate, can gradually and perhaps radically change. Why is it that lovely young girls starve themselves because they think they're fat? And why do we tells 'white lies' about our age, height, weight, work status etc? Why is our self-esteem so often gauged by comparisons with media role models. It is because we listen to the wrong voices, and set our standards by the wrong criteria.

We need appropriate models to follow. Church Leaders need to model the Vision to our young people who have easy access to "all kinds of music" and the accompanying pressures of a Godless society.

Moral decay is clearly evident in much of the music that the world promotes. We live in an age which could be justifiably labelled, the age of   "casting off restraint". Where is our Vision?

The otherwise wholesome activity of music making, is so easily tainted by self, pride, lust, and idolatry.

  1. WITHOUT A VISION, the IMPORTANT can be neglected for the URGENT

We need a standard, so that we can focus on the essential and important things and not just react to the urgent.

Without a standard, just finding something to sing in church on Sunday becomes the objective, rather than a planned pursuit of the desired standard.

 
"Whoever’s rules are ruling your life, is functioning as god to you." (Dr.Sandra Wilson) Whose Rules, Rule?

Whose rules rule our music ministry?
Do we take the Entertainment industry as our standard?
Do the cultural norms of previous generations rule the day?
To investigate the Standards that people pursue, go to Setting Standards for Effective Music Ministry, Part
1. Seeking a Standard.
   

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