WHAT CAN FILL YOUR HEART, MIND, AND SOUL?

This is the story of two 9-year-old boys. They never met each other. In fact, they lived centuries apart. But they both had several things in common with the main thing in common was their love of music. They were both composers and performers. They both lost their parents when they were 9-years-old (one of them to death and the other to divorce) — they both retreated into their music, but they found something profoundly different in their retreats.

These things I remember,as I pour out my soul:
how I would go with the throng
and lead them in procession to the house of God
with glad shouts and songs of praise,
a multitude keeping festival.
Psalm 42:4

MUSIC AND THE SOUL

(Johann) Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) was a German composer. He is now widely regarded as the greatest composer of all time. In 1694, at the age of 9 his parents died within months of each other. Sebastian, being the youngest of eight children, went to live with his eldest brother, Christoph, who was the organist at St. Michael’s Lutheran Church in Ohrdruf (central Germany). His late father, Ambrosius, was the director of the town’s musicians who had taught Sebastian to play the violin and basic music theory. All of his siblings, cousins, and each of his uncles were professional musicians. During the time that he lived with his brother his grief was somewhat consoled by being surrounded by his extended family and their music. It was Christoph who taught him how to compose music and play the clavichord-organ. He also introduced Sebastian to the compositions of the great German composers. And all the while that Sebastian was learning his craft as a musician he was also studying theology, Greek and Latin, at his local Academy (‘Gymnasium’). This became the other consoling factor for the young Sebastian as his processed his grief for his late parents. His biblical view of the world helped him to find meaning in the midst of the pain he encountered at losing his parents at such a young age. He became acquainted with the God of the Bible who Himself entered into our world of pain and suffering and experienced it. In fact, Sebastian wrote two compositions about it (the St Matthew Passion and the Mass in B minor). 

The music of J.S. Bach pioneered a genre of music, known as Tonal music, that would last for the next four centuries. It was built around the concept of four progressive chords each comprised of four notes. Bach wrote much of his tonal music also as a four-part harmony. This gave his music an orderliness about it that has a certain mathematical beauty to it, and hasn’t gone unnoticed that it also reflects the God who has given the universe exquisite order. Music certainly engaged J.Sebastian Bach’s heart and mind and based on what he wrote and they way his amazing life panned out, it had also filled his soul.

¶ I will sing of steadfast love and justice;
to You, O LORD, I will make music.
Psalm 101:1

Kurt Cobain was a lead singer of the band Nirvana. Some of the music videos have had over a billion views. While the loss of his parents and his pursuit of music was common to him and J.S. Bach, their lives could not have been more different. After Cobain’s parents divorced, Kurt found temporary solace in music. But whereas Bach drew near to God after the loss of his parents, Cobain let his pain trick him into thinking there was no God and therefore that life was meaningless. Cobain’s music was atonal (the opposite of Bach’s tonal music, known as Grunge). His lyrics became increasingly dark and his soul became increasingly empty. Like Bach, Cobain also experienced physical pain and discomfort. But unlike Bach who experienced his discomfort in his 60s, Cobain’s stomach problems began in his 20s. Bach threw himself into his music to rework and even finish some of his compositions. Cobain increasingly despised music. Cobain’s final days saw his wife, Courtney Love, insisting that he check himself into a drug rehabilitation centre for his heroine addiction. What followed marked the final days of Cobain. He left a suicide note expressing his deep inner struggles and expressing his love for Courtney and their daughter, Frances. He was just 27 when he had bought a shot gun and turned it on himself.

Cobain lived his life without God. His music was grungy and disordered which was also how he saw life and the world he lived in. While he had millions of adoring fans, he ended up despising his life and saw life itself as pointless. In one sense it is easy to see why Cobain saw life as pointless because, if there is no God, as Cobain reasoned, then life can only be meaningless. His end was sad, unnecessary and tragic. One of the reasons that it was sad was not just the regrettable loss of a great musical talent, but also sad because Kurt did not have a follower of Christ in his inner circle of relationships who could have shared with him the gospel hope of knowing God in Christ.

And this is eternal life, that they know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
John 17:3

Cobain’s music of despair reflected the condition of his soul. Bach’s Overtures reflected his peace with God and his Biblical worldview that helped him to process the pain of his loss, and set his life priorities in order. Bach’s final days were sadly hastened by a quack eye-surgeon who allegedly offered to cure Bach’s blindness with his surgical skills. Bach died shortly after this surgery and due to it. He left behind a wealth of musical compositions (over 1100), a few musical instruments, his wife Magdalena, and ten children. 

Through the way where hope is guiding,
Hark, what peaceful music rings;
Where the flock, in Thee confiding,
Drink of joy from deathless springs.

Theirs is beauty’s fairest pleasure;
Theirs is wisdom’s holiest treasure.
Thou dost ever lead Thine own
In the love of joys unknown

“Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring” (Jesus bleibet meine Freude) J.S. Bach

 

WHY GOD HAS DESIGNED HUMANS TO ENGAGE THEIR HEARTS, MINDS, AND SOULS IN MUSIC

God has made humans to engage their hearts, minds, and souls with music. Bach discovered this; but, Cobain did not. It is why music has played a central role in Christianity — in its discipleship of believers, and in its facility to bring God’s people together in worship each Lord’s Day. Musical songs teach biblical truth and theologically educate believers about the God. Sacred music stirs and lifts the soul and not just for the fleeting moment, but in a way that actually nourishes the soul by filling it with a lingering sense of God’s presence. This is why bring, joyful, upbeat Christian worship songs are so important for the discipleship and sustenance of the believer. As a preacher I am deeply appreciative of the complementary role that our musical worship plays in promoting the truth of God’s Word, and I hope you are too. 

But now bring me a musician.” And when the musician played, the hand of the LORD came upon him.
Second Kings 3:15

Your pastor,

Andrew

Let me know what you think below in the comment section and feel free to share this someone who might benefit from this Pastor’s Desk.

THE GOSPEL OF YESTERDAY WE’VE NEARLY ALL FORGOTTEN

THE GOSPEL OF YESTERDAY WE’VE NEARLY ALL FORGOTTEN 

I really like a clever movie and Yesterday is a really clever movie! All too often movie trailers reveal the two best scenes of a movie. But Yesterday’s trailers only hinted at the movie’s premise without spoiling it – or giving the plot away. All we are told in the trailers is that the entire world – except for one struggling singer-musician – has absolutely no recollection of the Beatles! After being hit by a bus just as a freak solar flare caused the entire planet to lose electrical and battery power, Jack Malik (the struggling singer-musician) is then hospitalised. Upon being released, his friends present him with a new guitar to replace his bus-crushed one. They beg him to try it and play them a song. He performs Yesterday and moves his friends to admiring tears. They ask him when he wrote this song. He thinks they are pulling his leg – but they aren’t. When he gets home he is baffled by their response and Googles “the Beatles” only to discover that not even Google has heard of the Beatles!

Watch the trailer 

THE ENTIRE WORLD HAS FORGOTTEN

In the movie Yesterday, the entire world has had its collective memories erased – except for this struggling singer-musician, Jack Malik. Imagine that; the entire world has forgotten what no one ever dreamed would – or could – ever be forgotten! Impossible you say?

¶ “Take care lest you forget the LORD your God by not keeping His commandments and His rules and His statutes, which I command you today,
Deuteronomy 8:11

After I ministered at three services last Sunday in Ipswich, Kim, Ruby, and I were taken out for lunch by Pastor Carl and Jess and their family. My last session was “The Book of Revelation Explained In Thirty Minutes!” Like many pastors, Carl had heard many unsatisfactory interpretations of this wonderful book. What he had just heard, though, was, in his own estimation, theexplanation of what the Book of Revelation means. “Does anyone else teach this understanding of the Book of Revelation? Is this a new way to interpret it?” he asked. I began to point out that this view first appeared in the fourth century – largely because the Church was, instead, pre-occupied with getting some of the more foundational doctrines clarified in the first three centuries. It was taught up until the 18th century and was largely forgotten from early in the 19th century. I also pointed out that Dr. R.C. Sproul had taught it in his book, “The Last Days According To Jesus“, and others such as Prof. Paul Copan and Hank Hanegraaff (‘the Bible Answer Man’) also held to it. And this is when Kim chimed in that this view of the book of Revelation was like a ‘Yesterday’ moment, and that I was some kind of ‘Jack Malik’!

In the movie, Jack begins to gain international fame as a master song-writer and performer as he simply covers  the Beatles classics. He is continually amazed that no one remembers what they should never have forgotten. Kim might have been right, but not just about what I am trying to remind the Church of – but because I too am amazed that the Bible itself is largely becoming (or has already become) a forgotten book! 

Such are the paths of all who forget God;
the hope of the godless shall perish.
Job 8:13  

WE ARE CALLED TO REMEMBER

And He took bread, and when He had given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of Me.”
Luke 22:19

It would indeed be a travesty if the world forgot the music of the Beatles. But it would be a monumental and epic travesty if we let the world forget about the Word of God and thereby the God of the Word. I’m concerned that it seems too many ambassadors of Christ have forgotten that God is the Maker and rightful God of all people and that He expects all people to worship and obey Him (Acts 17:30). 

But My people have forgotten Me;
they make offerings to false gods;
they made them stumble in their ways,
in the ancient roads,
and to walk into side roads,
not the highway,
Jeremiah 18:15

So much of what God calls His people to do involves remembering (Mark 8:18; Luke 17:32; John 15:20).

¶ Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel,
Second Timothy 2:8

When God’s people forget God and His Word, nonsense is equated with an equal understanding of God and the unique authority of His Word! I guess this is why so many people who identify as Christians consider that the Qur’an is a holy book on par with the Bible, or that the god “Allah” is indeed the same God identified in the Christian Bible? (Dr. David Wood has some powerful things to say about this nonsense on his YouTube channel Acts 17 Apologetics.) One of my primary tasks and a pastor and preacher of God’s Word, is to help God’s people rememberwhat they should never forget. But our task is not just to remember, it’s also to remind.

WE ARE CALLED TO REMIND

But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God
Romans 15:15

The Bible is God’s Word to the world – not just believers! Someone has once said that the message of the Bible lives as a sleeping memory deep in the minds of every human being. Missionary, Don Richardson has written extensively about this. He gives numerous examples of missionaries reaching previously unreached people groups with the gospel only to find that they already have traces of the story and hope of God’s redemption of mankind embedded into their culture. Some of their stories which have been passed down from generation to generation reflected many of the Biblical accounts, and many of their practices and conventions bore an uncanny resemblance to the Bible’s story of redemption. When a person hears the gospel, which involves the story of redemption from Paradise Lost to Paradise Restored, they have those ‘sleeping memories’ awoken and we are reminding them of them of what they should never have forgotten. There is an urgent need for us to do this because our world has largely forgotten the gospel and its implications. The implications of the gospel include – 

• All people matter – from the womb to the tomb
• God has created mankind as biologically/psychologically/emotionally male or female
• This life has eternal consequences
• Religion cannot and does not bring our reconciliation to God
• All people, regardless of race, gender, preferences, or religious affiliation are equal before God – but not all ideas are equal
• Church is not just for the religiously minded – it’s God’s model of community and hope for a world blighted by despair, brokenness and loneliness

Don’t be afraid to remind your children of these truths. Don’t be afraid to remind your work colleagues of these truths. Don’t be afraid to remind your friends of these truths. Don’t be afraid to remember what you should never forget! 

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Hebrews 13:8

-Pastor Andrew

PRACTICING CHRISTIAN DARK ARTS

CHRISTIAN DARK ARTS

He made darkness His covering,
His canopy around Him,
thick clouds dark with water.
Psalm 18:11

There is something mysterious about the dark. It plays with our minds. It can shake our confidence. Some of you know I’ve had a rough few weeks. As I stated at last Sunday night’s leadership training, all of my trials have been what I referred to as “First World” problems. It started while in worship a few Sundays ago when someone accidentally threw my camera on the floor and smashed its professional (A.K.A. ‘expensive’) lens. I experienced a small anxiety attack but remembered how to practice Christian dark arts. A few days later, on a particularly freezing cold day, I was mid-sentence counselling a married couple in trouble when I noticed my recent eternity ring (A.K.A. ‘expensive’) was missing off of my pinky finger. In that moment of discovery I froze but then composed myself as I remembered how to practice Christian dark arts. Later that night when I returned to the church to look for it, I cracked a rib (A.K.A. ‘hurty’) while reaching into one of the large bins in a vain search for it. And to top it all off, I am now immobile with a spine and its complicit thoracolumbar facia (A.K.A. “ouchy”). Fortunately though, I am countering these assaults with Christian dark arts. 

¶ I love you, O LORD, my strength.
 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer,
my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge,
 my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
Psalm 18:1-2

THE ART OF WORSHIP

When I saw my beloved camera and its interchangeable lens hit the floor and fall apart, moments before Karen and I commenced our annual Q & A, I told myself, “The worship God in good times and hard times is not just a theory!” In that moment, I lifted my hands to focus on worshiping God and giving Him my attention. My worship in that moment was not dependent on who else was worshiping; how good the music was; who was worship leading; or whether I liked the song or not. 

Perhaps the most profound picture of the dark art of worship is seen in King David when his child to Bathsheba was very sickly. He pleaded to God in prayer and fasting with deeply emotive petitions to spare the life of the child. This went on for quite a while. Eventually, when the child died, palace servants came to his room and discussed among themselves how they could tell David – fearing that if he was this emotional while child at least lived, how distraught would he become if he knew that the child had died? Sensing that something was amiss, David called out to them asking whether the child had died. “Yes” came the reply. David then got up, washed his face, and went to the place of worship and there worshiped God. This is the dark art of worship when true worship of God is seen in those times when it is very dark for us. 

Then David arose from the earth and washed and anointed himself and changed his clothes. And he went into the house of the LORD and worshiped. He then went to his own house. And when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate.
Second Samuel 12:20

THE ART OF WORSHIPING IN THE DARK

David’s checkered career was punctuated by worship. Psalm 18 is a profound account of how David had learned to worship in dark times. In this Psalm he expresses how he trusted God in the midst of deeply dark times. It was often in these times, he tells us in this song, that he came to learn that God was powerful, good, and awesome. He worshiped God because he knew who God was, and, he came to know who God was because he worshiped him – especially in the dark. 

¶ For who is God, but the LORD?
And who is a rock, except our God?—
the God who equipped me with strength
and made my way blameless.
Psalm 18:31-32

If we are to become the church God has called us to be, we must each practice the art of worshiping when it seems dark. Rather than prioritising our hurt, painful memory, disappointment, or offence, above our commitment to worship God in God’s House, we must learn to come together to worship God in these dark times. As we do, we may learn more about the God we are worshiping – just as David did.

Pastor Andrew.