One of the natural outpourings...
Illustration
One of the natural outpourings of human joy and hope is that of music. The Israelites sang a song of deliverance to the God who had saved them. Like King David they turned to music as the ultimate response to God's saving presence.
The role of music in the lives of Christians marks the difference between a faith unexpressed and a faith witnessed to. During times of oppression and war, governments have banned the music of faith. Certain melodies have become known as songs of resistance and struggle. Some Americans taken hostage in Iran for more than a year filled the lonely hours by recalling the hymns they had learned as children.
Luther commented several times on music in relationship to faith.
"What is law doesn't make progress, but what is gospel does. God has preached the gospel through music, too, as may be seen in Josquin, all of whose compositions flow freely, gently and cheerfully."
(Martin Luther, Luther's Works: Table Talk, Volume 54, Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1967, p. 130.)
- Hedahl
The role of music in the lives of Christians marks the difference between a faith unexpressed and a faith witnessed to. During times of oppression and war, governments have banned the music of faith. Certain melodies have become known as songs of resistance and struggle. Some Americans taken hostage in Iran for more than a year filled the lonely hours by recalling the hymns they had learned as children.
Luther commented several times on music in relationship to faith.
"What is law doesn't make progress, but what is gospel does. God has preached the gospel through music, too, as may be seen in Josquin, all of whose compositions flow freely, gently and cheerfully."
(Martin Luther, Luther's Works: Table Talk, Volume 54, Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1967, p. 130.)
- Hedahl
