End of the Sabbatical (?)

After several months of silence yours truly is back on The Concerned Church Musician web log.

To my readers, thank you for your patience as I have been ever so busy with work. In this modern American life I have had to work very hard to make up for lost time and try to pay off some bills. I still have a long ways to go and am hoping for a better paying job.

In the meantime, at this wonderful time of year, I am grateful for the traditional Christmas carols which ground me, comfort me, and inspire me. There is simply no match for their sincerity and eloquence. I think of carols such as "Angels We Have Heard on High," "O Come, All Ye Faithful," and "Once in Royal David's City."

In an article on contemporary worship in the latest magazine from the Fellowship of United Methodists (in Music and Worship Arts), the author extolled the virtues of using traditional carols at this time of year. Such advice did not completely surprise me, as what other kind of music would one use at this time of year?

As we reach out without dumbing down, as Marva Dawn advocates, let us remember the example of the great and timeless poetry of the Christmas carol, that wonderful category of Christian song.

The "Christian" End-Timers

There is afoot in the land a dangerous movement based on shoddy, selective and erroneous theology called End-Time Christianity. A number of years ago living in a small city in Florida, I became acquainted with the End-Timers, a sect which had recently taken up residence there. This group, whose members seemed ordinary in one sense, began to slowly permeate the community.

The End Time philosophy, which is said to be based on the book of Revelation, claims we are living in the last days before the re-appearance of Christ. Never mind that Jesus Christ himself said Of that day and hour no one knows. This theory states that the establishment of the nation of Israel was a sign that the apocalyptic age was at hand. Before the appearance of Christ, say these End-Timers, there will be a period of tribulation. Those who have been faithful to Jesus will be taken up directly into heaven in what is known as "the rapture." As a student of the Bible and a former seminary student, I can assure the reader this is all bunk. Yet it seems to meet the need of numbers of uncertain people. Considerations of time prevent me from writing more about this movement here. That is why I have included the link to an important article on the subject below.

No one should minimize or attempt to simply laugh off this End-Time doctrine, no matter how kooky it seems. As the article shows, this pseudo-Christian philosophy has numerous adherents in our society and, now in the federal government, including -- reportedly -- George W. Bush. The value of the article mentioned here, written by J.P. Briggs II, Ph.D., and Thomas D. Williams, is in analyzing the coded language being used by Bush and others in government. To some reading this, what I have just written may sound nutty. I believe, however, that as you read this well-thought-out piece, you will find the theory offered by the authors to be quite plausible. As a person with a music degree from a seminary, and as a student of Christian history and theology I know the End-Time Prophecy is heresy. The sad thing is how powerful it has become in American society reaching even into the White House and many agencies and Congressional offices of the Federal Government. Is it not past time to take notice?

http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/062907J.shtml

Events Moving Rapidly

National events have been moving rapidly of late and I have been spending my blogging time with my political blog.


As usual, the churches are well behind the curve. I do plan to return to this blog with genuine up-dated material soon. Please check back.

An American Fascist Youth Movement

I have begun a fairly serious research into the subject of fascism. I am currently reading two books from my public library and have already completed one. I have one more to go. The study is proving to be quite fascinating. It is also, I believe, an important one for these times. Although the far right has suffered some electoral defeats recently, there are movements in operation which are quite frightening and must be watched.



One such movement I have only just become aware of is called BattleCry. This group uses spectacle, including music. You can read about this youth movement at the URL below. The article begins this way: If you’ve been waiting to get alarmed until the Christian fascist movement started filling stadiums with young people and hyping them up to do battle in “God’s army,” wait no longer. In reading about these events and the heavily militaristic content of the songs performed, everyone of sane mind should be alarmed. And the various attorneys general of these states should, likewise, be watchful.



http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/20060511_battle_cry_theocracy/

The Rolling Days of Spring

The days of early spring have rolled into the days of late spring as warm weather brings the promise of up-lifted spirits, charming out-door events, and vacations.

As these days have gone by, my spirits, too have lifted. The gloom of winter has not completely been dispelled. But the warmer weather has brought new opportunities and new work which have rather stunted my ability to post to this web log.

However, I have been in thought and conversations about the issues pertinent here. Soon, I will have more to say about the subject.

For the time being I continue my career as a guest teacher and church musician. The challenges and triumphs of those two jobs keep my mind occupied. What I experience in these related careers may well be the subject of a future post.

So, for the time being, I ask for your patience as this web log develops. In the meantime, be well, dear reader.

Renewing the Spirit

This morning it was my privilege to attend services at a local congregation of the Romanian Orthodox Church. (I am an inquirer of Christian Orthodoxy.) For someone coming from a Protestant background such a service still seems strange and novel, though less so than four years ago when I began this journey investigating the historic faith called the Orthodox Church.

It is hard to convey in words the effect and the beauty of the services. Today's service was conducted on what is known as Renewal Tuesday, the Tuesday following Easter. So the service was based on Easter texts and chants. It began with what is called Orthros, which is a sung service based on ancient texts. It was followed by Divine Liturgy which is the Orthodox term for what is otherwise known as Holy Communion or the Eucharist.

The music -- for those who may know something about music -- was mostly in the minor mode with a transition to major mode in the Divine Liturgy. The paradox of Orthodox worship is the joy which can pervade a service in the midst of such solemnity. Although serious in nature, I never find the services to be morose. And -- quaint as it may seem -- I do feel at least a touch of the Divine, and usually more than a touch. There is also a sense of love and gratitude which pervades, brought forth not only by the words, but by the spirit of the presentation and by some unspoken force which, to me, is God.

In coming days I hope to say more about Orthodoxy and my investigation of it. (I remain unconfirmed.) For now, I thought you, dear reader, might be interested to know of my religious inquiry.

Theologians Under Hitler

I am glad to present here a post from last July which I placed on another web log. The post was the first in a series dealing with the book written by Robert P. Ericksen which tells the story of three prominent theologians in Nazi Germany and how they essentially accomodated and abetted the fascist state.

The book is an excellent one, and only slightly professorial at times. The information is vitally important for anyone who wants to understand the church of America during the last few years. Sadly, there have been those in the U.S. church who have looked the other way and couched their language in the face of illegal foreign adventures, torture, and an assault on civil rights.

Here then is the post of July 31, 2006, in its entirety.

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Theologians Under Hitler -- the Book

Our wonderful local library system, which ordered "Theologians Under Hitler" at my request, recently notified me that the book had come in. Late last week I retrieved the book from the hold shelf and have begun reading what is sure to be a fascinating history. Although the book is over twenty years old, I had never heard of it until the DVD with the same title was recently released.Over the coming days and weeks, I plan to present here some of the information in this book. For now, I will relate part of a blurb on the back cover of this paperback edition. James Richmond of Times Higher Educational Supplement writes: "He [Robert P. Ericksen, author of Theologians Under Hitler] also poses the following questions: Could the same sort of thing happen again? If so, in what kind of political, economic and international circumstances? And would we avoid being the Kittle ["Kittel"], Althaus or Kirsch of our time? Ericksen soberly asks us to ponder these questions well before answering." (Kittel, Althaus and Hirsch [not "Kirsch"] are the three theologians dealt with in this book.) If ever there was a time to ask these questions it is now. Would the circumstances of an attack on our country help to provide an environment for authoritarianism? And has this not already happened to a significant extent? Would economic malaise create an environment where a strongman could emerge, offering a steel will, if not actual solutions? And would such an environment be profound enough that otherwise learned, intelligent people would either offer their enthusiastic support, or look the other way? There is much more to be said, but if you will excuse me, I'd like to get in some reading of Theologians Under Hitler before bed. I can hardly wait.

Recommended DVD Recording

I have recently watched Part 1 of a most famous oratorio by a most famous and auspicious composer, conducted by a famous conductor. The recording so far is marvelous, the music superlative, and the performance splendid. What is the work and who are the artists, you ask? The work in question is Messiah by Georg Frideric Handel, and the conductor is Stephen Cleobury leading the choir of King's College at the historic Pieterskerk in Leiden, Holland.

There is so much to like about this recording. After I have watched the entire work I will have more to say. For now, be assured that the setting is stunning, and the performance beautiful. I highly commend it to you.

Evangelicals Do the Right Thing

At the link below you will find an article which describes a new document adopted by the National Association of Evangelicals. The document expresses opposition to the Bush administration policy on torture and is based on the work of numerous evangelical scholars.

This document is further proof that the evangelical movement is no longer walking in lockstep with the current occupant of the White House. Although the effect on musicians may not be immediately apparent, it is clear that any stepping away from hard-right policies represents an opening for persons interested in the development of Christian souls through the arts. To explain this would take more time than I now have. However, over the course of the coming weeks I hope to give evidence for this assertion. At the same time, I believe events will demonstrate how the loosening of the grip of this administration and its previous backers upon the American psyche will indeed encourage a certain new creative energy, an energy which will prove fruitful for the American and world church.


http://www.truthout.org/docs_2006/031507G.shtml

The Current Need

The emergent need of the present moment is for those in the church to take a stand. This includes very much church musicians. My research indicates there has been a planned effort to undermine the American democratic and republican government. (The un-capitalized words are intentional here.) Not completely unlike the early days of the Hitler regime in the 1930s, these days demand each person to take a stand. Will we in the church acquiesce in the attack upon fundamental American institutions or will we take a stand? Will we self-censor while music and theology are "dumbed down" or will we stand up in opposition? As the days go by, I plan to give evidence for the assertion that the American executive is essentially fascist in nature. To many, this will not be news at all. To others it will be surprising. To a few it will cause enragement. In any event, this web log will seek to be scholarly, but not pedantic, sober but not passionless, useful but not merely utilitarian.

Thus, onward toward enlightenment and hope.