The Double-Edge of Beautiful Music
The created world is to be prized for its usefulness, loved for its beauty and esteemed as the gift of God to His children. Love… Read More »The Double-Edge of Beautiful Music
David de Bruyn
David de Bruyn pastors New Covenant Baptist Church in Johannesburg, South Africa. He is a graduate of Central Baptist Theological Seminary in Minnesota and the University of South Africa (D.Th.). Since 1999, he has presented a weekly radio program that is heard throughout much of central South Africa. He also blogs at Churches Without Chests.
Bordering on Sacrilege
Over the last few years the world has gone on to woo the Church (about like water woos a duck!) and has won her heart… Read More »Bordering on Sacrilege
Noisy and Uncouth
Religious music has long ago fallen victim to this weak and twisted philosophy of godliness. Good hymnody has been betrayed and subverted by noisy, uncouth… Read More »Noisy and Uncouth
Music’s Power
MUSIC. There is about music a subtle charm that no normal person can resist. It works to condition the mind and prepare it for the… Read More »Music’s Power
Why Listen to Tozer?
A.W. Tozer is found in places where he probably wouldn’t have been invited to preach. His books will be found on the shelves of the… Read More »Why Listen to Tozer?
Does Christ Redeem Cultural Expressions?
We have studied some statements by Shai Linne and boiled them down to four propositions. 1) Rap is a medium. 2) Media are morally neutral… Read More »Does Christ Redeem Cultural Expressions?
Are Media ‘By Definition’ Morally Neutral?
In Shai Linne’s statements, we identified four propositions: 1) Rap is a medium. 2) Media are morally neutral until informed by content. 3) Christ’s act… Read More »Are Media ‘By Definition’ Morally Neutral?
Is Rap Really a Canvas?
The following abridged discussion took place here. Credo Mag: In the past you have been criticized for redeeming such a “depraved genre” as hip-hop. What… Read More »Is Rap Really a Canvas?
Hold the Superlatives, Please
Don’t use adjectives which merely tell us how you want us to feel about the thing you are describing. I mean, instead of telling us… Read More »Hold the Superlatives, Please
Lord Smiley-Face
Once there was a man who lived as a worshipper of Lord Smiley-Face. He grew up singing the smiley songs to Lord Smiley-Face, and faithfully… Read More »Lord Smiley-Face
The Difference Between Birds and Bruised Offerings
Leviticus 14:21-22 But if he is poor and cannot afford it, then he shall take one male lamb as a trespass offering to be waved, to make… Read More »The Difference Between Birds and Bruised Offerings
The Technology of Thought
To understand reality, a child must think. Thinking that brings understanding is not the thinking that a cow does when it notices a car passing… Read More »The Technology of Thought
Good Friday
The Passion Since blood is fittest, Lord, to write Thy sorrows in, and bloody fight; My heart hath store; write there, where in One box… Read More »Good Friday
Thanks, But I’ll Keep My Printed Hymnal
Visitors that attend my church are often introduced to the seemingly obscure practice of fumbling for a hymnal, finding a page, and according to some,… Read More »Thanks, But I’ll Keep My Printed Hymnal
Sincerity or Profanity – 2
This time, in the words of Richard Weaver: “He is therefore trained to see things under the aspect of eternity, because form is the enduring… Read More »Sincerity or Profanity – 2
Sincerity or Profanity?
“Being real” is all the rage in Christianity now, and some folks are sure that no one had thought of it before they did. As… Read More »Sincerity or Profanity?
Worship: Effective or Affective
In a striking work published a century ago the Italian philosopher Benedetto Croce pointed to a radical distinction, as he saw it, between art properly… Read More »Worship: Effective or Affective
Christmas Thought from Tozer
“Everywhere, everywhere, Christmas tonight!”—Phillips Brooks. That there were in the world multiplied millions who had never heard of Christmas did not matter to our poet… Read More »Christmas Thought from Tozer
Lesser-Known Incarnation Hymnody – 2
Paul Gerhardt (1606-1676) is regarded by some as Germany’s greatest hymn writer. His near-absence from many modern hymnals surely stands as testimony to our chronological… Read More »Lesser-Known Incarnation Hymnody – 2
Lesser-Known Incarnation Hymnody
Some of us deeply appreciate A.W. Tozer’s writings on, well, just about anything. Tozer also wrote some poetry, which while not masterful, is a good… Read More »Lesser-Known Incarnation Hymnody