The Unexamined Life
“The unexamined life is not worth living”, said Socrates. Socrates was teaching the need to live a life where all things are parsed for their… Read More »The Unexamined Life
meaning
Ten Mangled Words: Conclusion
Words are not just names. If they were, we’d have no problem swapping out one label for another. No, words are things. Yes, they are… Read More »Ten Mangled Words: Conclusion
Using Song to Shape Hearts of Repentence
Up to this point in our study of Psalm 130, we have talked only about the poetic part of a song, but Psalm 130 wasn’t… Read More »Using Song to Shape Hearts of Repentence
Worship forms regulated by Scripture
This is the final post in a series I’ve been writing over the past couple months in order to more thoroughly develop an idea I… Read More »Worship forms regulated by Scripture
How Music Naturally Carries Meaning
It is important in any discussions about music to understand how music carries meaning naturally. I highly recommend Stephen Davies’ Musical Meaning and Expression, which clearly articulates… Read More »How Music Naturally Carries Meaning
Is music a neutral “thing”?
One argument I regularly hear in defense of the notion that music is neutral is that it is just a “thing,” and “things” are neutral.… Read More »Is music a neutral “thing”?
The Unproven Premise
I’ve heard the argument many times; it goes something like this: We shouldn’t divide over mere preferences; therefore, we shouldn’t divide over music. It’s admittedly… Read More »The Unproven Premise
On Texas heat and musical meaning
I grew up in Michigan. I now live in Texas. Texas is hot. Really hot. And it stays hot for a long, long time. However,… Read More »On Texas heat and musical meaning
Reading recommendations on musical meaning
I received some good feeback from my post last week briefly explaining musical meaning. Several were on Twitter: “@ScottAniol: Meaning in music is a tricky… Read More »Reading recommendations on musical meaning
Meaning in Music
Meaning in music is a tricky thing. Most people think it’s tricky because music is so abstract and lacks specificity such that describing its meaning… Read More »Meaning in Music
Harold Best vs. Ken Myers on Musical Meaning
This is an excellent illustration of where Evangelicalism is on issues related to music and worship. I’m thankful to 9Marks for doing this. It’s very… Read More »Harold Best vs. Ken Myers on Musical Meaning
Article 10: On Meaning
This is a series to further explain the articles of “A Conservative Christian Declaration.” . We affirm that expressions toward God, be they prayers, preached… Read More »Article 10: On Meaning
Is musical meaning subjective?
One of the most difficult matters when engaging in a philosophy of music is the terms we employ. For example, the following terms often lack… Read More »Is musical meaning subjective?
Discussion about Christian rap with Shai Linne: Musical Analysis
Shai Linne and I are having a conversation between Christian brothers about Christian rap. This post will not make sense unless you start at the beginning of this discussion and… Read More »Discussion about Christian rap with Shai Linne: Musical Analysis
More on Musical Meaning
Scott’s article on Monday seemed a good occasion to make (finally) a brief post that had occurred to me some time ago. Scott wrote the… Read More »More on Musical Meaning
How does music mean?
One of the most difficult matters to explain when dealing with issues of music in worship is how music communicates. I think most people intuitively… Read More »How does music mean?
What music does
In my last post, I had shared a brief argument that, at least for me, undergirds my conservatism in worship, without forsaking the principle of sola… Read More »What music does
Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne
Yes, I mean it. You need to read this book. Not only that, you need to read it in a particular way, which is, out… Read More »Winnie-the-Pooh by A. A. Milne
Form and Meaning
Christians’ affections are greatly shaped by the moral imagination. The moral imagination is largely shaped by the meaning of the various media it encounters. This… Read More »Form and Meaning
Encouraging Reflectiveness
Ours is not a particularly reflective age. When a pastor begins speaking of the meaning of the media, devices and technologies that surround us, he… Read More »Encouraging Reflectiveness