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Music Philosophy

Since music has definite physical, mental, and spiritual effects on the listener, we must regulate the types of music we use on the HARBOUR LIGHT. Sacred music which glorifies God and communicates God's Truth must be governed by the principles of God's Word.

• The Text must be in harmony with Scripture. (Eph. 5:6, Col. 3:16). The words must be rich in Biblical Truth: songs of praise, worship, repentance, and devotion. Bland generalizations and philosophical musings without reference to Biblical Truth or earthy, casual and shallow sentimental descriptions of divine Truth cannot please nor glorify God (Rom. 8:6-8). The text should clearly point to Scriptural Truth, not lead to error or confusion.
  
• The Music forces the message of the words into its own mold. The combination of good words (even words of Scripture) with music which distracts, distorts, cheapens, downgrades or nullifies those words produces confusion, of which Satan, not God, is the author (I Cor. 14:40). The music must support the text in every detail and add interest to the communication, while at the same time avoiding distraction and calling undue attention to itself, making it unfit to communicate Biblical Truth (Phil. 4:8). A well-written musical score demonstrates a Scriptural balance of spirit and understanding. (I Cor. 14:15b)
  
• The music must not be associated with the sounds of the world (Eph. 5:11, Rom. 12:2, Gal. 5:24) whose insistent rhythms evoke physical or sensual responses (I Cor. 9:27) in opposition to the command, Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world (I John 2:15-16). What we win them with is what we win them to.
  
• The basic parts of music are the melody, the harmony, and the rhythm. The melody, the most creative part of music, is that part which appeals to the spirit, and must be predominant. The harmony, the arrangement of chords which supports and amplifies the melody, is that part which appeals to the mind, and must be in subjection to the melody. Harmony joins the melody and the rhythm. The rhythm, or pulse, is that part which appeals to the body; while present, it must be completely under control.
  
• An imbalance in the basic parts of music produces adverse effects. Too much rise in the melody creates tension, frustration and craving, while too much fall in the melody produces depression and despair. Too much dissonance and disharmony produces confusion of mind and a rebellious spirit. Too much variation in the accent, including syncopation, causes distraction, while an emphasis on the off beat produces sensuality. "Scooping" pitches (sliding into the note, up or down) expresses the worldly philosophy that there are no absolute standards. The flesh, even in music, is to be mortified, not dedicated.
  
• Sacred music and the Christian life are not compatible with the world. We must maintain a strict, clear line between us and the world in order that we not spread false doctrine, and thus be guilty of preaching another gospel (Gal. 1:6-9). The more a person responds to the wrong kinds of music, the less that person will be able to respond to God. The more a person responds to the right kinds of music, the more that person will be able to respond to God. He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God; many (in the Southern Caribbean!) shall see it and fear, and shall trust in the Lord (Psa. 40:3).

The CCM (Contemporary Christian Music) movement is characterized by an ungodly and spiritually destructive mixture of the profane with that which is holy.  

• Fine secular music has a secondary place to sacred music on the HARBOUR LIGHT. Good secular music has beauty of design and coherence of form, and demonstrates a natural balance between the intellectual and the emotional elements of music, and a flawless relationship between tension and relaxation, contraction and release, dissonance and consonance, motion and repose. The development of the melody, volume changes, tempo changes, rhythmic changes, modulation or key changes, all characterize good secular music of all periods. Variety is the key.

These principles of good music are also utilized in sacred vocals and instrumentals to enhance, beautify, and intensify the communication of the spiritual message. While secular music is not a vehicle for conveying the Gospel, the listener's continued exposure to good secular music will enable him to gain a greater understanding and appreciation of finer music, both secular and sacred.