I just finished reading Ed Christian's new book, "Joyful Noise". It is a refreshingly balanced book on worship and music. His calmly rational approach and insightful common sense is a breath of fresh air on topics which have tended to incite more inflamatory reactionary heat than light. This is recommended reading for anyone who genuinely desires revitalized worship.

Tom

If Christian's book is anything like the article he wrote in the Journal of the Adventist Theological Society, it is far from being balanced and is anathema! In the article Ed's left leanings were easily discerned by those who took their valuable time to read the article and some of whom expressed to the ATS their disappointment with the article. ATS appears to be more and more leaving the ideals of the original founders.

Didn't a similar article appear in the Review? About that I'm not certain.

I don't think any of us should critique a book that we have not yet read.

If, however, you have read it, then critique away.

Good thought. Otherwise it is often just gossip.

Thank you Daryl! But recognize that for some this may be an entirely new concept.

Joyful Noise doesn't promote any particular worship style and the principles Christian gives can serve to help revitalize worship whether traditional or contemporary. Actual Christian does express his prefered music for worship (his "bias" if one wants to look at it that way.) He repeatedly states his own personal preference for hymns for worship.

Tom

Daryl, you may have missed on little word, "If", with which I prefaced my statement. I did not critique the book. However, if the letter and spirit of the book equates to that of an article in JATS, which I understand drew criticism, then it may well be of no redeeming value.

I have no reason to believe that he has changed his view as he defended his position in previous e-mail. In fact, he insisted that certain types of "rock" with Christian lyrics would be acceptable.

Pete,

Maybe Tom Wetmore can give us some light relating to your word if in relation to his article in the Journal of the Adventist Theological Society.

Daryl-
With all due respect to you as the forum owner, I must say that unless and until Christian recants with respect to the two articles on music in the Spring 2002 issue of JATS it is difficult to see how his current book can be recommended. I believe that principle has preeminence over preference in the matter of music.

In his one article titled The Christian and Rock music Ed assails Bacchicchi's book on the same subject alleging Bacchi doesn't know enough about music to be writing the book. I might be able to accept that, and also apply the same reasoning to Christian's excursion into this field, but he puts down one or more of those musicologists who have written a number of convincing chapters in Bacchi's book.

Finally, for anyone who access to it I would recommend reading the interview in Shabbat Shalom with Dr. Herbert Blomstedt in the Autumn 2002 issue. One interesting quote rom an observation by Dr. Blomstedt: "The ethical question comes only at a higher stage, when man matures a little bit more. At that level human beings ask themselves:
“Is everything that tastes good really good ? Does it have a good purpose? Is it good for you, also in the longer perspective? Does it help you to be good to others?” That’s the ethical question. Finally comes the highest question: If you think it is good for you and for other human beings, what does God think Who knows better? Very few people ask themselves this kind of question. It is sad to say that most people today remain on the aesthetical level, also in regard to music. What sounds good and pleases the ear is considered to be good. The motto is “If I like it, it’s good.” But people should ask the other question: “What is really good for you? What helps you to develop your personality, to develop the best in you?” It is our duty to develop the musical talents given to us, and as I said before, everybody has talents. Finally, most people don’t ask the ultimate question at all, not even religious people: “What does God think?” Only a very few people come to that stage where they struggle with God to come to a sort of clear view of what God wants just from you."

Trying to escape the implications of ones biased and negative comments by prefacing it with the word "if" is a cop-out and disingenious, to say the least. It would be quite like me saying "If the comments of ______ were not from such an asinine arrogantly narrow-minded and biased perspective I am sure he would gladly go out and purchase the book and read it before commenting on it." Well, you see I used the word "if" so I really must not have meant what I said if the shoe does not fit. It is also just an extreme hypothetical example to illustrate a point and is not meant to be directed toward anyone in particular and should not be understood to be a direct personal attack on a real person.

Tom