A Bad Diet

A few days ago, a Christian organization (that shall remain unnamed) proposed something called a “thirty-day worship diet.” People who took the challenge were to listen to only “worship music” for thirty days and “see how God speaks to you.” I have serious objections to both this idea and its implications.

First is the idea that God speaks through worship music (which I will broadly define as music based in contemporary popular styles with explicitly Christian lyrics) more directly and profoundly than through other genres. Such a claim, to be blunt, is theologically unfounded.

There are two types of revelation, general and special. General revelation is what David refers to in Psalm 19: “The heavens declare the glory of God,” and what Paul refers to in Romans 1: “For [God’s] invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made.” General revelation is, in short, the evidence of God’s presence and God’s work in the natural world. The list of what encompasses general revelation is virtually endless. Not so with special revelation. Special revelation refers to (and only to) the logos – the Word of God, Jesus Christ. No human-crafted art, even if it employs the mechanism of human language to explicitly refer to Christ, can speak to the human heart like Christ Himself can and does in His Word.

Thus, it is theologically inaccurate – biblically mistaken, in fact – to elevate worship music to the level of special revelation. It is a mistake to elevate any form of music to the level of special revelation, from Wesley’s hymns to Handel’s choruses to David Crowder’s praise tunes, no matter how much in alludes to or even quotes the Bible. Only the Scriptures themselves carry the power of special revelation – any music the text may be set to adds nothing of spiritual consequence, biblically speaking.

I do not mean, of course, that music has no value (having just spent four years in a Conservatory, I feel very qualified to assert that music does indeed have value) to the church. For the beginnings of a discussion on the value of music in the church, I recommend Harold Best’s Unceasing Worship, Phil Ryken’s Art for God’s Sake, and Steve Turner’s Imagine. It is not sacramental, however, or inspired, as the Scriptures are.

My second concern is that the challenge to listen only to worship music for thirty days, while it may seem like spiritual advice, is unfounded in Scripture. There are such Scriptural commands like Paul’s admonition in Philippians 4: “whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” But this organization provided no support for their implied claim that other forms of music are untrue, dishonorable, and so forth. I, of course, do not believe such support exists because the claim is false. After all, it is not what goes into someone that makes him or her unclean, but what comes out (Matthew 15). It is how we react to our surroundings that determines whether they are honorable, commendable, and the rest.

Our entertainment choices, in my opinion, should be based primarily on whether or not they honor God by what they put into our minds. Put a different way, one should ask whether the entertainment draws one toward or away from Christ. A second criterion should be artistic and intellectual merit. I can think of many praise and worship songs that so honor God and are of immense artistic and intellectual merit, and I can also think of some works in this genre that do not meet those standards. Concerning other genres of music and types of entertainment, I can think of many works that draw one toward Christ and have artistic and intellectual value, and many that do not. (See my profile for some of my entertainment choices.)

I have written before about my belief that God values leisure, and by extension the use of entertainment. But as in all things, the process of discipleship involves careful consideration of our interaction with the world, and this includes our entertainment choices.

This is Rubio, over and out.

In Memoriam

I am posting this video in memory and appreciation of the men and women of the United States Armed Forces, past and present, alive and fallen, particularly my grandfather, Martin Joseph Rupe, Radio Man Third Class, United States Navy.

Also, here are some brief thoughts on Memorial Day from the Heritage Foundation.

This is Rubio, over and out.

Summer Reading 2011

Ah, summer. Leisure time not seen since Christmas, and generally in larger quantities than at year’s end. As always, I like to spend some of my summer leisure time reading. Since I have already made my way through three books, I thought I would share some highlights.

Oscar Wilde: The Importance of Being Earnest (1895)

I saw this play performed by Wheaton College Jukebox Theater, a student-run production company, two years ago, and enjoyed it immensely. I had mostly forgotten about it until I got home from college a few weeks ago. I went to the local library to (I shamefully admit) find a movie, and Earnest was on one of the displays of recommended fiction. Along with a movie, I checked out this play and finished it in two sittings, and now consider the time well spent.

Earnest is the lighthearted tale of two men each trying to impress a different woman, each by pretending to be someone named Ernest. The result is an amusing series of exchanges as the principles, in varying combinations, try to sort out who is who.

Being set in England, it brought me back at points to my trip to the United Kingdom last summer. I recognized some of the place names, as I had when I read Oliver Twist last summer after the trip. And who does not enjoy reading the unique British style of dialogue, with unexpected phrases, witticisms, and terms (even more prevalent because it is a play, a dialogue-based genre)? While I am far removed from the Victorian society of the play’s setting, I enjoyed the plot nonetheless, even though it was a little silly. Following from there, I thought the subtitle, “A Trivial Comedy for Serious People,” quite accurate.

Susannah Gardner and Shane Birley: Blogging for Dummies (2010)

Have you by chance noticed any changes to my blog? I have not made any extreme changes, but I have added or reorganized a few things after skimming this book. It gets into a lot of options that are above and beyond what a casual blogger like myself needs, but it was an interesting read (I would recommend a quick browse for my blogger friends) and, as I said, has led to a few changes on The Rubio Room.

Harold Best: Unceasing Worship (2003)

Harold Best is a former dean of the Conservatory of Music at Wheaton College. He actually spoke in chapel this semester, and he titled his message “Unceasing Worship.” I read some excerpts from this book as part of my senior capstone last fall, and after both those readings and the later chapel message, I put this book on my summer reading list. It is a unique juxtaposition between academic and devotional writing, making it both thorough (indeed, there were times I found myself wishing Best would get to the point already) and relevant.

The book is in two parts. Part One tackles the issue of defining worship. Best begins with the observation that humans are “continuously outpouring” themselves toward something – be it Jesus Christ or some counterfeit god. God, Best notes, is also continuously outpouring, and because humans are the Imago dei, we do likewise. Lordship, according to Best, is the infinite manifestation of continuous outpouring, while worship is the finite manifestation. To me, at least, it was a completely new way of thinking about the concept. Best also looks at the connections between worship and witness, prayer, and preaching.

Part Two is a multi-faceted discussion of the role of the arts in relation to worship, as defined in Part One. Best addresses such issues as the nature of art, including its limitations, its role in corporate worship and in the world at large, and the related topics of idolatry, culture and cultural value, and quality and excellence. On each issue, Best provides a new and well thought out perspective – each discussion definitely merits a reread.

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And there you have a snapshot of what I have been reading in the first two weeks of my summer. I plan to read quite a bit more, of course, and intend to post about my reading again.

What is on your reading list these days? Please share any recommendations.

This is Rubio, over and out.

End Credits

Tomorrow afternoon I will walk across the stage in Edman Memorial Chapel, shake Dr. Ryken’s hand, and have ceremonially graduated from Wheaton College. This occasion is, by all accounts, a milestone. I am extraordinarily grateful to have attended this school. As I wrote in a previous post, I grew a lot here.

At the moment, I want to recognize some people who have been instrumental in my time at Wheaton. These men and women have counseled me, encouraged me, challenged me, given me what I needed to flourish, and pointed me toward Christ in their own unique ways.

The Conservatory faculty, particularly, Kathy Kastner, Tony Payne, Dan Sommerville, Jerry Sundberg, Michel Wilder, and Tim Yontz, for going above and beyond their job descriptions to encourage and mentor me individually.

The Conservatory staff – Alice, Dave, Debbie, Janice, Michelle, Phil, Sharon, and Susan – for all that they do in general and for encouraging me in my role of service to the department.

Paul Chelsen, Vice President for Student Development, for his wisdom, counsel, prayer, and encouragement over the last two years.

The seven men with whom I have been privileged to live: Jeff Hobday, Nathaniel Olson, Sam Ostransky, Paul Nelson, Wes Reynolds, Jon Steely, and David Wynne, for providing a safe, encouraging, fun “home” environment.

Various members of the Conservatory class of 2013, who were freshmen when I was a junior, for letting me fill the big brother role for them – one of the most humbling, rewarding, and joyful experiences of my life.

Three members of the Class of 2010, Ben Alle, Izzy Hance, and Garrett Myers, for being my surrogate big brothers and sister and showing me, while I was a junior, what it means to be a senior at Wheaton.

And a few other peers who fit into no formal category but who, along with many of the people mentioned above, have seen me in my brokenness and loved me anyway: Naomi Attaway, Peter Held, Heidi Jahns, and Marit Swanson.

There are two other people who deserve the highest credit for my even having the last four years – my parents. My parents not only provided the funds for me to attend Wheaton, but they attended just about all of my concerts, allowed me to have a friend over once in a while, gave me a welcome home for breaks, and were there with encouragement, prayer, and support the whole way. They were not physically present with me at Wheaton, but their influence was extraordinary nonetheless.

Wheaton College: it has been an honor.

This is Rubio, over and out.