All Things Considered, post 4
A Joyful Noise
I love music. I love to listen to it. I love to write it and arrange it. I love to sing it. Even if I became blind, the piano would still be my best friend. The subjects of my music have changed since my youth, as Elias Tobias continues to point out, but I believe in the power of music, especially when it goes to the Lord. As a youth minister, music is a large part of my work, and I am involved with different theatrical productions as well as a several youth choirs. Getting involved in choral competitions is a great feeling.
Church music is not just the numbered selections in the hymnal in the back of the pews that are used for different services throughout the year. The music contained in those books is powerful, and Elias Tobias said his grandfather was a great singer in his country church. His grandfather’s favorite was “The Old Rugged Cross.”
Christian music is alive and well. Contemporary groups, such as the News Boys carry on a legacy of modern music with guitars, drums and electronic keyboards, the tools of secular musicians. I once knew of a couple who, in the 1980’s, replaced their entire rock and roll collections (I wish I had those albums now) with music from groups like Petra, Stryper, Phil Keaggy and Carman and Keith Green. Sandi Patti, Michael W. Smith and others became famous as gospel singers. Gospel music is one of the basic roots of country music today.
A listing of gospel singers would not be complete without mentioning Bill Gaither, an American singer and songwriter of southern gospel and Contemporary Christian music. In 2000, he and his wife Gloria Gaither were awarded Christian “Songwriter of the Century” by the American Society of Composers and Publishers (ASCAP). He has been performing since the 1950’s in the Bill Gaither Trio. He has become an industry influence and father-figure to many up-and-comers in the Contemporary Christian music industry. He, in collaboration with other writers, has written several books, became an entrepreneur creating record labels and he has a company that publishes magazines related to his business interests.
Since the early years of the Christian church, music, in different styles, has been a part the message of God’s love and redemption for all men. Singing to the Lord is a “joyful noise.”
Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us, Whereof we are glad. – Psalm 126:2-3
Peace be you with always,
Rev. Paul Abernathy
Contact Paul Abernathy at paulabernathy@gmail.com.
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listen to music without downloading…
Ha! I love listen to music without downloading….
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