Is JESUS in the temple today? NY Youth Congress - iseek iserve, ishare

Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his mighty greatness. Praise him with the sound of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dancing, praise him with the strings and flute, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. Psalm 150

You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you...gold work of tambourines and of pipes was in you. In the day that you were created they were prepared. Ezekiel 28:13 (World English Bible)

Gregorian Chant: Only sing men. Intruments are forbidden. Certain intervals and rhytms forbidden. No measure. Latin is the official -and only- language. Emotion is avoided. Responses of joy or sorrow are avoided as well. Calm and quiet musical flow. Any association with the world is avoided.

MARTIN LUTHER: Creates the Lutheran Choral: a musical form based on simple popular melodies, harmonized in four parts. Phrases are symmetrical, ending in a cadence. The lyrics in the Lutheran Choral were in vernacular language and they were accesible to common people. Music is functional. It conveys the Word of God and teaches the new doctrine.

The Message of ASSOCIATION

The message of association The diverse effects of music combine to create associations. Musical experience always happen in a context, and we naturally establish connections and associations between the musical event and the enviroment in which it takes place. The forming of associations is a highly subjective process and must be carefully understood and evaluated before it is used to draw universal conclusions. Music does not have a permanent meaning, it shifts according to time. Associations can, and do change over time. (L.Doukhan, In Tune With God, p. 65)

THE PROCESS OF CHANGE 1. Rejection (tradition versus innnovation) 2. Conflict 3. Acceptance 4. Innovation becomes tradition

The spirit of classical music has been marked by constant renewal and reinvention...tradition or antiquity is not a value itself. Tradition and costume need to be put to a test, under the light of the Word of God. (L.Doukhan, In Tune With God, p. 286)

FACT 2010 (Faith Communities Today) A Decade of Changes in the American Christian Churches. 2000-2010 Those congregations that have growth the most are those that show a innovative attitude and integrate contemporary styles in worship. www.faithcommunitiestoday.org

FACT 2010 (Faith Communities Today) A Decade of Changes in the American Christian Churches. 2000-2010 Statistics who a 50% growth in churches than have incorporated the use of electronic instruments, as guitar or drums. www.faithcommunitiestoday.org

Psalm 33:3 Sing to him a new song; play skillfully, and shout for joy. Psalm 33:3 NIV Psalm 96:1 Sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth. Psalm 98:4 Shout for joy to the LORD, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; Psalm 149:1 Praise the LORD. Sing to the LORD a new song, his praise in the assembly of the saints.

THE BIBLE TRADITION Use of instruments Instruments forbidden Singing is a joyful and collective experience Expressions of joy are not appropriate for worship Worship includes emotions, body and reason Body and emotions do not take part in worship.

THE BIBLE TRADITION Singing with Singing in Latin understanding Congregational singing Just monks sing Diversity in worship One worship style prevails

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Cor. 10:31

We need Levites that empower biblical worship: keeping a balance between the holiness and the closeness of God, between spirit and truth, between form and content, between joy and reverence.

Jesus MATTHEW on 21: Music 12-16 and Jesus entered Worship the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. It is written, he said to them, My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers.

Jesus on Music and The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed Worship them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, Hosanna to the Son of David, they were indignant. Do you hear what these children are saying? they asked him.

Jesus on Music and Yes, replied Jesus, Worship have you never read: From the lips of children and infants you have perfected praise? Matthew 21: 12-16

Jesus in the Temple... Upon entering, the rulers of the temple stood transfixed before the wonderful scene. They saw the sick healed, the blind restored to sight, and deaf receive their hearing, and the crippled leap for joy.

The children were foremost in the rejoicing. Jesus had healed their maladies; He had clasped them in His arms, received their kisses of grateful affection, and some of them had fallen asleep upon His breast as He was teaching the people. Now with glad voices the children sounded His praise.

The sound of these happy, unrestrained voices was an offense to the rulers of the temple. They set about putting a stop to such demonstrations. They represented to the people that the house of God was desecrated by the feet of the children and the shouts of rejoicing. Ellen G. White. Desire of Ages, 592

From the lips of children and infants you have perfected praise Psalm 8:2

So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 1 Cor. 10:31

MUSIC MINISTRY IN THE PRISON

Teens reaching out by singing. Songs written for their reality: bullying, self-steem, isolation in the church, how to reach out,etc.

Then I looked, and there before me was the Lamb, standing on Mount Zion, and with him 144,000 who had his name and his Father s name written on their foreheads. And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of rushing waters and like a loud peal of thunder. The sound I heard was like that of harpists playing their harps. And they sang a new song before the throne and before the four living creatures and the elders. No one could learn the song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth... Theses are the ones that follow the Lamb wherever he goes. (Revelation 14:1-4)

aperera@oakwood.edu

The Musical Message RHYTHM

The Musical Message MELODY

The Musical Message HARMONY

The Associative Message

Sacred Music & Secular Music

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God s will is his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:1,2 NIV)

"Sacred music"--sometimes referred to as religious music--designates music that focuses on God and on biblical and Christian themes. In most cases, it is music composed and intended for worship service, evangelistic meetings, or private devotion and may be both vocal and instrumental music. However, not all sacred/religious music may be acceptable for an Adventist. Sacred music should not evoke secular associations or invite conformity to worldly behavioral patterns of thinking or acting. (Guidelines for a SDA Philosophy of Music. GC, 2005)

We should recognize and acknowledge the contribution of different cultures in worshiping God. Musical forms and instruments vary greatly in the worldwide Seventh-day Adventist family, and music drawn from one culture may sound strange to someone from a different culture. (SDA Guidelines for a Philosophy of Music. GC, 2004)

Sacred Music Dedicated to God. The musical message, verbal message,, visual message, associative and symbolic message must be consistent and appropriate to communicate the message in sacred music. Music conveys a theology. Sacred music is conditioned by culture.

The Verbal Message "Music is one of the most effective means of impressing the heart with spiritual truth.... As a part of religious service, singing is as much an act of worship as is prayer. EGW, Ed. 168

Vocal music employs lyrics that positively stimulate intellectual abilities as well as our emotions and our will power. Good lyrics are creative, rich in content, and of good composition. They focus on the positive and reflect moral values; they educate and uplift; and they correspond with sound biblical theology. (GC, Guidelines, 2004)

The Symbolic Message

The Visual Message

Symbolic Message Verbal Message Associative Message Visual Message Musical Message

And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. And He said to them, It is written, MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER ; but you are making it a ROBBERS DEN. And the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done, and the children who were shouting in the temple, Hosanna to the Son of David, they became indignant and said to Him, Do You hear what these children are saying? And Jesus said to them, Yes; have you never read, OUT OF THE MOUTH OF INFANTS AND NURSING BABIES YOU HAVE PREPARED PRAISE FOR YOURSELF? (Matthew 21: 12-17. NASB)

After a season the priests and rulers ventured back to the temple... Quietly returning to the temple, they heard the voices of men, women, and children praising God. Upon entering, they stood transfixed before the wonderful scene. They saw the sick healed, the blind restored to sight, and deaf receive their hearing, and the crippled leap for joy. The children were foremost in the rejoicing. Jesus had healed their maladies; He had clasped them in His arms, received their kisses of grateful affection, and some of them had fallen asleep upon His breast as He was teaching the people. Now with glad voices the children sounded His praise. They repeated the hosannas of the day before, and waved palm branches triumphantly before the Saviour.

The temple echoed and re-echoed with their acclamations, "Blessed be He that cometh in the name of the Lord!" "Behold, thy King cometh unto thee; He is just, and having salvation!" Ps. 118:26;...The sound of these happy, unrestrained voices was an offense to the rulers of the temple. They set about putting a stop to such demonstrations. They represented to the people that the house of God was desecrated by the feet of the children and the shouts of rejoicing. Finding that their words made no impression on the people, the rulers appealed to Christ: "Hearest Thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings Thou hast perfected praise?" (EGW, The Desire Of Ages, 592)

In Spirit and In Truth Jesus declared, Believe me, woman, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth. John 4:22-24 NIV

True Worship Not by seeking a holy mountain or a sacred temple are men brought into communion with heaven. Religion is not to be confined to external forms and ceremonies. The religion that comes from God is the only religion that will lead to God. In order to serve Him aright, we must be born of the divine Spirit. This will purify the heart and renew the mind, giving us a new capacity for knowing and loving God. It will give us a willing obedience to all His requirements. This is true worship. It is the fruit of the working of the Holy Spirit. By the Spirit every sincere prayer is indited, and such prayer is acceptable to God. Wherever a soul reaches out after God, there the Spirit's working is manifest, and God will reveal Himself to that soul. For such worshipers He is seeking. He waits to receive them, and to make them His sons and daughters. (EGW, Desire of Ages, 189)

The Bible does not have a list of good or evil instruments for worship. The Bible does not have a list of good or evil music styles for worship.

In Spirit and Truth Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. John 4:24

David wrote new songs. We are called to worship in spirit and truth in XXI Century.

Generation Me.The most tolerant generation ever.. Selective consumers.. 10 to 20% deal with depression. (J.M.Twenge, Generation Me, 2009)