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-- how the study of local music can lead to the development of indigenous worship music -- by Grace Wiebe with Gloria C. (1991) _______________________ Ps. 67:2 -- "May Your ways be known on earth; Your salvation among ALL nations. May the peoples praise You, O God; may ALL the peoples praise You. May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for You rule the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth. May the peoples praise You...then the land will yield its harvest and God...will bless us. God will bless us and ALL the ends of the earth will fear Him." DEFINITION: Ethnomusicology, stated simply, is: the study of the music of ethnic/cultural groups. INTRODUCTION: We have been created by God for His eternal purposes and glory which are also manifested in the here and now. We are not only called to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength, but have also been called by Him to proclaim His Name in all the earth -- to every nation, tribe, tongue and people. We have been called and chosen to be blessed by Him, to be a blessing to all peoples who are then also called to love, worship and sing to Him with all that they are. It is for this reason that we need to increase our awareness/development of the area of contextualizing praise and worship within the church-planting agenda. In conjunction with church-planting teams, this can not only be a great asset to the team and fellowship overall, but is also a necessity in leading the new converts and indigenous people into an intimacy/heart relationship with our Father and into freedom of praise and worship to Him with the music of their hearts/culture as well. Traditionally, most missionaries have translated songs from their own culture. Generally, missionaries have had little (if any) musical training. They have done the best with what they had and led in the way they felt God leading them. And God has honoured their efforts. However, as in every other area of life, it seems that God has indeed been doing new things and is continuing to move His people on. So, too, in the area of praise and worship -- an area especially close to His heart. We believe that the days ahead will require the ability and power of the Holy Spirit to write anointed music which truly expresses the peoples' heart of praise and worship, and to help encourage them to write their own praise and worship songs. We believe that He is focusing attention on new song and praise in these last days not only to encourage His Church to exalt Him, but also to provide a catalyst for bringing in the last great harvest! His Word says that we are to proclaim to the heavenlies that Jesus is Lord over all the earth. We also know that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. We also believe that God has been preparing and training musicians -- to whom He has also given a heart for missions -- for such a time as this. Perhaps they have wondered for many years how God could use them effectively in long term in missions... ...We believe that if they have faithfully obeyed God in the little things and sought His glory above theirs, that He will open the doors wide for them in the days and months to come. This area is not just for the musically gifted, but for any missionary who desires to grow as a worshipper and to be used of the Lord to lead others to become worshippers of our God - in spirit and in truth. Therefore, we desire to help facilitate what God appears to be doing in the area of praise and worship in reaching unreached peoples. There appears to be an increased world-wide release in the area of praise and worship. We want to see our mission agency become a part of what God desires to do in this realm. We believe the timing is now. * * * Some additional reasons for the development of this area (not in order of priority): 1) FOR THE TEAM MEMBERS: a) it develops respect for the host culture and rapport with the people; b) it helps the teams to learn to worship the Lord in the style of the host culture; 2) FOR THE TEAM GOALS a) it is an integral part of church-planting/evangelism -- b) having someone on the team (or in the area) who could help to lead/facilitate/train praise and worship leaders ministering within a people group would put less burden on the person on the team who is doing the role of praise and worship leader out of necessity; c) often musicians are gifted prophetically, and so this aspect may be added to the dynamics of a team's ministry; d) it can be an avenue for several entrance strategy possibilities. 3) FOR THE (PROSPECTIVE) CONVERT AND THE LIFE OF THE NEW CHURCH a) praise and worship to our worthy God is our highest calling; b) it keeps us encouraged in the Lord, especially in trials; c) it helps to build up the new convert and the Church in their private and communal life with the Lord; d) praise and worship is a major part of spiritual warfare; e) it is commanded of all God's people and is a major part of Body life; CONTEXTUALIZATION : What does this mean in general practical terms? ...by using music (our concern being praise and worship songs and other songs which edify the Body-- ie. psalms, hymns and spiritual songs) which is written in the musical style, language and heart of the people...so that unreached peoples and the new followers of Jesus will not feel they are having to adopt another culture but that Jesus and the life exemplified by Him can be reflected in a style of worship relevant to their culture. This could involve anyone with an interest in music and worship, from the individual with a general amateur interest to the trained professional. Part of the goal would be for the field personnel to network between teams and agencies to begin gathering music samples as a basis for analysis, to start identifying indigenous believers who could be developed as song-writers and worship leaders, and so on. Study of the local music is valid in itself, but our main emphasis would be on studying the folk/art or music of the host culture in order to assist them in developing their own worship music in an appropriate style. SCRIPTURAL PREMISES: God communicates in all cultures and in all languages and desires that all men respond to Him with their entire being. Ps.19:1-3 -- "The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge. There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard...". Ps. 117:1 -- "Praise the Lord,, ALL you nations; extol Him, ALL you peoples..." Ps.47:1,2,7,8 -- "Clap your hands, ALL you nations; shout to God with cries of joy'"...(heartfelt) Ps.66:1-4 -- "Shout with joy to God, ALL the earth!..." Ps. 96:1 -- "Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, ALL the earth..." Ps.86:9 -- "ALL the nations you have made will come and worship before you, O Lord; they will bring glory to your name." Ps.98; Ps. 100; Rev. 15:4, etc. PROMISE: Ps.22:24-28 "...ALL the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord and all the families of nations will bow down before Him, for dominion belongs to the Lord, and He rules over the nations." |