Rainy Tuesday ramblings

My dear one, 

One major reason I continue these letters is that they encourage me to articulate ideas swirling around in my mind. 

Today was one of those needed "unproductive days." I fulfilled my few Tuesday responsibilities at work, threw together a green smoothie, and collapsed on the couch for a four-hour "nap." When I awoke and scrolled through my Facebook newsfeed, I noticed that a good friend had tagged me on her link to a scathingly profound article by philosopher Roger Scruton. Both she and I are very much saddened at the pronounced decline in the quality of music promoted in our Christian circles, and Scruton's article, which addresses the larger secular community, makes similar observations. Referring to the banality of pop music, he laments:

"...You are rightly prevented from polluting the air of a restaurant with smoke; but nothing prevents the owner from inflicting this far worse pollution on his customers - pollution that poisons not the body but the soul."

And towards the end of the article he gives the encouragement to exercise and teach judgment:

"...The belief that there is a difference between good and bad, meaningful and meaningless, profound and vapid, exciting and banal - this belief was once fundamental to musical education. But it offends against political correctness. Today there is only my taste and yours. The suggestion that my taste is better than yours is elitist, an offence against equality. But unless we teach children to judge, to discriminate, to recognise the difference between music of lasting value and mere ephemera, we give up on the task of education. Judgment is the precondition of true enjoyment, and the prelude to understanding art in all its forms."

As my friend rightly commented, wisdom and discernment come from God alone. "Counsel is mine, and sound wisdom: I am understanding; I have strength" (Proverbs 8:14). The Lord demands our firstfruits (Proverbs 3:9-10), including the area of our musical choices (Psalm 33:3; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16). Anything less is an affront to the beauty of His holiness (1 Chronicles 16:29; 2 Chronicles 20:21; Psalm 29:2; Psalm 96:9). There is no room for cheap, tawdry distraction in the life of the dedicated servant of Christ. "...Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things" (Philippians 4:8). My dear one, I can only hope and pray that you possess such discernment when it comes to your personal artistic preferences.

Eastern Coast of Iceland © 2012 Heather McGrath

I've been studying the book of Job. In addition to making my own notes in my new journaling Bible, I've been re-reading a Job commentary by Layton Talbert. One thought that has been running through my mind the past week is the insight Job makes in chapter 26, as he meditates on the glory of God as reflected in creation. Verse 14: "Lo, these are parts of His ways: but how little a portion is heard of Him? but the thunder of His power who can understand?" The ESV renders the first part of the verse, "Behold, these are but the outskirts of His ways, and how small a whisper do we hear of Him!" Talbert rewords Job's exclamation: "What we can discern of the infinite God from His works in nature and history are the mere coastlines of the continent of the mind and character of God." What a concept! My recent obsession with all things Icelandic has led me to some extraordinary landscape photography of the island (such as the coastline image in this post). When I meditate on the truth that the stunning revelations that God has given us in His Word and His creation are only the tip of the border of the magnificence of His glory and beauty, I can only fall on my face in worship as John did in Revelation 1:17. What a mighty God we serve! All we are and have is from His gracious hand. How can we give back to Him anything but our very best?