Dr. John Frame
// Author, Philosopher & ProfessorDR. JOHN FRAME is an author, philosopher, and Professor of Systematic Theology and Philosophy at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida. His book “Worship In Spirit And Truth: A Refreshing Study Of The Principles And Practice Of Biblical Worship” (1996), and “Contemporary Worship Music: A Biblical Defense” (1997), and “The Doctrine Of God: A Theology Of Lordship” (2002) are all available from P & R Publishing.
Website: www.frame-poythress.org
Photo: Dr. John Frame / Reformed Theological Seminary
Interview:
Music is one of the beautiful things God has given us, and it would be worthwhile for its beauty alone. Music also has a peculiar relationship to words, and we recall that “the Word was with God, and the Word was God” [John 1:1]. Music makes texts more memorable and vivid, it invigorates them. So God does not want us merely to read or speak his Word, but also to sing it. Singing is the only one of the arts that God commands his people to engage in, “sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God” [Colossians 3:16]. As we sing, the word of Christ comes to dwell in us richly, to teach and admonish us. My own testimony: I heard the Gospel first of all through the teaching ministry, especially the youth ministry, of our church; but it wasn’t until I joined the choir and learned to play the organ that the Gospel dug its way into my heart. The Word and music together took away my rationalizations, my prideful independence, and showed me that God was the mystery of all the universe, above and beyond anything I could imagine.
“Music is one of the beautiful things God has given us.”
– Dr. John Frame, author of “Contemporary Worship Music: A Biblical Defense”
