Rethinking the Philosophy of Church Music

Penulis

  • Antonius Sugeng Priyanto Universitas Pelita Harapan

Kata Kunci:

philosophy of music, church music, music ministry, christian worldview, christian music

Abstrak

This paper argues that a sound philosophy of church music must be rooted in biblical theology, recognizing music as a divinely given medium that reveals God’s order within time and creation. It contends that music, when understood theologically, serves not merely as an aesthetic expression but as a formative practice through which believers participate in God’s creative and redemptive purposes. In contrast to the modern impulse toward disorder, fragmentation, and instant gratification, music-making embodies the spiritual discipline of patience, attentiveness, and obedience. Drawing on the theological reflections of Jeremy Begbie and others, this study explores how musical structure and temporality mirror the divine harmony between change and order that sustains creation. By reclaiming a theological philosophy of music, the church can resist cultural tendencies toward superficiality and rediscover music as a sacred act of worship that cultivates a meaningful engagement with time and with God’s ongoing work in the world.

Biografi Penulis

Antonius Sugeng Priyanto, Universitas Pelita Harapan

DMA Student, Baylor Unuversity

Lecturer, UPH Conservatory of Music

Referensi

Begbie, J. (2000). Theology, music, and time. Cambridge University Press.

Begbie, J. (2007). Resounding truth: Christian wisdom in the world of music. Baker Academic.

Elizabeth Phillips. (2012). Charting the “Ethnographic Turn”: Theologians and the Study of Christian Congregations. In P. Ward (Ed.), Perspectives on ecclesiology and ethnography. William B. Eerdmans Pub. Co.

Grudem, W. A. (1994). Systematic Theology: An Introduction to Biblical Doctrine. Inter-Varsity Press.

Landy, L. (2007). Understanding the Art of Sound Organization. MIT Press.

Leaver, R. A. (2017). The whole church sings: Congregational singing in Luther’s Wittenberg. William BEerdmans Publishing Company.

Music, D. W. (2012). BACH OR ROCK: THE TRAINING OF CHURCH MUSICIANS. The American Organist (1979), 46(11), Article 11.

Parsons, M. D. (2005). Text, tone, and context: A methodological prolegomenon for a theology of liturgical song. Worship, 79(1), Article 1.

Unduhan

Diterbitkan

2025-10-08

Terbitan

Vol 14 No 2 (2024): Jurnal SENI MUSIK

Bagian

Articles

Lisensi

Hak Cipta (c) 2025 Antonius Sugeng Priyanto

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