THE PURPOSE OF MUSIC
By Francis Fawkes
Music in today’s secular
society is divorced from God’s original purpose. It was really meant to glorify its
creator, and magnify His name in praise and worship. In the world, we see the
complete reversal of purpose of everything that God created. And this is
especially so with music. It is used for the glorification of man and the
magnification of his name.
In Colossians 1:16, it states that, “…all
things were created, that are in heaven,
and that are in earth, visible and invisible - whether they be thrones, or
dominions, or principalities, or powers – and all things were created by
Him and for Him.” God gave us these
gifts, so let us give them back to Him. Do not rob God of His glory.
We in the secular society see nothing
wrong with this humanistic approach of attributing all innate artistic
ingenuity, and excellence to man. Artistic
excellence, without God in the equation - really degenerates into petty
nit-picking. It only caters to man’s vanity. We do not realize that we
are not totally responsible for the greatest of giftings. Whether these giftings
are in music, languages, mathematics or the visual arts - they sometimes baffle
or mystify the possessor. A mathematical or musical prodigy may be at a total
loss as to how he can perform feats of mind with little or no training. Neither
does he know how the gifts came about. The best thing to do is to give glory to
God for their possession, rather than taking the glory for it. Do not rob God of His glory.
Again, some church performers think
that their relationship with Christ consist of an artistic performance; I have
sensed that the Lord is displeased with this particular attitude. There are
some church musicians who may not even be saved!! The musician who has consecrated his
music to the Lord should have a corresponding Christian lifestyle. He should be
a vessel of honour
with a renewed mind. He should not don the attitudes and philosophies of so
many of the musicians in the performing arts. With a renewed mind, he should
realize that the word of God takes priority over - and gives direction over his
music. This is so because: “God even honours His word above
Himself” – and most certainly above music. In the field of the classics,
music is above all else and fanaticism is the norm. This can result in musical
idolatry that is so pervasive in the performing arts.
THE RELEVANCE OF
DIFFERENT MUSICAL STYLES IN THE
Here again it is a question of
calling. It is my belief that the preference for different artistic styles is
inborn. If you find that you have a strong preference for classical music as
opposed to popular music, contemporary Christian music or other styles, it may not
have as much to do with your environment as you thought. However, it may have
everything to do with what God predestined for you before the foundations of
the earth were laid.
God first conceived a purpose in the
earth and then created a liking for the thing you were supposed to do. Your personal
style is related to your purpose. Do not let anyone force you to change your
style. It could seriously hinder
your purpose. You may not minister to the people within your calling. You may
play other styles but always come back to your calling. Remember the story of
the prophet in Jeremiah 1: 5. God ordained him as prophet to the nations before
he was born. If he did something else, he would not have reached the nations.
Thus, your culture did not create or
shape you entirely; you created your own culture according to what God already
birthed in you. God then is not a God of uniformity, but a God of diversity. He
then created the different styles to express his versatility. I have noticed
that the predominant style in this Bahamian society is indigenous music or
Junkanoo music. That also is God’s doing. However, this does not mean
that everybody is called to do this type of music. There are also a few classicists
like myself as well.
All these tastes are legitimate and
relevant to God’s purpose as far as He is concerned. Your brain was
neurologically wired for your artistic taste. I also suspect that there is a
genetic basis for strong rhythms shown in peoples of African or
WHAT ABOUT
FRANCIS FAWKES?
Many people know about my liking for
classical music. As far as I can recall, I was exposed to popular music which I
liked before classical music. Then
my father, Sir Randol Fawkes, purchased for me a classical series called Music Masters. This dealt with the lives and music
of the great composers. Since my father was constantly traveling overseas, I
eventually accumulated an impressive collection of recordings and music books
form the
So overwhelming and so profound was
the experience of listening to great classics, that it became the predominant
factor in my taste. It has not changed since. My liking for the classics was
intense and immediate. I did not have to learn to appreciate this art form. It
was as though I was always familiar with it (sorry no allusions to
reincarnation intended). When people come up to me and say I had to learn to
appreciate classical music, I cannot relate to what they were saying.
Later on, I discovered that this
art-form was part of my calling. I remembered asking God what was my purpose on
this earth. He replied to me in a dream: “I have placed you on this earth
to do my work.” In 1987, I received the anointing for my music by the
laying on of hands. But revelation is progressive. I am not only anointed to
play the Classics but to preach the Gospel as well!
It is interesting to note that before
I learnt of my purpose, I never suspected I was called to Christian ministry
work through music and the Word! I only flowed in the direction of my
strengths.
MINISTERING
THROUGH THE CLASSICS
I know that it is God’s mandate
to reach the world with our callings. This is certainly true of the musicians
in the arena of the classical performing arts. Most of them however, are spiritually
indifferent. The field of the performing arts is one of the unreached
mission-fields. Prophet Kim Clement, a former prize winning classical pianist,
said that God was going to touch this area in the latter times.
In all of my years of experience with
classical music, I have only heard of one or two European musicians with a
clear-cut Christian testimony. One of them happens to be concert pianist Van
Cliburn!
Situations like this led a music
scholar Patrick Kavanaugh to form the “Christian Performing Artist’s Fellowship”- (CPAF). His goal is to help fulfill the great
commission, to go and make disciples of all nations. It is his contention that
you do not have to go to
I have often wondered what happened
to the souls of the great performers in the classical arena – especially
concert pianists. If they have Christian testimonies - surely it is the
world’s best kept secret. All I hear about them is gossip! I am very
thankful that these artists are beginning to consecrate and use their gifts for
the Kingdom. This is what all musicians should be doing – bringing souls
to Christ and impacting lives for the Kingdom.
When I win a soul to the Master, I
feel the surge of God’s power at its strongest. This is because you touch
the heart of God every time a soul is won. I have been doing this for over 20
years, especially among Bahamian musicians - as well as those involved in other
aspects of the performing and visual arts. It is a source of great satisfaction
and relief when they pass on later; to know that you have contributed to their
life in eternity with Jesus Christ.
