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Did Jesus Believe the Laws of Logic? - Christ and Culture

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What are we to make of Jesus' relationship to truth and the laws of logic? With the widespread denial of objective truth, the church needs to have clarity on this important question.

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Jesus loves me, this I know. For the Bible tells me so."

You probably know the rest of the lyrics by heart. It's amazing what we can remember when words are put to music.

From an early age, churchgoers learn the fundamentals of faith through songs.In fact, every time a congregation sings, such discipleship is continuing. Whether we realize it or not, lyrics are shaping the faith and theology of those in the room.

Most sermons last only a short time, but a song can endure for centuries. That's because few things stir our emotions and lodge in our memories like music.

Unfortunately, church leaders often fail to appreciate this reality. They view music as a precursor to the sermon, not a part of the gospel presentation.

If our songs lack theological depth, however, we risk producing disciples with inaccurate views of God. In fact, when I consider the dearth of biblical knowledge among many Christians today, I can't help but wonder whether our music is partly to blame.

Virtually every song I hear on Christian radio is about overcoming problems with a little bit of Jesus. The messages are alarmingly shallow, and I worry they are inoculating believers against a deeper understanding of God's profound truths.

I have the same concern about some of the songs showing up in churches. It's not that the lyrics are unbiblical per se, but they are often unbalanced - continually emphasizing self, with the attributes of God playing more of a supporting role.

As a worship pastor, I wrestle with these issues while choosing songs. I regularly ask myself whether the lyrics in our services are more about what people are experiencing or the eternal truths of Scripture.

To be sure, there is a place for both kinds of expressions during worship. But finding the right balance and maintaining good theology takes intentionality.

The apostle Paul admonished the church in Ephesus, "Be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:18-19).

Notice that as the Ephesians were making music to the Lord, they were also ministering to one another.

Like other parts of the worship service, singing has a communal purpose. Even as we lift our praises to God, we can encourage, inform, and teach those around us. In other words, songs are powerful tools for discipleship.

Congregational singing is an opportunity to exalt Jesus and exhort the body of Christ. To make the most of our time together, we should choose songs that strike the right personal and theological tones.

Personal Prayers

As a songwriter, I often put prayers to music. A scriptural pattern for this type of song is found in the Book of Psalms.

Lyrics rooted in
Scripture teach
truths congregants
will not discover
through emotional
expressions alone.

One of my favorites is Psalm 42:

As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, my God. ...
Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God. ...
By day the Lord directs his love,
at night his song is with me -
a prayer to the God of my life (verses 1,5,8).

Psalms connect us to God. They are sincere, heartfelt, and honest. They are personal prayers of surrender and gratitude. This is why we love them so much.

Many modern worship songs follow in this tradition. They can create an atmosphere for intimate expressions of praise. However, an overemphasis on our experiences can also lead to an egocentric view of worship.

If Psalms were the only biblical book we read, we would miss out on many of the truths of Scripture. Likewise, if we sing only prayers, we can overlook some important facets of worship.

Therefore, at least some of the songs we sing in church should explore deeper theological truths.

Theological Truths

Martin Luther's "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" is a classic example of a theological statement in a hymn. It lays a foundation for understanding God's omnipotence.

I try to include at least one song in each service that is thoroughly theological. Lyrics rooted in Scripture teach truths congregants will not discover through emotional expressions alone.

Recently, our congregation has been singing a song called "My Testimony":

By Jesus Christ the Righteous
I'm justified
This is my testimony ...
Bought with blood
And washed in water
Sing the praises of the Spirit,
Son and Father

These are complex theological concepts. Expressed concisely and set to music, they are easy to memorize. Worshippers need to encounter lyrics with spiritual depth, even if they don't understand the full meaning in the moment.

We shouldn't assume the congregation can't handle theological complexities. Rather, we should raise the level of everyone's understanding. As a worship leader, take a moment to explain an obscure word to help people grasp its significance.

No worship song should contradict Scripture or veer from sound theology. People will remember the line of the song better than a teaching explaining why it is theologically incorrect. If something about a song doesn't ring true, either change it or don't use it.

It can sometimes be difficult for worship leaders to identify subtle errors in the writing. Perhaps a thought or phrase creates uneasiness for reasons that aren't immediately obvious.

When that happens, take the time to analyze the song closely. Talk with someone with more theological training, and ask for his or her impression.

While studying music at North Central University, I trained under Dave Pedde, a music professor with a gift for evaluating the theology of songs. A prolific songwriter himself, Pedde sometimes said of a lyric, "That doesn't represent the character of Christ."

Initially, I didn't understand what this meant. But over time, Pedde's critiques began to impact the way I examined song lyrics.

Like those who preach the Word, worship leaders have a responsibility to guard the integrity of the gospel message. We must uphold biblical truths and teach good doctrine, ensuring everything we do reflects the character of Christ. When we are intentional about these things, discipleship can happen even through singing.

Authentically seeking God and offering Him our praise is a vital part of corporate worship. So is accurately representing who God is.

Through music, we can lead people to a deeper relationship with - and understanding of - the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. That's discipleship.

Influence This article appears in the Spring 2023 issue of magazine.

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Jordan Peterson ~ The Relation Between Intelligence & Music

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5 tips to improve your critical thinking - Samantha Agoos

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Skepticism: Why critical thinking makes you smarter | Bill Nye, Derren Brown & more | Big Think

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Advocacy in Action is a signature program of Music for All designed to collect, recognize, and share effective practices and initiatives that support music education in our schools. We hope that by celebrating these programs, we can inspire others to lead by example and take action in their own programs and communities.

The Advocacy in Action Awards recognize and celebrate the commitment of school administrators, community leaders, teachers, and parents who believe in music education and are advocating to ensure that it is part of a comprehensive education for all children.

The Awards highlight the benefits of a strong music program and show what your school or community is doing to provide access and opportunity for active music-making. The Awards also allow educators to showcase their own music programs that are sometimes overlooked or not fully understood by members of the public beyond the school community.

The purpose for the Advocacy in Action Advisory Committee is to provide input to Music for All leadership on best practices for music education advocacy, specifically regarding Music for All's newest advocacy initiative, the Advocacy in Action Awards. The committee, consisting of current and former music educators, administrators, community leaders, and business leaders, aims to identify and implement best practices for the celebration of outstanding music advocacy in schools across the United States. The Advocacy in Action Advisory Committee works in conjunction with the Music for All staff to create, provide, and expand positively life-changing experiences through music for all.

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Advocacy in Action is a signature program of Music for All designed to collect, recognize, and share effective practices and initiatives that support music education in our schools. We hope that by celebrating these programs, we can inspire others to lead by example and take action in their own programs and communities.

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Education Through Music

Developing Self Confidence

Increasing Motivation for School

Improving Academic Achievement

Building Community

About Us

Our Mission

To positively impact student motivation, achievement, and self-confidence by partnering with under-resourced schools to integrate music education into the core curriculum.

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the education through music 2024 gala celebration

You're invited to Education Through Music's 2024 Gala! This year's theme - Making Music, Changing Lives - celebrates our community's commitment to the importance of music education and the positive impact it has on the lives of today's youth. Please join us on May 16, 2024 at 583 Park Avenue for an event not to be missed!
Click here to purchase tickets or make a contribution!
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launching our workforce development program

The nationwide teacher shortage, exacerbated by the pandemic, has caused music teacher vacancies at many schools and, as a result, many children are denied access to music education. To address this issue, we have created a career pathway program to support musicians as they transition into teaching roles. Under the supervision and mentorship of veteran teachers, teaching artists of varied backgrounds will gain critical experience in NYC schools as they develop their skills to pursue careers as music educators. This program is supported by a $3M anonymous grant for use over five years to improve the recruitment, induction and retention of music teachers.
Read more about the program!

new notables episode!

We had the honor to speak with internationally acclaimed conductor, Leonard Slatkin. Maestro Slatkin speaks with us about his musical heritage, his experiences growing up in California public schools, and his views on the importance and impact of having access to the arts. He also shares advice for today's music educators to make teaching more relevant and reflective of the current times. Tune in now to hear more about his inspiring story and invaluable perspective.

etm returns to pac nyc!

The talented students of ETM partner schools return to the Lobby Stage at the new Perelman Performing Arts Center (PAC NYC)! Join us on Thursday, April 11th at 4:30pm to listen to the voices of ETM students from Mosaic Preparatory Academy, representing the borough of Manhattan! Performances on the Lobby Stage are free and open to the public on a first come, first serve basis with limited capacity. Come celebrate the power of music education and support these amazing students as they take the stage!

its music in our schools month®!

This March, we're excited to celebrate Music In Our Schools Month®, a national event designated by the National Association for Music Education (NAfME) to celebrate and raise awareness around the importance of music education for all students. In the spirit of this year's theme, "I See Music Education," ETM Teachers will lead special grade-specific lessons that emphasize the presence of music in students' lives. We also are preparing toolkits for principals to celebrate with their school communities. Follow us on social media where we'll be sharing testimonials from students, teachers, principals, and more about how they "see music education" making a difference.

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celebrating black history month at new york city hall!

On February 27, 2024, the talented P.S. 103 Ensemble Stars from P.S. 103 in the Bronx, led by their music teacher, Antoine Dolberry, performed at the New York City Council's Black History Month Celebration! It was such an honor to be a part of this event and perform in the New York City Hall Council Chambers. Thank you, New York City Council, for welcoming us and showing us while honoring the contributions Black communities have made to our city and country.

Click here for more photos!

Why Music Education?

It is part of a well-rounded education, essential for students' social and emotional well-being, and a critical tool for establishing equity and access.

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Education Through Music partners with under-resourced schools to provide music as a core subject for all children.

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National Association for Music Education (NAfME)

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NAfME is an association where all people are heard, seen, and feel they belong throughout their lifelong experiences in music.

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Having young students write a pourquoi-an origin folktale-is a great way to cultivate problem-solving and divergent thinking.

Logical reasoning is more than interpreting patterns, number sequences, and the relationships between shapes in math-it can also be successfully integrated into language arts. The underlying skill of divergent thinking can be developed in young students through the process of writing a creative pourquoi-a folktale that explains how or why something came to be.

There's a strong need for educators to take a multidisciplinary approach to teaching logical reasoning skills to students starting at a young age. American students fall significantly behind their peers in other developed nations when it comes to their ability to problem-solve and use divergent thinking skills: On the creative problem-solving portion of the Programme for International Student Assessment in 2012, nearly 10 percent of students in Singapore and Korea performed well enough to be "highly skilled problem solvers," while only 2.7 percent of American students earned that ranking.

Using Pourquoi Tales to Foster Logical Reasoning

A pourquoi (French for "why") is a terrific way to cultivate problem-solving and divergent thinking-core skills of logical reasoning-in the student learning framework. Logical reasoning is associated with the capacity to generate alternative ideas, and pourquois involve creating alternative ideas to explain a natural phenomenon in the world (e.g., why stars shine at night or how zebras got stripes).

Pourquois are further a fun and playful way for students to apply inductive and deductive reasoning skills-they can identify conditional reasoning premises like "if P, then Q" in these tales (e.g., if the lion fires an arrow at the raincloud, rain will fall down).

Students can also examine how a single cause leads to multiple far-reaching effects (e.g., banging a drum causes the earth to quake, which in turn causes animals to scamper).

To introduce a pourquoi unit, create a "Wonderings" anchor chart upon which students can brainstorm natural phenomena they wonder about, activating their prior knowledge. This empowers students by embracing their curiosity, and it also enables them to make powerful real-world connections.

Next, explain that pourquois fall into the folktale genre and have distinguishing elements, including nameless characters, a subtle moral or lesson, use of personification, and more.
Read-aloud pourquoi tales:

Why The Sky Is Far Away by Mary-Joan Gerson and Carla Golembe

Why Mosquitos Buzz in People's Ears by Verna Aardema and Leo and Diane Dillon

How Snake Got His Hiss by Marguerite Davol and Mercedes McDonald

How the Elephant Got Its Trunk by Jean Richards and Norman Gorbaty

How Tiger Got His Stripes by Rob Cleveland and Baird Hoffmire

There are outstanding multicultural pourquoi tales you can read aloud to students, as well as incorporate into guided reading groups, literacy centers, or written assignments. Such tales can foster open-mindedness and inclusiveness toward other cultures, helping to shape students who are world citizens and globally minded.

Formative and Summative Assessment

There are a variety of formative assessments targeting higher-order thinking skills that you can use in a pourquoi unit. Have students map out the "if P, then Q" premises in a pourquoi onto a cause and effect graphic organizer. This teaches students how to make connections between conditional syllogisms, which is paramount to logical reasoning.

You can also have students compare and contrast elements in two or more pourquois. A third assessment is to have students make text-to-self connections using a pourquoi (e.g., "I am similar to the lion because my anger caused me to act rashly").

As a summative assessment, students can plan, draft, and publish original pourquois. First, students should identify what natural phenomenon in the world they wish to explain. Next, they should identify their characters, setting, a problem, and a solution. Their tales should contain a beginning, middle, and ending. For enrichment or extension opportunities, have students research and select a culture upon which to base their tale.

Their writing will be enhanced if you routinely share student samples that demonstrate rich writing skills, including use of similes, metaphors, dialogue, and descriptive language.

As a best practice, incorporate one-on-one conferencing and peer editing into the writing process. End the unit with a publishing party to celebrate the authors and their process of arriving at an alternative explanation through use of logical reasoning skills.

Through designing and implementing a comprehensive, structured pourquoi unit, teachers can effectively integrate logical reasoning into the language arts discipline.

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Using Folktales to Teach Logical Reasoning

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Having young students write a pourquoi-an origin folktale-is a great way to cultivate problem-solving and divergent thinking.

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There are many ways to help children improve logical thinking

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The skills of logic and reasoning include an ability to think through problems and apply strategies to solve challenges. These skills are essential.