Music & Ministry: A Biblical Counterpoint

Contemporary or traditional? Blended or seeker? Pop or classical? Chorus or hymn? Combination or organ? Many churches find themselves mired in debate over which type of worship music to use.

In Music and Ministry: A Biblical Counterpoint, Calvin Johansson looks to God's Word for principles foundational to music ministry. In this updated resource, Johansson addresses pastoral, theological, and musical concerns in a comprehensive discussion of this topic. He challenges pastors and choir directors to reflect seriously on the biblical principles foundational to music ministry. Weaving together great scriptural truths, he establishes the need for a "directional balance" between pastoral contextualization and prophetic purity. In a time of facile musical accommodation of the gospel to culture, Dr. Johansson suggests that a heightened concern for musical style and quality is in order not for the sake of music, but for the sake of the gospel.

Calvin M. Johansson served as a church music director for four decades. In addition, he was Professor of Music at Evangel College from 1964 to 2003. In addition to Music and Ministry: A Biblical Counterpoint, he is also the author of Discipling Music Ministry: Twenty-first Century Directions.