AC

Alphacrucis College

Details for Worship, Arts and Church History

The Christian church has had a fascinating link to the Creative Arts throughout history.  On occasion it has been the Arts greatest promoter and supporter.  At other times it has been the greatest stifler and constrainer of the Arts.  As human beings our tendency is to make vessels sacred the moment they appear to be used by God.  A worship style, an architectural style, an instrument, a liturgy, an artistic approach can all be tools that help people make a meaningful connection with God.  Yet, these very things can be traps into religious ritualism, nostalgia or even idolatry!  So, what can we learn from the long legacy of the Arts and the church?

Quick Info

  • Currently offered by Alphacrucis: Yes
  • Unit code: WOR205
  • Credit points: 10
  • Total workload hours per week: 10
  • Number of timetabled hours per week: 3 *

* Note: Units with reduced contact hours (such as those taught in Intensive format) will have an increased assessment component.↩

Prerequisites

The following courses are prerequisites:

The unit Worship, Arts and Church History is part of the subject area Music and Creative Arts and is offered as a part of the following Awards: Bachelor of Contemporary Ministry (Alphacrucis College (NSW Dept. of Education)).

Unit Content

Subject Content

  1. Music and the Arts in the Old Testament
  2. Music and the Arts in the New Testament
  3. Music and the Arts in the Early church
  4. Support and Restriction of the Arts from Medieval times to the 20th Century

This course may be offered in the following formats

Lectures, tutorials, small group work, student presentation

Please consult your course prospectus or enquire about how and when this course will be offered next at Alphacrucis College.

Assessment Methods

Book Review (25%, 1250 words); Short Answer Test (25%); Oral Presentation (10mins, 25%); Debate (10%);  Case Study (15%, 1500 words)

Representative References

Best, H., Music Through the Eyes of Faith, New York: Christian College Coalition, 1993

Corbitt, N., The Sound of the Harvest: Music’s Mission in Church and Culture, Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 1998

Dawn, M., Reaching out without dumbing down: a theology of worship for the turn of the century culture, Grand Rapids, MI, W.B. Eerdmans, 1995

Evans, M., Open Up The Doors: Music in the Modern Church, London: Equinox, 2006

Faulkner, Q., Wiser than despair,: the evolution of ideas in the relationship of music and the Christian church, Wesport: Greenwood Press, 1996

Frame, J., Contemporary Worship Music: A Biblical Defence, New Jersey: P&R Publishing, 1997

Ogasapian, J., Church Music in America, 1620-2000. Georgia: Mercer University Press, 2007

Peacock, C., At The Crossroads: Inside the Past, Present, and Future of Contemporary Christian Music, Colorado Springs: Waterbrook Press, 2004

Peterson, D., Engaging With God, Leicester: Apollos, 1992

Shepherd, J., Music as Social Text, Cambridge, Polity Press, 1991

Viola, F., & Barna, G., Pagan Christianity?: Exploring the Roots of Our Church Practices. Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., 2008

Webber, R., Worship: Old & new. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1994

White, J. F., Introduction to Christian worship (3rd Ed.) Nashville, TN: Abingdon Press, 2000

White, J. F., Protestant worship and church architecture: Theological and historical considerations (2nd Ed.) Eugene, OR: Wipf and Stock Publishers, 2003

Wilson-Dickson, A., A Brief History of Christian Music: from biblical times to present, London: Lion Publishing, 1997

Zahn, H., Mission and Music: Jabem Traditional Music and the Development of Lutheran Hymnody, Boroko: Institute of Papua New Guinea Studies, 1996