Prophetic

Worship/ Exaltation

Performance

The three main functions of music and the arts in culture are: Performance, Exaltation and Prophetic.

Performance is given from man to man. This is centered on man’s skill and social acceptance. It is beneficial in our society to create a sense of ‘community’, in which there is commonality of experience. This kind of activity produces a ‘foundation’ for social interaction and opens a doorway of communication through this commonality for dialogue. It is interesting that in youth cultures this is particularly needful, as young people are endeavoring to establish relationships beyond their own home, gravitating towards music and art that will identify them among their own unique generation, geographical location and philosophy.

Exaltation is a different use of music and the arts, in that it is not directed towards man, but rather towards an object of worship. Music and the arts are successful tools in ‘exalting’ whatever they point towards. It can be anything from the banal to the sublime. It can be used to exalt “Coca-Cola” or the Most High God.

Prophetic is neither art for man, nor exaltation, but something different altogether. Prophetic music and art is rather God speaking through the art-form to an individual or society. It is not contrived, originated or initiated from man’s imagination or choosing, but rather by divine intervention. The artist yields himself to the inspiration of God, bringing forth a particular message relevant to the culture, but not necessarily always accepted by that culture.

(for more on this, see The Three Main Uses of Music and the Arts)

(for more study, see the Trinity Concepts Key)