Posts by Erik Hanson

Many newly married couples look forward to establishing a home and starting a family, which includes children. Oftentimes, they would discuss how many children they would like, as well as possible names, physical features, and personal goals for their future children. Young ladies would even start planning their nursery, children’s outfits, and practical needs. Joy…

Respected professor and market specialist George Barna reports that media choices, including music, have a more significant impact on children than attending school. “A majority of the choices that we make, in terms of our worldview, and that then get demonstrated through our behavior, come because of the influence of media … The typical American…

Nonverbal communication plays a crucial role in life. Some of it is even universally understood regardless of language barriers. According to two separate communication studies done by Dr. Albert Mehrabian in 1967, “7% of all communication is done through verbal communication, whereas the nonverbal component of our daily communication, such as the tonality of our…

What is musical sound? A standard definition of music is “intentionally organized sound.”1 It is “the science or art of ordering tones or sounds in succession…to produce a composition having unity and continuity.”2 Another definition is “a universal, human, dynamic, multi-purpose, sound signaling system.”3 Furthermore, Elena Mannes, a renowned musicologist, gives this definition of music.…

According to Lifeway Research, “The worst thing pastors can do is use the time they have in the pulpit—time for unfolding the glories of God in the gospel of Christ—to instead moralize about music… Scripture doesn’t speak directly to what elements of pop culture we should engage, because the artifacts of pop culture in the…

A study of church history reveals differing positions regarding appropriate text and suitable musical style. God created music for good purposes. However, because of man’s differing theological presuppositions and approach to biblical interpretation, the applications of appropriate music are varied. Throughout church history, music and its use in worship have been controversial. Historic Musical Controversies…

God created all things for His glory and pleasure (Rev. 4:11). This includes music. It is a gift from God to humanity as a good and perfect gift (Gen. 1:31; Job 35:10). God intends mankind to enjoy and use the blessings of music for His praise in both public and personal worship (Ps. 96:1-2). God…

A national research survey conducted by the Barna Research Group suggests that the coverage and opinions expressed by Christian leaders regarding the worship wars have masked the real issue surrounding worship. Barna writes that Christian leaders have “exaggerated the scope of the problem.” The real issue, they contend, is that they “don’t understand the relationship…

According to a recent study by the Barna Research Team, most U.S. Christians think that they are losing influence in America and sense tension between their beliefs and the mainstream culture. Two-thirds of those surveyed indicated conflict between their worldviews and mainstream America’s. This study reveals the need to obtain a biblical view of culture…

A Biblical View of Conspiracy Theories The phrase “It’s a conspiracy” resounds in society today. For example, a 2023 YouGov survey demonstrates Americans’ propensity to believe certain events and situations can be explained by formulating a conspiracy theory. This survey finds that 54% believe that Lee Harvey Oswald did not act alone in the assassination…