For Nazarene Faith, "God" is Not
a Name
“Elohim (EL-oh-heem) is a Hebrew title translated in
English bibles as the
name
God. However, Elohim is not a name and does not translate
correctly as God. The errors of the earliest English translators
have been perpetuated by modern Bible translations for the sake of
tradition. To many people of faith today, correcting such errors of the
past is of great importance. This is why I call my hymn collection
EloHymns, to remind us whom the ancients of our faith worshiped and to
whom we are to be directing our songs of praise today,” says Jackson
Snyder, Elohymns composer and performer.
Persisting Translation Error Corrected in EloHymns
Another translation error that has persisted is the
concealment of the heavenly Father’s name, Yahweh, with a
medieval title, LORD.
Most modern translators conceal the Name at least seven thousand
times throughout Scripture and admit doing so in the translation notes.
When thoughtful worshipers learn about these admitted errors, they wish
for scriptures containing the one true name Yahweh and the correct
ancient titles. This demand has spurred new translations with corrected “god
language”, from the Jerusalem Bible in 1965 (a Roman Catholic
version) to The Scriptures in 2005 (an independent work).
With
more accurate Scriptures, there follows a need for worship music with more
accurate language and Scriptural themes. Elohymns help fill the
gap by taking the text of a Biblical psalm, translating it correctly,
setting the song to rhyme and rhythm, and making it ready to apply new
melodies inspired by both modern music forms and the classical Hebraic
idiom, called Klezmer. The word Klezmer derives from
Hebrew, the language of the Bible, meaning “a vessel of song” or, more
generically, “a musical instrument.” Popular Klezmer music makes use of
some of the styles of eastern European (now known as Israeli or Messianic)
worship and dance music wedded to musical styles to which the western ear
is more accustomed.
How Does One Describe KLEZMER Music?
How do you describe Popular Klezmer music? Most know
at least some of the songs from the musical and motion picture A
Fiddler on the Roof. The music for Fiddler was written in the
Popular Klezmer style. Setting the words of the Scriptures to what is
perceived as Hebraic style makes for a varied program of worship – from a
meaningful ballad, like “Sunrise, Sunset,” to the evocative, even
dance-like, “If I Were a Rich Man,” to the lamentation of “Anatevka.”
Elohymns come in other styles also – classical,
blues, choral arrangements, folk songs – even Hungarian dance – and from
poetic texts found throughout the Scriptures. Each Elohymn is
completely digitally orchestrated and many include sound effects that make
the words and worship more authentic and involving.
The Elohymn “For the Love of Thunder (Psalm 18)”
includes a lightning storm in throughout the hymn. “I Called Upon Yahweh
(Psalm 120)” is about a soldier in the heat of battle, calling upon Yahweh
to save his life. There are the sounds of battle and rescue mixed
throughout the hymn. In “Elohim is Stomping Feet (Psalm 60),” timpani and
bass drum help the singer to stomp right along.
You may listen to or download several Elohymns at the
website
www.elohymns.com. Elohymns volumes 1-4 (80 Elohymns) are published by
Your Arms to Israel Publishing in Miami.
Learn How to "Sound the Shofar" In This EloHymn
“Sound the Shofar on the Day of Awe (Joshua 6:5)”
teaches the elemental tones played on the ram’s horn trumpet (shofar) as
the song progresses. It is the favorite of the local house congregation
of the “Nazarene Faith” for whom Elohymns was originally written. Those
of the Nazarene Faith seek out the original life, teachings and practices
of Yahshua the Nazarene (Jesus) so as to know him more intimately and thus
worship the Heavenly Father more authentically, rejecting many of the
dogmatic accretions that have accumulated over the last two millennium in
worship. (The Nazarene Faith is not a denomination but a movement also
known as Nazarene Israelite or Ysraelite but not connected with The Church
of the Nazarene.)
Modern Scholarship Little Known in Church Circles
Modern scholarship and the tremendous archaeological
finds of the last 100 years have greatly illuminated aspects of Yahshua’s
(Jesus’) life and practice that are only implied or absent entirely from
the Biblical accounts. Once such discovery is that Yahshua neither
approved of nor took part in the sacrifices of animals, yet he did observe
the holy days of the Scripture (Leviticus 23) including Hanukkah. Though
these things are implied in the New Testament, they are confirmed
by cutting-edge biblical scholars.
Nazarene or Nazorean? What Is the Meaning of This?
The word Nazarene, as in The Nazarene Faith,
is from the New Testament (more properly, Nazorean, Acts 24:5,
Greek), referring to a division from Judaism. The root word, Notzrim,
means “keepers” or “guardians” of the deity’s oracles. Nazarene
worshipers of today understand themselves as recapturing and
guarding the original teachings and practices of Yahshua / Jesus as
they become unconcealed.
Name is Concealed
One of the primary treasures restored in the last
century or so is the name of the Heavenly Father that Yahshua / Jesus
spoke of extensively, as in the great prayer of John 17 – “I have kept
them in Your Name,” and “I have revealed Your Name to humanity.” Many
worshipers today still do not know this Name, concealed in Bible
translations. Those of the Nazarenes Faith freely use the name Yahweh
(or the older pronunciation, Yahuweh) – the very same name
Jesus knew as that of his Heavenly Father, used and proliferated.
Obviously, this discovery makes many church hymns and
choruses unusable for the Nazarene congregations that are popping
up all over the world. Elohymns helps fill the void with high quality and
entertaining worship music, consistent with the Scriptures in the original
tongues, Hebraic musically and fulfilling spiritually. Elohymns are being
received in congregations from Panama City to Quezon City.
Vocalists Needed!
Elohymns are continually being written, arranged and
recorded in Southeast Tallahassee; good voices and instrumentalists are
always needed. If you would like to be a part of the recording effort
– on a one time or continuous basis – please go to
www.elohymns.com and read “notes to potential performers.” One need
not be a professional singer to participate or be recorded for an upcoming
Elohymns CD.
To contact YAH Prince of Peace Nazarene Study Group
or Elohymns, phone (801) 605-1715 or email
jack@glowmi.org.
Photos:
1. Jackson Snyder, composer of EloHymns.
1. Grayson and Garrick Logue rehearse the sounds of
the ram’s horn trumpet (shofar) in the Elohymns studio. The boys built
their own shofars for the Feast of Trumpets last September.
2. Marcelle Logue, their mother, joins as featured
vocalist on Elohymns Volume 3, Days of Awe. If you are a singer,
you can be a part of this project.
