A Biblical, non-kneejerk look at Music

Date:   8/18/2005 7:57:43 AM ( 19 y ago)

(most material originally at http://www.theology.fether.net/dochandler.php?id=49 )

I've been ranting about how most of church history has borne little resemblance to the NT model, but I'd like to take a closer look at the issue of music as it relates to the church. Many otherwise level-headed Christian authors go ballistic when you say "Christian Rock", thinking anything but old hymns in 4/4 time is from the devil. The truth is, the Bible never specifies musical styles or even worship instructions for the NT church, beyond what we've already covered. But it does have a few things to say about music.

1Sa 18:6, 30:16
2Sa 6:16
1Ch 15:29
Ps 30:11, 150:1-5
Lu 15:25

These references show that, at the very least, music is associated with happiness and worship. But some say that rock, because of its beat, is inherently evil. Some cultures use rhythm to summon demons, and many rock musicians acknowledge the demonic sources of their music. But rock isn’t the only thing demons can influence.

Most people are not aware of the demonic inspiration behind many classical works, or the technical innovations that have been inspired through contact with the spirit world. (These are documented in the Dave Hunt book, Occult Invasion ). One such invention is the copier, or Xerox machine. Would the people who advocate the banning of rock (at least for Christians) be willing to also ban the use of copiers? They may object that rock is a powerful medium in a way that copiers are not, but the question is whether to ban something because of its occult roots, or because of its current effect on people.

Basing our decision on occult roots would lead to a Pharisaical paranoia over everything we come in contact with. We wouldn’t be able to get out of bed in the morning without determining the origin of whatever we might encounter that day. But this is where legalism leads you if you are to be consistent, which you must be if you don’t want to be hypocritical. Copiers don’t incite people to do evil, but in most cases neither does music (don’t forget that some classical music caused people to riot when it was new!). It all depends on the intent of the musicians and the music’s effect on the listeners.

Christians seem to have a propensity for picking a certain point in history and saying, "We’re stopping here, and we’re never going to budge", whether it’s about Bible translations or church worship services or Christian entertainment. But if copiers can be used to spread the Gospel, then so can rock. If only one soul was ever saved through rock music, it was worth it (especially for the one saved!).

Reverence has its place in the Christian life, but so does joy. Heaven is a place of celebration, not restraint! It seems to me that group worship should be a celebration, while reverence should be reserved for our time alone with the Lord or in a prayer meeting.

It's all a matter of personal taste. Personally, I can worship God and feel close to Him using anything from "The Old Rugged Cross" to "Good Enough" by the Christian metal band Whitecross. There is absolutely no Biblical sanction of one style of music or prohibition of another; it's the content and intent that matter.

Some lyrics I was listening to while typing this:

"Now"
Mega 3 Collection
Whitecross

(chorus)
Our God is God
I'm gonna scream it out loud
I'm gonna run to the One who loves me

He died for me
I'm gonna live for Him
I've lost all fear of eternity
---

When all your fears fall on you
You know there's hell to pay
But all those years of sinning
His blood will wash away

(chorus)



 

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