Post by pitbull on Dec 12, 2005 9:20:57 GMT -5
Though many people will try to tell you that the Bible is silent about what music we listen to and it is all a matter of personal taste, they are either mistaken or misinformed. God is very clear in giving us some specific guideline for what music we listen to.
1. Christian lyrics should praise the Lord Jesus Christ — not man. (Psalms 9:2; 21:13; 28:7; 33:2-3; Matthew 16:23) Too often there is so-called “Christian” music that does not even mention the Lord in it, let alone praise Him.
2. Christian music is for the Lord — not the world. (Psalms 9:11; 137:1-4; Isaiah 12:2; 2 Corinthians 6:14, 17; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16) It is a sad testimony when so-called Christian musicians try to market their “product” for the unsaved world.
3. Christian music is a new song — not an old song. (Psalms 40:1-3; 144:9; 149:1; 2 Corinthians 5:17) We should not be using old and worldly styles of music but rather new and holy styles.
4. Christian music's message [i.e. lyrics] should be clear — not vague or deceptive. (Acts 4:10-13; 9:29; 14:3; 18:26; 19:8; 1 Corinthians 2:4; 14:15; 2 Corinthians 3:12; Colossians 2:4) There are some songs that are considered Christian but you cannot understand what the lyrics are trying to communicate.
5. Christian music should emphasis the message — not the music or the musician. (Psalm 66:2; John 12:43) Which is more important to you: the message in the song or the musician singing the song? The Dove Awards and Grammy Awards do the opposite.
6. Christian music is in the local church — not concert halls, bars, civic centers, nightclubs, etc. (Psalms 22:22; 149:1; Hebrew 2:12) With the exception of recordings [CD’s, tapes, etc.], this should be the rule rather than the exception. Yet where do you hear about most of the “Christian” music being performed today?
7. Christian music should feed the spirit — not the flesh. (John 3:6-7; 4:24; 1 Corinthians 14:15; Galatians 5:16, 24; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16) Do you feel the music in your spirit or do you feel it in your body? Does it make you want to move and dance or does it make you feel like you just stepped into Heaven?
8. Christian musicians should be dedicated to the Lord — not worldly. (1 Samuel 16:7-12,14-18; 1 Chronicles 15:16; Matthew 5:16; Acts 13:22-23; Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 5:18-21; Colossians 3:16; 1 Timothy 2:9,10) This should go without saying, yet we sadly see the results of this guideline being neglected today by most “Christian” musicians. Their lives seem no different from the unsaved musicians. They are in the news for divorces, adultery, drugs, and other problems.
9. Christian music should have all three components of music (melody, harmony, and rhythm) with melody as the primary component. (Isaiah 23:16; 51:3; Ephesians 5:18-19). Most of the worldly styles of music [rap, rock, pop, country, jazz, etc.] use rhythm as the primary component and may not even have any melody at all. Yet Christians violate this principle when they adapt these worldly styles.
10. Christian music should not use drums. Why?
• The Bible lists many kinds of instruments (e.g. Psalms 150:3-5) but there is one instrument that is never mentioned: the drum. The lack of their presence in the Bible indicates the lack of permission from God to use them, not that God forgot to mention them.
• Drums are associated with voodoo, shamanism, paganism and magic rituals, even during Biblical days. Even in the United States, drums used to be outlawed except for the military and New Orleans. New Orleans is famous for the being the voodoo capital of the U.S.A.
• Drums are associated with the fleshly, rhythm driven music used by the world. It doesn’t matter if it is rock, pop, country, jazz, or whatever, drums is the driving force.
Does your music fit these guidelines? If not, you need to repent and forsake it! Go and use “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” like the Bible commands! I did!
1. Christian lyrics should praise the Lord Jesus Christ — not man. (Psalms 9:2; 21:13; 28:7; 33:2-3; Matthew 16:23) Too often there is so-called “Christian” music that does not even mention the Lord in it, let alone praise Him.
2. Christian music is for the Lord — not the world. (Psalms 9:11; 137:1-4; Isaiah 12:2; 2 Corinthians 6:14, 17; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16) It is a sad testimony when so-called Christian musicians try to market their “product” for the unsaved world.
3. Christian music is a new song — not an old song. (Psalms 40:1-3; 144:9; 149:1; 2 Corinthians 5:17) We should not be using old and worldly styles of music but rather new and holy styles.
4. Christian music's message [i.e. lyrics] should be clear — not vague or deceptive. (Acts 4:10-13; 9:29; 14:3; 18:26; 19:8; 1 Corinthians 2:4; 14:15; 2 Corinthians 3:12; Colossians 2:4) There are some songs that are considered Christian but you cannot understand what the lyrics are trying to communicate.
5. Christian music should emphasis the message — not the music or the musician. (Psalm 66:2; John 12:43) Which is more important to you: the message in the song or the musician singing the song? The Dove Awards and Grammy Awards do the opposite.
6. Christian music is in the local church — not concert halls, bars, civic centers, nightclubs, etc. (Psalms 22:22; 149:1; Hebrew 2:12) With the exception of recordings [CD’s, tapes, etc.], this should be the rule rather than the exception. Yet where do you hear about most of the “Christian” music being performed today?
7. Christian music should feed the spirit — not the flesh. (John 3:6-7; 4:24; 1 Corinthians 14:15; Galatians 5:16, 24; Ephesians 5:19; Colossians 3:16) Do you feel the music in your spirit or do you feel it in your body? Does it make you want to move and dance or does it make you feel like you just stepped into Heaven?
8. Christian musicians should be dedicated to the Lord — not worldly. (1 Samuel 16:7-12,14-18; 1 Chronicles 15:16; Matthew 5:16; Acts 13:22-23; Romans 12:1-2; Ephesians 5:18-21; Colossians 3:16; 1 Timothy 2:9,10) This should go without saying, yet we sadly see the results of this guideline being neglected today by most “Christian” musicians. Their lives seem no different from the unsaved musicians. They are in the news for divorces, adultery, drugs, and other problems.
9. Christian music should have all three components of music (melody, harmony, and rhythm) with melody as the primary component. (Isaiah 23:16; 51:3; Ephesians 5:18-19). Most of the worldly styles of music [rap, rock, pop, country, jazz, etc.] use rhythm as the primary component and may not even have any melody at all. Yet Christians violate this principle when they adapt these worldly styles.
10. Christian music should not use drums. Why?
• The Bible lists many kinds of instruments (e.g. Psalms 150:3-5) but there is one instrument that is never mentioned: the drum. The lack of their presence in the Bible indicates the lack of permission from God to use them, not that God forgot to mention them.
• Drums are associated with voodoo, shamanism, paganism and magic rituals, even during Biblical days. Even in the United States, drums used to be outlawed except for the military and New Orleans. New Orleans is famous for the being the voodoo capital of the U.S.A.
• Drums are associated with the fleshly, rhythm driven music used by the world. It doesn’t matter if it is rock, pop, country, jazz, or whatever, drums is the driving force.
Does your music fit these guidelines? If not, you need to repent and forsake it! Go and use “psalms and hymns and spiritual songs” like the Bible commands! I did!