I've had many friends ask me what I believe about music. To be quite honest, I enjoy some more "peppy" tunes every now and then, but it's not my opinion or approvals that matter - it only matters what God thinks about music.
If you look up music in the Bible, you will find many, many, many Scripture passages on music. It is clear that God enjoys music and created it for His glory. Since music is often a "gray area" in churches and organizations, I looked for Scriptures that maybe weren't as common, but are very clear. These are a few of the criteria for Godly Christian music I found. (Please note: I used the KJV because it is the closest to the original languages of Hebrew and Greek.)
In Colossians, we are instructed to let God's Word dwell in our hearts through music. It is also obvious that Paul is talking to Christians. Godly music among Christians should encourage other Christians in God's Word, bring to remembrance the things that God has done, and most of all, bring honor and glory to God. "Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." (Colossians 3:16)
Along those same lines, Psalm 40:3 states that good music causes others see and fear the Lord. It doesn't have the appearance of the world's rock concerts, because they see the difference. They don't just "feel His love", but they fear God. This verse also uses the term "new song". Now, the verse before, David is praising God for bringing Him out of the "miry clay"- a picture of the world. A new song then, would be a song that is different from the world. "And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord."
Even back in the O.T. God talks about good music. "It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord... then the house was filled witha cloud, ...for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God." (2 Chronicles 5:13-14) A classical orchestra and a rock band can use the same instruments, but they sound totally different. The instruments mentioned in this passage could be used for good or bad. The difference? The orchestra and choir were as one; they had a unified sound. All the instruments, and the parts the singers had, worked together to make a melodious, peaceful, God-honoring sound. -And God's presence was so strong, the priests, God's own ministers, couldn't even stand in God's house. Where is that presence today?
There are also a few things that God doesn't want in music:
When God is describing the insincere, careless people in Israel that He would judge in Amos, he mentions those instruments again. Instruments like David's, but apparently not used in a good manner. But then he uses the word "chant". Something said redundantly, repetitively, over and over, and over, and ...you get the point. In Matthew, God refers to "vain repetitions" in prayer. Music is a prayer with notes and sound. God doesn't want empty, repetitive phrases in His music. "That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of music like David." (Amos 6:5) "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do..." (Matthew 6:7)
You all know the story of Moses on Mount Sinai, how he wrote the ten commands on two tablets, and then he did what? ...He broke them because of the people's sin. The sin of idolatry, the sin of wanting to be like the world around them. "And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp. And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I hear." (Exodus 32:17-18) As Moses came down the mountain, he ran into Joshua, (his side-kick) and they were confused about the sounds coming from camp. It sounded like war (i.e. chaos, angry, screaming, etc) but yet it didn't sound like victory or defeat, it sounded kind of like... singing? How strange! And that is the noise that accompanied their dancing and idol worship, all what they had learned from the world. Our music should not look like the world, and it definately should not incite sensual desires. Moses was so distraught over the people's returning to worldly ways that he broke the tablets, and the people had awful consequences.
One last verse I would like to share with you,
"For God is King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding." (Psalm 47:7)
Take a look at what God says in His Word, both these verses and others. God didn't mean music to be a "gray area". He created us to praise Him, and He wants us to praise Him with a pure heart. It doesn't matter what you think about music, it doesn't matter what I think; it matters what God thinks. He brought us out of the world to be different from the world and separated unto Him.
Sing with understanding.
If you look up music in the Bible, you will find many, many, many Scripture passages on music. It is clear that God enjoys music and created it for His glory. Since music is often a "gray area" in churches and organizations, I looked for Scriptures that maybe weren't as common, but are very clear. These are a few of the criteria for Godly Christian music I found. (Please note: I used the KJV because it is the closest to the original languages of Hebrew and Greek.)
In Colossians, we are instructed to let God's Word dwell in our hearts through music. It is also obvious that Paul is talking to Christians. Godly music among Christians should encourage other Christians in God's Word, bring to remembrance the things that God has done, and most of all, bring honor and glory to God. "Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." (Colossians 3:16)
Along those same lines, Psalm 40:3 states that good music causes others see and fear the Lord. It doesn't have the appearance of the world's rock concerts, because they see the difference. They don't just "feel His love", but they fear God. This verse also uses the term "new song". Now, the verse before, David is praising God for bringing Him out of the "miry clay"- a picture of the world. A new song then, would be a song that is different from the world. "And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God: many shall see it, and fear, and shall trust in the Lord."
Even back in the O.T. God talks about good music. "It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord... then the house was filled witha cloud, ...for the glory of the Lord had filled the house of God." (2 Chronicles 5:13-14) A classical orchestra and a rock band can use the same instruments, but they sound totally different. The instruments mentioned in this passage could be used for good or bad. The difference? The orchestra and choir were as one; they had a unified sound. All the instruments, and the parts the singers had, worked together to make a melodious, peaceful, God-honoring sound. -And God's presence was so strong, the priests, God's own ministers, couldn't even stand in God's house. Where is that presence today?
There are also a few things that God doesn't want in music:
When God is describing the insincere, careless people in Israel that He would judge in Amos, he mentions those instruments again. Instruments like David's, but apparently not used in a good manner. But then he uses the word "chant". Something said redundantly, repetitively, over and over, and over, and ...you get the point. In Matthew, God refers to "vain repetitions" in prayer. Music is a prayer with notes and sound. God doesn't want empty, repetitive phrases in His music. "That chant to the sound of the viol, and invent to themselves instruments of music like David." (Amos 6:5) "But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do..." (Matthew 6:7)
You all know the story of Moses on Mount Sinai, how he wrote the ten commands on two tablets, and then he did what? ...He broke them because of the people's sin. The sin of idolatry, the sin of wanting to be like the world around them. "And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp. And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I hear." (Exodus 32:17-18) As Moses came down the mountain, he ran into Joshua, (his side-kick) and they were confused about the sounds coming from camp. It sounded like war (i.e. chaos, angry, screaming, etc) but yet it didn't sound like victory or defeat, it sounded kind of like... singing? How strange! And that is the noise that accompanied their dancing and idol worship, all what they had learned from the world. Our music should not look like the world, and it definately should not incite sensual desires. Moses was so distraught over the people's returning to worldly ways that he broke the tablets, and the people had awful consequences.
One last verse I would like to share with you,
"For God is King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding." (Psalm 47:7)
Take a look at what God says in His Word, both these verses and others. God didn't mean music to be a "gray area". He created us to praise Him, and He wants us to praise Him with a pure heart. It doesn't matter what you think about music, it doesn't matter what I think; it matters what God thinks. He brought us out of the world to be different from the world and separated unto Him.
Sing with understanding.
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