Music. It comes from the word muse, which means ‘to think.’ Music affects your mind and thoughts. It is important what goes into your mind. God created music. The angel choir sang the night Jesus was born. Solomon was used of God to write 1005 songs (1 Kings 4:32.) The book of Solomon is called the “Song of Solomon.” Singing is mentioned 110 times in scripture. Musician is mentioned 56 times in scripture. Charles Spurgeon’s parents gave him a penny for each hymn he memorized. Music plays a big part in worship.
ACCEPTABLE MUSIC
Ephesians 5:10, “Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.”
Not all music is acceptable to God. He is concerned with every thought you think and word you hear.
Matthew 12:36, “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.”
2 Corinthians 10:5, “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;”
Music is a form of worship. It gives glory to the composer, musician, and philosophy.
CHRISTIAN MUSIC
Psalms 40:1-3, “I waited patiently for the LORD; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings. 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.”
A Christian is to sing a “new song.” The “new song” is mentioned nine times in the Bible. Once saved, one has something to sing about. Notice Psalms 126:1-6, “When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them. The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad. Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south. They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.”
What is the “new song?” It is praise unto our God. A Christian’s music is to praise God!
Notice what these passages say:
1. Ephesians 5:19-20, “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;”
2. Colossians 3:16, “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.”
Music either brings us closer to God or closer to the world. Notice 1 Corinthians 10:31, “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
Our music is to glorify God!
ROCK MUSIC
Rock and Roll is a slang term for sex. One rock star stated that “rock music is 100% sex!” Most rock music focuses on three subjects: drugs, sex, and violence. “It is the language of rebellion,” said another rock star.
What is wrong with rock music?
The name suggests immorality.
The message is rebellion.
The lyrics confuse love for lust.
It contains humanistic philosophy.
It makes the body want to dance.
Because of the poor quality of the music, it has to be loud, which damages the hearing.
Lifestyles of the performers are perverted with drugs, rebellion, immorality, and occult activities.
It introduces a person to places where drugs and liquor are rampant.
It can incite violence. Many people have been killed at rock concerts.
It is the world’s music. 1 John 2:15, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
It leads others to sin. 1 Corinthians 5:6, “Your glorying is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?”
It does not praise God.
In Exodus 32, we hear the account of what may have been the first rock concert ever in the Bible. Versus 17-19, 25 say, “And all the congregation of the children of Israel journeyed from the wilderness of Sin, after their journeys, according to the commandment of the LORD, and pitched in Rephidim: and there was no water for the people to drink. Wherefore the people did chide with Moses, and said, Give us water that we may drink. And Moses said unto them, Why chide ye with me? wherefore do ye tempt the LORD? And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Wherefore is this that thou hast brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst? And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:)”
Joshua thought the people were “shouting” and thought it was the noise of “war.” Then he realized the people were “singing,” dancing around an idol, and naked. What better description of the world’s music today, than shouting, war, and singing?
What do you do if you have rock CDs or music? Acts 19:19 gives us an idea: Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver.”
Burn and destroy the music. Then obtain some godly tapes and CDs to replace them. Godly music soothes, exhorts, and uplifts a Christian’s spirit. King Saul employed David to play the harp for him to help stop his depression.
But you say, “I like the sound (or the beat) of rock music.” Jesus said that we prove our love by obeying His commandments. Do you love a beat or sound more than Jesus?
CHRISTIAN ROCK???
Can there be Christian immorality? No. There is no such thing as Christian rock. It may be described as that, but there is nothing Christ-like about it.
Some people have foolishly put gospel words to a rock beat and call it Christian music. Does God get glory from that? No. It is still the world’s music. Rock music is a worldly substitute for Christians who are not totally sold out to God.
James 4:4, “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”
Notice the following excerpt from a music company’s ad in a bookstore:
100% Rock—————>100% True!!!
Don’t give up...just rock along. It’s a powerful new way to give your kids the music they want, with the message they need. A great combination to get you back on the same ground...combine the music of the time with the timeless message of Jesus. Their music. Their language. His message.
What worldliness!!
Rock Music + Christian Words does not equal Glory To God!!
SINGING TO THE LORD
Psalms 32:7, “Thou art my hiding place; thou shalt preserve me from trouble; thou shalt compass me about with songs of deliverance. Selah.”
Psalms 69:30, “I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving.”
Psalms 119:54, “Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage.”
1 Chronicles 16:9, “Sing unto him, sing psalms unto him, talk ye of all his wondrous works.”
Lamentations 3:63, “Behold their sitting down, and their rising up; I am their music.”
The book of Psalms is simply 150 songs. It was the Old Testament hymn book. God made our throat with the ability to make a variety of sounds. This was not just for talking but for singing, too.
Revelation 5:9, “And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;”
Singing will be one of our activities in Heaven!!
THE MOST IMPORTANT SINGING IS YOUR SINGING TO GOD
Sing to God when you are alone.
Listen to good Christian music.
Pick a gospel song for the day to sing, hum, and whistle.
Read a hymn a day (it will make you appreciate the words more.)
Sing your heart out in church services.
If you have talent, use it for God-sing specials in church.
When you sing, you are being Christ-like. Jesus even sang a hymn before going to the garden to Gethsemane.
ONE OF THE FIRST STEPS IN BACKSLIDING OCCURS IN MUSIC-BE CAREFUL!
WHAT WILL SINGING DO FOR ME?
1. It will give you strength. Exodus 15:2, “The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him.”
2. It will aid in prayer. Psalms 100:2, “Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing.”
3. It will increase your courage. Psalms 42:8, “Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.”
4. It will defeat your enemies. 2 Chronicles 20:17, 22, “Ye shall not need to fight in this battle: set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the LORD with you, O Judah and Jerusalem: fear not, nor be dismayed; to morrow go out against them: for the LORD will be with you. And when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushments against the children of Ammon, Moab, and mount Seir, which were come against Judah; and they were smitten.” Singing gave miraculous victory to God’s people! Paul and Silas sang in jail in Acts 16.
5. It will prevent depression. Singing makes you conscious of God. “In my presence is fullness of joy,” said Jesus. Singing reminds you of God’s presence.
Great revivals in history always had great singing involved. Moody had Sankey as his singer. Finney had Charles Alexander. Billy Sunday had Homer Rhodeaver.
Are you singing daily to the Lord? You may not think your singing is beautiful, but it is to God. He is looking at your heart.
