A Biblical Perspective on Music
Introduction:
What is Music?
- In its very basic form, music is a group of tones, arranged and organized in sequence to create a composition.
o It consists of vocal and instrumental sounds having melody, rhythm, and harmony.
- Sounds pretty basic, but somehow, this thing called music stirs our souls like nothing else can.
- Music has been called the “universal language.”
o “Music is the universal language of mankind” - Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
- Martin Luther ranked it second only to the Word of God:
o “Next to the Word of God, music deserves the highest praise. She is a mistress and governess of those human emotions which control men or more often overtake them. Whether you wish to comfort the sad, to subdue frivolity, to encourage the despairing, to humble the proud, to calm the passionate or to appease those full of hate…what more effective means than music could you find?”
A Brief Musical History
- Music in China is traced back 3,000 years. Music in India is traced back 4,000 years.
- Scientists, archeologists, and musicologists agree that the "oldest known song" was written in cuneiform, dating to 4,000 years ago from Ur.
o Ur was an ancient city in southern Mesopotamia (modern day Iraq), located near the mouth (at the time) of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers on the Persian Gulf. It is considered to be one of the earliest known civilizations in world history.
o Where was Eden located?
- The creation story in Genesis relates the geographical location of both Eden and the garden to four rivers (Pishon, Gihon, Tigris, Euphrates).
- The most common hypotheses locate Eden at the headwaters of the Tigris and Euphrates, in Iraq (Mesopotamia).
- Common Biblical worldview is that mankind has been around for about 5,000 years.
o Non “Biblical” archeological evidence supports this notion.
o The earliest instruments discovered are dated over 4,000 years old.
- In Genesis 4 there is an amazing statement.
Genesis 4:26
That’s when men and women began praying and worshiping in the name of GOD. (The Message)
o By reading further and adding up the age when Adam fathered Seth, and then Seth fathered Enosh, we can estimate that it is just over 235 years from the creation of man to when humans began corporate worship of GOD.
- In Genesis 4:17-22 we have a listing of some of Cain’s descendants. In verse 21 we are introduced to Jubal.
Genesis 4:21
His brother’s name was Jubal. He was the father of all those who play the harp and flute.
o This enables us to pinpoint the use of instruments in praise and worship to as early as the 7th generation from Adam.
o Music history professors say that music officially “began” when living creatures like birds began uttering musical tones in communication.
o So we could say that music started as early as the 5th day of creation.
- Historical evidence combined with the Genesis account show a convergence of God’s master plan for music and man’s wisdom.
o Man has discovered that, in fact, God’s account of how music came into being, matches up with our discovery of historical, archeological fact.
- This should bring all of us comfort knowing that our discovery of God in this world remains constant and consistent with the account of God in the Bible!
- So did music begin with the creation of Earth? Did man invent it based on what he observed in nature?
John 1:1-3
In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made through him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.
- One key to understanding if music existed even before the creation of the world is to understand if music exists in heaven.
- Music in fact, is currently present in the Heavenly realm.
o In John’s open vision of heaven we read an account of the throne room of Jesus where the 24 elders, the entire body of the church, the four living creatures, the angels, the cherubim, seraphim and every living creature all use music in the form of instruments and singing to bring praise to the Lamb of God.
- A sample of their praise is found in Revelation 5:12.
Revelation 5:12
“…‘Worthy is the Lamb who was slain
to receive power and riches and wisdom,
and strength and honor and glory and blessing!’”
- As Pastor Steve describes this, it appears that Jesus loves music because he has decorated his living room with it!
- Finally, if you wonder whether music is of God or from God or to be used for God’s purposes, consider that Almighty God Himself sings, and He sings a song He writes over you and me!
Zephaniah 3:17
“The LORD your God in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoce over you with singing.”
- It seems that music was important enough to be included in creation and in Heaven as we read above in John 1.
o So it appears that assuming music existed from the beginning of creation is not a huge leap.
o It is near to God’s heart.
- Therefore I think I can make the following purpose statement for music:
Music is a creation of God and has existed in the heavenly realm even before the creation of the world; it currently is, and will be used in the heavenly realm for eternity to bring praise, worship and glory to God. God sewed music into the fabric of the world for His purposes, to be used by mankind for the purpose of God’s glorification.
What is the Purpose of All Created Things?
- Everything was created for God’s Glory
Romans 11:36
“Everything comes from God alone, everything lives by his power, and everything is for his glory.” (Living Bible)
- So we know God created all things, that Jesus was the Word and was there from the beginning and all things on Earth were sown through Him.
- Therefore, the purposes and balance of the world are only understood when viewed through the lens of Jesus.
Revelation 4:11(Song of the 24 Elders)
“You are worthy, O Lord,
To receive glory and honor and power;
For You created all things,
And by Your will they exist and were created.”
- Therefore, we know the purpose of music. It is a God created thing, to glorify God.
- Therefore, music used for anything but glorification of God is a distortion or aberration of its original intent.
In the World, Not of the World
- Music exists, and we create it, use it to sooth our souls, use it to comfort those who mourn, and use it to spark joy and bring jubilation.
- There is music all around us, and we listen to it every single day. So, which music is good for us to listen to and which isn’t?
- God commands us to not conform to the world.
Romans 12:2
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
So What are We to do?
I was asked a question in a praise and worship seminar once by a man who played bass in a jazz combo on the weekends. He wanted to know if, as a Christian, he was going against the will of God by not exclusively playing his instrument in church. He was asking for my permission to continue to use his gifting in that nightclub even if it was not directly for God.
- I am going to give you a tool to use which I believe will help you understand how all music is and should be categorized. I believe that if you use this tool for all your media consumption, it could revolutionize your life.
- I want to give you a practical tool you can use to evaluate what kind of music you should be participating in, endorsing, filling your mind with, or brainwashing yourself with.
- Music can be split into 2 major categories, worship and non-worship.
- Non-worship is anything that is not specifically designed to glorify God.
- There are two categories of non-worship:
- Those with redemptive qualities and those without.
- One of the biggest issues for us as Christians is our preconceived idea that “glorification of God” must mean that we need to be singing directionally to the Lord, and if “Jesus” is not in our song, we are in fact somehow sinning. This is foolishness.
- If I walk in the mountains enjoying creation – that is glorifying to God.
- The birth of a child – that is glorifying to God.
- Loving my wife – that is glorifying to God.
- Enjoying music can be glorifying to God.
The Heart of the Matter is a Matter of the Heart
- What is the intent behind the song?
- We cannot judge on style alone. We need to be concerned with the heart and intent behind the music, and use discernment in how we consume this stuff.
- What happens when we feed ourselves unhealthy food? We become unhealthy. What happens when we subsist on a diet of unhealthy feeding of our souls?
- One of the most powerful tools of Satan is the corruption of our value system, the corruption of our soul. Satan does not have your best interest in mind.
John 10:10
“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.”
Matthew 6:33
“But seek first the kingdom of God…”
- Therefore, we should shun anything that distracts us from Jesus.
The Holy Spirit can Give Us Discernment
- The only way for you to know what is good and bad, what is redemptive and non-redemptive, is to ask the Holy Spirit to give you understanding!
- Our loving Father in heaven gave us this helper to empower us for this life!
2 Peter 1:3
“His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue.”
Good vs. Evil
- Someone asked me, confused, “It sounds like you are saying that music can be inherently evil or good. I believe that music is neutral.”
- I read a twisted point of view on this subject:
- “Music, of itself, therefore, is neither 'evil' nor 'good' but something that was waiting to be discovered...”
- This perspective implies that non-worshipful, or secular use of music is a part of God’s plan. This is wrong.
- Man-as-creator is a bogus and humanistic argument.
- We can only create because God gave us the capacity to do so!
Proverbs 29:6
“By transgression an evil man is snared,
But the righteous sings and rejoices.”
- In our transgression against the purposes of God, there is not just sin, but a snare; it is a trap!
- Matthew Henry’s Commentary on this passage says, “Those that make God their chief joy have him for their exceeding joy, and it is their own fault if they do not rejoice evermore.”
- It appears that music bursts forth from the soul of the person who is wholly dedicated to righteousness.
- This makes sense to me. Since music is a creation of God, it is intended to bring Him glory.
Solution: Pray for Discernment
- God may ask you to remove some things from your home, from your iPod, from your Netflix account.
- God may show you by His Spirit that you should not be watching certain TV shows or certain movies.
- How can you evaluate what has redemptive qualities and what doesn’t? I’ve provided a chart for you to use.
Philippians 4:8
Finally brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.
- Here we see what God would have us focus on to live a Christian life.
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Redemptive
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Non-Redemptive
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True
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Lies, falsehood
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Noble, respectable, sacred
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Mean, vulgar, profane
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Just, right
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Unfair, wrongful, inequitable
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Pure
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Debased, corrupt, tainted
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Lovely, pleasing
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Ugly, hateful
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Of Good Report, reputable
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Indecent, dishonest
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Virtue
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Wicked
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Praiseworthy
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Blameworthy, disrespectful
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- You might ask, what’s the deal? Why does it seem I have a restrainer on me now and others don’t? I think it is put most poignantly by Oswald Chambers:
“When God changes you through regeneration, giving you new life through spiritual rebirth, your life initially has the characteristic of being maimed. There are a hundred and one things that you dare not do— things that would be sin for you, and would be recognized as sin by those who really know you. But the unspiritual people around you will say, "What’s so wrong with doing that? How absurd you are!" There has never yet been a saint who has not lived a maimed life initially. Yet it is better to enter into life maimed but lovely in God’s sight than to appear lovely to man’s eyes but lame to God’s. At first, Jesus Christ through His Spirit has to restrain you from doing a great many things that may be perfectly right for everyone else but not right for you.”
1Peter 1:16
…“be holy because I am holy.”
- How can God fulfill his purpose for our lives if we focus on the things that will draw us away from Him?
- Be in the world, not of the world.
- Impact the world with the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
- You do this by being wholly other.
- We are renewed creatures, sanctified by God.
- Why contaminate the container?
- New wine skins, old wine skins.
- God’s desire for you is to be a transformed person, living a life of holiness and peace, a life of joy; joy that can only be found through Christ Jesus.
Make the decision today that you will put the restrainer on your flesh and seek first the Kingdom of God. Commit your media watching, your intake of movies, TV, and music to the Lord.
Ask for spiritual discernment and watch the transformation occur that only can be brought about by transforming yourself into the image of God, one decision at a time.
This sermon was produced at Mountain Springs Church in Colorado Springs, with Pastor Michael Burwell. www.mountainsprings.org
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