Project Description
2013/03
What music should I listen to?
Modern technology has transformed the way in which we listen to our music. Using an mp3 player, iPod, or mobile phone, you can have a private collection of thousands of songs you can listen to wherever you want, whenever you want. How can we differentiate between good, wholesome, God-glorifying music and that which is poisonous to the soul?
Sounds from Heaven
The Bible teaches that music is a gift of God. The Psalms were sung to musical accompaniment (Psa.150). The Psalmist uses the metaphor of music to describe the beauty of the natural creation (Psa.96:11-12, 98:8).
Heaven is depicted as a place which is alive with music, expressing the happiness of its inhabitants (Rev.5:8, 14:2, 15:2).
Man is a spiritual creature, made in the image of God, and this gift of music touches the spirit of humanity in a unique manner. So we should seek music that reflects something of the beauty and glory of God. All that we do – and this includes what we listen to – should be according to God’s Word, and for His glory.
Thus, ‘good’ music should:
- Give us a greater view of God’s glory
- Affirm a biblical view of man’s depravity and sin
- Encourage godly living and Christian service
- Prompt the reading of the Word of God and prayer
- Agree with the truth of Scripture
Does the music you listen to fulfil these criteria?
Does Satan have his music?
Scripture and experience teach us that Satan distorts every gift of God. This means we must expect to hear the antithesis of godly music in the world today. We discover this form of music in the modern ‘pop’ phenomenon. Most of this has developed out of the ‘Rock and Roll’ or Beatles era and, as such, has been nurtured in sinister soil. Popular music, in which western youth culture is immersed, will have a detrimental impact on those who listen, for it carries the marks of satanic influence.
Take the music itself. The dominance of the beat and the powerful intensity of the rhythm are opposed to the natural musical rhythm of the human body, causing tension rather than soothing the mind and the soul. William Shafer, a non-Christian sociologist wrote: “What is undeniable about rock is its hypnotic power. It has gripped millions of young people around the world and transformed their lives” (“Rock Music”).
Satanic influence is also found in the lyrics. These songs frequently blaspheme, promote immoral behaviour, preach a message of rebellion and express the hopeless darkness of a lost generation. And what of the artists themselves? Some are steeped in the occult; others have a record of drug and alcohol abuse; many have well documented immoral lifestyles; and, tragically, an alarming number have taken their own lives. Never consider the modern pop culture to be just harmless entertainment! As you listen your thinking may well be warped by Satan’s distortion of God’s gift of music.
Music is Never Neutral
Music is either from God or Satan. It will be good for the soul or dangerous to the soul. We should remember the words of the Apostle Paul when selecting our music: “Whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are pure… think on these things” (Phil.4:8).
Rev. Peter McIntyre
