People are very particular about the type of music and entertainment they are interested in. Music seems to take the lead in the entertainment bracket, when it comes to things to be particular about. Movies and recreation seem to be, kind of, on the back burner in comparison with music. I believe this is because music speaks directly to the soul. It can arouse or discourage emotion, courage, tenderness, anger, hurt, compassion, unity, love, bitterness, hate, sensuality, etc. It truly is a magical force given to us as a gift from a loving God. However, as with all things given to man, we have the ability, and are prone, to pervert the very gifts from God; and so it is with music!
As a Follower of Christ, and as one seeking to honor the Lord with all members of my body; including the ears, it would be easy to exclude all types of music, save, Spiritual songs of praise and hymns (Rom 6:13). However, I believe this would be a very legalistic approach to music as a whole. And we must remember that we have freedom in Christ, but yet, all that we partake in is not always beneficial for growing our relationship with God (1 Cor. 10:23). That being said, I would like to delve into what qualifies a certain type of music as “God honoring”.
Music comes in all shapes and sizes, colors, and sounds. Each differing sound appeals to diverse generations and people, cultures and races. What may be a disturbing sound to you may be a soothing or beautiful sound to another. Need proof? Go ask your grandmother what she thinks of your latest music download. In the debate of what sound is right or God honoring, truly, as the old saying goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder….or ear! So, what then would disqualify a type of music from being God honoring? Inevitably, the “God honoring” quality, lies in the lyrics. Additionally, the actions of the performer play a big role in how we measure the music. For example, a music artist could sing about Jesus until he/she is blue in the face, but if his music videos are full of inappropriately dressed women, I think it would be safe to start questioning the God honoring aspect of the artists’ music….wouldn’t you? I am not suggesting that each lyric has to be a sermon-in-a-song to be of godly quality. However, we must measure our music and entertainment by Gods measuring stick, given to us in Philippians chapter four:
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things (Phil. 4:8).”
Music is a type of mediation. It can be used as a way to cope, an escape from reality, or a form of relaxation. Whether we are focusing on the lyrics or not, when we are listening to a certain artist, the lyrics still make their way into the subconscious, growing or decaying our spirit. If you disagree with this, maybe you could test it for yourself? Try listening to only music with lyrics that edify a godly spirit for one month, and see if it does or doesn’t result in spiritual conviction and growth.
Unfortunately, we cannot tuck our lives away from the secular world around us. This means that we will take in our fair share of ungodly media. I believe this is why the bible explains- what goes into the man is not what qualifies him as godly, but what comes from within him defiles the man (Matt. 15:16-20). This scripture speaks of food; however, it is a metaphor for all circumstances in life. God knew that we would have to get our senses dirty, so-to-speak, to minister to the lost. We must be aware of what drives the lives and choices of those people around us. God loved us enough that he wanted to understand our depraved condition, so he became one of us to understand us….to save us! Christ did everything “short of sin” to show us how much he loved us; how much he wanted to understand his creation.1 I conclude with this statement from Paul.
“I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law that I might win those who are under the law; to those who are without law, as without law (not being without law toward God, but under law toward Christ), that I might win those who are without law; to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men that I might by all means save some. Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.”
1. 1.Gross, Mahon, Starving Jesus (Colorado Springs, David C. Cook 2007) pg. 141-157
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