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THE WORLD, THE
WORD & YOU! RADIO BROADCAST
I’m Dennis Finnan, host and speaker on the World, the Word & You! Broadcast and in a moment we’ll talk about this in my special issues message entitled: THE MUSIC GOD LIKES… …Today more than anything else around us, music is the most commonplace and persuasive element of our culture. With the advent of electronics, music now can be heard everywhere and possibly at all times. From restaurants, to shopping Malls, from telephone holding patterns to even restrooms, music can be heard in the background. Indeed, we are a music-oriented generation. Moreover, today due to our technology and global village status, practically every type of music and culture, can be heard and listened to. The result of this is of course, the ability to cultivate and promote our desires and tastes in music, and to satisfy own personal likes and preferences. Never more has this been true also in the Church of Jesus Christ. For centuries now the Christian church has sought to establish a culture of music which many would like to believe is the “music God likes.” Some have brazenly concluded that what they have found is such; therefore, all other musical genres are not divine. Such is the warfare today within the Church of Jesus Christ. Now, I’ve spoken to this issue before, and I would simply like to add to this some more thoughts for you to consider, so after another musical pause, yes for music which we like, I’ll return with today’s message entitled: THE MUSIC GOD LIKES… …Isn’t it wonderful that God made us all in His glorious image? Do you realize what that means? It tells us no one individual can reflect the whole image of God, So, when God created us, He therefore made each of us as but one tiny aspect of His infinite personality and Being. Indeed, no human being is alike. We look different, speak differently, think and act different, and have unique tastes, desires, and goals. All, if yielded to God through Jesus Christ, can reflect a measured portion of God’s personality and image. Now with this basic thought, it is important to realize that we will through our personalities create things that will be totally different from others in likes, taste and concepts. This is certainly true in the area of music. People will have and rightly so, differing views and ideas about music. Therefore, my first truth to take note of is this…
God is not pleased when we try to force our own selective view or tastes in music upon others, and worse, when we begin to condemn them for not holding our views. With that in mind today I want to find the answer to the question – “What music does God like?” Has He revealed this to us? If so, where can we find it and how can it be identified. Well, first of all the Bible does tell us much about music and the fact that God does delight in His children creating, singing and performing it in His presence. Actually, music is a recurring theme in almost every book of the Bible. Why we are even told that when God finished the creation of the world we live in, that the “morning stars” sang praises to God. Job 38:4-7 (NIV) “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundation? … while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy? Music we discover from the Word was around then BEFORE man was ever created. As to music, the Psalmist went ever further and declared the mountains sing, the rivers clap their hands and the whole earth shouts out concerning the joy of God’s sovereignty.
Why even in the New Testament we are told that the Lord Jesus and His disciples often sang songs of joy and praise. Even up to the last moments together at the Last Supper we read,
In the very last book of the Bible, which reveals the eternal future, we also hear that music will be an important part of life and living in the presence of God. John the Revelator writes,
From the time of creation, to the angels and saved of all eternity – music was, is and ever shall be the constant joy and expression of the created ones to the glory and pleasure of our God. This presents for us a second point to remember,
Now if that is true this means God does like music, and in fact He strongly desires to hear it from His highest creatures, mankind, especially those born again and gathered together in what the Bible calls the Church of Jesus Christ. But herein is the problem. How do we know what music God likes? Could we actually be creating and performing music God doesn’t like, or worse hates? Well today we have such voices in the church who have appointed themselves as the guardian of God’s ears and heart and determiners of His likes and desires in music. Within the church we have music wars that have ended in fierce battles and even hatred, as some individuals even schools of theology have taken the ground they have discovered “Christian music,” which God alone likes, and all other music is sin and worse, evil. Jesus consistently taught that to take such a position is pride and arrogance, something God hates and rejects. So where is the middle ground or right stance in this issue of music? Well let’s move on and try to find out by asking the question: “CAN MUSIC BE CHRISTIAN?” This is an ongoing debate among Christians. Some say there is a particular musical style that is distinctly biblical and Christian, and all others are evil. Others reject such a proposition. How can we answer this? First of all, we must realize from true biblical studies that a third truth must be acknowledged which is,
Friend, no certain style or delivery of music can be declared “Christian” simply because of its ingredients, vocabulary, distinctive sounds or composition thereof. Why? Because God has NOT given us any teaching or precepts concerning this. In fact, if we study culture and history, especially biblical history we find that what might be our likes and tastes in music are vastly different from what other generations and cultures produced and sung to God, which by the way God delighted in. For instance the music of the “Golden era” of Israel during the times of King David and his son Solomon, was vastly different from today. Yet they used it in worship and every day life. In fact the entire Book of Psalms was written as the Hebrew Hymn book. Listen to God’s Word that describes this dynamic musical ministry of Israel.
Here we see that with all the fanfare of music from choirs to a full orchestra of the day, God listened to their praises and music and came down and absolutely delighted in it! Apparently they played and sung the music God likes. If so, then we need to examine what songs they sang, music they played, and instruments they used. In so doing, one will find that today’s so called “Christian music,” anyone in the Western world has devised, fails the test! You see, the trumpets used in ancient Israel were not the hand-crafted precision forged metal valve trumpets we play today. They were Ram’s horns called the “shofar,” and the sound was anything but a trumpet. The Ram’s horn can produce only two primary pitches eliminating any chromatic sequences of notes used in all music today. Furthermore, in studying the Bible we discover at least 13 instruments are named that were used during worship times, which included stringed instruments, wind instruments and even percussion. The last has become the most offensive to some today. I’ve heard some Christians say, “if my church gets a drum set on the platform, I’m out of here!” You know if we were transported back into a worship service such as the one described in the Bible, where God was pleased and especially delighted in , we would be aghast! The loud noise, the cacophony of strange sounds, the discordant music, the lack of melodic harmony they played would be so foreign to our ears and tastes. Yet, note ¾ God immensely liked it! Amazing isn’t it. This teaches us a fourth principle to note,
We find that God delights in solo instrumentalism, full orchestration and melodious harmony of music. God delights in solo vocals and full choir music, and God delights in congregational singing regardless of whether one can carry a tune or not! If that is true and it is, then all music is in a sense a spin off of God’s very nature and desire in giving mankind the ability to create music of any and all kinds. Now with that said, is there any music that is wrong or sinful or that which God dislikes? The answer is yes, but not because of the musical style, or instruments used, or the beat or cadence it displays. I believe “all” styles of music, can be played or presented in a way God would be pleased and enjoy. But how we do it, and what we incorporate into it is the key to what determines God’s pleasure and satisfaction. If we could just understand that, we would end the music wars, and the bitter battles that often ensue from forcing our views and tastes on others, or peppering our views with elaborate scripture interpretations behind it to criticize all who differ from our “divine” viewpoint. Now quickly here’s what I’ve discovered about the music God likes. Since no music style is in itself intrinsically evil, we must evaluate all music by other standards that God has set for our lives to be pleasing to Him. So here goes… #1 NOT ALL MUSIC IS OF EQUAL VALUE FOR WORSHIP TO GOD – The texts and tunes of some songs are clearly better than others for a number of reasons. For instance, what is the message the words of a song bring us? If it is good music, it speaks truth about life, glorifies God and righteous living and decries evil and unrighteous living. Bad music or even evil music does the opposite. Much of the “rap,” heavy-metal, rock and country music today speaks lies about life, glorifies rebellion and evil living and mocks God and His Word. Such music should be rejected for the Christian to use in worship or personal listening too. The Bible tells us we are to dwell on good things, righteous things that please God,
Therefore the main test of what music pleases God is the content of its words. That’s first and foremost. Secondly, #2 SOME MUSIC IS NOT CONDUCIVE TO WORSHIP & PRAISE OF GOD – Much of today’s rock, country and pop music, not all mind you, can in a sense inhibit or retard worship if employed in such services. Why? Well, the drum for one, which in itself is not evil, or wrong in worship can be the culprit. We discover that ancient Israel used percussion instruments, which definitely included a drum or tambourine that carried a beat. God delighted in it too we have read today from Scripture. But the use of drums today can get in the way of worship of our spirit. Sometimes the driving beat, the loudness of it drowns out the words of praise and adoration, or worse, takes over causing our bodies to react rather than our spirit. You see we are definitely told in the Bible we are to worship the Lord in “spirit and truth.” Now this does not mean our bodies are to be limp and asleep in worship. Some folks have been taught that through the years, and live in abject fear in their worship to raise a hand in praise, to joyously clap, or make any sound or movement for fear God will strike them down. How ridiculous, but how sad we see that in fundamental circles still. So many are bound up that God, I sure, is saddened to see their worship in such a catatonic state. Yet, the opposite is wrong too, where excesses are found with the idea that the more we can gyrate the body, or hoop and holler, that somehow God is pleased with that. Yes, God is a God of decency and order says the Scripture, but not deadness! Now here’s a third principle to consider in finding music for worship God likes. #3 ALMOST ALL MUSIC CAN BE USED FOR WORSHIP, IF IT LIFTS THE HEART AND SPIRIT TO GENUINELY WORSHIP AND PRAISE GOD – Now saying that, this opens the door for judging music not for style or genre, but for its “effect,” on the hearer or performer. What does the music do for the worshipper? Now some teach today in the hopes of reinforcing their particular view of music styles, that music has power to manipulate or control us. This is not true at all! If it was then we can blame music as the cause of all our actions. Rather than the “devil made me do it,” we can tell the judge or one offended by us, “the music made me do it!” We are all creatures of individual responsibility and choice. To say music controls us is poor theology at best. Now on the opposite side of such a thought we can say, music can influence us. It can draw sadness out of us, and it can draw out happiness and joy. But these emotions are our own, not intrinsically built and empowered in any music. So, music can be used for evil purposes, but so can a knife or a car or plane. Yet we don’t condemn these devices because of evil use. A 747 jumbo airliner was used to destroy the World Trade Center in New York City. Does that mean that particular airplane is evil and should not be used for good purposes? Hardly, the issue then for judging the use of any music is in addition to content, its structural considerations. For instance, Our God is a promoter of excellence. Whatever the style we listen to whether it is country, classical, baroque, reggae, hip-hop, rock or easy-listening – the prime question should be -- Is there a strong melody or weak one? Is there excessive repetition, intervals difficult to sing, little variety of tone or harmony, or dull recurring rhythms that place us in an endless loop we can’t get out of? Such music regardless of style does not promote the worship of the spirit and soul, and may only sway the body. That’s not worship, nor should it be used for such purposes. We must individually examine music to see if it passes the test for that which will please God. Music impacts not only us for joy and pleasure but God too. Various kinds of music can raise the blood pressure, and heartbeat, and get us excited about what we are singing or thinking. If this is used to glorify God that is good, but if it glories evil and sin it is wrong. Rhythm itself is not wrong. We use it every day in walking, running, even our speech. So stop listening to those self-appointed teachers who condemn all music styles other than their own utilizing such terms as evil. Lastly, we must never forget, God is the originator of music, and all styles are in a sense a portion of what God originally created. Scripture admonishes us to sing to the Lord, to create and play music for His enjoyment and our praise to His glorious Name. This means each generation needs to create its own music within its own culture and diversity, to the glory of God. This can be done, but we need to exercise wisdom in choosing from such creative sources, which music truly can be used to worship the Lord. Remember what the Bible says,
In heaven there is no deadness of worship, no silent worshippers. There is the beauty of music that fills the air as the multitudes sing loudly and vibrantly, and I believe representing every aspect of God and man we will find all forms of music in heaven. Say friend how’s your worship? Is it dull, dead, so quiet that not a creature is stirring? Some think that is worship, and I guess God accepts it if it comes from their heart. But others who read and study the Scriptures have found that God indeed wants us to worship Him with our bodies souls and spirits. May today’s talk help the Christian see the importance of evaluating music not on the basis of any preferred style, but upon what it will do for the listener-worshipper and his praise to God. Herein is the key to enjoying and being a blessing to God and the worship and praise of the saints. In closing I want to say this. If you’re a listener who is not a Christian, you cannot enter into the joy worship brings to those who have been born again by faith in Jesus Christ. The Bible offers you God’s love, forgiveness and salvation full and free based on one thing – the surrender of your heart and life to crown Jesus Christ your King and to accept Him as Your Savior from your sins. Christ died on a cross for your sins, and God the Father accepted His death as full and final payment for all mankind’s sin. All that’s left is for you to believe and accept, and enter into the joy of the Lord and the worship and praise of the saints. May God so bless these words to every heart for Jesus sake, Amen… …Let us test our musical likes and tastes not by any style or culture, but rather by what it produces and promotes. Good music speaks truth, promotes righteous living, and glorifies God. Evil music does the opposite. What are you listening to? It does not good to condemn “rock” music, and go on listening and enjoying Garth Brookes or Laura Cantrell singing about the joys of adultery and drunkenness. Ask yourself, what fruit is being born from the music you enjoy? Is it the evil of sensuality, pride, lust, rebellion, greed, vulgarity and unrighteous living? Or is it that which glorifies God and promotes His righteousness in every facet of life? You be the judge and may you discriminate in your choices of music for everyday listening as well as worship in the Church.
· Speaker: Dennis L. Finnan, Commentator · Program: The World, the Word & You! Radio Broadcast · Address: P.O. Box 40133 Grand Junction, CO 81504 The World, the Word & You! Broadcast is a non-denominational ministry based on the historic fundamental evangelical interpretation of the Scriptures. A copy of our doctrinal statement is available upon request. These weekly radio commentaries are not exhaustive studies of any particular subject due to the time limit of broadcasting. Actual broadcasts can be heard in selected areas around the nation, as funding provides. Dennis Finnan has been the speaker for over 22 years, and serves as General Director. These transcripts are available free of charge to all who desire them. Also available are actual radio cassette tapes and printed booklets of each message. A free listing of recent messages is available upon request also. Want to Help?
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