Biblical View of Music
By Andrew R. Rappaport
I am in the process of studying the issue of music in
detail and reading many books on the subject.
However, at this time I have not formalized a clear position statement
that addresses all the issues. However,
this paper contains some basic principles that would be the foundation of the
future, more detailed position statement.
Music is quickly becoming the next major issue that
the church will need to address. Many
churches are splitting over the preferences of music styles. Unfortunately many of those who are deciding
on the appropriateness of music are doing so base on personal preference and
not biblical principles. Music is a
science and can be interpreted. However,
many interpret based on how the music makes them feel not a proper method of interpretation.
Music is mentioned in the Bible as early as Genesis
4:21 and throughout the rest to the Bible.
The book of Psalms is a book of songs sung as worship. Scripture reveals that music can have a good
or bad affect on people. Music is
associated with drunkenness (Isaiah 24:7-9).
Music can have an influence on a person who is drinking, encouraging
sinfulness.
Scripture reveals that music has good purposes. In the case of King Saul the playing of the
harp and singing by David was efficacious in his mental disorders (1 Samuel
Scripture reveals music’s usage for good, but it can
also have negative affects. We can
notice from the world the affect music has on humanity. Often associated with music is dance. Observing dance style can often reveal the
affects of music. Dance usually provides
a visual interpretation of the music.
Music’s sinful affect is sometimes clearly displayed in some of the elude
dancing associated with it.
Often after salvation, one hears a song that brings
back the sinful memories associated with sinful acts conducted before
salvation. Music provides a connection
between the sinful acts prior to salvation and the present day memories. Many Christians have realized the danger
music can play in their walk with God.
Music can have either a good or a bad affect. Therefore, music has a morality associated
with it.
The reality that music has a morality means that it
affects the emotions of a person. Many
Christians in evaluating music listen only for the lyrics, as if only the
lyrics have morality. However, message
of the music (method) can contradict the message of the lyrics. When evaluating music both method and message
need to be examined. Music must be
consistent in both method and message (both in personal and corporate music).
The question of the music itself must be addressed
along with the issues of the lyrics.
Both must be of high moral standards.
The use of music with lyrics can create moods. “The instrumental accompaniment, while
subordinate to the reciting of the verses, would have helped to create mood,
heighten tension, and add to the symmetry of the composition (Polin 1954: 14).”[1] Therefore, music can have a greater affect on
the emotions then the lyrics.
The lyrics affect the thinking or mind. The music affects the emotions or
feelings. Why is this important? There is a progression of sin in the
flesh. It starts in the mind, leads to
the emotions and completed in the will.
The mind is like a guard. If the
flesh can get something past the guard, it is all that much closer to the
completion of its goal; sin. If the
lyric affect the mind and music affects the emotions, which is more
dangerous? The music! Moreover, it is the music less often
examined.
The lyrics of a song may be of high moral standards,
even Christian, but the music might evoke emotions of sexuality, anger or other
sinful feelings. The reality is the
music has more of an affect on the will of a person then the lyrics. Many people sing the lyrics to a song without
even thinking about what they are singing.
Yet, because the music makes people feel
good they desire to listen to it. The
flesh desires to sin, therefore we cannot base our listen of music to
feelings.
All this leads to the heart of the matter, what are
the principles of personal and corporate music.
Since, music has a morality and can have a negative affect on the
Christian, it is clear that not all music is good. Therefore, one must become a student of the
interpretation of music or play it safe and listen to music that is
conservative or maybe has been accepted though out the centuries. Another option is to find a godly Christian
who knows how to interpret both the music and lyrics and ask questions. Either way the Christian must be aware that
music affects emotions. This is true for
private or corporate music.
Music has always been part of worship and is an
important part of worship both private and corporate, the psalms were songs
sung as worship. However, in corporate
worship there must be a higher standard.
Christians are not singing to please themselves, but God. God deserves the best. Some Christian music is good, but in church,
only the best is acceptable for the worship of God. Some secular music may be good in both method
and message but not Christian and therefore not be used in corporate
worship.
One must be careful in the area of music. It can be dangerous, because it can affect
emotions unchecked. It is also dangerous
to evaluation anything based on feelings.
Christians must be more careful in the study of music styles and its
affects. The church is the place most of
all to be careful. It is in the church
that Christians seek to worship God not themselves. God must be please with the music and lyrics we
sing to Him. Our desire is to give God
our best, not the best of our desires.
[1]Freedman,
D. N. (1996, c1992). The Anchor Bible Dictionary (Vol. 4, Page 932).