The Music God Likes

When it comes to music, many argue that God is primarily concerned with the type of music a Christian listens to or performs.

Many others argue that God is more concerned about the heart of the musician that the music itself.

While both draw from Biblical principles, each argument omits important details that simply cannot be overlooked if one genuinely wants to glorify God in song.

This article will be presented in a rather logical format, explaining step-by-step from Scripture God's taste in music.

But first, understand these key points:

• Scripture teaches that God holds a high standard of righteousness.

• Scripture teaches that God ultimately loves mankind so much, that He chose to cover our sin with the blood of His Son.

• Scripture teaches that, out of respect and love, we ought to honor God's wishes, desires, and commands.

• Scripture teaches that disobedience does not result in the loss of our salvation.

• Scripture teaches that God joyfully rewards us for our obedience and lovingly corrects us for our disobedience.

Now let's apply that to music.

God wants a specific kind of music. When we worship Him in music, we should do our best to perform the music to God's liking. This is rather intuitive. If the President asks for a meal of steak and eggs, then his chef should prepare Him a meal of steak and eggs.

So what music does God want?

God wants music done for His glory to be:

1. Organized (done decently and in order; opposite of chaotic)

2. Focused on Him (not the talent, emotions, or stories of man)

3. Spiritual (keeping our hearts tender; full of spiritual emotion, not sensual emotion)

4. Obviously Christian (there should be a clear distinction between God's music and the world's music)

5. Studied (musicians should be knowledgeable in music)

Let us look at these in more detail.

Music is to be organized. (1 Chr. 15:16, 16:37-42, 23:3-5, 25:7, 2 Chr. 5:13, Neh. 12) David organized the musicians to praise God when he brought the Ark of the Covenant back to it's rightful place. Nehemiah organized musicians to praise God after the wall was complete. God is a God of organization, therefore, His music is also orderly.

Music is to praise God. (2 Sam. 6:5, 1 Chr. 16:37-42, 2 Chr. 5:13, 7:6, Neh. 12, Job 35:10, Psa. 32:7, 68:25, 71:22-23, 150:3-5, Isa. 38:20, Heb. 2:12) All throughout the Bible, music is a tool used to praise God. As Christians, our music today should have that same purpose in mind.

Music is to keep our hearts tender towards God. (2 Chr. 5:13, Job 35:10, Psa. 32:7, 95, Eph. 5:19, Col. 3:16) The Bible tells us to teach one another using song. And of course, music has an emotional pull, so listening to the right music should keep our hearts tender towards spiritual things.

Music is to be such that the world knows Christian music from secular music and is touched by the difference. (2 Chr. 5:13, Psa. 137:3) When Israel was in captivity, their captors recognized the positive affect good music had on the mind, and therefore asked their Israelite captives to sing the songs of home to ease their (the captors') spirits. They would rather listen to the Israelites' godly, healthy music than their own worldly music. Notice that the Hebrews did not change their music to match the secular music, but instead glorified God so much with the music that God wanted that it drew the world to God.

Music is to be studied. (1 Chr. 15:22, 25:7, I Cor. 14:6-11, Col. 3:16) The Bible indicates that there were people who instructed in music. This means that they had studied music, and used their knowledge to teach others. Chenaniah was one example. He was skillful in music, therefore he taught others. In 1 Chronicles 25:7, there were 288 musicians who studied music to serve God with it. Music should not be just a "by-the-way ministry" in our churches. It should be a very real and serious ministry.

What we take into our hearts, defines us as a person. (Prov. 23:7, Acts 4:20) We must be careful to only take clean, holy, and godly things into our hearts and minds. (Eccl. 7:5, 2 Cor. 10:5, 1 Pet. 1:13-16)

As a matter of fact, music is rather influential to our spiritual walk with God. (2 Sam. 6:5, 2 Chr. 5:13) Remember when the evil spirit came over Saul? What did he do? He called for David to calm him using godly music. When the Israelites worshipped the golden calf, what kind of music did they listen to? The Bible says it sounded like a war. The music you and I listen to profoundly affects our spirit.

Consider this:

God is a God of order. (1 Cor. 14:40) Music has a proper order. (Psa. 68:25 - melody, then harmony, then rhythm) The melody is what identifies the song and speaks to our mind or spirit. Harmony gives the melody life and speaks to our emotions or soul. Rhythm keeps the melody moving and speaks to our body or flesh. Confusing the order of any of these three basic elements of music indicates then that the music should not be listened to.

God is a jealous God. (Exo. 34:14) Music should be to His honor and glory ALONE. (Psa. 33:2) After all, that is why you and I are created. (Rev. 4:11)

Music done in the service of God should be done in such a way that honors the wishes of God.

Simply put, music in the church should follow all these three basic principles:

• It should be skillful and orderly.

• It should glorify God, not the flesh.

• It should be sincere and from the heart.

Thank you for reading!

---

Aaron Dempsey

I Corinthians 15:58