MUSIC ...GUARD YOUR HEART.
trash thrash
rock
rave
rap
pop
country
.
People generally think ...
-some music is bad
-some is a bit off
-some is sort of ok
-some is fine
the truth?
that which does not honor God
is not of God.
that which is not of God is of the world.
that which is of the world is of the spirit of THIS world.
this includes your favorite worldly song...
When I was a 'teen', I found the 'rock and roll' of that age was very enticing to me, and I listened to it nearly non stop... In those early days, it did not have the foul language, the hateful lyrics, the violent message, but it had some errors of teaching, and it was compelling.
I could imitate the singers, sound much like them, had the songs memorized, and was mesmerized by them, unable to break free from almost constant listening to them...
God finally spoke to me, and told me that this music was bad for me, and if I wanted to serve Him, wanted to go into the ministry, that I would need give up all rock and roll... He told me not to judge others who did not, for this was a personal thing for me. It was not 'legalism', it was 'obedience'. I did not think it 'saved' me to give that up, but it removed a great hindrance to what the Lord wanted me to do.
I started a quartet with some others, and we sang gospel songs. I ceased listening to rock and roll, even though many of them had 'lyrics' that were not shameful. Today, I would preach against singing or listening to lyrics that would shame my Lord, or would corrupt my thinking, so there is more music today that is 'sinful' for anyone. Yet, there are still songs that are not sinful, not encouraging sin or violence or sinful anger. Others may listen to that, and answer to the Lord.
Yet, for me, if I listened to even the 'good' rock and roll, I would be enticed again back into this passion for it, and be drawn away from the Lord, so, after 50 years, I am still avoiding rock and roll music.
I also avoid polka music, not because God told me to, but because I hate it.
When walking in a mall, or somewhere I cannot turn the rock and roll music off, I have learned to change the words to worship words, and in my heart I sing to the Lord, letting the music for those moments be worshipful. That keeps me from being drawn away from my Lord.
Is some music sinful... yes... It is not the style that makes it so... it is the words. You could have sinful hymns too, if you inserted worship of the devil to the words. Words that stir sinful thoughts, words that speak lies not to be believed, words that worship devils, words that blaspheme our Lord, words that are filthy talk, make any music sinful... even hymns...
The style, the beat or lack of it, the instrumental choices, the excitement or calming of it, does not make it sinful... UNLESS... it gains a control on one and hinders one's spiritual growth. Even the 'good' rock and roll songs did this to me, so for me... that is still sinful. It is on a list of sins that is personal, not for me to judge anyone else for their contrary stand.
In most cases, for anyone else, the only 'sinful music' is music made sinful by the words, not by the style of the music.
In the book of Psalms, it says that God loves 'cymbal' music... and that is one kind of music I may not enjoy... to imagine even an orchestra of various sizes of cymbals, and the banging of those over and over producing what some might call 'music' is not an appealing thought to me... so, in heaven, during the cymbal orchestration events, I may be in the heavenly library till it is over... LOL So that kind of 'beat' music, to me, is not sinful, for God loves it, but for me, it is a reason to be in a different part of heaven on one of my other tasks... LOL
