Music in the Christian Home (Final Part)

Since there are no exact examples of the style of music in the Bible, how do we determine what kind of music to have in our homes? 

To put that question and its answer in perspective, let me illustrate with something my father-in-law said to me several years ago.  At the time we were discussing standards within Christianity such as dress and music.  I had made the statement that too often we hold to a standard because our culture has defined it and not the Bible and my father-in-law said, “Yes, and one day the Beatles' music will probably play in some churches because they will be tame compared to what the world is playing.”  He was right!  

Just recently a “church” in West Suffield, CT actually had a “Here’s Comes the Sun” service incorporating many of the Beatles’ songs into their service including “Help,” “Imagine,” “A Little Help From My Friends,” “Let It Be,” “Can’t Buy My Love,” and even ended with the Beatles’ self proclaimed anthem “All You Need is Love” as their closing “hymn.”  Now mind you this wasn’t a IFB church, although it was a self-proclaimed evangelical church.   But, the point is that the musical style of the Beatles is mild compared to current musicians in the world and many proclaimed Christians, including this group in Connecticut, have no issues listening to the Beatles’ style of music partially because it is not like the current worldly music styles.

(f you are interested on how many are viewing the Beatles and church music just do an internet search “Beatles’ music and church” and see what you find.  It might amaze you!)

My point is that music choices should not START with what music is different from the world but that is often the main battle cry for music choices by churches and preachers.  Once again let me be clear - I AM NOT GIVING LICENSE TO LISTEN TO WORLDLY MUSIC!  I am simply trying to give a biblically based standard for our musical choices instead of a moving target of “not like the world.”  Here is a viable biblical list of questions to ask about your music:

1. Does this style of music honor God or honor man? 1 Corinthians 10:31 “Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”  There are even some classic Christian hymns that really place man above God.  A song, whether religious or secular, should NEVER say that man is the master of things and that he should be the ultimate controller of his life.
2. Am I using this particular music to hide from the realities of life? Music can be a hiding place from our daily struggles.  Many times when I was having a bad day, I would put on a favorite song so that I could get away from the reality of my life at that moment and try to lose myself in the song.  Now mind you, finding a quiet place is wonderful, but that quiet place should help me deal with life not take me away from dealing with my life.  Jesus came apart for a while in Matthew 6:31 where He says to His disciples, “…Come ye yourselves apart into a desert place, and rest a while…”  But realize He went there to get alone with His Father not run from His problems.  So often music becomes like comfort food instead of nourishment.  We need music that uplifts and encourages us, but not music that takes away truth - that is one of the reasons why drugs and alcohol are so powerful - a respite from reality, but you always have to go back to reality.
3. Would I be ashamed of the Lord looked through my music history?  Now mind you this is a judgement call I know.  That group in Connecticut would probably say playing Beatles’ songs was okay with God just as some groups believe that Jesus would wear “testimony” tattoos and drink beer with the boys, but each of them will answer before God for themselves as we will.  Romans 14:5 makes it clear that we are going to have to answer for our own path, “…Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.” Galatians 6:4 also says, “But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another.”  I will not and cannot answer for another person’s standard of music, however, you must accept that God is going to judge our obedience to His Spirit in our lives not our ability to live beyond the standards of others.  In other words, you and I must be obedient to God and not just reject the standards of others and pick our own path.  We MUST obey the conscience of God, even in our music! Read Romans 14 for better advise than I can ever give.
4. Am I trying to live holy by my music?  We are commanded to live holy lives.  Once again that is a vague term in many minds, but I am not going to have to answer for someone else’s definition of holy, just the one that God has put into my path.  1 Peter 1:16 says, “…Be ye holy; for I am holy.”  But the real heart of that definition is in verses 13 and 14 where we are told, “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance.”  In other words, the “holy” of verse 16 that we are commanded to be is clearly different from the “former lusts.” Thus our musical choices should be different from our “former lusts.”
5. Is the music doctrinally right or filled with heresy?  Now mind you I am not talking about a person’s interpretation of philosophy, such as “Would God really do what that songs says?”  But what I am talking about is clear cut and dried WRONG DOCTRINE!  For instance, a recent Presbyterian hymnbook included the song “Bring Many Names Wonderful and Good.”  In that song the lyrics say, “Strong mother God” and “Hail and Hosanna, strong mother God” and “Old, aching God.”   All three are heresy and should not be sung in any church that claims truth of the Bible as their foundation.  Now mind you this type of philosophy is currently acceptable in many places.  It is the same philosophy you will find in books like “The Shack” where God adapts Himself to fit the views of men instead of lifting man out of his sinful condition, but none the less, it is heresy.  Sound doctrine should be the basis of any song we listen to….even “secular” music.  If a secular song assaults the doctrines of the Bible or the character of God then it should be set aside as well. 

As we close this brief study let me say that God is not trying to make life miserable, but joyous.  His joyous not the world’s type of joy.  His joy is found in a meaningful relationship with Him and His people.  Music can be a catalyst for that if we choose that which brings us to Him and lifts our spirits in Him.  Secular music is not always wrong, nor is Christian music always right.  We must filter our choices, all choices, including our music, through the prism and filter of biblical truths.  May God direct you into His will for your music.