Does Music Matter?

Will music dostroy a Christians Walk?

What are guidelines to follow?

Can I worship God with ROCK music?

Is there any danger in Music?

Please Keep this as close to the point as possible.
May I ask you not to debate on the use of instruments, We know the Bible is the authority so please back each point with scripture.

As has been said, this is a controversial subject and one which will generate much intrest and one which I usually avoid because of it.

However, I did read the article that was suggested.

People will still gravitate toward the music they like, whether or not others object or not, or whether God likes it or not, they will please THEMSELVES.

Whether that is right or not use scripture to decide. Thats it.

God bless.

Back when Keith Green wrote that article, CCM was a totally different thing than it is today. Groups were playing like 2nd Chapter of Acts, Barry Mcguire, and of course Keith Green ;-) .

There was a different spirit and style to the music. Am I saying that all of it was good, no, I'm just saying that CCM of yesteryear and the CCM of today are very different.

"Christian" rock is just a copy of the world's music and the Bible says we aren't to have anything to do with the world. (1 Jn. 2:15)

I would suggest studying the roots of it and see who made rock popular. Elvis and Little Richard were who made it popular and those are men I definitely wouldn't want my music modeled after. :-(

Jordan

Not all Christian Rock is a copy of the world. Follow your own convictions, if your unsure of some music, it's probably best to not listen to it, but otherwise it's up to your own convictions. Just worship God honestly, if the music doesn't glorify Jesus in some way, don't listen to it, if it does glorify him in some way, enjoy.

It needs to glorify Jesus is EVERY way. Not just "some" way.
Music can most definitely and assuredly impact your walk. Some styles are inherently bad, having been birthed from un-Christlike ideals.
It is up to each of us to determine how the music and lyrics interacts with us. It is good to look at several different views and see if any resonate with you.
I personally was introduced to Christian Metal at the age of 11, and it was a gateway into secular metal, which led to a couple years of confusion and depression. Then I came back to "Christian Metal only" after a youth service and a suicide attempt. And though the lyrics were Christian the music did batter me emotionally, something I realize more in retrospect. But I enjoyed it and tried to put all kinds of Christian labels on how I felt (counterfeit worship, counterfeit repentance).
So is this an attack on metal? Eh, hardly. I definitely don't listen to it anymore. I've never been more blessed than when I gave it all up though. Some of the songs I listen to have a bit of a rock beat to it, but I believe the artists did manage to redeem the rock beat in those cases.

This is a good test to put your music through:

Does it humble you, or lift up your pride?
Are the artists performing or leading worship?
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. Proverbs 8:13
Much of today's CCM is pure pride. You can tell by the way they decorate themselves, in the way they interact with the crowd, as well as the boastful lyrics and amplified booming.

Does it invite you to worship God, or does it itself push your emotions high?
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. (Galatians 22-23)
Much music is designed to push you into jumping or all sorts of crazyness. That's wrong, especially during worship which is what we are talking about.

Is it beautiful and lovely, or is it grungy?
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. Phil 4:8

Is it just like the world's music?
And you shall make from these a holy anointing oil, an ointment compounded according to the art of the perfumer. It shall be a holy anointing oil. Exodus 30:25
You might think this scripture is a stretch, but the lyrics of today's CCM could acknowledge any God and not just ours. I'm not against all songs that are simple in theology but I wouldn't trust a singer who only sings those type of songs. When God had people make His tabernacle the scent and the design was not to be replicated elsewhere. God likes things to be holy to Him. Not just thrown about carelessly and understood as easily by the world as by Christians.

If you were worldly could you dance inappropriately to it? (headbang, grind?)
That's just good sense. Having not been a Christian my entire life, I was shocked when certain Christian artists got my body doing what it used to in sin.

Anyways. There are more questions, but its really something you can't just be legalistic about. Your decisions need to come from the spirit leading you and teaching you. I just hope I gave you some good information. Music is incredibly important as it has a profound effect on us. We just have to make sure the effect is always producing Christlike desires, ideals, and feelings.

Edited for clarification.

Oh yeah, and remember, what isn't of faith is sin! Thats very important on this subject. You need to be able to back up your decision with a fully convinced mind (opened a tad for the Holy Spirit and Christian counsel).

Dear ce4,

I have developed some guidelines for my music.

Keith Green Had Some good points.

But could there be that satan has music?

Could there be any arond today?

Dear Littlegift,

Thank you, I agree with the statement on Kieth Green

Oh the need to have people who would walk out when the music does not have the Holy Spirit's confirmation in their heart.

James

Dear enid
People will still gravitate toward the music they like, whether or not others object or not, or whether God likes it or not, they will please THEMSELVES.

Tis a sad but true statement, we neglect, then deny our Our and harden our conscience.
But I feal we need to be careful with our music which will carry us off and perhaps away from God!

Dear Jordan
PLease go on. I see you are into music please describe, as you feel the Lord leading, your position and why.

James

I think that it comes down to content in the songs, one thing that I like about our church is that we sing alot of hymns, spanning from the 1500's to present, alot from the 1700's-1800's. Now i know the old arguement that some hymns were bar tunes, but look at the content of the lyrics compared to today, it seems that there was an intellectual admission of Gods greatness that was coupled with emotion in the old time hymns, but today it seems that emotion is the selling factor.

Just a small piece of a very big pie that tastes different to everyone that bites...
Joe

Dear Lotus,

If we all would follow our convictions and let that be our guide we would end up as Israel in between judges and like them be judged of God.
Every man doing that which was right in their own eyes.

Dear Joe,

I agree that we lake depth, but why could it be that music has tanted our veiw of God?

Dear Hopepurifies,

This is a good test to put your music through:

Does it humble you, or lift up your pride?
Are the artists performing or leading worship?
The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. Proverbs 8:13
Much of today's CCM is pure pride. You can tell by the way they decorate themselves, in the way they interact with the crowd, as well as the boastful lyrics and amplified booming.

Does it invite you to worship God, or does it itself push your emotions high?
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. (Galatians 22-23)
Much music is designed to push you into jumping or all sorts of crazyness. That's wrong, especially during worship which is what we are talking about.

Is it beautiful and lovely, or is it grungy?
Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. Phil 4:8

Is it just like the world's music?
And you shall make from these a holy anointing oil, an ointment compounded according to the art of the perfumer. It shall be a holy anointing oil. Exodus 30:25
You might think this scripture is a stretch, but the lyrics of today's CCM could acknowledge any God and not just ours. I'm not against all songs that are simple in theology but I wouldn't trust a singer who only sings those type of songs. When God had people make His tabernacle the scent and the design was not to be replicated elsewhere. God likes things to be holy to Him. Not just thrown about carelessly and understood as easily by the world as by Christians.

If you were worldly could you dance inappropriately to it? (headbang, grind?)
That's just good sense. Having not been a Christian my entire life, I was shocked when certain Christian artists got my body doing what it used to in sin.

Thank you I like that test perhaps we can expond a little deeper yet?

Dear Littlegift,

This could be a whole new thread on "What is true worship?"

Yes it does seem that true worthship is lacking today first in our own personal walks.

The other side of the coin would be the sort of dead services, and groaned-out hymns you see in many traditional churches.

If we would sing to glorify God no matter how slow the song leader or group sings. I think you will find a blessing. Maybe some surprise Blessing..

I think that the music is "user friendly" today, worship music in the past has predominately foucsed on the lyrics, like I said, but today it's focused on the music, most of the modern lyrics are forgettable.

Let me clarify,
I am not trying to throw a blanket statement over all christian music today...