what music is godly?

a few days ago I got an e-mail from a famous preacher saying that rock music is ungoldy.
my question is now is that true?
in old pentacostal time they belived that the violin was from the devil.
I cant see anything more ungodly with any music style then any other.
I would rather have 15 people dressing in black and playing noisy music or 15 rappers with hanging pants in my church
and not compromissing with the gospel and in love with god
then 15 guys with nice dresses and but cold hearts.

what is your opinion?

You should get some interesting answers to this question.

First and foremost, does the music lift up the name of Jesus or bring glory to Him (if not, for me no thanks)?

For me, I look at the person's (band, etc.) motivations. Are they concerned about selling records more than anything? This is very easy to determine, if you like a musician and friend them on Facebook, is the only time that you hear from them when they are selling their cd's, promoting an event, etc.? Are they selling and promoting their music the same way that the world does? What are they doing with the money that they earn? Do people have to pay to get into events where they are playing? Are the musicians and singers humble people?

I don't get into the 'this rhythm, that rhythm nonsense' (and that's what it is, nonsense) because while people feel passionate regarding types of music (and beats, etc.), they can't back up what they believe in the Word.

Psalm 150 is the definitive word on music:

"Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD."

Peace to you!

In Christ,
Earl J.

If it glorify's the King of kings and the Lord of lords; who cares? Really?!

I know that people have their preferences and hold their faith to those preferences; kinda like KJO. But that's just me! I'm not so narrow minded to believe that God will only use one kind of music to draw ALL people (ex: southern gospel).

The answer REALLY depends upon who answers your question!!

God bless you in your search for truth in this matter,
Lysa

Hi,

I think it would be best to explore what it means to worship in spirit and truth that God the Father is seeking (Jn 4:23).

"But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him."

hi, i hate hip hop so that must not be good or country either.ireally hateclashing loud rock so that is def. not Christian.i hate women who have nasal tones in their singingXXX.my latin friends like a latin beat in worship music that sounds pretty good to me. WHAT IS THE MESSAGE?jimp

What brings the Presence of the Lord for me. And I mean really brings the Presence. What speaks to a persons heart is most important. Some like the words to relate to what they are going through and takes them to Jesus.

Love songs to Him and from Him. I get touched by the Hymns so much and I can get touched by God with some of Third Day as well. You can have a person with a beautiful voice but if the anointing is not on them it is awful. It happened to me a couple of Sunday's ago. A female lead worship with the most beautiful voice but she began preaching to everyone along with the song of praise. It quenched the Spirit so much I was grieved I had to sit down and just pray.

It has to do with the heart. Is the heart for God and God alone? I personally listen to "soft praise" all day long and in the evenings I like to sleep to Aileen Gilchrist - so anointed. I found her here on SI but I cant find the music now. Love all the new stuff though. Great job Greg.

May the Holy Spirit minister to us with music and may we be convicted when it's not from Him. Amen and Amen. Glorify Yourself Dearest Lord.

Heres Frank Garlock giving a teaching on music. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E6j3yThfxxk

This is probably the most thinly sourced, ridiculous sermons that I have ever heard. He has an opinion regarding music and then goes on to use the writings of shamans, newspapers, contemporary musicians, etc. to back up his beliefs.

He steers away from Psalm 150, in fact it's not mentioned, due to the fact that it goes against his point. We don't need to hear what satanists and rock musicians say about music to learn what the Word of God has to say about it, their mind cannot understand truth.

He tries to make the point that musicians are using the same 'tactics' in the church to create a sensual environment. Same music, just the words are changed, and this one thing doesn't make a difference because it produces the same result.

Well lets take this same logic and apply it to other things. Do you know that the DNA of a chimpanzee is 98% similar to a human? Are they the same? This comparison is equally ridiculous.

He goes on and on about backbeats and rhythms to prove his presuppositions, all the while implying that if you disagree with his ridiculous, thinly sourced beliefs, that YOU are the one that is in err.

Run from this trash, it's the leaven of the Pharisee's (legalism) based on traditions of man.

In Christ,
Earl J

One of the great temptations I have fallen prey to is to make judgments about the worship of others based upon personal preferences of my own. The basis upon which these judgments are often made is related to the genre of music that is used to help facilitate the other person's worship. I think this is dangerous.

In retrospect I recall how God reacted to Michael's disdain for David's worship and how God closed her womb. There seems to be a sense in which God reserves the right to determine what worship is acceptable to Him and what is not as His own private prerogative. To cross that line os to invite barrenness.

Yet, there is this perpetual temptation to want to interfere in these matters between God and men. God is looking at the heart of the worshipper and the criticizer. That is very sobering to consider. It is my hope that my own preferences for genre's of music never become a snare unto me; but that I would carefully consider how sacred any man or woman's genuine response to God is.

Maybe you could respond with kindness if you disagree with Frank Garlock. Someone apparently recommended it in good faith. I have used the same series in attempting to answer this very difficult question (what is godly music?) with my children. Anyone who has been a Christian for very long must know that this is a highly charged issue among believers. The enemy uses it to divide and conquer over and over again.

We ARE told to love not the world, neither the things of the world - I assume that would apply to the world's music. We are to worship God in Sprit and in Truth....Perhaps godly music would not be able to be confused with the music of the pop subculture which includes drinking, drugs, and immorality.

I do know that anyone discussing this will have a VERY strong opinion, but we must not alienate other believers in the process. In so doing, the enemy has won.

well yeh we are not to love the world, money fame , honor etc.
but If someone is using music to reach this corrupted world is that wrong then?
no, christ is preached thats the main thing.
I find alot of music with people that Love God over anything and for them music is nothing but they have a gift to rap or play so they make music to reach thoose that like that kind of music. I cant find anything wrong in that as long as Jesus is number 1 in their life.
u got a bunch of reformed rappers for exemple.
like LaCrae, Flame etc.
we cant find jesus or Paul doing like that but during thoose days music did not have the same impact as in todays world.

hi, there are only 8 notes that, in my day ,travel in cycles per second; today hurtz.rap uses the fewest and is the simplest yet as much as i think this genre is anti music,God can use it.as all typescan be used. i have heard some say that bach was of the devil. ignorance is bliss. jimp

QUOTE BY ROBERT: “There seems to be a sense in which God reserves the right to determine what worship is acceptable to Him and what is not as His own private prerogative. To cross that line is to invite barrenness.”

Being a musician in church and community, I have given this topic much thought. I believe that any kind of music can be ungodly – even the best hymns in the world. That is because even any blessing can become an idol to us. It can keep us self-focused, ie, it’s all about me and my experience. Worship can easily become a worship of me and my emotions: what gives me a God-LIKE experience (which we interpret as something God will like). Music can also be a way to evade some harder callings in life – or to hide ourselves from our hidden fears, anxieties, insecurities, self-pursuits, agendas, bitterness... all the stuff that keeps us from genuine intimacy with God and others - that keeps us barren - it can't produce or enrich LIFE.

As a musician I know how easily our music can take precedence over God and over others around us. When we are more absorbed in our own selves and our interests, (yes, even our “worship”) we are too filled with “stuff”. We need to be emptied of it all so that we can be a hospitable presence to others – empathetic to their lives, their experiences, and so forth. For me that means that teaching music to my students is not merely about how well they can play a scale or express a nuance, but how well I am in tune to their own life experience. It’s no different for worship leading and preparation.

Over the years I have taken a more and more empathetic approach to people within the context of music, and it has resulted in wonderful endearing fellowship so beautiful that words cannot express. Yes, even the most annoying child can become so precious to any of us that we’d do anything for them – and we find ourselves cheering them on when they play Mary had a Little Lamb. Yet love for that “ornery” child (or adult) also stirs us to seek the best for them – including excellence (ie, we don’t settle for mediocrity)

I believe it is more helpful to move our focus away from the subject of music itself, and onto our relationship with God and the word - which involves growth in knowledge of his purposes and also growth in our character qualities. Then the music will take care of itself.

Diane

God only sings Southern Gospel! Amen. Just kidding.

Music was created by God. All things were created by Him and for Him and for His pleasure. Just because we find one type of music annoying or distasteful doesn't mean God feels the same way.

Music is cultural. Glorify Him! Praise Him! Some of you guys need to get up and praise Him in the dance! Quit criticizing everything that moves.

Every tongue!!! Every tribe!!! Every nation!!!

Ruf

removed after being convicted by makrothumia's post.

God bless,
Lysa

I can relate to being in a difficult position where there are those present with a strong opinion about what music is appropriate and what music is not. At one of the Revival Conferences sponsered by Sermon Index, I was asked to lead out in the worship of song. One of the very first speakers gave a message on the importance of Giving Thanks in all circumstances. The message reminded me of a simple chorus "Give Thanks with a Grateful Heart", so I led those in attendance in this song.

Immediately after the session I was approached by a brother and informed that "this type of music was not acceptable". I did not argue with this brother, but held my peace, and because I did not want to disturb the peace of the conference, I chose to lead out in hymns the remainder of the sessions, and kept my grief to myself.

Another event at the same conference also saddened me. A young brother (anyone under 50) approached me who had brought his instrument with him and asked if he could play along with me during the worship times. At first I told him "certainly", but I had a slight check because of what had already happened, so I let him know I would clear it with the moderators first. The moderators knew that there were those in attendance with strong convctions about music, so they felt it best not to permit the young man to play along with me. In light of the situation, I understood their decision and submitted to them peacefully.

The moderators did not have problem with other young people playing intsruments during other sessions. Other youths had brought violins, violas, a cello; these were allowed, even encouraged, to play in a stringed ensemble. There was also a brass ensemble complete with each brass instrument. The brass ensemeble and string ensemble played several times during the conference. They were quite good and blessed everyone there. The difference between these ensembles and the young man whose request was denied was the "instrument" - he had brought his saxaphone.

Every detail of this story is true, not hyped or exaggerated. These kind of strong opinions about music can easily create divisions among brothers. Those who do not agree must be careful to suffer long with one another. It would be better to keep such matters between ourselves and God and not to attempt to dia-logismos (Greek for "thoroughly dialogue") about these matters.

It is possible to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace, but much grace will be needed to do so. We must not allow such topics to divide us. We must remember to give room for this truth "If anyman regard something as unclean to him - IT IS!" We must also remember the accompanying truth - this does not mean what is unclean to him is unclean to ME. If I have faith before God, I am approved of Him and it matters very little what another thinks about the matter.

Let us pursue that things that make for peace and the mutual edification of the body.

makrothumia

I have been convicted by many lyrics I sang that were not true. I was told that I was being to legalistic when I questioned them but when you are singing to God you want to be truthful. He is after all Omniscient.

I've also stood and listened to guitar solos while the saints paused singing? I don't see the unity or glory in the guitar solo and might we not dare to ponder what God sees in it. It is not a concert setting and entertainment we seek but rather unity and praise in that unity of our Lord and Savior (one bride).

One other consideration that is a little off subject is how music is used to influence those in the congregation or audience as it might be more likened to in many instances. I am reminded at times that it is like sitting in a movie. When a certain action in that movie desires a given response there is an appropriate background music that accompanies it. Do we really need to mimic this so as to influence men by the background music. Are we uncomfortable with silence or are we afraid that we won't hear anything at all?

These kind of strong opinions about music can easily create divisions among brothers.

These men with 'strong convictions' are not brothers, they are Pharisees. People who force others to obey their rules and regulations by twisting the Word to line up with their convictions.

These people cannot back up their 'convictions' in the written Word or by the Spirit of the Word and you would do your best to run from anything they teach.

They are very recognizable, just as the Pharisees were in Jesus time, they love to judge every little thing that doesn't fall within their personal system of laws. I'm not talking about pure doctrine, I'm talking about things just as you mentioned. They are religious on the outside but inwardly full of dead men's bones, inwardly defiled. They teach external holiness which is based on works of the flesh.

They love to go to meetings to judge the preacher, judge the music, judge the people there and judge the 'form'. They love the terms 'soulish' and 'emotionalism' because using these two terms they can cast judgment on anything that they see fit.

Let me ask you a question, two people are in a worship service, one man has his arms raised and is asking God to cleanse him of his sin and touch him with the Holy Spirit. The other man is there forming an opinion of the man raising his hands. Which man is God the most pleased with? Which man is REALLY caught up in his soul (mind)?

One man leaves the service praising God for touching him, the other leaves to report to his Pharisee brothers how 'emotional' and 'soulish' the meeting was. Who is in err here? This man's light is actually darkness and how great a darkness it is.

These men claim that these people are being touched by demons even though the Word says:

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."

"Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake?" -Matthew 7:7-11

Touched by demons? Really? You are saying that these people who are asking the Father for the touch of the Holy Spirit are going to receive a snake? Again, this is ridiculous.

Let me tell you about a 'soulish' and 'emotional' woman that I can't wait to meet. She walked into the Pharisees house (Luke 7:37) and broke her alabaster box, she anointed the Lords head with perfume and washed his feet with her tears, and then in one of the biggest acts of humility in the whole Bible, she dried them with her hair. The Pharisees and disciples wanted to throw her out, but Jesus said to "Leave her alone" AND:

"Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her." (Matthew 26:13)

I rejoice along with her! "When the saints go marching in oh lord I want to be in that number" yes Lord, I want to be in that number right next to her.

In Christ,
Earl J.