Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: MUSIC (04/02/20)
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TITLE: Check The Lyrics! | Previous Challenge Entry
By Doug Laird
04/04/20 -
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ADD TO MY FAVORITES
I would add that Rev. 5: 8, 9 speaks of musical instruments and singing in Heaven, and that Psalms 96: 1 teach that music here on Earth can transverse the physical universe, being heard in Heaven.
Beating drums, primitive musical instruments, singing, and chanting have been a part of religious, cultural, and social rituals that date far back into the ancient world.
The moods and behaviors of man (some say beasts, as well) can be altered by background music and/or music accompanying certain events.
Music can lift or depress the human spirit. It can lull you to sleep or it can annoyingly keep you awake. While certain types of music are enjoyed by some folks, can be means of annoyance to others.
Saul, the first king of Israel, experienced relief from a terrorizing spirit (1Sam. 16: 14, 15) when listening to music being played on David’s harp (1Sam. 16: 23).
Some sources report significantly lowered stress levels in domesticated animals when exposed to some forms of classical music.
Learning the history behind certain scores of music can be inspirational. In other cases, it can be the source of consternation. The lyrics of some of the most beautiful scores of music promote great evil.
Through repeated exposure, the lyrics to many secular and “religious” songs become an active source of influence in the minds of many who “just don't have the time” to meditate on or to memorize Scripture.
Eph. 4: 29 commands us to see to it that the words that come out of our mouths are to be edifying nature. The passage makes no distinction between words spoken or being sung.
Humans are attracted to and remain longer focused when the appearance and/or the sound of the means of communication is personally appealing.
Some communicators are handsome or beautiful and have appealing speaking or singing voices. They have mastered the communication skills of poise, pace, volume, articulation, charisma, salesmanship, and body language. Such communicators could sell sand in the desert, but the focus of attention is more often on the communicator and his/her ability to communicate, rather than on the accuracy of the subject matter being conveyed.
Lectors, vocalists, and musicians are often praised for their communication skills, but how often are they remembered for the principles they conveyed?
Some commutators have little overt attractiveness, annoying voices, distracting habits, and poor posture, but have wisdom in the contents of what they have to say.
There are musicians that have mastered their skills, and there are those out there that struggle with such basic things as keeping time when playing in groups.
As communicators and/or musicians, most of us fall somewhere on the scale between the two extremes of deficiency and mastery.
As an ordained pastor-teacher, I do a much better job of teaching the Word of God via producing written material than I do in other forms of communication. Don't let others put you in box.
Over the years, I have tried my hand at playing many different musical instruments; my more recent being the clarinet. While I find playing music to be a great pastime, I never felt that I reached the point that it was time to “give up my day job.”
Be it good or bad, each and every Christian has an spoken and unspoken testimony. The type of music that we promote as a listener (Luke 8: 18), worshiper (Psalms 96: 1), or musician is a part of our testimony.
Our choice of genre is not the primary concern. The Gospel Message and Biblical principles can be communicated in a host of different styles of music.
In virtually every form of musical genre, you can find scores with and without lyrics that promote both good and evil.
Q. How is one to know the difference?
A. Acts 17: 11.
“…by examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so (Acts 17: 11 NASB).”
Providing the lyrics flow through the Acts 17: 11 filter, I have found the hymnals and Christian song books to be a great source of secondary spiritual edification and inspiration. There are times, however, when there is a need to make some lyrical substitutions in the interest of doctrinal accuracy.
As a Christian and as a musician I've come to enjoy the contribution that music has made in my personal walk with the Lord.
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I also know what you mean about beautiful melodies but evil words. I can think of one particular song that is so lovely, yet is idolatrous.
Well done
Blessings~