"Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ" (II Corinthians 10:5).In this article I want to look at three common philosophies of Christian music and share why I no longer hold these views.
Misconception #1. "It's the person's heart that matters, not the musical sounds. The music doesn't matter."
"A person's heart" is sort of a trump card in worship music debates. Contemporary Christian musicians have used this language for decades to validate every empty praise chorus and godless crossover song. "How can you judge this song? It came straight from the composer's heart. The artist is singing straight from the heart to the Lord." This is their blanket justification to do whatever they want to do, musically. I have now spent the better part of 25 years reconsidering this philosophy of worship and music.The intentions and sincerity of our heart are very, very important. We cannot please God without a heart that believes that HE IS, and that He rewards those who come to Him (Psalm 24:3–5; Hebrews 11:6).
But the heart is also deceitful (Jeremiah 17:9). We can deceive even our own selves (James 1:21). False prophets and teachers deceive many people by selling them half-truths as The Truth. The Bible repeatedly warns us of this method of attack against God's people (Matthew 24:24, Colossians 2:8, II Peter 3:17, II Corinthians 11:13–15).
In music, as in all things, the heart is only one part of a much larger equation.
Jesus said that a person's heart is revealed by its fruit—by what comes out of his mouth. While we cannot judge a person's election of God, lest we be judged (Matthew 7:1), we can judge righteous judgment (John 7:24, I Corinthians 2:15–16). We can grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ and, by the Word of God, exercise our senses to discern between good and evil (Hebrews 5:12–14).
I believe discerning between good and evil applies to music; not to judge a musician's heart or salvation, but to examine their Christian teaching/worship for truth and heresy. The Bible calls us to beware and be discerning of these things. What many people fail to understand is that music itself teaches us; that is, it shapes our thoughts and perspectives, as much as lyrics and lifestyles do. A musician's heart may be sincere and right with the Lord before his musical "doctrine" is fully shaped by the Word of God. The more we bend our hearts to know the Lord—by studying His Word and His creation—the more wisdom and knowledge we will have to discern the musical sounds and performance behaviors that reflect His ways and His character.
"For every tree is known by his own fruit. ... A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks. And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?" (Luke 6:44-46).
Misconception #2. "Music is amoral. Musical sounds cannot convey a specific idea from musician to hearer in any way that could be judged as good or bad."
This is not absolutely true. Without saying a word, I can sit at a piano and make you smile, and probably laugh, within five minutes. You could even be blindfolded. I know how to tell universal (and clean) jokes through musical sounds. As a musician, I have the ability (with grave responsibility) to affect your attitude, your behavior, and your health through music. (What happens when you smile?)To be clear, I am defining "musical sounds" as tonal phrases in the context of a piece of music, including but not limited to melody, harmony, and rhythm. Some people redefine "musical sounds" to mean an isolated note or chord, and then say that they can't judge whether an E-flat note or a C-natural chord conveys a particular message (What do you think?). But just as the letters of the alphabet and a list of random words hardly communicates an intelligent message, notes and chords are merely building blocks to musical communication. Breaking down music too far won't reveal more of the message of the musical tones, nor will it uncover the images, ideas, emotions, and morals that the music conveys and inspires.
I do agree that the message of music is, to some degree, subjective. We can't fully predict the exact outcome or results of a song on a hearer. Every individual receives the same song through a unique filter of his own spirituality, maturity, experiences, tastes, knowledge, personality, and physique. However, on a purely physiological level, sound waves are vibrations that cause sympathetic vibrations in other things. At this level, scientists have begun to measure music's impact and discover some predictable odds of emotional and behavioral responses to particular types of music. Even deaf people are affected by music.
Music has a powerful influence on people. It has a documented history, even in Scripture, of affecting a person's well-being and behavior (I Samuel 16:23; Luke 7:32, Matthew 11:17). Not even nothing is neutral or amoral before God (Matthew 25:26–27). In the end, we will be called to give an account for every idle word we speak and everything we do (or don't do) in this body (II Corinthians 5:10; Matthew 12:36, 25:45).
"For if the trumpet give an uncertain sound, who shall prepare himself to the battle?" (I Corinthians 14:8)
"Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend" (I Corinthians 8:13).
Misconception #3. "I have no personal boundaries in music. I can't set limits on the immense variety of music in the world."
This is sandy ground on which many Christians have laid their musical foundation. I don't think they realize the full implications of what this means. Holding to "no boundaries in music" means they must reject or ignore all the principles and precepts in the Word of God that relate, directly or indirectly, to music and music-making.Those would be boundaries.
As Christians, I know these men and women do have real boundaries in their lives and music, but they are reluctant to look for them and verbalize them. They are afraid of appearing narrow-minded or intolerant of others. They want to agree with everybody and alienate nobody. But this is an impossible position to hold in this world. Biblically inspired Christian principles will always polarize people, even professing believers. Polarization is even built into the gospel of Jesus Christ (Matthew 12:30, Luke 11:23).
"No boundaries" alienates me, because I have many boundaries in music that I can't lay aside for mere convenience. "No boundaries" includes some "Christian" music that I have had to repent of before the Lord—for taking His Name in vain and other sins. I have turned from those things and am not even considering going back. I am, however, always open to correction and adopting new boundaries that are founded on Christ-exalting biblical principles.
"For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body" (James 3:2).
"Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin" (James 4:16–17).
