Southern Gospel Music ''beat''

[pulpiteer]

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

I must apologize for my recent posts within this thread. I must apologize first for straying from the theme of this thread, "Beat", and then I must apologize for being, I believe, more in the flesh than the Spirit, in my last post. So, please, forgive me for my presumptuous sins.
Thank you.

In Christ,
Brother Brown


Psalm 19:13 Keep back thy servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me: then shall I be upright, and I shall be innocent from the great transgression.
Psa 19:14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

[benshelpmeet]

We love you Brother Ben Brown, your a sweet brother and a blessing. May the Lord bless you. Your humbleness is a testimony to me of the mighty work the Lord does in the heart of the believer. Thank you for your godly example.

Your sister in Christ, ~ Darlene ~

[George]

I realize this thread is quite old. However I happened across an article today that is, in my opinion, extremely well done. It covers the kind of music to be used in Churches specifically but I cannot understand why someone would listen to something outside of Church they would not listen to in Church. I must clarify that by saying that one would choose to listen to such things. In this modern world everywhere we go we are faced with ungodly music piped through speaker systems and that even on the telephone. Those things we cannot control.When I speak to listening to things outside of church I mean things we play in our cars or homes.

The following is the article. I know it is long but I urge you to read the entire thing. It is very, very good.

Open Letter on Music in Church Worship

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Music is a sensitive issue, because music and worship are very personal. However, there is more involved than just opinion and preference, likes and dislikes. I am very concerned about the kind of
music being used in Sunday worship services. My main concern is the music (melody, harmony, rhythm) itself. There has been an increasing use of rock type music at church, where the emphasis is on rhythm and the use of certain musical styles used by secular musicians. While all music has rhythm, an overemphasis leads, in part, to an appeal to the physical aspects of our being, rather than the spiritual. This interferes with Christian’s worship. It becomes a stumbling block rather than an aid to worshipping God.

Our thoughts, beliefs, emotions, actions, etc., are distorted by sin. We cannot use our reasoning alone as the standard for decision making. We cannot base all our choices on just personal desires and pleasures. We cannot depend on human moral choices, but must depend on what the Bible says in all areas of our lives. This applies to the choice of music, in or out of church. Fortunately, there are some guiding principles that help us to understand God’s purposes for music and to recognize the lies the enemy would have us believe.

The first Scriptural principle of music is that there is no such thing as amoral music; that is, it is not neutral. The world would love for us to believe that there are no absolutes, for then we would begin to give ground to Satan in the gray areas (2 Cor. 11:14). However, 2 Corinthians 5:10 explains, “For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.” Our deeds are categorized as being
good or bad; not good, amoral, or bad. God does not judge the amoral, but good and evil.

If music were amoral, a discussion of music would be reduced to a discussion of preferences; I like this style, you like that. Then we could include some music for everyone in our services. But that is not the issue. There really is good and evil music, and we must not employ that which is evil.

The second principle is that music is a form of worship and is corrupted when mixed with carnality. “Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?” (James 3:11) Likewise, good and evil cannot spring from the same source, for they are reflections of two polarized masters: the Lord God and Satan. As Christians, our music ought to give all glory to God (Is. 42:8, 1 Cor. 10:31) and be an expression of our holiness. “Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” (2 Cor. 6:17)

“Know ye not that a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump?” (1 Cor. 5:6b) A ‘tiny’ bit of carnality will work to destroy His purpose for music. Music often communicates more than the lyrics do, and can give a message contradictory to the one intended by the lyrics. The music can nullify the lyrics. This is true even when the lyrics are a crystal clear presentation of the gospel. Unfortunately, many of the lyrics in contemporary songs trivialize God and the gospel message.

Adding the gospel to evil music will not make that music good; but adding evil to good music will make that music evil (Hag. 2:12-13, Gal. 5:9). Once a little evil music is tolerated, we become restless and bored with it and want even more, thereby consistently allowing greater footholds for Satan. If profanity is an unacceptable means of communication from the pulpit, why is carnal music an accepted means of communication to the Supreme Ruler of the Universe, His body, and the world?

A third Scriptural principle for music evaluation is to understand that it is wrong to use carnal music to present a holy message. “For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds…bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” (2 Cor.
10:4-5) Using the world’s methods to present Christ is an invalid argument because our weapons are not their weapons. We must not fight with their tactics, (as David was required to learn the hard way - 1 Chron. 13), for God’s work is not to be accomplished with Satan’s methods.

Those who try to do this tragically discover they have become carnal Christians because carnal music pulls its victims back to their former evil temptations and sins. It is hard to believe that the “things of
earth will grow strangely dim” with this type of music. Using the world’s methods to accomplish God’s best forces us to fall short of His high standards and goals. “Be not deceived: evil communications
corrupt good manners.” (1 Cor. 15:33)

The principle of cleanness versus uncleanness also sheds light on this topic. Light cannot make darkness clean, but darkness will make light dark (Hag. 2:12-13). Christians cannot make worldly music clean, but worldly music will make Christians unclean (2 Cor. 6:17). Music that formerly was considered wild and profane is now considered mild and contemporary by today’s standards, even in the church. If we are to strive to be separate and holy, then our music should reflect that also. Our music should also be distinct
from secular music. There should be a difference. If we are to worship a holy God, our music should strive to emphasize that. We should not compromise in the music used in church. The association of rock music with rebellion, drugs, illicit sex, and other sins, already taints its use, or a similarity thereof, as a foundation for church music. It does not glorify God.

One of the main problems in churches today, I believe, is the lessening of a sense of reverence for God, and solemnity while being in church. God has been reduced to only “my Friend” rather than an Almighty and Holy God. If we are coming before a holy God, our actions, attitude, speech, and so on, should reflect that. Rock music from its very inception is about rebellion, self-assertion, and sensual pleasures.

One of the reasons that people enjoy rock music and the rock beat is because it elicits from them a physical or sensual response. Today, we have a great problem because Christians are responding to the
rhythms of worldly music and opening their spirits to great deception (John 8:44). How can we believe that music that evokes a carnal response somehow also leads us into worship and reverence on our knees before the Great I Am? Reverence and rebellion are as opposite as light and darkness. No matter how
much we “like” the music, we cannot justify worldliness as a form of reverential worship.

A fourth principle of Scriptural music evaluation is to recognize that all parts of music must obey God’s laws of order. “Let all things be done decently and in order.” (1 Cor. 14:40) Satan’s method of
corrupting good music is to introduce imbalance, little by little, even to the point of changing the style of traditional hymns. Harmony and rhythm used in disproportionate amounts cause the melody to be
confused or nearly non-existent. Melody, harmony, and rhythm work together; melody states one idea, harmony enhances the melody, and rhythm reinforces the melody to ensure that it flows smoothly.
Because melody is an expression of our spirit and God’s Spirit, it must remain dominant (Eph. 5:19) to reflect truth about God and life.

The fifth principle for understanding music evaluation is recognizing that sensual tactics have no place in Christian music. Whereas worldly wisdom “descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish,” so also “wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy.” (James 3:15-17) Christians will be unable to stand-alone in the world today until they purify their music. Imitation is the greatest expression of admiration. Do we then want to imitate the world and inadvertently demonstrate admiration of them? Similarly, do we really want them imitating us? “Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” (Luke 6:26) As immorality increases among Christians because of carnal music, we proclaim to the world that Jesus approves of
immorality. “Know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid.” (1 Cor. 6:15) Christian youth are being lured into rebellion, immorality, and other sins because of rock music. One glance at the average youth group of today is enough to prove that they are very skilled at imitating the world. Why do we want that in our church?

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1 John 2:15) We cannot obey this verse by using the world’s methods in music. Carnal singers and musicians convey their messages through the use of breathy tones, sliding of notes, volume, backbeats, microphone grip, flirting, and many other techniques appeal to the lusts of the flesh because they are sensual expressions and demonstrate our love for the world. Adding sensual attributes to
music is dishonest, for it conveys one message with the mouth and an opposite message with body language. How can we flirt while singing about the purity of God? We are kidding ourselves to use
music designed to promote rebellion, immorality, and other sins and think that we do not love the world.

The sixth principle is that musicians must see themselves as ministers, not performers. In fact, singers and musicians in the Old Testament were first required to be qualified priests before they could lead music (1 Chron. 15:16). Today, many are being placed in positions of music leadership when they themselves have not yet experienced victory over worldly music and its partners of rebellion, drugs, and immorality. Yes, we agree that their hearts may have been changed, but their music has not. In addition to the choice of rock music for congregational singing, my concerns include special music, such as the offertory, and with the “youth band.” Many vocalists have chosen special music selections that use recorded accompaniment soundtracks that certainly have an overemphasis on rhythm and entertainment. The youth band also has an emphasis on musical beat, both with the drum set and through guitars. Although these have been entertaining to some people, they do not constitute an appropriate ministry. This also applies to music used in evangelistic and outreach events.

Since the emphasis should be on God during a time of singing, then any emphasis on “performers” should cause them not to be used in a service. That is the reason my family and I do not applaud after special music at church. The emphasis should not be on the erformer at that time; a simple “Thank you” or “Amen” is more appropriate.

The seventh principle of music evaluation is understanding that spiritual results do not justify carnal music. Humanism, the plague of today, is founded on the belief that Man’s reasoning is foundational, and that the end justifies the means. Humanists view murder as an acceptable practice if the mother will be happier or healthier, and theft as simply a result of cultural disadvantage. Christians indoctrinated in this reasoning will see no harmful effects of worldly music. In fact, even demons witnessed for Christ
(Luke 4:34, 8:28, but He rebuked and silenced them (Mark 1:25, Luke 4:41) because Christ does not want to be witnessed by demons or demonic music.

Again we must ask, do we take drugs to win addicts; do we use curse words to witness; do we steal to identify with robbers; do we draw lewd pictures to present Christ? Are we even supposed to use music to win the lost to Christ? No! Preaching is the primary method of proclaiming the gospel (1 Cor. 1:21 and others). Music was designed to edify believers and glorify God, not to win the lost, and especially not to employ sensual, carnal, or worldly methods (Eph. 5:15, Col. 3:16). Evidence indicates that very few long-lasting commitments are made at concerts and other settings where rock music is used for evangelism. So why do we use carnal music to gain a hearing?

An eighth principle is that the church is to be a place of worship and not to be an entertainment site. Music on Sunday mornings is not to be for entertainment, but for worship. A Sunday service should be for the equipping and building up of believers. Although unbelievers are not to be ignored, the music and
sermon are primarily for edifying, teaching, encouraging, and strengthening believers, and facilitating their worship of God. Nonbelievers may be reached to some extent during a service, but the goal should not be to entertain and lure in the world with worldly imitations. Too many churches are going down this
path.

Finally, a ninth Scriptural principle of music evaluation is realizing that loving the world’s music deadens our sensitivity to evil. “Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.” (Rom. 12:9) If one argument against carnal music were to be chosen, this one could be it, for our whole yoke of Christianity lies here. Even those who have no interest in music per se must understand this bedrock
truth. Young believers (especially in youth groups) along with ature believers are deadening their consciences by wholesale involvement in carnal music.

“And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offence toward God, and toward men.” (Acts 24:16) As we gain dead consciences through carnal music, we lose our spiritual
discernment. With a loss of alertness to evil, we are ill equipped to drive out darkness with light (Rom. 13:12), to gain clear spiritual direction (Ps. 16:11), to have a dynamic ministry (2 Cor. 6:3), or to
strengthen weaker brethren (Rom. 14:15).

In closing, music can be used either for the ministry of the saints and the glory of God, or for the work of Satan and his followers. Christians must take a stand for Christ by refusing to join with the world in its music, and instead apply 1 John 2:15-17:
“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”

I’m not suggesting that anyone is deliberately or intentionally leading people astray with music at church. The effects of music on a church service and the church body cannot be overlooked. I would ask you to help me and others not to stumble in our corporate worship. I also would ask you to seriously investigate and consider the issues from a Biblical viewpoint, and be fully convinced in your own minds what is appropriate and what is not. Please consider whether we, by having rock music in church, are causing weaker brothers, and particularly the youth, to stumble by offering them a false or distorted worldly gospel.

Just as the Bible calls us to a higher standard of behavior and character, we should have a higher standard than the world has for music. We should not settle for passable or questionable music. We should not let inferior and damaging music crowd out better music. We should “hold fast to that which is good.” (1 Thess. 5:21-22)

The source of this material, which is actually a letter a Pastor wrote to his Church, has assured me this material is not copyrighted. It can therefore be cut and pasted, printed out or whatever. I plan on printing it and using it myself. I hope it has helped some in understanding what kind of music we should actually be listening to.

In Christ,
George