MUSIC
THE REASON FOR THIS BROCHURE
There has never been a time in the history of the world when music has had a greater influence for good or evil than it does today. Music has always had a powerful influence on society; but today it appears that Satan has exploited music to his best advantage. The result is the infection of our youth through the rock music culture and the degradation of our churches by a compromising form of "Christian" music. In view of our changing society and the ever increasing power of music, it behooves the church to establish some guidelines and standards to help God's people make wise choices musically.
Many have erroneously proposed that music is amoral, yet music has, in every age, proven to be a powerful influence for good or evil. Consider David who soothed the emotions of King Saul. By way of contrast we see riots and moral breakdown that is associated with rock concerts. The position and purpose of this brochure is to demonstrate that there are standards that must be applied to music if we are to be pleasing to our Lord.
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of the church is to counteract the culture in which it exists. The church must be light in a dark place [John 8:12]; and salt that adds spiritual savor [Mt. 5:13]. Music is an important instrument to bring honor and praise to God in two ways: First, we worship God by extolling Him for His many attributes and blessings. Second, we praise and give testimony to Him by bearing witness to what He has done in our lives. With this in mind, no music used in the church, or associated with it, should contain elements which reflect poorly upon the character of God. This pertains to the lyrics, melody, style, rhythms and presentation. Some have wrongly purported that so long as the lyrics are Biblically acceptable, and the writer projects a spiritual testimony, the music is acceptable. Yet the style of music at times is so powerful and abrasive that it totally overwhelms and defeats the meaning and message of the lyrics. So perhaps the question that we should be asking is whether God is pleased with the affect and impact the music is having!
DEFINING MUSIC
Not all of what is called music today is in reality music. To be defined as such, music must possess certain qualities. Webster's Dictionary gives the following definition:
1. "The art and science of combining vocal or instrumental sounds or tones in varying melody, harmony, rhythm and timbre, especially so as to form structurally complete and emotionally expressive compositions;
2. The sounds or tones so arranged, or the arrangement of these;
3. Any rhythmic sequence of pleasing sounds, as of birds, water, etc."
By definition, music must conform to certain standards, and possess certain ingredients: "Melody, harmony, rhythm, timbre, structural completeness; emotional expression and pleasing rhythm." Certainly if a secular society applies certain governing standards to music, the Christian is even more responsible to carefully scrutinize the music that is intended to represent the cause of Jesus Christ.
EVALUATING EXCELLENT CHRISTIAN MUSIC
It is the responsibility of every local church to define its own standard toward music. Although every Christian may exercise Christian liberty in the types of music that he listens to at home, music that is a part of church worship must conform to what the local church defines as acceptable. The purpose of church music is to create a worshipful atmosphere and to edify the believer, not entertain or give the musician an outlet for personal expression. The Emmanuel Baptist Church family has a conservative attitude toward music. It is our intent, therefore, to help identify the types of music that bring the greatest blessing to our church family. Musicians should remember that it is not their job to try to reform or force musical values upon the congregation. Rather the musician must be a minister with a servants heart.
While it is not our intent to impose a musical standard upon anyone in our church, it is still our purpose to provide a musical program that is most likely to be edifying, and least likely to be offensive to anyone. While not satisfying the personal taste of everybody, a conservative approach to music is most likely to achieve our objective.
QUALITIES OF EXCELLENT CHRISTIAN MUSIC - Col. 3:16; Eph. 5:19
Excellent Christian music will contain all of the qualities that make sacred music worshipful and spiritually edifying:
1. Lyrics: That uphold and exalt the person of Jesus Christ.
2. Melody: That creates a worshipful environment.
3. Harmony: That soothes the mind and emotion.
4. Rhythm: That is subtle, not dominant or abrasive.
5. Message: That is doctrinally correct.
6. Form: That is distinctively spiritual.
7. Presentation: That has spiritual dignity.
8. Style: That is distinctively spiritual, as opposed to worldly.
9. Appropriateness: That responds to the occasion and audience.
10. Decorum: That is representative of a child of God.
11. Edification: That is directed toward the hearer, and not self.
l2. Objective: That is a ministry, not a performance.
Although music that is contemporary [new] is not necessarily wrong and music that is old is not necessarily right, it is far easier to abuse contemporary music because of the inherent influence of modern style. For this reason we should live "circumspectly" (Eph. 5:l5), cautiously guarding every musical influence in society. It is important that our fundamental heritage as a church apply to doctrine, life-style, and worship as well as music.
THE BELIEVER AND CHRISTIAN LIBERTY
All Christian music should conform to the standard set forth in Col. 3:16 and Eph. 5:19. Yet, the standard for all Christian conduct involves the influence one has on the weaker brother. One may have liberty as a Christian to use many types of Christian music, but the Christians liberty is always governed by his weaker brother in Christ. Four principles are taught in Romans 14:
1. The sincere and obedient Christian will not be a stumbling block to his brother, "Judge this, rather, that no man put a stumbling block or an occasion to fall in his brothers way." [Rom. 14:13].
2. The sincere and obedient Christian will not do something that will grieve or offend his brother, "But if thy brother be grieved with thy food, now walkest thou not in love." [Rom. 14:15].
3. The sincere and obedient Christian will not do something that might be misunderstood by his brother, "Let not then your good be evil spoken of." [Rom. 14:16].
4. The sincere and obedient Christian will desire to edify other believers. It is not necessary for me to express myself musically in a way that "I enjoy". "For the kingdom of God is not food and drink, but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit." [Rom. 14:17].
Remember that the Biblical concept of Christian liberty is not a license for one to do as he pleases (Rom. 8:l); Christian liberty simply frees one from the constraints of the law, that one may be liberated to serve and please Jesus Christ. Christian liberty simply means that one has changed masters!
MUSIC AND YOUR FAMILY
While our church tries to maintain a musical emphasis that is spiritual edifying, yet non-offensive to anyone, we believe that it is the responsibility of the parents to carefully guard and govern the musical standard of the home and family. It is certain that no two people anywhere will agree on a musical philosophy or standard. For this reason we respect the autonomy of the family to make musical choices that you believe is right for your family. Our Pastoral staff is continually asked by youth about music, and while not hiding or obscuring our personal values, our council is that our youth seek direction and musical guidance from their parents.
Parents are advised to take this role seriously, because never before has music had a greater influence on lives than it does today. Because of the power of music, we must be able and willing to establish standards that apply not only to Christian music, but secular music as well.
In evaluating music, you should remember that it is the natural tendency of man and culture to degenerate to the basest level. It is the nature of mankind to feed desires and appetites that are sensual and contrary to God. Left to his own instincts man would produce only that which is degrading and sensual. Only through the intervention of the Holy Spirit is man able to produce music that is pleasing to the Lord Jesus Christ. For this reason, it behooves us to look critically and skeptically at anything that comes out of our culture. Christian music often sounds like the world's music because the world has become our standard. The solution is simple! When Christians have a legitimate desire to be surrendered to the cause of a holy God, our problems with worldly music will be solved.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE QUESTIONS WE SHOULD BE ASKING ABOUT MUSIC?
1. What is the motivation of the writer? Self glory? Financial gain? Or to focus our hearts and mind on the Lord?
2. What is the message that is being communicated by the music? Does it have meaning, depth, and Scriptural integrity?
3. Is the intent to minister or entertain? Entertainment by its very nature is a diversion from reality; whereas ministry focuses our minds on the truth of God.
4. Does the beat overpower and obliterate the message? Or is it subtle and unobtrusive?
5. Does the style define the music as distinctively Christian, or does it leave some questions in the hearer's mind?
6. Does the intensity of the music take command of one's emotions, or does it lead one to scriptural obedience?
7. Does the nature of the music lead people into a distorted impression of the Christian life? (Ezekiel 22:26)
8. Does the music you listen to contain musical integrity and quality, or is it simply noise put to a beat and presented with intensity?
9. Does the music that you listen to fulfill the need and mood of the occasion?
10. Will the music that is allowed in your home lead your family into a deeper relationship with the Lord, or lead them to desire worldly standards and values?
You don't have to do anything for your family to desire evil, it is part of our nature. We must counteract the influence of the world in every phase of life, especially music. Remember: What parents allow in moderation, children often embrace with a passion.
It is being suggested today that only two conditions must govern Christian music: Lyrics that are doctrinally correct and the spiritual life-style of the composer. To this we respond that the lyrics of much "contemporary music," can't even be understood among the background beat, and if they could be understood would contain such a weak message that it can hardly be evaluated from a doctrinal standpoint. Further, few listeners know anything at all about the life-style of the composer. Certainly there are qualities in the style and expression that reflect the cause of Christ in a positive way.
CONCLUSION
The Apostle Paul wrote the conclusion for us in Phil. 4:8, "Finally brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are honest, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."
At the very least, it must be admitted that music is a window to the mind and soul, and therefore must minister in a way that is described in Phil. 4:8. Does your preference in music actually direct you to think honestly? Justly? In purity, loveliness and virtue?
Many feel that the "praise" mentioned is an end in itself, yet, the text says that praise that is right directs one to a changed thought life. While it may not always be possible to apply a definitive standard to music, we are told what music must accomplish in our minds and hearts. In the final analysis we will be held accountable to God as to whether we achieve this objective.