Many Christians today are tuning in to the latest Christian albums and artists. We have these songs on our phones, on our radios, in our cars, and in our homes. We listen to the new Christian Contemporary Music because we believe it to be ok.
But God has something to say about us pattering after the world. When Christians pattern after or COPY the world then we are dealing with sin. God does not want us to look like the world. He wants us to be a peculiar people. According to Galatians 3:7, "Know ye that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham." Christians have replaced physical Israel today by being God's chosen people. Just like Israel were to be a different peculiar nation, the same rule applies for Christians today. 1 Peter 2:9 says, "
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;". Here we see that we are a chosen peculiar people.
If we are to be a peculiar people, should we pattern our music after the world? No, we shouldn't even pattern our lives after the world. Patterning your life after the world is called conformity. Romans 12:2 says, "2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God". We as the people of God should not listen, create, or promote any worldly, or conformed music.
Many artists today are wrong on various doctrines. They take 1 Corinthians 9:21-22 out of context to promote their sin where it reads, "21 To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
23 And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you."
Its funny how when Paul became as those without the law to win those without law they leave out the part where it is written "(being not without the law of God, but under the law to Christ)". When Paul did this, he wasn't breaking the law of God. One law that God has put for us is to "be not conformed". We should not break God's law to win people. If you are a Christian Jazz, Hip Hop, Pop, Country, or Blues artist, you are breaking God's law.
Not only are these people without the law of God, but they are also hurting the next generation. I have a friend of mine who believes that his "Holy Hip Hop" is what God has called him to do. Of course he's already breaking the law of God, but what he is doing is also affecting him in other areas of his life. One area is Church. Because of the rebellious gangsta spirit that Hip Hop brings of Satan, my friend when being asked to remove his hat in church showed contempt and disregard. He was forced anyway to remove his hat, but not only that, instead of dressing in a way showing respect to God, he was dressed like he was going to a concert.
This is the fruit of this "Holy Hip Hop" garbage. It is training kids to be rebellious toward God and toward their parents. I showed my friend clear scripture in opposition to what he believed. But instead of him listening to what the Bible says, he told me that this is what "God" wants him to do with his life because of a dream.
If you have a dream, feeling, or concept that is not grounded in Scripture, than it is not of God. Satan is influencing him to where he is blinded. Not only is my friend, Andy Mineo, Kirk Franklin, Lecrae, and Tobby Mac committing conformity, but they are also making God in their image to gear their so-called "Will of God for my life" by using cute Christian clichés to promote their audience and their actions.
We must always get out doctrine from the Bible, and according to the Bible, music is spiritual. Notice how the Bible is a spiritual book, and the most chapters of the Bible is found in the book of Psalm. But lets take a look at scripture to see more about music.
1 Samuel 16:14-16-" 14 But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled him.
15 And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee.
16 Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well.
If we continue to read verse 23 of 1 Samuel 16 we see that when David played the harp that the evil spirit departed from him. Automatically we see that music takes a spiritual stance. Music from David was able to ease the spirit of king Saul that troubled him. This teaches us that music reaches the visible and invisible world.
2 Kings 3:12-25-"13 And Elisha said unto the king of Israel, What have I to do with thee? get thee to the prophets of thy father, and to the prophets of thy mother. And the king of Israel said unto him, Nay: for the Lord hath called these three kings together, to deliver them into the hand of Moab.
14 And Elisha said, As the Lord of hosts liveth, before whom I stand, surely, were it not that I regard the presence of Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would not look toward thee, nor see thee.
15 But now bring me a minstrel. And it came to pass, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him."
The way that Elisha got the hand of the Lord to come upon him was to play a minstral. A minsrtal is a musical instrument.
These two passages clearly show us that music reaches to the visible and invisible world, or better yet, that music is ALWAYS spiritual. If you read the Old Testament we see Israel rejoicing and playing music when God had done miraculous works in their lives.
The Bible teaches that Christians are commanded to sing Pslams, Hymns, and Spiritual songs in Ephesians 5:18-19-"18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but BE filled with the Spirit;
19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;"
The Bible teaches in Psalm 22:1-3 that God inhabits in the praises of Israel."22 My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
2 O my God, I cry in the day time, but thou hearest not; and in the night season, and am not silent.
3 But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.". As mentioned before, we as Christians have replaced physical Israel today. When Christians sing praises to God within the musical restrictions he instituted, then Jesus Christ will be in the midst of us.
We as the people of Christ should only be singing Psalsms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs because all other forms of music are either of this world, or are conformed to this world. It is a sin to listen to worldly music. 1 John 2:15-17 says, "15 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.
16 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.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever."
The Bible teaches that only lust and pride can come from the world. That means that ALL music of this world is sin. If it's not of God its off limits. And James 4:4 reads, "4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God." If we want to sing the worlds music and love on these wicked artists of Satan, and buy their songs, and promote their albums, then we are considered friends of the world and adulterers. People like Jay Z, Michael Jackson, Eminem, Lecrae, Andy Mineo, Kirk Franklin, and Drake are all friends of the world and are enemies of God. Now why would I want to listen to an enenmy of God?
And many people, like my friend, will twist scripture to the point where its not even God's word (NIV) to gear their emotions to where they believe the Holy Spirit is leading them. And just to throw this our there, if you don't know what a spiritual song is, read at Exodus 15, and 2 Samuel 22.
Again, if we let the Bible alone be our authority, and base our life off the Bible, we see that God not only requires us to pray, study the Word, and have faith. But God also wants obedience and separation.
2 Corinthians 6:17 says,"17 Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you."
In order for God to receive us, we must be separate. Salvation only requires belief, but separation requires effort.
No one ever said it would be easy.