As Christians, the media we consume, including music, is not just a backdrop to our lives; it is an active participant in shaping our hearts and minds. In his article, “Biblical Counsel for Listening to Music,” Darrell Harrison provides a deep dive into why believers should be discerning about their musical choices. Here, we’ll expand on the importance of entertainment, particularly music, and how Christians can align their entertainment with their faith.
Music: More Than Just Entertainment
Harrison emphasizes that music, while often seen as mere entertainment, has a profound impact on our spiritual lives. He states, “Music, like any form of entertainment, should be viewed through the lens of Scripture.” This assertion aligns with the biblical view that what we take into our hearts can influence our thoughts and actions. As Proverbs 4:23 reminds us, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
The Content of Music Matters
One of the critical points Harrison makes is about the lyrical content of the music we listen to. He warns, “If the lyrics of a song promote or encourage sinful behavior, then listening to that music is not glorifying to God.” This isn’t about censorship but about stewardship of our spiritual well-being. Music is a powerful medium; it can convey messages of love, hope, and faith, or it can sow seeds of doubt, immorality, or rebellion.
Consider the words of Paul in Philippians 4:8, where he advises, “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” This verse is a guiding principle for Christian media consumption, urging believers to dwell on content that reflects Christian virtues.
Entertainment as Worship
Entertainment isn’t just passive; it actively participates in our spiritual practices. Harrison points out that “the music we listen to should be an act of worship to God.” This perspective transforms our entertainment into an opportunity for worship. When we listen to music that uplifts our spirits, praises God, or encourages us in our faith, it becomes a form of worship. Conversely, music that detracts from these values can lead us away from our spiritual path.
For further reading on music and worship, consider exploring resources like the article “Music, Singing, and Emotions: Exploring the Connections” by the Gospel Coalition, which discusses how music can be integrated into worship in a way that honors God.
The Influence of Music on Our Lifestyle
Music in worship isn’t supposed to entertain; it influences our lifestyle and moral compass. Harrison argues that “our music should reflect the light of Christ in a dark world.” This means our entertainment choices should not only avoid promoting sin but also actively participate in spreading the light of the Gospel.
The Christian Post: Church should be about worship, not entertainment
Some Evangelicals today are so mild on the reverence-to-God front that it is as if they keep Jesus, their buddy, in their back pocket. They can pull Him out once in a while when they so desire.
But God is holy, holy, holy — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Worship styles may differ. But church shouldn’t be some sort of means of entertainment.
A couple of years ago, a Christian man escorted his Jewish friend (with Judeo-Christian values) who was running for Congress to our church and several other churches in South Florida.
The Christian man told me that he and the candidate had visited about 200 churches in the area and that the traditional and often classical music we had in the worship service in our church was unique and a breath of fresh air. Wow — we even still have an organ.
Christians celebrate with awe that God sent His only Son to suffer in a most brutal way and die as a sacrifice on behalf of sinners. Jesus went to hell for us, so we don’t have to. He rose again to seal the deal.
No wonder down through the ages, including our own with songs like “In Christ Alone” (a modern-day hymn, destined to be a classic), hundreds of millions sing His praises in a variety of ways.
All I’m saying is let it all be done in true reverence — not cavalierly. Not to entertain, but to sincerely worship.
Conclusion: A Discerning Ear
Choosing music and entertainment as a Christian isn’t about creating a list of banned tunes but about fostering a heart that discerns what honors God. Harrison’s counsel reminds us that our entertainment is part of our spiritual practice. By selecting music that aligns with biblical principles, we not only enrich our spiritual lives but also testify to the transformative power of Christ in our daily choices.
Let us, therefore, listen with a discerning ear, ensuring that the melodies and messages we allow into our lives are those that resonate with the divine harmony of faith, hope, and love. As we make these choices, we’re not just enjoying music; we’re living out our faith in every note and beat.
For more on how entertainment can be aligned with Christian values, visit resources like:
Desiring God, John Piper: What Makes for a Good Musical Worship Experience?
What makes a good musical worship experience? That’s today’s question from a listener to the podcast by the name of Jeff. “Hello, Pastor John. I know many Christians speak of a good worship experience as one associated with an emotional response. And I have several relatives that will say, ‘A good worship experience is tied to the quality of the music, how well the musicians sing and performed on stage.’ And they will defend popular Christian worship bands who hold to a theology that’s a little bit weak, but defend the songs because of the personal emotional high that they cause. As a result, my relatives will say things like, ‘The worship experience was very powerful.’ We even know of a local church that doesn’t allow children in the singing portion because it distracts from the worship experience. So my question for you, Pastor John, is this: What makes for a good musical worship experience?”
Worship is an experience — it is. And it needs to be fleshed out as to what kind of experience it is. And what makes it good is that there is truth, and there is a response to that truth in understanding; and there is worth and beauty and greatness, and there is a response to that in affections.
So, what I’m looking for in a good experience of worship is this: Is there richness of truth here — truth in the welcome, truth in the prayers, truth in the preaching, truth in the singing? Are the lyrics of the songs permeated with the biblical truth that is loved in this church? And do these people give some evidence that it makes the difference — like it touches anybody? Does anybody feel anything here? Because if this church is totally blank — I mean, if it is emotionless — I’m thinking, “God is not prized here. God is not valued here. God is not cherished here. God is not enjoyed here.” That’s just not worship. I don’t care how true the doctrine is or how straight the preaching is. So those are massively crucial things, I think, for worship to be a good experience.
I think emotionally suitable, truth-carried lyrics — lyrics that are seriously joyful, lyrics that are God-centered, Christ-exalting, Bible-saturated, gospel-rich — are essential.
Defence of the Truth: Contemporary Christian Music (# 2): Suitable for worship?
While many Christians may admit that much of present-day Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) is a result of its close association with the secular rock music industry and not God-honouring, they may yet approve of CCM for the sake of the exceptions. They might justify this kind of music being brought into the church or used for evangelism on the grounds that while we cannot agree to the words used in mainstream CCM, the rock style itself is just a matter of musical preference.
Such people generally hold to aesthetic relativism, the view that judgements about what constitutes beauty are completely subjective. In the case of music, aesthetic relativism holds that style and genre are just a matter of taste: just like some people prefer apples over pears, so some people like Jars of Clay more than Bach, and such tastes falls beyond the scope of morality.
However, aesthetics are not indifferent things. Music itself carries meaning, even apart from the words; so it cannot be morally neutral.
There are at least three things to be said about the style of CCM as it pertains to Christian lyrics or the worship of God.
The first is that the style cannot possibly harmonise with a Biblical, Christian message. Pounding drums and screaming voices solicit many emotions (anger and the like) but cannot encourage the fruits of the Spirit, especially not peace, gentleness, and self-control.
Secondly, the emotional extremities caused by rock do not encourage careful, sober reflection on the gospel, which is necessary for true conversion. On this point, John Makujina notes, “Music has powers of its own, powers of persuasion and sentimentality that often counterfeit the work of the Holy Spirit”.
Thirdly, and most importantly, the CCM style characteristically has a complete lack of reverence towards God. Anyone who thinks he can praise God to the hip-swinging beat of rock ‘n’ roll has no idea what God’s holiness requires.
Some CCM advocates have claimed that the church music of the past centuries was just the music of their time. They thus accuse those who oppose CCM of simply rejecting it because it is new or because the world also uses that style, while the church historically never had a problem with appropriating secular music for worship.
This, however, is a questionable claim, at least as far as the Reformed church history is concerned. There has always been a distinction between God-honouring music and worldly music. Historically, therefore, the church has also had different music than the world. That much is evident from the Genevan project, led by John Calvin, where composers created psalm melodies for the express purpose of congregational singing. Clearly, not just any worldly music would suffice. Rev Deddens says:
As for the church modes, already in that time they had a very long history. Thus it is absolutely not true that the Psalm melodies were based on street songs of that time or on the airs and tunes which were popular then. For many decades this theory has been repeated, but it is totally wrong.”5 (In his following article, Rev Deddens works this out, but for the sake of length, I will not deal with his reasons here. Readers can access the Clarion archives online.) Also consider this statement by James McKinnon, “There is hardly a major church father from the fourth century who does not inveigh against pagan musical practice in the strongest language.”
In the words of Alan Ives, a former rock musician:
We can never portray the peace of the Lord with wild, discordant, violent sound. […] We can never speak of the love of God with hateful music. […] We can never speak of the holiness of God with unholy music […] We can never speak of heavenly things with earthly, sensual, and devilish music […] We can never speak of the seriousness of the cross, of hell, and salvation with flippant music.
In our journey with Christ, every choice, including our entertainment, is an opportunity to reflect His glory. Let us choose wisely, keeping our hearts and ears tuned to the song of faith.