Worldly Music over Holy Music

Modern Christianity takes popular music from the world (Rock, Pop, Rhythm & Blues, Soul, Jazz, Hip Hop, etc.), adds "spiritual" lyrics to it and calls it spiritual music ("Holy Hip Hop" or "New Praise"). The focus of these songs is less on God and more on dancing—making hips hop. They declare that since the words are about God, the music is worthy to praise God; however, this kind of music is better termed Christian Entertainment at best or simply junk. The "whatsoever" in "whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him" (Colossians 3:17; 1 Corinthians 10:31), does not mean whatsoever pleases the flesh but whatsoever is pleasing to God the Father. Even with new lyrics, the evil spirits that influenced the worldly music will also influence "Christian" worshippers. The issue is not simply the music people listen to; it is the spirit behind the music. Many of the world's entertainers confess that they channel spirits when they perform. If we only knew how many spirits we let inside of us on a daily basis we would stop listening to and watching most of the things we do. Here is what G. Craige Lewis of EX Ministries has to say on this subject:

Because of [its] origin and what Hip Hop originally represented in [its] earlier stages, we cannot embrace it as Christians. [There] can be no Holy Hip Hoppers or no Christian Hip Hop because the culture cannot lend itself to the direction of the Holy Spirit. Yes, we do have very powerful Christian rap groups that preach the word of God through rap, but we must not get confused and call what they are doing Hip Hop. You have to understand that God does not embrace anything that has a corrupt origin. The very word "HipHop" was used by Afrikka Bambatta, the pioneer of the culture and professed Zulu Nation god, to describe the parties that he was hosting in clubs across New York in the early 70’s. Since then, he has developed a religion that rested upon the Hip Hop culture. The culture is not from God, therefore, it should not be used by the people of God to describe anything that is of God!

... God will not embrace what the world has developed as a means of glorifying that which is carnal and sin filled. Therefore, being a Holy HipHopper is just like saying I am a Holy Pimp or a Gospel Gangsta or a Thug for Christ! God forbid. The old man is dead! Come on Christians, stop loving the things of the world and what the world has taught us. God wants to come and totally wipe away the old man, the old thought process and the old carnal identity that we obtained through poverty, sin, abandonment, fatherlessness, hurt, anger, and prejudice. Sure, we struggled, but once we are [made] free, we must walk in the newness of live in Jesus Christ.¹

Thus, through ignorance, pride, and idolatry, "They sacrificed unto devils, not to God; to gods whom they knew not, to new gods that came newly up, whom your fathers feared not" (Deuteronomy 32:17). "O god, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps" (Psalm 79:1). Here are more scriptures that speak to this adultery:

But I say, that the things which the [heathen] sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord’s table, and of the table of devils. Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he? (1 Corinthians 10:20-22)

Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the LORD is contemptible. And if ye offer the blind for sacrifice, is it not evil? and if ye offer the lame and sick, is it not evil? offer it now unto thy governor; will he be pleased with thee, or accept thy person? saith the LORD of hosts ... But cursed be the deceiver, which hath in his flock a male, and voweth, and sacrificeth unto the LORD a corrupt thing: for I am a great King, saith the LORD of hosts, and my name is dreadful among the heathen. (Malachi 1:7-8, 14)

Even wise men of the world understood the influence of music: "for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light" (Luke 16:8). Here are three quotes from Plato on music:

Music is a moral law. It gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and charm and gaiety to life and to everything.

Music is the movement of sound to reach the soul for the education of its virtue.

For the introduction of a new kind of music must be shunned as imperiling the whole state; since styles of music are never disturbed without affecting the most important political institutions.

When we examine the exacting directions for sacrifices in the Old Testament; how can we possibly think we can present something evil (or of evil origins) to the Lord and call it holy?

Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: ye shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats (Exodus 12:5)

Ye shall offer at your own will a male without blemish, of the beeves, of the sheep, or of the goats. But whatsoever hath a blemish, that shall ye not offer: for it shall not be acceptable for you. And whosoever offereth a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD to accomplish his vow, or a freewill offering in beeves or sheep, it shall be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no blemish therein. (Leviticus 22:19-21)

To what purpose cometh there to me incense from Sheba, and the sweet cane from a far country? your burnt offerings are not acceptable, nor your sacrifices sweet unto me. (Jeremiah 6:20)

"Thus were they defiled with their own works, and went a whoring with their own inventions" (Psalm 106:39). "But [Jesus] turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of" (Luke 9:55). Is God not "the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever" (Hebrews 13:8)? Does he not stipulate in Romans 12:1 that our sacrifices are to be holy: acceptable unto God? Moreover, in Luke 16 does he not stipulate that "Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God" (Luke 16:15)? So God says "come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you" (2 Corinthians 6:17). Scripture stipulates that true worship requires that we be in one accord with God’s Spirit and truth (John 4:24): "I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments" (Psalm 119:7). We cannot believe in the wisdom of this world or in the wisdom of the devils of this world (1 Corinthians 2:5-6) and think we can truly worship the Lord. "The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth" (Psalm 145:18). Moreover, scripture adds the following about musical worship,

O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth. Sing unto the LORD, bless his name;

shew forth his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people. (Psalm 96:1-3)

And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of musick, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy. (1 Chronicles 15:16)

Moreover Hezekiah the king and the princes commanded the Levites to sing praise unto the LORD with the words of David, and of Asaph the seer. And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped. (2 Chronicles 29:30)

As G. Craige Lewis rightly points out, are we so bereft of the Spirit of God that no one among us has the ability to compose psalms, hymns and spiritual songs without sampling worldly music? "But now hath God set the members every one of them in the body, as it hath pleased him ... Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular" (1 Corinthians 12:18, 27). Thus God has set members in our midst gifted in lyrics and music. The focus of praise should be on words of truth about God and on music that inspires reverence of God not carnal dance: reverent music befitting adoration of our mighty and holy God. Music itself can speak—influence—separate from the words: "The incredible ability that music has to affect and manipulate emotions and the brain is undeniable, and yet still largely inexplicable"². Therefore, let us offer the sacrifice of praise without blemish: "let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name" (Hebrews 13:15).

Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:17-18)

Let us rid ourselves of songs that glorify our flesh ("Christian" Entertainment) and songs that focus on us and what we get from God (Christian Inspiration); rather, praise is a sacrifice—a form of worship . Due to the false doctrine of the Trinity, praise songs are incorrectly being directed to Jesus or to the Holy Ghost because the Trinity espouses that Jesus is God and the Holy Ghost is God. The subject of praise songs should be God the Father—who he is according to his Word—and the audience for praise songs should be God the Father: "Hear, O Israel; The Lord our God is one Lord" (Mark 12:29). Like prayer, we address God the Father: "After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name" (Matthew 6:9). Jesus, when talking about his resurrection, told his disciples "in that day ye shall ask me nothing. ... ye shall ask the Father in my name" (John 16:23). The question is not whether a song moves us or whether a song identifies with us; the question is whether the song pleases God: "do those things that are pleasing in his sight" (1 John 3:22). "Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely" (Psalm 147:1). "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (Ephesians 5:20).

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1	G. Craige Lewis, Explore Truth (Fort Worth, EX Ministries), http://www.exministries.com/truth.html (accessed January 22, 2010).
2	Duane Shinn, Music & Emotions: Can Music Really Make You a Happier Person? (Artspace2000), http://www.artspace2000.com/executive_match/Luxury_Guide/music/36001.php (accessed January 22, 2010).