There is no denying the pervasive influence of music in our modern culture. Music is so integral to our lifestyle that it follows us everywhere. At the gas station, supermarket, or at our next door neighbors, we are never too far from a crooning radio or loudspeaker. But why is music so prevalent? And why does it seem to occupy every niche and corner of our world? Perhaps it's because music produces that special atmosphere and arouses our emotions unlike anything else. Indeed, music is a powerful force with the potential to both uplift and inspire or be addictive and harmful. As such, the Christian must begin to ask the following questions: What does the Bible teach in respect to music? Does the style and composition matter if the lyrics are wholesome? Does God even care about our choice of music, or is this subject completely irrelevant, as some Christians claim? These are the questions we will attempt to address in the following sections. ​​​

 

LUCIFER: THE ANGEL OF MUSIC

The Scriptures teach that all music is spiritual with undertones of good and evil. We can be certain of this fact by studying the history of Lucifer. As one of the highest ranking angels prior to his “fall”, Lucifer was created with the ability to produce music. We cannot find this description in connection with any other angel. Notice:

 

"Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God…the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee" (Ez. 28:13-15).

 

Lucifer’s prowess in music is a significant point to consider. However, could it be that his musical talent has been corrupted as a result of his fall and is now being used against us? Take, for example, the most iconic rebelion of all time, the hippie revolution, which exploded into existence in the early sixties largely because of the popular “beat” of that day—rock 'n roll. The classic slogan of the sixties and seventies, “sex, drugs, and rock 'n roll,” further underscores music's dominant role in this rebellion. Clearly, Satan used rock 'n roll music to seduce the people of that generation into wholesale rebellion against their Christian heritage and values. 

​

Yet even today, Satan continues to use his perverted forms of music to entice us into sin. It's no surprise, then, that music holds so much power and influence over secular culture. ​ 

 

MUSIC: CREATED FOR WORSHIP

According to the Bible, music was created for worship. This fact is easy to appreciate when considering music’s profound role in religious ceremonies across various cultures. Notice: “The Indian music is one of the oldest musical traditions in the world, and Indian classical music (marga) can be found in the scriptures of the Hindu tradition, the Vedas.” –Wikipedia

 

In the Old Testament, music consistently appears in the following format: “make a joyful noise unto the LORD", "sing unto the LORD", "a festival of rejoicing unto the LORD”, etc (Ex. 15:1; Deu. 31:19-22; Ps. 33:3; 40:3; 96:1; Isa. 42:10).

 

Not surprising, the New Testament provides very similar guidance on the use of music in worship: "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and songs of praise and spiritual songs, and striking the strings in your heart to the Lord" (Eph. 5:19). "...singing with pleasure in your hearts to the Lord in psalms, and songs of praise, and spiritual songs" (Col. 3:16b). Here again, the message is clear—music is intended for worship. This means that composing songs on themes like romance, heartbreak, or life’s everyday struggles distorts music’s divine purpose. To God, such misuse is akin to the "strange fire" offered by Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, which was met with divine wrath (Lev. 10:1-2).

 

But now that we understand the theme of our songs should be spiritual and focused on God, what about the style of our music? Does the tune or melody make a difference? Many Christians might say it doesn't. In fact, most churches today have no issue pairing Christian lyrics with any popular music style. However, while this practice is widespread, I don't believe the Bible supports it. A deeper exploration of Scripture reveals that not all music becomes acceptable simply by adding Christian lyrics. The Bible offers clear principles that restrict our musical choices to certain forms. These principles help us discern which forms of music are appropriate and establish the following guidelines:

 

1. Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs 

These are the only forms of song described by the New Testament and considered acceptable (Ep. 5:19; Co. 3:16; Jas. 5:13).

 

Note: The book of Psalms was set to music by the Jewish people thousands of years before the Christian era. Even today, the Psalms remain central to their worship and are the main form of music in synagogues. Since the New Testament encourages us to incorporate Psalms into our praise, we should do so regularly in our homes and Churches.

​

Note: The word “hymns” in the New Testament Greek is humnos. Strong’s Concordance explains it as a “religious ode” or “hymn” derived from a simpler form meaning “to celebrate.” Therefore, the singing of hymns is closely related to the singing of Psalms.

​

Note: The term "spiritual songs" in Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16 refers to songs imparted by the Holy Spirit, which are often spontaneous and born from sincere worship. Sadly, few churches today retain or even allow such spiritual songs.

​

2. Reflecting God’s Holiness

Since God is holy, our music should reflect His holiness. The Bible instructs us to worship the LORD “in the beauty of holiness” (Ps 96:9). This implies avoiding genres of music such as rap, rock, pop, disco, techno, and punk since they are emblematic of a culture that is hostile and antagonistic towards God. Also, if the secular world claims these styles of music as their own, Christians have all the more reason to approach them with caution. Apostle John warned, "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" (1 Jn 2:15-16). This alone should make us reconsider our love and acceptance for worldly styles of music.

 

Additionally, we should be cautious of music where the singer's tone carries a sultry or seductive quality. Their voice is often characterized by an intimate and alluring pull, with a hint of breathiness that draws the listener in. Instead, our music should be filled with worship and directed solely to God. It should never include elements of sexual seduction, which are profane and offensive to a holy God.

​

3. Elevating Our Focus to God

Music should draw us into God’s presence, focusing our attention on Him alone (Eph. 5:19). If music is loud, discordant, and chaotic, or if the instruments drown out the words, it is unfit for spiritual reflection. It will draw our focus away from God and should therefore be avoided. Music that arouses our carnal passions rather than edifying our spirit (God's dwelling place) is similarly inappropriate. Some questions to ask in respect to this point are as follows: Are we focused on the rhythm and drumbeat, or on God? Is the music harmonious and fit for spiritual reflection, or is it loud and chaotic? Do the instruments drown out the words with a heavy drumbeat meant to arouse our fleshly feelings? Again, if the focus is more on the instruments than on the words, and if our carnal passions are stimulated, then we should diligently avoid it.

​

Note: Many Christians fail to realise that rock 'n roll music has its origins in ancient pagan worship and is therefore particularly dangerous. The loud, irregular drum beats were used in pagan rituals to summon spirits and often led to immoral behavior. Not surprising, the Israelites used this very style of music when worshiping the golden calf in place of Jehovah. The Scriptures inform us that the people of Israel "rose up to sing and dance" while committing immoral acts (Ex. 32:6;18;25). If our style of music is conducive to this type of behavior and arouses our sexual feelings, then we must be extremely vigilant to remove it from our homes and places of worship.

 

4. Using the Psalms as a Reference

The book of Psalms is a collection of ancient songs and a good reference point for wholesome music. By studying the Psalms, we discover the following description in connection with biblical worship.

​

• Worship should be lively and joyful (Ps. 95:1-2; 98:4-6).

• Worship may involve various instruments like the harp, lyre, tambourine, cymbals, organs, and trumpets (Ps. 33:1-4; 81:1-3; 92:3).

• Worship should inspire the composing of new songs for God (Ps. 96:1).

• Worship may also include dancing (Ps. 150:2-6).

 

Together, these descriptions help us better understand the criteria for acceptable worship music.

​

Note: The "timbrel" mentioned in the Psalms is sometimes compared to the modern drum, but a timbrel is actually a small hand drum, similar to a tambourine. Unlike the drum, a tambourine doesn’t produce the same powerful vibration or repercussion. While drums can be played similar to a tamborine, their use in church is discouraged, since young people may be tempted to emulate secular performances.

 

Note: Worship dance, like the use of drums, can be a tricky thing. For instance, there is a proper form of dancing, such as King David’s joyful leaping before the Lord (2 Sam. 6:16), and an improper, sensual form often seen in the disco or nightclub. Care should be taken to ensure worship dance reflects the former, not the latter. 

 

Note: For a deeper understanding of proper and improper forms of music, I recommend this teaching by a knowledgeable musician here. You can also watch an eye-opening documentary on the history of rock 'n roll by clicking here. And for access to free, wholesome Christian music, click here.

 

CONCLUSION

In closing, I'd like to share some thought provoking excerpts from Meghan O’Gieblyn’s article, “Sniffing Glue.” As a former Christian turned secular writer, O’Gieblyn offers the following critique of Christian contemporary music (CCM):

 

“I couldn’t have told you what the word irony meant, but I knew I’d been cheated by Christian rock. Without my parents’ knowledge, I had just discovered MTV. This was crack, and I’ve been wasting my time sniffing glue (CCM). This was the real stuff (MTV). This was what CCM was a poor imitation of.

 

“My parents disapproved of secular music. So I continued to listen to it in secret. Despite all of my teenage rebellion, I continued to call myself a Christian into my early twenties. When I finally stopped, it wasn’t because being a Believer made me un-cool, outdated, or freakish. It was because being a Christian no longer meant anything. It was a label to slap on my FB page next to my music preference. The gospel became just another product someone was trying to sell me, and a paltry one at that. Because the church is in Viacom, it doesn’t have a department of brand strategy and planning. Staying relevant in late consumer capitalism requires highly sophisticated resources and a willingness to tailor your values to whatever your audience wants. In trying to compete in this market, the church has forfeited the one advantage it had in the game to attract disillusioned youth—AUTHENTICITY.

 

“When it comes to fundamental values, the profit driven world has zilch to offer. If Christian leaders weren’t so ashamed of those unvarnished values, they might have something more attractive to offer than anything in today’s secular market. In the meantime, they’ve lost one more kid to the competition.”

 

This candid testimony vividly illustrates the disillusionment that many young churchgoers experience, driving them to seek fulfillment outside of Christianity. The church has sadly failed to provide a compelling and authentic standard, especially in the realm of music, and our youth are quick to notice. As a result, the allure of secular influences has penetrated their hearts and minds, leading to large-scale rebellion. If we refuse to acknowledge and address our failure in this area, we may never salvage the hearts and lives of our young people. So what will it be? Will we continue to adopt the world's brand of music and allow it to stylize our worship? Or will we offer our youth a superior alternative by tailoring our choice of music to the criteria thus far presented? The choice is ours...

 

​