The Church Has Been Hijacked

And the Weapon of Choice is "Music"

A year ago, Steve Harvey gave an interview to Donnie McClurkin, where he gives a worldly critique of what is "wrong with the church".  One of his suggestions for how the church might be able to better reach the world was that they allow secular artists to come and sing in the assembly of the saints.

This mindset - that music is somehow just about individual talent - is shared by many, but is in error.  We have written about music before, but many people still do not understand that music is a ministry.  It is an offering to God used to usher in His presence and minister to His people.

This is why it is said that music is "food for the soul."  However, the question is, "What are you feeding your soul?  Is it edifying your spirit (conforming you more to the image of God) or fortifying your soul (making you soulish and conforming you to the image of the world)?"

There is a terrible misconception that what makes music sacred or secular is the lyrics. However, music has a power all of its own (apart from the lyrics) to minister to one's soul based on the spirit it carries.

"And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him." I Samuel 16:23

Notice above that music alone (no lyrics) can affect the spirit of a man; in this case for good.  When music is from the Lord, it can cast off evil spirits.  However, music can also be used to usher in the presence of that which is evil.

"Then an herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, O people, nations, and languages, That at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up: And whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace." Daniel 3:4-6

The decree that Nebuchadnezzar made for the people to worship the golden idol applied to all "people, nations, and languages" in the Babylonian Empire.  This is because music is the "universal language"; it can transcend language and culture.  Here we see that the music alone - again, no lyrics - is able to draw people into worship of false gods.

When "Christian" musicians sample music from Jay-Z, Busta Rhymes, Lil Kim, Tupac, Sting, U2, The Beatles...and bring it into the church, they are either flaunting their ignorance in this area or attempting to deliberately defile the people.  More importantly, such artists wouldn't be able to make a career in such things if the church also understood that we cannot clean up what is unclean spirits with "Christian" lyrics and make it acceptable to God. 

One way to discern the spirit behind music is to see how it "inspires" the people who hear it.  Does it inspire a humble heart of praise & worship towards God or does it inspire the pride of life by putting the flesh on display? Does it bring man's attention to the glory & majesty of God or does it lead man to focus on himself?  Is it sowing to man's spirit or to his flesh?

"For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting." Galatians 6:8

Bro. David Williams engages in a discussion below about these issues as he evaluates "How Gospel is Gospel music?"