Several years ago a pastor and some of his young people made headlines when they built a large bonfire and the young people threw their rock music into the fire. The reason they gave for doing this was that young people so often commit immorality to a background of rock music that they wanted to be rid of its evil influence.
Some ridiculed this act, claiming the music really isn’t the problem. But at least these young people realized the evil associations of rock music. Today’s music scene is more wild and suggestive than ever.
The music revolution of today is reminiscent of a musical “event” described in God’s Word. Three young Jews were determined to obey God, no matter what. The pagan ruler of their land built a golden image to be worshiped. A grand musical concert signaled the time to bow down and worship. The Jews refused. The king was infuriated. He staged a repeat performance. (You can read about this in the Bible in Daniel 3.)
“Nebuchadnezzar spake and said unto them, Is it true, O Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, do not ye serve my gods, nor worship the golden image which I have set up? Now if ye be ready that at what time ye hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, ye fall down and worship the image which I have made; well: but if ye worship not, ye shall be cast the same hour into the midst of a burning fiery furnace; and who is that God that shall deliver you out of my hands?”
Today, as in those days, some twenty-five hundred years ago, music is being used to influence people. This time the golden image is not a statue of a king. With their music, many are bowing down to the gods of our society. The sounds of rock, country music, and of some church music symbolize conformity to the standards of society or its dissidents rather than conformity to God’s Word. The popular music of our day is associated with much that is evil including political protest. The revolution in music has been part of the youth revolt against society and its standards. Admittedly, much of society is rotten and its standards and values are warped. Instead of turning to serve Christ and to promote Christian values, people are protesting and trying to force change apart from personal transformation in Jesus Christ. Today’s liberation movements stress freedom of expression and of social protest. The Christian’s motive for being “different” from the world is to glorify Christ. The lyrics of some rock songs advocate experimentation with drugs. Sometimes rock singers openly advocate drug abuse. The music may not be what makes them take drugs, but the association is too close for the Christian to risk involvement.
Immorality. The music-burning young people mentioned earlier recognized a connection between the music of our age and immorality. Whether or not the musical beat “makes them do it,” the evil associations are clear—the animalistic movements, the oft suggestive words, the beat, the people who perform it, are all questionable.
Along with “liberated” music has come “liberated” dress. Young people (and some older ones too) were quick to copy the immodest clothing of rock music groups. At least part of the reason for tight (or even very loose) jeans, open shirts, long hair (or shaved heads), miniskirts, and short-shorts has been protest against authority. Immodesty is a key contributor to the immorality often associated with the music of today.
Now that I have pointed out dangers in rock music, you are no doubt wondering what kind of music I would say we should have. The first criterion involves the message of the lyrics. Music we sing and listen to should contain character-building, God-centered lyrics. This would eliminate rock and country music immediately. A second criterion is the beat. Certainly the beat should not overshadow the message. A good question to ask of the tempo and beat of music we use is: “Will this tempo and beat glorify God, encouraging people to do what is right?”
Careful consideration and prayer are essential in choosing music today with all its varieties. If, after prayer, you are still not sure about the lyrics or the beat, the safest route is to abstain and replace it with good, solid hymn music that praises God. “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord” (Ephesians 5:19).
The pressures are great to give in to the music of the age and to bow down to the standards of an ungodly world. May we not fall down when we “hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, dulcimer, and all kinds of music.”
-Roger Berry