Think About These Things…

As I listened to the radio on my drive into work this morning, I thought about the influence that music can have on us. My mind went to some of my friends who had shown interest in Christ—some even surrendered to him—and then slowly drifted back to the world. Often-times, the thing they could not give up was the music that they loved before meeting Christ.

So, I was asking myself if music was really that powerful. Can music really be such a stronghold in someone’s life that it draws them away from Christ? Or, on the flip-side, could music be a tool that God uses to draw someone to Christ? As I was thinking, I was reminded of a couple of scriptures.

In Daniel 3, King Nebuchadnezzar made an image of gold and gathered all the governing officials in order to dedicate it. He said to them, “when you hear the sound of the horn, pipe, lyre, trigon, harp, bagpipe, and every kind of music, you are to fall down and worship the golden image.” So, what’s going on here? Well, he knew the power of music and was trying to make them feel more comfortable to do what he had commanded. Have you ever heard music that makes you feel good? That even makes you feel more comfortable to do something you wouldn’t normally do? Sure you have. I would submit that it even gives you some sort of high. I know that there are songs that I hear today that bring me back to places I don’t want to go. However, there is still the temptation to stay and listen because I enjoy the music. It makes me feel good. It is my responsibility to resist that temptation through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Another scripture that shows music’s power to influence someone is in 1 Samuel 16. Verse 14 says, “Now the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a harmful spirit from the Lord tormented him.” Then, verse 23 says, “And whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him.” Can you see the power that music had on Saul? It made an evil spirit depart. If music has the power to cause evil spirits to depart, do you think it can also invite them to come? It would certainly make sense, wouldn’t it?

So, where am I going with all of this? Well, as I continued to think on these things, one of my favorite verses came to my mind. This verse always causes me to think of my beautiful wife. Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Boom! Listen, it’s not about legalism: saying that listening to certain music makes you an unbeliever, etc. It’s about holiness! It’s about purity! What do you want to put in your brain? Things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, praiseworthy? Of course you do!

I want to encourage you to examine yourself now. Are there any things that you are taking into your mind, that are having a negative effect on your heart? On your relationship with Christ? Or, perhaps you have never known Christ. Then I would encourage you to start putting God’s Word into your heart. It is pure and lovely. It will bust you up from time to time, but that’s good. Let him break you so He can pour out His mercy into your heart and save you!