Taking Back the Music!
Last week my wife and I were watching a concert on TV, we were appreciating the musical style presented by the artist. Within a couple minutes we observed something rather strange which was much like the photo above. I saw people lifting their hands, and what seemed to be worshiping. I've seen this before, but suddenly something clicked in me with such agitation. Music was created to glorify God, for us to worship and magnify his name. Music was not created to worship and magnify people or idols. People lifting their hands during worship is a sign of surrendering to God, what then are you surrendering to when you lift your hands during a concert? The person? The content of the Song (which could then relate to drugs, sex, alcohol, murder, etc...)? You may not intentionally be trying to surrender to such things, but if lifting our hands is an action of surrender to God shouldn't it be kept as such. Now, I understand that sometimes you may just lift them up to the beat or something like that, but when I see people closing their eyes, swaying and acting crazy....yea it's a bit off.
I used to play Christian rock, and during that time I would see people lift the "devil horns" during a show; guilty as charged, ignorantly I've done it too. But, I've since realized that it's just a way for the enemy to pervert the music that belongs to God. 1 Peter 5:8 says, "8 Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." Believe me when I say, the enemy is conspiring to continually pervert music. How many times have you heard that music is an international language? Many i'm sure, and this is why the enemy wants it. Don't let him devour you into worshiping the person instead of your Lord! There are other musical uses that have been taken and twisted. Look at
rituals throughout history, from ancient pagan rituals to the
"call to prayer". Music is used as a uniting sound, but in the world,
the uniting is not for God it's for the enemy.
With all this said, it's between you and God regarding what type of music you should listen to. Personally I can appreciate some of the music put out there today, IN MODERATION, but draw the line when it has corrupt language, a perverse message, or is blasphemous to God. As a musician, I believe listening to everything from classical to rock can provide you with a diverse style. However, there is now so many great Christian artists out there that much of the diversity can be found "in house". Talk with God this week and ask Him if your choice in music should be changed, if you aren't sure what to do get rid of all the junk and start from scratch. Saturate your house with worship, have your kids fill their iPods with worship instead of the Billboards top 50, get rid of your albums that promote Sexual Immorality and deface the name of God, and take back the music from the enemy!
It appears that you started with a few conclusions and worked backwards on a few of these points. Music was not necessarily created to glorify God. He has created mankind with an affection for sensation, curiosity, and emotion. Music is a vehicle to embrace these, whether it glorifies him or not. Not all music has to glorify God, and if it doesn't, it also doesn't mean it arbitrarily dishonors him either. i.e. classical (although you could argue it glorifies him indirectly through his design of mankind, but so could folk, instrumentals, and even rock). Next, the whole raising hands being a sign of surrender? No. Perhaps in church that might be one interpretation, but wouldn't it be more objective to see it for a physical representation of your emotional connection to the music. i.e. waving hands and even dancing serve as equivalent gestures. It might be best to account for human emotion in a few of these scenarios. Dancing, closing your eyes, or (insert action here) doesn't necessarily default to a godless celebration of the person playing. It just as easily an expression of people experiencing the sensation of the emotions we were created with.
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