The sound produced based on natural law can be explained scientifically. However, there was nothing that God did not know before they where created. God was not surprised by the outcome of what He created. He created everything to produce noise or sound. He created our ears to perceive vibration or sound.

In the first place, if sound had no purpose at all for God, He could have omitted it from the natural law of nature a long, long time ago. Then He could have removed our ears because a hearing ear is useless without a sound to hear. However, being created in the image and likeness of God, He put creativity in man to discover and improvise indigenous instruments for a noble purpose (Gen. 4: 21-22). Everything that God created has a specific and perfect purpose.

Therefore, God is the copyright owner of all sounds. He is the copyright owner of music. His music is licensed for pure and holy purposes only. Music outside the will of God is called "ungodly". It is illegal and unauthorized by the Copyright Owner. Changing the truth for a lie or making the spiritual carnal is an absolute crime to the Designer. It is a violation to the supremest law to use improperly the music of God without His permission and authorization. Reproducing illegal use of music is touching the sacred thing that belongs to God. To abide in God’s perfect will and or to use music by God’s design are the only ways wherein God will not sue you for illegal activity in the Judgment day.  BACK TO THE TOP

The Purpose of Music

God designed music for only one purpose and that is to glorify His Name and to accomplish His will. He imparted music to His creation for His pleasure. In heaven, the only music you will ever hear is focused on God or from God to us. God’s music has one central theme: It’s all about Him. Meaning, God is the center of everything. He alone is lifted up, praised, and worshipped.

1] Communion

During ancient times, the heathens used natural instruments around them such as shells and stones, or animal skins and bones as musical instruments to summon up the spirits of the dead, and to commune with their "false gods". We know that this is an abomination towards the true and Living God, but their idea or way to access the spirit realm is correct. Music in the form of worship is for fellowship or communion in the spirit.

We were created with two-sexuality. One is the physical; the other is the spiritual. Music, through ritualistic worship, is a way of having union in the spirit. In other words, it is having intimacy in the spiritual dimension.

Thus, there is mutual pleasure in worshipping God. Or take the example of those who do not know God, they still have a passion deep within them, for a form of a god.

2] Communication

God, the One and only Creator many times expressed His thoughts, feelings, care and affection more deeply through music. Like in the case of the unbelievers who were touched by God’s presence in our congregation during worship time. Many were saved, healed, delivered, and encouraged.

In response to His goodness, we communicate our gratitude to God through praise and worship.

This is exactly God’s idea of music, a dialogue and not a monologue type. It is a unique way to communicate.

3] Teaching or Preaching

Music is one of the best means to make thoughts stick or grip to our memory (Ps. 49: 1 –4). It is a way of recording God’s message to our hearts.

Most people find it much easier to memorize songs than bible verses. At a very young age, a child can memorize the whole of alphabet, poems and or nursery rhymes because of its musical patterns. Music helps connects one word to another.

Music is an integral part of our lives. Songs can often touch people in a way what a sermon cannot. Music can bypass intellectual barriers and take the message straight to the heart. It is a potent tool for evangelism.

David said in this particular verse that the unbelievers would perceive Gods music beyond hearing to seeing. See what? The truth! When people hears the gospel through a song, the eyes of their hearts will be opened to the truth, they will fear God, convicted and repent from their sins and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ for salvation.

Aristotle said, "Music has the power to shape character." Satan is clearly using music today to shape the values of most people in their teens and twenties. Music is the primary communicator of values to the younger generation. If we do not use music to spread godly values, Satan will have an unchallenged access to an entire generation.

Genuine worship is what God seeks from us. Yet, worship at the highest level does not end there. Missions are the fruit and evidence of true worship (Isaiah 6: 1-8).

Prophet Isaiah had this heavenly experience. He saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up with the worship of the seraphim’s. At the height of such genuine worship in the spirit, an angel of the Lord was sent to cleanse his uncleanness. Then he heard the Lord spoke, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?"

Isaiah 6: 1-8 shows us a principle. God wants us to soak in His presence. In the process, we are being cleansed, purified, and transformed more and more into His likeness. When we come to a place of maturity, He calls us to be His ambassadors.

Are you willing? If yes, will you avail yourself? BACK TO THE TOP

Music Evolution

Many scientists believe that in every evolution (million years), things change. With God things can change anytime He wants. Only Him does not change.

Reading from Genesis 4: 19 – 22. Lamech had two wives, one named Adah and the other Zillah. Adah gave birth to Jabal who was a shepherd, and then to Jubal who was a musician. Jubal became the father of all who play the harp and flute. Then Zillah, Lamechs second wife had a son, Tubal-Cain, who forged all kinds of tools out of bronze and iron.

Jubal started with wooden instruments and the younger half-brother Tubal-Cain improvised it to metal-made instruments such as cymbals and trumpets. Here we see a progression. New instruments are discovered and added. In the following years we read that tambourine, lyre, horn, and other percussive instruments were recorded.

Today it’s obvious that our musical instruments have improved a lot. Example: From flute to trumpets. From harmonica to pipe organs. Now we have electronic organs in keyboard. A combination of trumpets, we produce brass. Today we use synthesized Wave sound as its newer version. We can relate how piano came from an improvised harp. It’s like a big harp inside a piano case. Today conventional pianos are cloned to electronic piano and synthesizers.

From lyre to acoustic guitar, then from acoustic guitar to electric guitar with variety of sound using a sound processor. Ensembling the sound of all stringed instruments, we produce "Strings". Many more will show up in every next generation. What we have really is a continuation of an ending development of musical instruments since Genesis chapter four.

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Redeeming Music

Since God is the copyright owner of music, we can redeem all music, including secular style of music. What makes secular ungodly is the hidden message in that song but not the sound? The sound, the music and the style are not affected by Satan’s adulteration, only the text. That’s why we redeem music and not the song itself. No matter how much noise they produce, it is still music. Again, all musical sounds are but improvised and refined noises. So there is no problem if our worship is evolving to a modern style. God is the one doing the reformation in music itself. Again, all music is God’s but not all songs are His.

This portion is for musicians: Nothing is wrong with converting old secular songs for God. It is good to change the lyrics of an ungodly rock song for the glory of God. This process is not redeeming but converting or revising it for God. Do this specially when God convicts you so for a purpose. But consider also that there are people who are not conscious with the text but with its familiar tune. Secondly, as a musician we must understand that God doesn’t need any of such songs composed by an unbelieving vessel, a vessel influenced by drugs and such. God stored up numerous, available, brand new songs in His heart that can minister more effectively to people. He can give us new songs anytime if we only pray and listen.

First, He gives the revelation and we create the musical pattern that He gives from within our hearts. It is God who put creativity in man. Throughout the scriptures, God encourages us to produce "new songs". God loves new songs. Don’t give Him leftovers or second hand used songs. Let us not borrow any song from the devil. We are to offend Satan.

The music itself, no matter what style, is God’s. We can redeem all styles of music because it is God’s (but not all songs are His). For example: the song "I’m bad" and "Hotel California".

Oh yes I agree that we can use a common secular style of music to step in to the paradigm of the people in the world to evangelize them. That must make the world or unchurched feel comfortable in our churches. But there are things to consider if we convert secular music the right and legal way; first we must ask permission from the secular artist to use his song and make some changes to its lyrics or maybe reproduce it. If we are not permitted then we should not be doing such because they have the right to sue (Romans 13: ff.). Not only that, we are Christians who should not be violators of law even if we claim to be under a greater heavenly law. It is illegal to modify or change songs that hold a copyright. Secondly, the process takes time and is so expensive. So why don’t we go directly to God and ask for new songs?

God has countless songs in His heart right now. If only the musicians are open to God. 2Cor.5: 18-19 talks about our ministry of reconciliation. Reconciling back those that belong to God. It’s about redeeming His fallen creation or anything that was His. Jesus died to redeem sinful man not sin. In the same way, we redeem the styles of music not ungodly songs. For man belongs to God, not sin and music belongs to God not ungodly songs.

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Styles of Music

There are thousands or more styles in music. Many are unnamed. But in general view, the most known and popular styles of music today are rock, slow rock, pop, techno, house, rhythm n blues, rap, ballad, swing, march, country, new age, jazz, samba, reggae and bossanova.

In 2 Cor. 5: 18 and Acts 3: 21, we learn that God wants to see all things reconciled to Himself. God’s heart is to see all things come under the Lordship of Jesus Christ, His kingdom come on earth, and His will be done.

It is not a sin to use in church worship different styles of music. It is God’s (See "ethnomusicology" in chapter 11 of the Psalmist Music Book). Surely many will disagree not because God is not glorified in it but because some styles of music are unfamiliar or foreign to our co-believers. But to regard that rock style or techno style as unspiritual is wrong and unscriptural.

The truth is, noise is music and music is noise. Noise creates sound, and when tuned to the right pitch and organized together becomes - music. No one can categorize "this is God’s style or not". Because all noises is God’s creation. He is the copyright owner of all sounds. So as long as you can hear a sound, noise, or rhythm, it is Gods. Satan only put unclean text in a song. Most secular songs today were adulterated by the devil only through the text but not the sound and the style of it.

Let’s say, for instance, you have discovered a new style that was never once heard in the whole universe, this doesn’t mean it’s not God’s. Whatever kind of style you have come up to is God’s because it was God who created creativity in man to produce sound and styles. In other words, if the devil gives you a gift, then the product of that gift is ungodly. But if you believe that every good and perfect gift is from God, then that gift gives glory to Him.

Now about church worship, there is no such thing as an appropriate style for worship. There is no standard style of music for worship. If we say this is the right way to worship God? Then we are saying that the Israelites are wrong because they are using a different style of music to what we claim the standard. God is not bothered by different styles of worship as long as it is done in spirit and in truth. In fact, it was His idea to make us all different from each other, and He enjoys the variety.

The style of worship that you prefer or that makes you feel comfortable says more about your personality and cultural background. Different churches have different identity and personality. That is why some "church goers" transfer to a neighboring church where they could identify more their personality with their style of music. That’s okay too.

In conclusion, God is glorified with whatever style of music, as long as the text is not polluted by the evil one. Remember that no one can claim and declare a permanent style of music for God in worship services. If we trace back in history, the styles of music has its roots in Genesis 11 when God confused the tongues of men. That work of God formed into nations and cultures of different kinds. Since every nation has their unique culture, they formed different styles of music and dance steps. Variety of musical arts and dances is a part of ones culture. Thus the devil has no participation in this music style formation. Just as God is the author of having many nations, so is each style of music from every tribe and nation is all of God. What the enemy did is just adulterate it in the song context. Therefore, ethnic music and indigenous instruments are of God just as nations are of God (By-product of Gen.11). One proof, we read that Israel used the same instruments both to worship God or idols. So the issue is not what instruments used but who is the one worshipped? (See also "Ethnomusicology" in chapter 11 of the Psalmist Music Book).

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Conforming to the world?

To say that modern music is "conforming" to the world is unfair. Romans 12: 1- 2 talks about God’s will. That living in God’s will which is good, pleasing and perfect is a spiritual act of worship. It does not talk about the styles of music. Therefore, Romans 12 does not mean that modern music is conforming to the world.

Music is ours and it is only proper for us to be the trendsetter and not the world. IT SEEMS WE ARE LEFT BEHIND, STUCKED UP BY RELIGION AND TRADITION, NOT MOVING WITH TIME AND SEASONS THAT’S WHY IT LOOKS LIKE WE ARE THE ONES "CONFORMING". If we do not overtake the world by using our advance technology from and in God, we will never graduate from such accusation of imitating the world. Since the 60’s the church kept reacting to every new style introduced. During the time of Elvis Presley and the Beatles, the church kept criticizing them and their style of music. But who caught the attention of the world? Christians? No, even Christians became their fans. That’s why John Lennon said, "we are more popular than Jesus Christ". Today, many Christians bluff to gospel music in contemporary style. Instead of helping win the lost, they block the way and discourage God’s young talents to arise.

That’s why God’s ‘new sound’ is not known nor fully understood today. If we are apostolic then we should re-engineer God’s move to something contextualized or applicable to every generation. Many preachers are afraid to talk about this so let me call your attention now my co-ministers. It is our responsibility to lead the people in following where the cloud of God is moving. Do not fear man. Traditional mindset will always react to every new move of God. No matter how many points they have against us as we pioneer God’s move, we can sum up the matter to one conclusion: You shall know them by their fruits. It’s easy to judge if this is of God or not? By fruits! The fruit of true worship are souls led to Christ. If sinners are getting saved through modern music then we ought to stop criticizing those whom God are using to win the now generation. Let us support them. Salvation is more important than arguing about the styles of music! If only the church is leading, then the world is the one imitating or conforming to us. But since we see the opposite, it is as though we are the one conforming. Hey church! Wake up! We are supposed to be the head and not the tail! Overtake! Let’s take the lead. God destined us to be at the top and never at the bottom (Deut. 28: 13).

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