Can Christians Listen to Music other than Praise & Worship?
There’s the position that, since God inhabits the praises of His people (Psalm 22:3 KJV), believers should only listen to Praise & Worship music. This argument is rooted in the idea that music is sound and sound creates an atmosphere, which naturally affects the listener, whether positively, negatively or anything in between. Hence, we should be conscious of the atmosphere we allow because it will determine what’s planted in the heart; and whatever is in our hearts is what will naturally come out in word or practice (Mark 7:14-23). Since things get planted in one’s heart through 1. what you see, 2. what you hear and 3. the company you keep, it’s important to discipline what you allow your eyes to see, your ears to hear and the people with whom you spend time.
Everything in the above paragraph is true and healthy, except for one thing — the word ‘only’ in the statement “believers should only listen to Praise & Worship music” (although they certainly can if they choose to do so). For one thing, there are songs featured in the Bible besides Praise & Worship, which I’ll share momentarily. Secondly, the idea that Christians should only listen to Praise & Worship music can easily become an eye-rolling rule that fuels legalistic arrogance, which prompts the individual to carnally judge & condemn those who don’t abide by it 100%. Behavior like this indicates the spiritual disease of legalism (keep in mind that the root word for legalism is legal, which shows that legalism is all about manmade rules and the religious arrogance & corruption thereof; see Colossians 2:20-23).
Now let’s go into a little more detail so that we can “eat the meat and spit out the bones” concerning what is said in the opening paragraph, keeping in mind that we’re to “test all things, holding on to the good” (1 Thessalonians 5:21)…
It is true that praise naturally attracts God’s presence because it is in accordance with the law of respect: What you respect moves toward you while what you don’t respect moves away from you. Meanwhile worship is adoration or awe, and is the response to being in God’s presence. More succinctly, praise attracts the Lord’s manifest presence while worship — adoration — is the natural response to being in God’s presence. This is verified by Psalm 95:1-7 and Psalm 100. Thus the New Testament encourages believers…
Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.
Hebrews 13:5
Since relationship with God is the heart of Christianity it’s essential that believers grow in the realm of Praise & Worship.
However, while Praise & Worship is indeed spiritual, it isn’t the only God-approved music out there. Praise & Worship is its own genre and is made specifically for Christian devotion. Again, praise ushers in God’s presence while worship/adoration is the response to being in God’s presence. This explains why I spend more time listening to Praise & Worship than any other style of music, by far. It facilitates a spiritual atmosphere. It also explains why it’s the predominant kind of music you’ll experience at Christian assemblies and fittingly so. But let’s not be ignorant and suggest that this is the only kind of musical style that Christians can listen to or the only genre that is approved of God.
For biblical proof, consider the songs we observe in the Bible, like the Psalms, which consist of the lyrics to actual songs. These songs, as well as poetry in the Bible, don’t only feature Praise & Worship. They also include emotional (brutally honest) venting (Psalm 55 & 69), overt romance (Song of Songs), humble confession (Psalm 51), historical accounts ( Psalm 107), prophecy (Psalm 22), laments (book of Lamentations), evangelism (Psalm 78) and even fantasy elements (Judges 9:8-15). The longest song in the Bible is Solomon’s Song of Songs and it’s a love story that doesn’t even mention God. It’s called the Song of Songs because it was Solomon’s best song, his ‘hit.’ What’s this tell us? 1. Not every song we enjoy has to involve Praise & Worship and 2. not every song that doesn’t mention God is automatically “of the devil,” including love songs.
Another thing that these examples of songs & poetry in the Bible reveal is that artistic works don’t have to be one-dimensional. For instance, while Psalm 105 is a historical account, it also includes a little praise. While Psalm 69 is largely cathartic and melancholy, it likewise features a bit o’ praise and a hopeful confession of faith.
Of course the genre of Praise & Worship is limited in its topical scope. It’s naturally focuses on praising & worshiping the LORD, which means that this particular style of music omits a lot of important truths chronicled in the Bible. For instance, generally speaking, Praise & Worship doesn’t detail the sobering prophecies chronicled in Revelation & elsewhere or the importance of spiritual warfare or the horrors of divine judgment or the historical truths of our spiritual forefathers & foremothers (that is, the good, the bad and the ugly of their lives). By contrast, other styles of music, like forms of Rock and Metal, can address all of these things and much more, not to mention be very frank about it.
For those who argue that Rock, Metal and other styles are “secular” and “non-Christian” or, worse, intrinsically evil, it depends on the heart behind the music, which includes the lyrics. Please understand that no form of art, including music, is evil in and of itself, although a person may personally regard it as evil due to a weak conscience, even though it’s not (Romans 14:14). (You can read details about a weak conscience here, just scroll down to the final section). Art is merely a tool for the artist to engage people and usually convey a message, whether intended or not. Nor is soft music inherently good and loud music automatically bad. Doesn’t the Bible say “praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals” (Psalm 150:5)? Does that sound remotely soft? No, it’s loud & heavy!
This doesn’t mean you have to like loud, heavy music. If you prefer music of the soft variety, that’s fine. If you only prefer Praise & Worship, that’s fine too. Art is always a matter of taste. I don’t like Country music, generally speaking (although I do like Western music); neither am I a fan of Rap. Yet this doesn’t compel me to judge & denounce all Country music and all Rap as “of the devil” or however you want to put it.
So, please, let’s drop this notion that Praise & Worship is the only God-approved music. It isn’t. This is a quaint religious idea that’s simply not biblical. The LORD is not one-dimensional and it’s healthy to imitate that quality (Ephesians 5:1).
Let’s also be careful to not idealize (or idolize) people involved in creating or performing Praise & Worship as if it automatically makes them God Jr. While I’m sure most people involved with creating or performing Praise & Worship are genuine believers and mighty men & women of God, it’s not always the case.
For instance, a worship leader I knew at an assembly a dozen years ago was very talented as a singer & piano player and effectively led the congregation in Praise & Worship. This wasn’t some spring chicken; he was in his late 30s. Today this man is one the most contentious people I know and publicly claims the Holy Scriptures were written by the devil (!). Wow, I thought he was a man of God who led congregations in Praise & Worship; obviously not. I guess he was putting on an act, which is what ‘hypocrite‘ literally means.
I also know a virtuoso guitar player who plays in the Praise & Worship band of the assembly down the street. He’s an outstanding guitar player, but he’s also the worst gossip/slanderer my wife & I have ever met. No kidding.
Why is this necessary to point out? Because the impression you’ll get in Christian circles is that musicians involved in Praise & Worship are nigh celestial while believers involved in other styles of music are lesser at best and “of the devil” at worst. I can tell you from experience that it’s much easier to preach to the choir of fellow Christians than it is to try to reach those on the fringe or the outside. So, please, let’s give some respect to those in our midst who function outside the conventional Praise & Worship circuit.
Keep in mind that everything we do – including the music we listen to – must be done with moderation lest it become a hindrance in our lives, an “idol” if you will (Hebrews 12:1-2). That includes collecting & listening to various forms of music and keeping up with the myriad artists, including Praise & Worship.
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This article is a humble correction to those who are inclined to get on a religious high horse by negatively judging & denouncing anything and everything outside the standard category of Praise & Worship, not to mention anything not stamped ‘safe’ by their pastor or Christian outlet. While I’m sure these types are sincere believers loved of the Lord, they’ve fallen prey to a spirit of religiosity on this front, which has made them one-dimensional and this can hinder the spread of the awesome message of Christ.
This legalistic mentality needs reproved because of the flawed spirit it can develop in growing believers. For example, impressionable believers might logically conclude that since Praise & Worship attracts the presence of God then all other forms of music are worthless, like the Bible’s own Song of Songs. They might also think that since music is sound, which creates an atmosphere, and only Praise & Worship attracts the LORD’s presence, then other styles of music — particularly non-Christian music — must automatically attract the kingdom of darkness. While it is true that demons are literally impure spirits and therefore are drawn to that which is impure (unholy), including music that promotes moral filthiness, not every non-Christian song is inherently morally filthy. Some quality songs are neutral. For instance, if you’re out shopping or eating and a song like Sweet Child O’ Mine starts playing on the sound system, you don’t have to run away screaming, “Oh, no, the devil’s coming, the devil’s coming!!!” It’s the same thing if you’re at a sporting event and a song like Eye of the Tiger starts blaring.
I’m of course not encouraging believers to listen to secular music — that’s between the individual and their Maker — I’m just encouraging us not to be religious fools. Personally, I can’t listen to songs that promote sin, satanism or false religion because it hurts my ears too much, if you know what I mean, but not every song that’s non-Christian is automatically evil just like not every painting is intrinsically evil merely because it was made by an unbeliever. It comes down to the content — is it positive, negative or neutral? I encourage growing believers to learn to “guard their hearts as the wellspring of life” (Proverbs 4:23). Be wise about what you allow your eyes to see, your ears to hear and the people you hang around on a regular basis, and how often, because these will determine your atmosphere and therefore what’s planted in your heart. See this article for details.
Related Topics:
Legalism — Understanding its Many Forms
Can a Certain Style of ART be Evil?
FORMS OF ART IN THE BIBLE, including Music, Visual and Performance Art
Praise & Worship—What’s the Difference? Why are they Important?
Is it Ever Okay to Call Someone a “Fool”?
Q&A on Solomon’s SONG OF SONGS
Beauty, Objectification and Lust
Spiritual Growth — The Four Stages
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