Psalm 100 states that we are to make a joyful noise to the Lord. Thank goodness it never says that we are to make a noise that is on tune, sweet sounding, or pleasant. Because, as someone who is pretty much tone deaf, I can't carry a tune in a bucket. What I conclude from this verse is that God loves people who use music among many other things to praise and worship him. As I dive into music, I encourage you to look at what CDs are in your collection, what music plays on your vehicle's radio, and ask yourself is the music I listen to bringing me closer or drawing me farther away from God?
1) Be gracious to all in the area of music.
Colossians 4:6 states that we should let our speech gracious, seasoned with salt. . . People love their music and use their music for many different reasons. Some people use music to get themselves pumped up for a big athletic game, test, or even to finally tell that special boy or girl how they feel. Others use music to relax and unwind after a long, stressful day. While still others use music to heal and move on from a painful life music, and still others use music to draw closer to God.
So, I'm writing to caution you, be careful what you about music that other people listen to and even at times love. We live in a world where we disagree on many things, but what I'm wondering is can we offer a dissenting opinion with a spirit of love and kindness? I think so. Music criticism can be very damaging especially when it is levied against worship music. Please be very gracious when someone seeks to worship God in a way that is different than your preferred style. Look to understand and know that God is bigger than hymns, bigger than guitars, and even bigger than the English language and God is worshiped and honored in all when our hearts are right. Not once in scripture did God command His people to worship only with piano, only in church, only with hymns, or only on Sunday, but God constantly was disciplining and correcting his people for having hearts that were sets on sinful things.
2) Don't make an idol out of music.
In Exodus 20, God was really clear to Moses that he should have no other Gods before Him. Jesus' discussion with many would be followers in Luke 9:57-62 is very similar. So, I bring that up to say this, "Have we made an idol out of music?"
Do we get so bent out of shape when a guitar appears in worship that we lose sight of the God we worship? Do we moan and groan when we have to sit and listen to hymns instead of letting our hair fly at a Christian rock concert? Do we get enthusiastic when our favorite music is being played or do we get even more excited about the God we're singing about?
Value the music you love. Cherish the memories you had at concerts or in church listening to that music, but never lose sight of the bigger picture and that is God honored not with music first and foremost but with hearts that are lifted up to him and community that desires Jesus above everything else.
I encourage you to read this piece that Switchfoot singer Jon Foreman said during an interview in 2014. May God richly bless you this day.
http://whizzpopping.tumblr.com/post/6664742872/jon-foreman-when-asked-if-switchfoot-is-a
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