Consider This...
Theological Thoughts to Encourage the Heart & Stir the Mind ___________________________________________________
Volume I March 2011 Issue 11
It would be hard for me to come up with a more controversial topic for this paper if that was my intent. While my purpose is certainly not to be controversial, this paper is certain to offend or irritate someone. Please believe that is not my desire.
Music, in today’s Christian homes and on Christian radio stations, can be one of the most rampant areas of false teaching most Christians will ever subject themselves to. Matthew 7:15-16 says, “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves. Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.”
Jesus is speaking on the mount, giving a warning to be cautious and to examine the teachers (prophets). Make sure they are who they say they are. He said we shall be able to discern between good and bad based on their lives.
When a Christian sits and listens to a message given by a speaker or pastor, there are a number of questions that should be considered. Do I agree with this person’s theology? Does this person exhibit the kind of lifestyle commanded in Scripture for a pastor to adhere to? Are his teachings in agreement with Scripture? These are just a few of the questions each person must answer before allowing themselves to be taught. I would venture to say that most Christians would be vigilant in ensuring they are not being taught incorrectly by those teachers, but how many of those same Christians exhibit the same discernment when choosing which “musical minister” to sit under? Does the lifestyle of the individual (group) reflect Christ? Do they teach correct doctrine in their music? Do they profess Christ and does their fruit reflect that?
Jesus goes on in verse 21, “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that DOETH the will of my Father which is in heaven.” How does this apply to music?
I’m glad you asked. There are numerous examples of “Christian” bands/ singers who have sung songs that profess “Biblical” concepts. They appear to be accurate in their teaching and, on the surface, appear quite benign or even “godly.” However, many times, we hear later that the individual or band has a problem with alcohol, drugs, women, etc. The fruit that they are producing does not appear to be the fruit of a believer. The lyrics may be fine and, in many cases, they may be passages straight out of Scripture. But the teacher (singer) does not reflect the life of a believer.
Acts16:17 is another example of an unbeliever using Scripture that appears to be “godly” but clearly is of Satan. It is the story of a woman with the “spirit of divination” (evil spirit). She followed Paul and Silas saying “These men are the servants of the most high God, which show unto us the way of salvation.” The writer says she “taught” this message for many days. Obviously, the teaching of this woman was accurate. Those men really were servants of the Most High God. But the message was not of God. It was, as Scripture shows, of Satan.
Throughout Scripture, there are commands and warnings about identification and lifestyle, about being “doers, and not just hearers,” warnings against being a clanging symbol without love. And the list goes on and on. This is not an attack on a specific genre’ of music. There are false teachers in every style.
I have heard people say, “When an unbeliever gets saved and gives up heavy metal or some other type of music, there is a void left behind that this same genre of music with “Christian lyrics” fills.” What a sad understanding of Christianity. Christ indwells each believer at salvation and fills us completely. There are no “gaps” left behind by the old lifestyle. Christ has created a completely new creature! He didn’t renovate the old one. “Old things are passed away and behold, ALL things are become new.”
Christ created us to serve him, to glorify him, to honor him. One of the ways we do that is through studying, teaching, and being correctly taught. Be cautious. Be diligent in protecting your mind and heart. Christ refers to the false teachers as being “in sheep’s clothing” while they are actually ravaging wolves. The idea here is unless we are wary of everything that we allow into our ears and minds, we can easily fall prey to teaching that neither builds up the believer nor honors Christ.
Philippians 4:8 is a passage that effectively sums up this attitude of caution. “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
Jonathan Halk
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