Taking Every Note Captive

by Crystal Paine

In response to some of the comments recently posted on my blog, I am going to bring up a discussion which will create a lot of controversy and one for which I will probably be called all sorts of names, but I feel I must delve into this topic. I know I will step on some toes in doing so, but I ask you to bear with me and listen and search your heart.

The topic: Music.

Let us start with the presupposition that there is no neutrality. Music is not amoral. Therefore, there is some music which is wrong and some which is right. Some which is God-honoring and some which is not.

If you are truly seeking the Lord and seeking to honor Him with your life, you will want that which is BEST. You will not want mediocre fluff. Sadly, that's what much of today's so-called "Christian" music is.

Christians have jumped onto the world's bandwagon when it comes to music. Instead of having music which is set-apart, which is uplifting, which ministers to our spirits, and draws us closer to the Lord. The modern Contemporary Christan Music industry is by and large just a big money-driven, worldly enterprise.

When I go into any Christian bookstore and glance at their aisles and aisles of music CD's, it makes me sick to my stomach. Where is the holiness, where is the Godliness, where is the purity?

If a woman were to wear a skimpy bikini with "Jesus" written on the front of it, would that make it right to wear? Of course not. In the same fashion, we cannot just slap a reference to "Jesus" or Christianity in a song and make it right or acceptable.

How does one determine whether a certain song or style of music is God-honoring? As a Christian and also a musician, I have studied what the Bible has to say on music very indepth. It is amazing how many references there are to songs and singing! Obviously, music is important to God and the kind of music we sing and listen to matters to Him as well.

Here is my personal checklist for determining whether a Christian song is God-honoring. I do not claim that this is completely infallible, but I do believe it is a very good start.

1. Examine the words- Are they Biblically accurate? You will throw out probably 50% of all "Christian" music with this simple test.

2. Examine whether the song even refers to God at all. Often, it is just insinuated by referring to a "he" or "him" but you really wouldn't know if you just heard the song without realizing it was supposedly a "Christian" song. Does the song give a proper view of God and our relationship with Him?

3. Examine the affect on your life- Does the song spur you on to living a holy life, set apart from the world? Does it inspire you and refresh your spirit? Does it uplift you and cause you to think on those things which are above? Does it promote purity in your life? Or, are you addicted to the emotional experience it brings and you have to continue to listen to it over and over again to have that same experience?

4.Can you take away the music and the words will stand entirely by themselves and have deep meaning to you? (Try saying them aloud without thinking of the music and really see if there is any meaning to them by themselves. Often, you'll find that they are just a weird combination of words that do not make a lot of sense and you are relying heavily upon the emotions of the music for the meaning -- the words should be the focus of Christian music, otherwise, what is "Christian" about it?)

5. Would you feel completely comfortable listening to this particular song or singing in a particular way if Christ were standing right beside you? Do you picture yourself glorifying the Lord in Heaven with this music?

6. Examine the style- Is it different than the world's method? Or does it use the world's method of rhythm, sensual breathy voices, and/or backbeat? If you take away the words, does the music sound distinctly different than most secular music?

That's a start on my guidelines for music which I consider to be God-honoring. I'm not here to judge what you are listening to, but I am here to encourage you to examine what you sing and listen to in the light of Scripture.

So much of the time, I hear people make the argument about music and other things: "What's wrong with it?" The question we should really be asking is: "What's right with it?" If you are seeking to justify actions in your life, step back and ask yourself why you are trying so hard to justify this thing. Is it because you are trying to make yourself feel okay about something which you know in your heart is wrong?

Crystal Paine is a 24-year-old homeschool graduate from Topeka, Kansas. She is the blessed wife of Jesse and joyful mother of Kathrynne. Visit her site, Biblical Womanhood, for books, articles, encouragement, and inspiration!

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