My Personal Standards for music are my own. Many people, especially Christians will disagree with me. I know that all people have different levels of sensitivity to music, therefore everyone will have different standards. But the issue of music is not whether you and I agree, it is whether I am right with my God. If a man can truthfully stand under God’s gaze and his standards are right according to God, than no man should judge him for them. But I also believe that there is a line concerning music that no man should cross. This line is crossed daily by people who claim to love God and call themselves Christians. There is no question why the world laughs at the Christian faith, they see Christians listening to the exact same trash that they do. Christians have allowed Satan to use them through music, therefore their influence over the unsaved has been watered down, polluted and almost destroyed.
Music in the Home I believe that Music in the home can differ from music in the church to a certain extent. There is a time and a place for everything. You would not play Happy Birthday at a funeral just like you would not play certain songs in church. I do believe that there are songs that can be played in one’s home that are not songs about God. “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 Classical music is an example of music I deem appropriate in the home. There is nothing sinful about the structure of classical music, and studies have proven that it increases the creativity of the mind. I also believe that certain romantic songs are appropriate for a husband and wife to listen to at certain times. Bluegrass, Southern Gospel (with discretion) and songs with acoustic guitars are also acceptable music for home listening. Music in the Heart “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Jeremiah 17:9 I believe that God created music not only for His own worship, but also for man’s souls. Music can comfort and uplift the spirit. It can change a grumpy attitude into a joyful one. The power of music over the mind is amazing and terrifying at the same time. Music has driven men to do great things. It can empower a person’s mind to create, excite a person to compete, but it can also compel a person to destroy. There was a young boy who listened to dark violent music all day long, and then he took a knife and murdered his aunt in the kitchen. When the boy was asked why he would do such a thing, he replied that he felt as if he had been driven by an inward force that demanded bloodshed. God never intended for music to be used in such a way, but when sin entered the world, it allowed way for many corrupt things. Christians should not permit music to seduce their heart to evil. Therefore we should take care to always keep a Godly song in our hearts. “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” Colossians 3:16 If Jesus Christ dwells in a Christian’s heart, then shouldn’t praise for Him also dwell there as well? “Sing unto God, sing praises to His name: extol him that rideth upon the heavens by his name JAH, and rejoice before him.” Psalm 68:4 I believe that we should wake with a song in our heart praising God, and sing it all day long. If a Godly song indwells us, then the Devil will not be able to use his music against us.
One way the Devil has accomplished this in modern day is through the use of Rock and Roll. The genre of Rock n’ Roll music got it’s start in the late 1940’s, through such artists as Elvis Presley, Fats Domino, Brenda Lee, and the Everly Brothers. Since that time many other types of music have become popular, music genres such as Pop, Country, Dance, Jazz, Punk, Blues, Rap and the list goes on. All of these music types differ just a little, but they have one strong bond. They are all the Devil’s tool to corrupt a Christian’s mind, his heart, his body, and ultimately his ability to do anything for God. I strongly believe that music is a drug. It is the most addicting and destructive force in this world. Music is used more often, and reaches more people than caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, cocaine, weed, heroine, gambling, porn, sex, and any other addiction known to mankind. The average amount of time a person spends listening to music is twenty to forty hours a week. Unlike alcohol or drugs, music can reach every age. Rap music blares through the car speakers as an infant is strapped in the back seat, and the parents think nothing of it. Pop music is running rampant through the headphones of America’s youth, and the police force, Alcoholic’s Anonymous, and rehab centers are doing nothing about it. These people who spend so much of their time trying to help people with their addictions are taking no action, because they don’t know that they have to. They do not realize that music is killing the souls of every single person on planet earth. Music in the Church I believe that Music in church should be sacred. The easiest way to put it would be that I believe all churches should only use a good old fashioned hymn book. However, that will not satisfy most people. These days people want to know why we can’t use projectors, and why the choir can’t sway back and forth, and why Chuck can’t play his electric guitar in the orchestra. My answer to all of those questions is why should we? Why would independent, fundamental, soul-winning, Bible believing, separated, Baptist Christians want to resemble the world in any way? John called out for Christians to be set apart from the things of the world. “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world, if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1 John 2:15 No one can refute that the verse clearly states that if we love the world and wish to be like them, than we do not love God. So if you want to bring contemporary music into the church, you must not love God, so why do you even go to church? However, my belief of old fashioned music in the church goes far beyond just that point. The old hymns were written by Godly men and woman such as Fannie Crosby, John Newton, and Charles Wesley. These people knew God, they walked with him daily, they had life experiences that God brought them through and they wrote about these experiences through songs. They praised God and brought glory to God. The types of songs we should sing in church are hymns such as “Holy, Holy, Holy,” “Amazing Grace,” and “Nearer my God to Thee.” These songs are what bring people to their knees at an altar instead of just waving their hand back and forth in a pew.
Music in the Church I believe that Music in church should be sacred. The easiest way to put it would be that I believe all churches should only use a good old fashioned hymn book. However, that will not satisfy most people. These days people want to know why we can’t use projectors, and why the choir can’t sway back and forth, and why Chuck can’t play his electric guitar in the orchestra. My answer to all of those questions is why should we? Why would independent, fundamental, soul-winning, Bible believing, separated, Baptist Christians want to resemble the world in any way? John called out for Christians to be set apart from the things of the world. “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world, if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” 1 John 2:15 No one can refute that the verse clearly states that if we love the world and wish to be like them, than we do not love God. So if you want to bring contemporary music into the church, you must not love God, so why do you even go to church? However, my belief of old fashioned music in the church goes far beyond just that point. The old hymns were written by Godly men and woman such as Fannie Crosby, John Newton, and Charles Wesley. These people knew God, they walked with him daily, they had life experiences that God brought them through and they wrote about these experiences through songs. They praised God and brought glory to God. The types of songs we should sing in church are hymns such as “Holy, Holy, Holy,” “Amazing Grace,” and “Nearer my God to Thee.” These songs are what bring people to their knees at an altar instead of just waving their hand back and forth in a pew. Music in the Home I believe that Music in the home can differ from music in the church to a certain extent. There is a time and a place for everything. You would not play Happy Birthday at a funeral just like you would not play certain songs in church. I do believe that there are songs that can be played in one’s home that are not songs about God. “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; A time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 Classical music is an example of music I deem appropriate in the home. There is nothing sinful about the structure of classical music, and studies have proven that it increases the creativity of the mind. I also believe that certain romantic songs are appropriate for a husband and wife to listen to at certain times. Bluegrass, Southern Gospel (with discretion) and songs with acoustic guitars are also acceptable music for home listening.
Ezekiel tells us that Satan knew it since the day that he was created. “Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.” Ezekiel 28:13 Since we know that the Devil knows how to use music, we can also know that he will use it against us. “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 Satan has been using music to capture God’s people since Bible days. When Aaron crafted the golden calf for the people of Israel to worship, they danced around naked acting wild and satanic. It was certainly not God worshiping harps that caused their sensual dance. When Nebuchadnezzar built an idol of himself for all the people of Babylon to worship, he signaled worship through music. The Bible lists several different instruments that were used to cue worship towards the idol. (Daniel 3:15) These instruments may not have been sinful; however, they directed worship toward a statue instead of God, causing the sin of idolatry. Even in the Bible times, Satan used music to infiltrate the minds and hearts of people. One way the Devil has accomplished this in modern day is through the use of Rock and Roll. The genre of Rock n’ Roll music got it’s start in the late 1940’s, through such artists as Elvis Presley, Fats Domino, Brenda Lee, and the Everly Brothers. Since that time many other types of music have become popular, music genres such as Pop, Country, Dance, Jazz, Punk, Blues, Rap and the list goes on. All of these music types differ just a little, but they have one strong bond. They are all the Devil’s tool to corrupt a Christian’s mind, his heart, his body, and ultimately his ability to do anything for God. I strongly believe that music is a drug. It is the most addicting and destructive force in this world. Music is used more often, and reaches more people than caffeine, alcohol, tobacco, cocaine, weed, heroine, gambling, porn, sex, and any other addiction known to mankind. The average amount of time a person spends listening to music is twenty to forty hours a week. Unlike alcohol or drugs, music can reach every age. Rap music blares through the car speakers as an infant is strapped in the back seat, and the parents think nothing of it. Pop music is running rampant through the headphones of America’s youth, and the police force, Alcoholic’s Anonymous, and rehab centers are doing nothing about it. These people who spend so much of their time trying to help people with their addictions are taking no action, because they don’t know that they have to. They do not realize that music is killing the souls of every single person on planet earth.
FERMENTATION is a process of chemical change by which a molecule of sugar is split into 2 molecules of ethel alcohol and 2 molecules of carbon dioxide gas. The gas escapes and the alcohol remains. Grape juice will ferment quite naturally left all by itself. Three things must be present for grapes to ferment and become alcohol: Juice, Saccharromyces, and Oxygen (air). The juice comes from the fruit. The saccharromyces form on the outside of the skin ad the fruit ripens. The wine the Bible speaks of is very easy to make. REMEMBER, Wine is a living thing. It is born, grows to maturity, and dies. How long is lives in unpredictable and depends on the ripeness of the fruit at squeezing time at sugar content. Until the wooden barrel was developed (cooperage) in the last days of the Roman Empire, (about 300 AD) Wine was placed in stone or skin containers and had to be drunk soon after squeezed or it would die (become vinegar). The wooden barrel prolonged the life of wine to a little over 3 years by keeping it out of the air, which causes aging. Full maturing of wine was impossible until the 17th century when the (cork and) bottle was developed. It wasn’t until 1860 when Louis Pasteur discovered the hows and whys of fermentation did the wine industry enter into a new era. REASON TO DRINK: Well, I drink for refreshment — try water, milk, juice, soda Well, I drink for my health yeah but don’t use the Bible as an excuse Don’t say you drink Beer because Jesus did …… He didn’t. Don’t say you drink Whiskey because Jesus did …… He didn’t. Don’t say you drink Wine because Jesus did …… He didn’t. WHAT DID JESUS DRINK? — Glad you asked. Matthew 26:29 He drank fruit of the vine, He drank grape juice. What did Jesus Create in John 2? Grape Juice. He refused to drink wine as He hung on the cross John 19:29. What does the Bible really say about Wine? Proverbs 20:1Wine is a mocker, strong drink is raging; whosoever is deceived thereby is not wise. Proverbs 23:31Look not thou upon the Wine when it is red, when it giveth its color in the cup, when it moveth itself aright. Every reference in the Holy Bible to someone drinking, beginning with Noah, lead to no good, to ruin, to sin.
But the Bible does mention STRONG DRINK and does condemn drinking of it. Lev 10:9, Num 6:3, Deu 29:6, Jud 13:4,7,14, Isa 5:11,22,28:7 Hebrew word is SHE-KAK and implies an intoxicant, intensely alcoholic. Compare Luke 1:15 (Greek SIK-ER-A) intensely fermented liquor Note: If the KJV Bible were translated today, Whiskey could replace STRONG DRINK. WINE (the last of the 3 words): The Holy Bible has lots to say about the subject of wine. The above quoted scripture condemned drinking of it, but just what is WINE when refereed to in Scripture? Wine is the juice of fruits, mostly grape and comes in four classifications:
Still or Natural wine is juice which fermented naturally
Sparkling (Champagne, Burgundy) processed through a double fermentation Sparkling Wine was developed in the 17th century.
Fortified (Sherry, Port) during fermentation, additional alcohol is added Fortified Wine was developed in the 1750’s.
Aromatized (Vermouth) fortified & sparkling with a scent added for smell Aromatized Wine came along after the above. The KING JAMES VERSION of the Holy Scripture was published in 1611 AD when the only wine available was the Natural or Still Wine. Christian Friend if you are drinking Sparkling, Fortified, or Aromatized Wine, you are not drinking wine from the Bible, you are drinking BOOZE. Now, before you go looking for a bottle of natural or still wine, let’s define what these terms meant at the time Jesus walked on earth.
Wine is a living thing, in a constant state of change. It has life. It is born grows old and dies. What does this mean? Fruit, usually grape, is gathered and put into a squeezing devise. As the fruit is squeezed or crushed, the juice is caught in a vat. This juice is now drinkable, fit for human consumption Depending. when the fruit was harvested, fermentation could have already started. The birth of wine.
The two Bible passages commonly used by Christians to defend drinking are found in Matthew 11:19 and John 2:1-11. Matthew 11:19 The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. John 2:1-11 JESUS TURNED THE WATER INTO WINE. Keep these two texts in mind. Just what does the Bible mean when it uses the word Wine? There are 3 basic types of (alcoholic) drink: Beer, Whiskey and Wine. Beer and Whiskey are not found in the Bible. Does the word wine mean to include these? Just what does the Bible mean when it speaks of Wine? SOME FACTS … PLEASE. All three, Beer, Whiskeyand Winehave histories of antiquity. (That means nobody really knows when then they began). WINE is first mentioned in Genesis when Noah over indulged and got drunk. BEER and WHISKEY can be dated back to Egypt, the days of the Pharaohs. All three of them were around in basic form when the Bible was being written and most defiantly when it was translated into English. BEER – ALE(similar but some differences) not named in the Bible. The word BEER came from Latin: bibere, which means to drink Beer is made from malts and cereals. During the brewing process, the liquid is drained off for drinking. This liquid is high in food content, bitter to the taste and very low in alcohol content. During the 14th Century HOPS was introduced, which increased the alcohol content and the forerunner of today refined beer alcoholic drink began. THUS beer is not condemned by the Bible because it was non alcoholic or did not exist in Bible times. WHISKEY (Spirits) is not named in the Bible. Note: For ease of purpose, whiskey is used to mean all distilled liquor. Whiskey is simply made by taking beer (before hops is added) or wine and distilling it. (Distillation is boiling the liquid, catching the steam and converting it back into liquid). The word whiskey is an Irish work that came into existence (was coined) in the 14th century. THUS: Whiskey is not condemned by the Bible because the word did not exist in Bible times.
James, half brother to the Lord Jesus, warned Jewish believers about the dangers of Lust: James 1:14-15But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death. James 4:1-5From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
The Apostle Peter, writing to the same people, also warned of the dangers: 1 Peter 1:14As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: 1 Peter 2:11 Dearly beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul; 1 Peter 4:2-3That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries: 2 Peter 1:4Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. 2 Peter 2:10But chiefly them that walk after the flesh in the lust of uncleanness, and despise government. Presumptuous are they, selfwilled, they are not afraid to speak evil of dignities. 2 Peter 2:18For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. 2 Peter 3:3 Knowing this first, that there shall come in the last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts,
And the Apostle John sums it up best: 1 John 2:16-17For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.
The Lord Jesus warned of LUST: Matthew 5:28 But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. Mark 4:19And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful. John 8:44Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
The Apostle Paul had much to say about Lust and what believers should do about them: Romans 1:24Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: Romans 1:27And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error … Romans 6:12Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof. Romans 7:7What shall we say then? Is the law sin? God forbid. Nay, I had not known sin, but by the law: for I had not known lust, except the law had said, Thou shalt not covet. Romans 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.
1 Corinthians 10:6Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted. Galatians 5:16-17This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. Galatians 5:24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. Ephesians 2:3Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. Ephesians 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
1 Thessalonians 4:5Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: 1 Timothy 6:9But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. 2 Timothy 2:22Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart. 2 Timothy 3:6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, 2 Timothy 4:3For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; Titus 2:12Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Titus 3:3For we ourselves also were sometimes foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.
