Don Fields, gives us some helpful hints on how to tell if music is Moral or Amoral. ...how do we evaluate what musical style is appropriate (biblical, godly, God-honoring)? What criteria do we use? I think I will save my response for another post and ask you to weigh in here. The following are some criteria that I have been given by others. You judge whether it holds up to biblical scrutiny.
• All rock music (music emphasizing beats 2 and 4) is sinful.
• All music with a loud drum is sinful.
• Any music played by people with long hair (hair over the ears or collar) is sinful (only used in reference to men).
• Any music that causes me to want to (consciously or unconsciously) move my body (dance) is sinful.
• Any music that sounds like the "world" (insert any music you don't personally like here, or any music that appeals to your "flesh") is sinful.
• Any music written by unbelievers or spiritually immature believers [exceptions: classical, opera, Broadway musicals (written before the 1970's), big band, marching band, and many others that I have forgotten] is sinful.
I eagerly await your response.
Well, my response is you are the stupidest man on the face of the planet.
And if that’s not enough, in the same article, he provides this insightful logic to buttress his thesis:
As mankind manages and creatively develops the basic elements of God's creation in each of the following components, it will result for God's glory or man's sin. Whatever someone does with the basic elements becomes a moral issue. [The following is a chart that I couldn't format properly. I hope you can follow the point it is making.]
Basic Components - Resulting Discipline - Evidence of Proper Dominion - Evidence of Man's Sin
1. Chemical Elements - Chemistry - Vaccine - Poison
2. Numbers - Mathematics/Geometry - Equations - Statistical Misrepresentation
3. Colors/Light - Art - Nature/Michelangelo - Pornography
4. Spoken Letters - Speech - Greek Rhetoric - Lying
5. Written Letters - Composition/Music Lyrics - John Bunyon/"Messiah" - Moral Filth/Gangsta Rap
6. Sound waves - Individual tones/Music - Refreshing spirit and body - Stimulating lust/Instant gratification
Oh yea, and there’s a lot more at this site. I’ll be back.
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