People tend to follow what they hear and see, which is why it is so important to pay attention to this matter seriously.
Whether "gospel", true praise, secular (worldly), in short music! Understand how and how much it can influence people's lives.
Base text:
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23.
Objective:
Taking Proverbs 4:23 as a basis, the objective of this study is to bring to us an awakening regarding what we are hearing and singing in musical terms, as well as to highlight the power of music and its influence in our lives, and how it occurs in a way that we do not perceive.
Introduction:
The subject of music is sometimes commented on by preachers, sometimes with praise in the case of true praises to God, and at other times with a critical tone towards some from the "evangelical" or secular world, however they never approach it with the depth that the subject deserves. Music can cause devastating or regenerating effects, depending on the message that is transmitted.
Beforehand I want to ask for understanding about what will be said in the course of the texts, as it will not intend to be generalist. The critical sense of each one will allow understanding and distinguishing each situation. We can affirm that the greater influence is related to the idea sold through the lyrics and videos that are publicized.
It is known that music has tremendous power, and it is used for various purposes: to heal, to cheer, to sell, to move, to buy, to sadden, to denounce, to evangelize, etc.
Definition of what music is:
Among many other definitions, the one that is considered most plausible is: Music is the art of manifesting the various affections of our soul through sound. Music is divided into 3 parts: melody, harmony and rhythm. Music can be: sung, played on musical instruments, or both.
Considerations:
Before anything else we need to know that all music transmits a message, an idea, and in many cases videos are used to make it more evident and understandable. Sometimes the messages are explicit, clear to understand, but in others they are implied, requiring more attention, or even asking the composer what he meant in the composed music, to have exact understanding.
As strange as it may seem, most music is composed as a form of manifestation of the feelings of the soul of whoever composed it, and that is what makes all the difference in the messages transmitted by them.
If the person who composes has a clean soul, that is, not contaminated with the abominations of this world, this will be reflected in their compositions, and their music will certainly have messages that will serve to edify the people who listen to them. But the opposite is also true, that is, in cases where the compositions are messages with apologies for: alcoholism, sensuality, idolatry, betrayal, drug use, sex, criminality, anger, etc. It is the reflection of a soul that needs to be washed by the Blood of Jesus, precisely because such things usually make the reality of the person who composed them, and obviously in this case their effects will be devastating for those who allow themselves to be influenced by their messages.
There is a thought that says: we are what we see and hear. Therefore, we need to be alert and be very careful.
We will see further on about the strategies used by the media to make people come to like and admire things that at first may even be outside their reality, and often they repudiate what they are seeing and hearing. But this situation changes through techniques used by the media.
Understand how the means of communication are used to try to make you swallow the commercialized music, and what are the strategies to achieve this objective.
The strategies used to make people accept and come to like and even sing any kind of music, regardless of rhythm and the message being transmitted, are the same ones used to sell any other product, service or idea.
See below the strategies used by the media whether on TV, Radio and Internet to sell.
- Repetition:
- This strategy is used because it has been found that people even rejecting something that seems strange to their ears or eyes at first, in most cases this feeling of rejection ceases to exist after successive repetitions. And in many cases it makes them like or simply accept what they once repudiated, due to records made in the brain. Which associates the sound to images generally also used, in which it is said to be expressing "joy", "beauty". The purpose in this case is not necessarily that people come to like the music, but rather that if such a person does not like it, at least they do not criticize, for criticism could cause other people to simply not want to hear the transmitted message, and consequently would not allow themselves to "like" what is offered.
- Influential people commenting on and encouraging consumption:
- Human beings usually mirror themselves in others, generally due to lack of their own identity, and usually follow tastes, advice and recommendations from people considered influential and intelligent. However the public does not imagine that these people who can influence are generally bought so that through the media they can speak well, advertise, in short pretend to like certain music, regardless of whether the message stimulates sensuality, alcoholism, etc.
- Reason: Music before anything else has been considered as a product that is commercialized and consumed, like cars, cheeses, meats, clothes, etc. although it is the expression of the feeling of whoever composed it. And for that reason the strategy of using people who can influence is used with the purpose of forcing consumption.
- Use of advertisements in programs or means of popular access:
- There was a time when the ways to influence people in mass were only advertisements in TV programs and/or radios with wide coverage throughout the states and cities of the country, however today there is the internet which has opened space for other means such as Youtube, and the so-called social networks such as facebook, twitter, instagram, etc. And these means have global coverage. Making people's vulnerability increase dramatically, this is proven by the fact that we are constantly bombarded by these means of communication, with their merely commercial contents, among which are the various music with their apologies. That is why we need to be careful not to fall into these snares.
- Use of images:
- When one intends to fix something in people's minds, images are constantly used for this purpose, whether in printed form or in videos, and when it comes to music they use clips and billboards advertising shows, generally in colorful environments so that the ideas take hold in people's heads, and thus convince the public that it is something fun, joyful and without any harm. But we know it is a business, and such images are lies, being far from reality.
- Distortion of truth with flawed arguments:
- The strategy of trying to convince the public with flawed arguments that it is something innocent, without harm, whose intention would be only to have fun, to celebrate, has been used for a long time. In this way many people are attracted to spectacles filled with alcohol, sensuality, legal and illegal drugs, etc. These are parties "animated" by the sound of music that stimulate more and more such practices, their attendees are people who in their majority do not care what the Bible says, and sometimes say that God does not want anyone sad, but we know that this is a distortion of the truth, for God indeed wants us to be happy, but practicing what he commands.
We cannot allow ourselves to be deceived by the media.
Let us see what Psalm 150 says:
Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens.
Praise him for his acts of power; praise him for his surpassing greatness!
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with tambourine and dance, praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals. Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Psalm 150:1-6
Understanding why and for what purpose God created us, and what true Praise is.
In verse 6 of Psalm 150 it is said “Let everything that has life praise the Lord!”, analyzing this passage we see that it is a command, or rather, it shows the purpose of our creation and of all living beings. All beings created by God, especially humans, were made to worship the Lord Jesus, and to walk in the ways of He who is the King of all Universe. The main objective of human beings should be to praise God, which does not necessarily mean only singing. To praise means to commend, to exalt, and this is not just about singing, but when we live following biblical precepts with sincerity, we serve as living witnesses before society, acting as ambassadors of Christ, and such posture causes the Name of Jesus to be praised, exalted by what we do.
In light of the facts presented, we may be led to ask the following question: Is it really necessary to be careful with the music I listen to? Why?
Yes, we must be very careful, because not everything is as it seems, or the image that is sold. This is not only for music, but mainly music has been used as a tool in the hands of the enemy of our souls, as a way to influence the unwary. It is necessary to be alert, and not allow certain messages to reach our hearts. Solomon advises: “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23”. Unfortunately music has been an instrument of confusion for many, consequently affecting their lives in a devastating way, due to their hearts being corrupted.
Perhaps you are one more person who tends to say: “I am far from danger, because I do not listen to secular (worldly) music, I only listen to gospel music, which speaks of God, there is no evil that can happen to me”. Should you be so carefree? Have you paid attention to the lyrics? Have you observed how the “levites/worshippers” present themselves? Do you know what the negative influences of some singers and even many “gospel” songs are?
Know the Origin of the word gospel:
Etymologically, Gospel derives from God-spell, a word from Old English considered a suppression of the words "Go(d)", which means God and "Spell" which indicated the act of announcing something.
This word originated from the Greek euaggelion, translated into Portuguese as gospel. Thus, gospel means "good news" or "good tidings".
See how “gospel” music has confused and distanced people from the Word of God. Understand why countless singers claiming to be worshippers of God have emerged all over the world, yet we see explicitly a complete lack of transformation. Similar to the people to whom Jesus said: "‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Matthew 15:8".
- Lack of reverence for the Lordship of Jesus, they do not declare Him as Lord:
- There are not few lyrics in which they use the term you, directed at the Lord Jesus, as if they were speaking with a schoolmate, using the fallacy that we should have intimacy with God as an argument. Is this according to the Bible? Of course not. Since always, all the prophets, however close they were to Our Lord and Savior Jesus, never dared to use such a form of address, we always see the use of the terms: Master, Lord, Sovereign, Most High or Rabbi (Master), never using the term “you” to refer to the all-powerful God who created the heavens and the earth and all that is in them. By the way, we cannot use this term even with some mortal people, because some force us to call them: Doctor, Excellence, Most Illustrious, among others. If we truly wish to have intimacy with the Master, the Only God and Lord, Jesus Christ, it is necessary to have much humility with prayers and supplications, it is not by calling Him "you" that we will have such intimacy.
- Entertainment is different from worship:
- Biblical doctrines have been subject to contestation because of some called “worshippers” with their compositions, through which they claim to be gospel music, yet we see their messages far from being the proclamation of the gospel through music. In fact, these so-called worshippers are more like crowd entertainers, because their compositions are lyrics focused on the exaltation, encouragement and centralization of people and not of God. Leading them to consider themselves the center of everything, and consequently to remain in their sins. Acting with total inversion of values, they do not convert, nor are they transformed by the renewal of the mind, which always happens when one is truly immersed in the Word of God.
- Encouragement of the practice of strange customs and distance from biblical doctrines:
- Who has never seen groups that call themselves worshippers of God, in presentations on TV, live, YouTube, etc. When observed carefully we can perceive the use of garments often with sensual and irreverent appeal, this in most of the members, regardless of role.
- Analyzing with criteria, we see a tremendous lack of harmony and conformity with biblical teachings, because with their makeup, caps, hats, tight or ripped pants, short skirts, bracelets, earrings and other accessories, making it clear that they are against the truth. Yet even so, they say they are worshipping God, and that is where the danger lies, because it has encouraged others to go the same way, keeping them far from biblical and apostolic doctrines, ignoring what was mentioned in Leviticus 20:22-23, where it is evident not to follow the customs of the nations.
- Many are confused and think that because several lyrics are touching, and even do not have biblical contradictions, it makes the person who sings them a true worshipper, and that is a tremendous deception, we need to see the whole picture.
- There are not few people who have strayed from the path of the Lord Jesus, by being influenced by the way these so-called “worshippers” dress, treat the Lord Jesus, and change the focus of who truly should be worshipped.
- Spectacle confused with true worship:
- As was pointed out earlier, people tend to copy the tastes and behaviors of people they admire, and sometimes these “worshippers” sell an image that they are performing a service of worship to God. And in this way causing people without biblical knowledge and who do not take holy teachings seriously, to be deceived and confused, preferring to pretend that they also worship the Savior Jesus. The forms are diverse, from the use of environments with little lighting, to weeping, screams and biblical quotes, with the intention of moving the audience to the sound of their music.
- They try to impress by making their grimaces, smile without grace or sense, raise their hands, sway their bodies, jump and even roll on the ground, they are various practices used to entertain, but for the most part they are nothing more than spectacle. It is ignored the fact that only a broken heart will not reject the Lord.
- A broken heart seized by biblical truths and does not seek self-satisfaction with strange customs, on the contrary it is committed to knowing and insisting on knowing the true God and obeying His Word.
- Have you ever asked yourself why there are so many “gospel” music singers and they keep emerging more and more?
- Even for those who have no biblical knowledge, it is very simple to figure out what the real intention of so many “worshippers” is. When we observe the posture of these who sing and attract multitudes around the world, in their way of dressing, cutting their hair, in dealing with others outside the shows, by the lyrics that distort the Truth that is the Word of God. It is very easy to conclude that the purpose of these people is: money and fame. There are many lyrics that truly exalt the Lord Jesus indeed, yet even so, the posture of those who sing them, no matter how many grimaces and gesticulations they make, demonstrate who they truly are, because they do not care about what the Lord Jesus said: Be holy, because I am also holy. It is enough to analyze the way they present themselves, how they paint themselves, how they adorn themselves, how they highlight their bodies and sensationalize, to be sure that they are people very far from the Word of God and, therefore lacking in repentance and conversion.
What is the purpose and influence of “gospel” music?
Purpose:
No different from “worldly” singers, generally the focus is only money and fame, as already said above, but the devil's purpose is to use it to destroy humanity, distancing it from God, with the distortion of biblical truths.
Influence:
In visual aspects, it favors confusion the inclusion of strange customs among the people:
Such influence is reflected in dress, they use hats, caps, tight pants and shirts, short skirts, women with short hair, men with long hair, use of tattoos, sensuality at the moment of entertainment, instead of there being worship.
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In the direction of glory, because most of the time glory and honor are no longer being directed to God, but rather to people:
Inversion, they are placing man at the center, instead of Enthroning the Only One who is Worthy to receive, Honor and Glory and All Praise, that is, Jesus Christ, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.
In the message without biblical basis, or with distortion of the Bible, in which they change the original meaning of God's Word:
Once while listening to a singer, and in the eloquence of his speech to encourage the audience, he hitched a ride on the text of Luke 15:11-32 where the story of the prodigal son is told, and in his speech he said: "once a son, always a son, no matter what you do" would that be the case when the question is being a son of God? once a son, you can go on sinning, making mistakes, and still be a son? Look at what the Bible says about being a son of God: "But to all who did receive him, he gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in his name; who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. John 1:12,13". Speaking in a summarized way. Children of God are only those whose lives are truly transformed, and who believe and are baptized in his name, that is, in the Name of Jesus. The rest are nothing more than creatures, for if they still live in sin, they were not born of water nor of the Spirit, at most they took a bath and are still lacking in repentance and conversion so that their sins may be forgiven. Acts 3:19. If we pay attention to the context of the biblical passage cited by the singer, we will notice that God's Word shows us that it is not worth distancing ourselves from the Father, for such an act would lead us to suffering, and that this would be a devaluation of the rights of a son. The singer's speech seemed to be more of an incentive for people to do what they wanted without valuing the right of a son, than the opposite, and this goes totally against the original meaning of God's Word in that text.
What is the purpose and influence of music in praise to God?
Purpose:
We only need to look at the psalms, which were first and foremost songs, through which the psalmists exalted, magnified, praised and highlighted the greatness of God, to understand how we should praise the Lord of Lords and King of all the universe.
Influence:
The influence of music in praise to God should be to bring God's true message to all creatures, encouraging them to leave sin and repent and convert, live in sound doctrine, and in this way also be able to worship through their transformed life, Jesus Christ, Only God and Lord.
What is the purpose and influence of secular (worldly) music?
Purpose:
Similarly to the purpose of "gospel" singers, generally the focus is only money and fame, but the devil's purpose is to use it to destroy humanity, distancing it from God.
Influence:
Just as music causes positive effects, it can equally cause negative effects, see some examples:
Rap, would be considered merely a musical rhythm by some, whose meaning is "path and poetry", however we have seen its devastating power, as many of the lyrics used for this rhythm have from the beginning awakened hatred for the police, rivalry between rivals, making apology for crime, drug use many times, consequently affecting how listeners of this type of music see their neighbor.
Funk, similarly to Rap, would be considered merely a rhythm, however we have seen what has happened to a large portion of youth, as they have been corrupted, being led to sensuality, body exposure and use of vulgar terms.
Rock and pop rock, most singers of these musical styles often judge themselves superior to others, as they consider themselves more cultured, more elite. And thus, their lyrics try to make people not believe in the existence of God, they speak of such inner strength that is in people, however when we see them, they seem more like zombies, without any strength, empty of everything. They say that heaven is only a promise, and generally their singers are depressed, dependent on alcohol and drugs, and many of their fans act the same way.
Sertanejo and university sertanejo, whoever listens to any of these styles, if they have a critical sense, will soon notice that their lyrics revolve around betrayal, apology against marriage, bigamy or polygamy, and parties full of drinks and women. Some songs with more or less "suffering", however they are the repetition of the same things, they lead their listeners to the consumption of alcohol, drugs, betrayal or the desire to do so, because these lyrics pass the idea that it is something natural, that it is part of everyone's life. And thus we see each day the number of betrayals and divorces multiply.
Biblical texts where music is used for a specific purpose.
Music to send evil away:
King David when still young, right after being anointed, was tasked with playing his harp so that an evil spirit would leave King Saul and go away, 1 Samuel 16:22,23
Music as a form of intimidation:
King Nebuchadnezzar used music as a form of intimidation to indicate the moment when people should bow down before the statue of another that he had raised, among which were Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, men of God who did not allow themselves to be carried away by the intimidating sound of the king, Daniel 3:1-30.
Music as a form of expression of joy:
The prophet Isaiah highlights a moment in which joyful music was stopped because of the Lord penalizing the people for their sin. Isaiah 24:08-12
Music has existed since God made man and woman, and it has been used in various ways because of its power and influence. See below some positive ways of using music.
The use of music therapy as a way to treat the sick, due to its positive effects on the brain.
What is Music Therapy?
Music therapy, as the name already says, is a way of treating patients through music. It is a technique that works with health by using various forms of learning, expressions and art. Bringing prevention and promotion of health to all.
Music makes us feel positive or negative emotions. It evokes emotions that are activated in parts and areas of our brain, for example: cortex, amygdala, cerebellum, hippocampus, etc. these areas are more developed and positively activated when worked with music. It improves mood, attention, concentration, memory and deep memories.
The benefits of music therapy
The act of listening to music and/or playing helps improve the heart and respiratory frequencies and pressure of patients with coronary artery disease. They help in neurological disorders, as it has proven very effective in symptoms of anxiety, depression and isolation.
In social life, music therapy stimulates the interactive and communication capacity, promoting socialization and improvement of emotional, physical, biological and cultural aspects. It unites people and treats mood, depression, anxiety, stress and increasingly motivates patients to face life with more energy, motivation and determination.
Conclusion:
God left music for man to praise him, to exalt him, and to rejoice in expressing his greatness, infinite power and great deeds. So choose well what you are going to listen to, be careful, before anything else, guard your heart, do not allow yourself to be influenced by the enemy, which has as its only purpose to distance you from God.
May Our God and Father, Jesus Christ, the Sovereign Lord of all, bless you greatly.
References:
Bible
https://www.portaleducacao.com.br/conteudo/artigos/estetica/entendendo-o-conceito-da-musica/65153/
https://www.significados.com.br/gospel/
https://blog.psicologiaviva.com.br/musicoterapia/
http://periodicos.uem.br/ojs/index.php/ArqMudi/article/view/25137/pdf_59
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