Music
Music was invented by God. He created one of His sons (angels are called sons of God) with musical instruments in his body. (Angels have spiritual bodies but not physical ones.) His name was "one who can bear the light." He was later called Lucifer, Satan, and Samael. Lucifer translated means "shining one." Satan means "deceiver" and "enemy." Samael is the name he gave himself after his rebellion against God. Samael means "venom of God." One book called Enoch says Satanail was Satan's name before he fell.
Satan was the worship leader in Heaven. He has since made great efforts to pervert music. He uses his music on people much like how the Pied Piper used music to lead and hypnotize the rats and the children. It is one of his chief tools of corruption. I recommend "Snakes in the Lobby," a book by Scott MacLeod. It goes into great detail on how music affects us.
"Why should the devil have all the good music?!" - Larry Norman
I don't think a style of music makes it good or bad. I think the source, lyrics, and intent of the music is what defines it. Any age group can listen to any style but not every age should be exposed to all types of lyrics.
I don't personally prefer country, southern gospel, bluegrass, gangster rap, and screamo. Though, I believe each of those styles can be used as a tool for God.
It is time that we Christians who are part of an extra-terrestrial Kingdom - no I'm not talking about space aliens - stand up and reclaim God's creative music. If you want to listen to music like your grandparents or great grandparents did then cool. If you want to listen to other styles then cool. Be careful though about what the source and lyrics are. We need to be careful what we fill ourselves with.
As for my music, I feel like the Holy Spirit helped me write the songs and poetry. I'm not saying they are inspired like the Bible. I'm saying that He helped me write in the same manner He helps us to pray, preach, or say the right words at times.
Join me in the reclaimation of creative music.
For the glory of God alone,
Jeremy Brown
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The Way We Worship
WE PRAY TOGETHER OUT LOUD because . . . In the Bible we read, "And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord . . . " -Acts 4:24
WE LIFT OUR HANDS IN PRAISE because . . . In the Bible we read, "Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD." -Psalm 134:2
WE SING WITH ALL OUR HEARTS because . . . In the Bible we read, "Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise." -Psalm 98:4
WE PLAY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS because . . . In the Bible we read, " . . . and all the house of Israel played before the LORD on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals." -2 Samuel 6:5
WE CLAP AND SHOUT UNTO GOD because . . . In the Bible we read, "O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph." -Psalm 47:1
WE DANCE because . . . In the Bible we read, "Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs." -Psalm 150:4
WE TESTIFY PUBLICLY because . . . In the Bible we read, "I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee." -Psalm 22:22
WE ANOINT WITH OIL FOR HEALING because . . . In the Bible we read, "Is any sick among you? Let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord." -James 5:14
WE ALLOW THE OPERATION OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS because . . . In the Bible we read, "When ye come together, every one of you hath a psalm, hath a doctrine, hath a tongue, hath a revelation, hath an interpretation . . ." -1 Corinthians 14:26