Christians, Music, and the Occult: What Should We Believe and Practice?

[Scripture More Accurately]

In a previous thread, I raised the issue of Tibetan occultists who use real human skulls as drums in their occult musical activities. What should we as Christians believe and practice about such occult musical activities and music?

 

[AustinC]

We should make a joyful noise unto the Lord.
*Psalm 100:1-5*
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

 

[Scripture More Accurately]

We should make a joyful noise unto the Lord.
*Psalm 100:1-5*
Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth! Serve the Lord with gladness! Come into his presence with singing! Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.

This passage does not address the issues that I have raised.

 

[Reynolds]

This passage does not address the issues that I have raised.

I agree fully. Don't let Tibetan occultists beat skulls like drums in your church services.

 

[Scripture More Accurately]

I agree fully. Don't let Tibetan occultists beat skulls like drums in your church services.

Good. We must also not allow Christian musicians in our own individual local churches to use real Tibetan human skulls as drums in corporate worship or to use any of the distinctive occult kinds of music of Tibetan occultists to be used in any Christian worship.

 

[Reynolds]

Good. We must also not allow Christian musicians to use real Tibetan human skulls as drums in corporate worship or to use any of the distinctive occult kinds of music of Tibetan occultists to be used in any Christian worship.

We don't have any skulls in our drum kit.

 

[Scripture More Accurately]

We don't have any skulls in our drum kit.

If you have a drum kit, why not have as well real Tibetan human skulls as drums?

 

[Reynolds]

If you have a drum kit, why not have as well real Tibetan human skulls as drums?

It is your theory that Satanists were the first people to make music using a percussion instrument?

 

[Scripture More Accurately]

It is your theory that Satanists were the first people to make music using a percussion instrument?

No, not at all. Just because Scripture speaks of some believers using some percussion instruments in some kinds of music does not at all establish that using any and all things as percussion instruments in any and all kinds of ways is acceptable to God, pleasing to Him, and fit to use in corporate worship.

 

[AustinC]

This passage does not address the issues that I have raised.

Well we should believe that any worship not given to our King, Jesus, is given to another, lesser being.
We should also note that not all music is created as worship music, nor is it occultic. We should realize that even the unredeemed can make music that points toward God, just as all creation can reveal the Creator God.
We should not concern ourselves with other religions, but should fix our eyes fully upon Christ Jesus our Lord.

Psalm 100 does indeed address your question.

 

[Reynolds]

No, not at all. Just because Scripture speaks of some believers using some percussion instruments in some kinds of music does not at all establish that using any and all things as percussion instruments in any and all kinds of ways is acceptable to God, pleasing to Him, and fit to use in corporate worship.

What's your list of acceptable and non acceptable instruments?

 

[Scripture More Accurately]

What's your list of acceptable and non acceptable instruments?

It's much more important that we discuss how we should go about establishing biblically what would make an instrument or object unacceptable for use as a musical instrument in corporate worship.

 

[Scripture More Accurately]

We should not concern ourselves with other religions, but should fix our eyes fully upon Christ Jesus our Lord.

The Bible does not support this notion. God commands us in many places that we must not do many things that pertain to issues concerning worship and music. Many Christians have violated those divine prohibitions and brought the music of occultists and other evil humans into their Christian worship.

 

[AustinC]

The Bible commands us to look to Jesus.
*Hebrews 12:1-3*
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

 

[Reynolds]

It's much more important that we discuss how we should go about establishing biblically what would make an instrument or object unacceptable for use as a musical instrument in corporate worship.

And you are the one who decides that I guess.

 

[Scripture More Accurately]

And you are the one who decides that I guess.

God's truth is true regardless of who presents it. The important point is what does the Bible say that applies to the question.

 

[Scripture More Accurately]

The Bible commands us to look to Jesus.
*Hebrews 12:1-3*
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

It certainly does, but that is not the sum teaching of all the Bible. God has many other things that He has also commanded us.

 

[Reynolds]

God's truth is true regardless of who presents it. The important point is what does the Bible say that applies to the question.

Tell us What instruments The Bible says are ok and which ones on the ban list. I can't find it. You gonna have to help me.

 

[Scripture More Accurately]

Tell us What instruments The Bible says are ok and which ones on the ban list. I can't find it. You gonna have to help me.

In teaching us what is and is not acceptable to Him, God is not limited to doing so only by explicitly listing everything that is or is not acceptable.

God has provided us with many principles that we must apply to answering questions that He does not address directly.

It is also important to scrutinize the assumptions that we make and the presuppositions that we hold about a question to see if our thinking is biblical.

 

[Reynolds]

In teaching us what is and is not acceptable to Him, God is not limited to doing so only by explicitly listing everything that is or is not acceptable.

God has provided us with many principles that we must apply to answering questions that He does not address directly.

It is also important to scrutinize the assumptions that we make and the presuppositions that we hold about a question to see if our thinking is biblical.

Lay out the criteria for me. I can be slow at times.