God Wants to Deliver Us from the Evil Instrumental Music of This Present Evil World

[Charlie24]

You think piano and organ do not represent the world? Again, there is much worldly rock music that uses piano and organ.

Did the musical instruments mentioned in Psalms represent the world? Pagans used the same instruments in worship of idols.

John Michael Talbot is a good example of using guitars to make reverent, holy, non-worldly music that can bring hearers closer to God.

post #20

 

[Ascetic X]

People can become self-righteous, scornful Pharisees regarding music. Labeling certain musical instruments as evil and worldly, when the instruments allowed to be used in their church have been, and still are, used by pagans to make worldly, ungodly music.

I once participated in a new members class, where the new members manual devoted only one page to the new birth, but 8 pages to “music that pastor approves of”. I recall Steve Green upheld as an example of bad Contemporary Christian music, while I thought his music was pretty tame.

 

[Charlie24]

People can become self-righteous, scornful Pharisees regarding music. Labeling certain musical instruments as evil and worldly, when the instruments allowed to be used in their church have been, and still are, used by pagans to make worldly, ungodly music.

I once participated in a new members class, where the new members manual devoted only one page to the new birth, but 8 pages to “music that pastor approves of”. I recall Steve Green upheld as an example of bad Contemporary Christian music, while I thought his music was pretty tame.

Musical instruments are like a firearm, harmless on their own until man take it in hand.

 

[Ben1445]

Our pastor will not allow the rock beat to enter into our worship service, period.

It doesn't happen overnight, it creeps in and he so to speak, nips it in the bud.

If you like the different instruments then go for it, we will not allow that to become a problem in our Church.

I’m not telling you or anyone to violate their conscience or do something that would be a problem in their church.
I’m very conservative with my music. But I don’t think it’s helpful for reasonable conversation to say that certain sounds or instruments are in and of themselves evil.
If they were, we would just take the C flat off the piano and nobody would ever play the evil sound.
But the OP makes it sound as if there are certain instruments that are evil. One of the more common instruments to fall into that category are drums.
I am not a fan of ccm at all. If I walk in and see the drum set front and center, I have a pretty good idea what the church is about.
But I have attended churches with full orchestras, drums included, and the music is amazing.
It isn’t the instrument, it’s the expression of the musician.

 

[JonC]

Our Church only uses a piano and organ, the rock producing instruments are not allowed.

Unfamiliar with Boston?

And pianos are very common in rock music (more than the organ...which makes me sleepy).

The irony is that the "biblical" instruments (the instruments God told Israel to use in worship) can be used in rock music (not that rock existed back then, but they were used in pagan music back then).

The lyre is used in rock today. So are percussion instruments similar to those used in the Bible. Obviously horns are used in rock music.


I think a good question to consider is why God mentions those specific instruments (stringed instruments, horns, percussion).

I think (actually I know) that it is because the culture used those instruments. They did not invent instruments to use in worship. They did not invent a new type of music.

I like that. What it tells me is that there was not a separation that we often see in Christianity (our Christian self and our secular self). It also shows that we can worship with all we have. If you have a guitar or lyre then use it to glorify God.

 

[JonC]

Musical instruments are like a firearm, harmless on their own until man take it in hand.

The only thing I could do with a guitar is use it as a club. Better to have an electric one as the acoustic ones are hollow.

 

[Scripture More Accurately]

Logical fallacy (one could insert any claim in that statement as it is trying to prove a negative). You could insert acapella singing, western singing rather than monophonic chants, meeting on Wednesday night, using a church building, church bulletins...whatever).

Psalm 150:3 - Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet! Praise him with harp and lyre!

But pagans contemporary to this command from God to use harps and lyres also used the sane instruments. You have, notably, the Lyres of Ur which were used in pagsn worship. Pagans used trumpets, harps and lyres in their pagan rituals to connect with their false gods (demons).

By your standard God is evil for instructing His people to worship Him with instruments that were worldly and used in pagan worship.

No, there is no logical fallacy. The verse says that God wants to deliver us from this present evil world. You claim that revelation from God has no relevance to instrumental music. You have to provide a legitimate biblical basis for asserting the validity of your claim.

 

[JonC]

Guitars and drums create a rock atmosphere in any case.

I disagree here. Drums and guitars can produce a rock atmosphere. But it depends on how they are played. Kinda like the piano (think Jerry Lee Lewis).

I do not know how many have heard the lyre or halil.

It is pretty cool. I just do not think it would fly in western churches.

 

[Scripture More Accurately]

You will have to give us something better to go on.
If we are talking about “Highway to Hell” and you are talking about “Mary had a Little Lamb,” played on a forbidden instrument, we won’t get anywhere.
What instruments are the evil ones?
Let’s get on the same page before we start a discussion.

Actually, the discussion that I want to have is how do you determine biblically what "this present evil world" does and does not include. Does the Bible have anything to say about musical instruments that are not acceptable to God? If not, does that automatically mean that any and all instruments are acceptable to Him?

 

[Charlie24]

I disagree here. Drums and guitars can produce a rock atmosphere. But it depends on how they are played. Kinda like the piano (think Jerry Lee Lewis).

I do not know how many have heard the lyre or halil.

It is pretty cool. I just do not think it would fly in western churches.

Yes, they can be used properly, but most often not. That rock beat finds its way into worship, and we ain't gonna tolerate that!

 

[JonC]

Yes, they can be used properly, but most often not. That rock beat finds its way into worship, and we ain't gonna tolerate that!

I do not know the rock beat. I do like drums.

We use a Cajon (box drum) sometimes. It sounds kinda like a toph (the drums used in the Bible). I like the sound...I was trying to describe it but could not think of a way.

Kinda like this:

We also use a traditional drum set sometimes. I like that too. I love drums.

 

[Charlie24]

Yes, they can be used properly, but most often not. That rock beat finds its way into worship, and we ain't gonna tolerate that!

Hey @JonC

When we say we're IFB we mean it.

No deacons or assistants in taking up offerings in Church with a go-tee or any style of partial facial hair.

 

[JonC]

Hey @JonC

When we say we're IFB we mean it.

No deacons or assistants in taking up offerings in Church with a go-tee or any style of partial facial hair.

Yea....but I bet you put the fun in fundamental.

 

[Salty]

I am interested in hearing about how people reason for whether they believe that there is instrumental music that is evil from which God wants to deliver us.

Of course, there is evil vocal music as well.

you made a statement " the evil instrumental music of this present evil world"
So please tell us which instrumets are good and which are bad

 

[Charlie24]

Yea....but I bet you put the fun in fundamental.

No one tells any more jokes that our pastor.

But he is very serious and so is the congregation on separation from the world in all forms.

Not isolation, but a definite separation.

The Church must have a noticeable difference from the world.

 

[Scripture More Accurately]

you made a statement " the evil instrumental music of this present evil world"
So please tell us which instrumets are good and which are bad

The Bible shows that God's people used a number of different instruments. Other peoples had other instruments besides the ones that God's people used. I do not know of any legitimate biblical basis that requires us to hold that God accepted all the instruments of all the people of the world, regardless of whether His people used them or not.

Again, the question boils down to what basis those who claim that there are no evil musical instruments support their claims. Does God regard all musical instruments as good or not?

 

[Ascetic X]

Hey @JonC

When we say we're IFB we mean it.

No deacons or assistants in taking up offerings in Church with a go-tee or any style of partial facial hair.

So now facial hair is evil? That will come as a surprise to most if not all the Bible saints. Jesus may have had a beard. Facial hair was one way to visually distinguish males from females.

However, I would probably be comfortable in your IFB church, as I don’t like facial hair or loud Christian rock bands!

Is your pastor a fan of Jack Hyles, IFB leader and pastor of First Baptist Church of Hammond, Indiana?

 

[Charlie24]

So now facial hair is evil? That will come as a surprise to most if not all the Bible saints. Jesus may have had a beard. Facial hair was one way to visually distinguish males from females.

However, I would probably be comfortable in your IFB church, as I don’t like facial hair or loud Christian rock bands!

Is your pastor a fan of Jack Hyles?

Where did I say it was evil? It's separation from the ways of the world, long hair, those cute facial hair designs, etc.

It wasn't just Israel that God called out to be a peculiar people. We believers are different in the way we dress, the way we talk, the things we do.

If that is not noticeable to the world in the believer, then I would say it's checkup time.

 

[Ben1445]

Again, the question boils down to what basis those who claim that there are no evil musical instruments support their claims. Does God regard all musical instruments as good or not?

Romans 14:14
I know, and am persuaded by the Lord Jesus, that there is nothing unclean of itself: but to him that esteemeth any thing to be unclean, to him it is unclean.

 

[Ascetic X]

Where did I say it was evil? It's separation from the ways of the world, long hair, those cute facial hair designs, etc.

It wasn't just Israel that God called out to be a peculiar people. We believers are different in the way we dress, the way we talk, the things we do.

If that is not noticeable to the world in the believer, then I would say it's checkup time.

So would your pastor condemn as worldly such things as purple hair, nose rings, piercings, tattoos, ripped up blue jeans, chatbot companions, movie theatres, film streaming like Netflix, card games, professional sports, video games, social media?