Music was never designed to be evangelistic, but only for praising God. There is no examples in the NT of music ever been used for evangelism. God has incredibly strict standards in worship, which we see in the Old Testament (which many don't think apply, but does). We're all priests before God and should take the care of seeking out God's standards of worship as meticulously as the Levitical priests did. If God was still in the business of striking people dead for worshipping in profane ways I think 3/4 of the church would be dead because they lack reverence.
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Alright no offense but after this post and your straight denial that music can be used evangelistiically, I see no further reason to debate this with you. You obvious have your views, and unfortunately our views of Christianity do not mix. Im not going to sit and argue about whether or not music can be used evangelistically or whatever. Your views are far more fundamentalist than my own and I'm finished.
Bonnie if you have anything to add I will continue answering your comments unless your views are as closeminded and fundamentalist as his.
So just because it doesnt state it to be evangelistic in the scriptures it cant be used as an evangelistic tool? Do you realize how bad of a view that is? Your viewpoint makes seems flawed. Saying music can't be used to draw people to God is not only irresponsible but it is an incredibly ignorant view. Music is one of the most powerful forms of communication vailable. Denying its possibility in evangelism because it isnt explicity stated as a possible use of music in scripture makes no sense. And please find me this comprehensive list of the only allowable uses of music that exists in scripture.
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Certainly.
- [FONT=Arial, helvetica, geneva]I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing PRAISE to thy name, O thou most High. Psalm 9:2[/FONT]
- [FONT=Arial, helvetica, geneva] Be thou exalted, LORD, in thine own strength: so will we SING and PRAISE thy power. Psalm 21:13[/FONT]
- [FONT=Arial, helvetica, geneva] The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped: therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my SONG will I PRAISE him. Psalm 28:7 [/FONT]
- [FONT=Arial, helvetica, geneva]PRAISE the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise. Psalm 33:2-3 [/FONT]
- [FONT=Arial, helvetica, geneva][FONT=Arial, helvetica, geneva] Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart TO THE LORD; Ephesians 5:19 [/FONT][/FONT]
- [FONT=Arial, helvetica, geneva][FONT=Arial, helvetica, geneva] Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts TO THE LORD. Colossians 3:16 [/FONT][/FONT]
- [FONT=Arial, helvetica, geneva][FONT=Arial, helvetica, geneva] Sing praises TO THE LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings. Psalm 9:11 [/FONT][/FONT]
For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of PREACHING to save them that believe. 1 Cor. 1:21
[/FONT][/FONT]O it is refuted because there is no proof to prove your claim it was used for evangelism. There doesn't need to be a verse that says it, because the silence is what proves my point. That is like me asking you for a verse that says I shouldn't smoke crack and then saying because there isn't one it must be okay. That is horrible logic.
And the verse in 1 Cor. 1 does prove it. It isn't by music but the foolishness of preaching people come to Christ. Which us exclusive not inclusive.
And the verse in 1 Cor. 1 does prove it. It isn't by music but the foolishness of preaching people come to Christ. Which us exclusive not inclusive.
I'm done with this thread because you've done nothing but argue your personal opinion, with no emphasis on the Scriptures. You ignore the Scriptures and place the emphasis on feeling and emotions, which is incredibly dangerous, since that is one of Satan's chief ways of deception. So unless you show me Biblical evidence to support your claim that music should be used for evangelism (which it is clearly not) then there is nothing left to discuss. We both have opinions, but the Bible is the ultimate authority on the issue. And if something now doesn't agree with the Scripture's teachings it is WRONG. Simply put. Regardless of whether or not it appears to be successful. It is wrong.
The Bible says "[FONT=Arial, helvetica, geneva][FONT=Arial, helvetica, geneva]the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Corinthians. 2:14) [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, helvetica, geneva][FONT=Arial, helvetica, geneva]The ONLY way Christian Music can appeal to the world is make it UN-Christian.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, helvetica, geneva][FONT=Arial, helvetica, geneva]Christian music is NOT for the world – it is for the Lord! If it is friendly to the world then according to the Scriptures it is AGAINST the Lord.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, helvetica, geneva] [FONT=Arial, helvetica, geneva] ". . . know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a FRIEND of the world is the ENEMY of God." James 4:4[/FONT][/FONT]
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.1 John 2:15
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate...2 Cor 6:17a
The Bible says "[FONT=Arial, helvetica, geneva][FONT=Arial, helvetica, geneva]the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." (1 Corinthians. 2:14) [/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, helvetica, geneva][FONT=Arial, helvetica, geneva]The ONLY way Christian Music can appeal to the world is make it UN-Christian.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, helvetica, geneva][FONT=Arial, helvetica, geneva]Christian music is NOT for the world – it is for the Lord! If it is friendly to the world then according to the Scriptures it is AGAINST the Lord.[/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial, helvetica, geneva] [FONT=Arial, helvetica, geneva] ". . . know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a FRIEND of the world is the ENEMY of God." James 4:4[/FONT][/FONT]
Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.1 John 2:15
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate...2 Cor 6:17a
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:1-2 (ESV)
For the record... I also believe that music can be used to draw people to God. I've heard many times on stations like K-Love where people call in and say..
"I was at a time in my life where nothing was going the right way: I was in the middle of a divorce, I was drinking alcohol everyday to try and stop the pain and yadda yadda yadda.. and I was flipping through the channels and I landed on this station and there was a song on by so&so and it was talking about how God loved me no matter where I was in my life... and that was it! I felt His presence. The next day I made it to a local church and gave my life to Christ! Thanks so much for the encouraging music!"
..or something to that extent.
it happens all the time!
"I was at a time in my life where nothing was going the right way: I was in the middle of a divorce, I was drinking alcohol everyday to try and stop the pain and yadda yadda yadda.. and I was flipping through the channels and I landed on this station and there was a song on by so&so and it was talking about how God loved me no matter where I was in my life... and that was it! I felt His presence. The next day I made it to a local church and gave my life to Christ! Thanks so much for the encouraging music!"
..or something to that extent.
it happens all the time!
L
But it's not even a sometimes. God will always love praise more than anything else, because we were created to praise God. I get what you're trying to say, but the song just cannot be redeemed, in my opinion. Even if there is a seed of truth in what is being song, the rest of the song ruins that.
Crying out to God as our comforter and savior is a form of praise, yes. Simply crying about our miseries is not a form of praise. That is whining. When my friend died, I cried both in misery and I cried in praise to God. While the miserable crying was helpful to me, it didn't do a thing for God, except perhaps He cried with me. The praise, even though I was hurting deeply, was more beautiful to Him than my simple crying.
The way I look at it, hundreds of people have been able to write clear-cut, Biblical songs that don't leave anything up to confusion about praising God despite the storm. With all of those songs out there, we don't need a confusing, partially unbiblical song floating around the Christian airwaves. In direct contrast with Better Than a Hallelujah: YouTube - Selah - I Bless Your Name These lyrics, to me, are way more powerful than the lyrics to Better Than a Hallelujah.
Christian musicians, just like pastors, have a responsibility to teach the truth, and teach it without confusing the children of God. Songs like Better Than a Hallelujah will give some Christians a warped view of how God works. Some Christians will hear that song and think "Well okay. I can simply complain to God all I want without praising Him, because He likes to hear me complain more than He likes to hear my praise."
Crying out to God as our comforter and savior is a form of praise, yes. Simply crying about our miseries is not a form of praise. That is whining. When my friend died, I cried both in misery and I cried in praise to God. While the miserable crying was helpful to me, it didn't do a thing for God, except perhaps He cried with me. The praise, even though I was hurting deeply, was more beautiful to Him than my simple crying.
The way I look at it, hundreds of people have been able to write clear-cut, Biblical songs that don't leave anything up to confusion about praising God despite the storm. With all of those songs out there, we don't need a confusing, partially unbiblical song floating around the Christian airwaves. In direct contrast with Better Than a Hallelujah: YouTube - Selah - I Bless Your Name These lyrics, to me, are way more powerful than the lyrics to Better Than a Hallelujah.
Christian musicians, just like pastors, have a responsibility to teach the truth, and teach it without confusing the children of God. Songs like Better Than a Hallelujah will give some Christians a warped view of how God works. Some Christians will hear that song and think "Well okay. I can simply complain to God all I want without praising Him, because He likes to hear me complain more than He likes to hear my praise."