Watch Out For The Beat!
By Chica4Jesus
Did you know that modern Christian music can sometimes be a
satanic trap? I didn't think so either until my dad shared
the following important lesson with me:
In the book of Ezekiel, there is a mysterious set of verses
which, while seeming to be talking about the King of Tyrus,
are really talking about Satan. These verses describe how
Satan was actually created beautiful, and adorned with
musical instruments. Perhaps you're thinking, "What?" Well,
there's no mistake about it. I mean, do you REALLY think
that Eve would have even gone near Satan if he had really
been some kind of ugly demon with horns, a tail and a
menacing pitchfork in his hand, as many people erroneously
picture him today? Probably not. Here are the verses:
"...Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full
of wisdom, and perfect in beauty. Thou hast been in Eden the
garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering, the
sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and
the jasper, the sapphire, the emerald, and the carbuncle,
and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes
was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created. Thou
art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee
so: thou wast upon the holy mountain of God; thou hast
walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire. Thou
wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast
created, till iniquity was found in thee." Ezekiel 28:12-15,
KJV
Notice the word 'tabrets'. If you look up this word in the
original Hebrew language, you will discover that it means
timbrels, or tambourines. What are timbrels and tambourines?
Instruments! So we are told that Satan, who was in the
Garden of God, or Eden, was somehow adorned with beautiful
jewels and instruments. He was associated with music. Not
only that, but in 2 Corinthians 11:14, the Apostle Paul also
wrote the following:
"And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an
angel of light." Ê2 Corinthians 11:14, KJV
So not only was Satan created beautiful, covered with
precious jewels, and somehow associated with instruments,
but we see that he also possesses the power to appear to
people as an angel of light.
"What does all of this have to do with modern Christian
music?" you might be asking yourself. Well, you see, back in
the early days when many of the first hymns were written,
they weren't sold for money like many Christian songs are
today. Some of them weren't even originally written to be
put to music; they were simply thoughts and poems which were
written by people who loved the Lord, and who wanted to
express their gratitude to Him. It wasn't until some years
later that some of those old hymns were converted into song
form, and began to become popular in the churches.
But several decades ago, something bad began to happen; and
that is that Christian artists were encouraged to sell their
music for profit. For example, take the group Sons of Mercy.
They came to Guam sometime last year, and my favorite local
Christian radio station aired a live conversation that one
of the DJ's had with Doug Allen. Something he said went
along the lines of, "Originally, we were just a little group
that sang for our church back home. Then some of our friends
encouraged us to sell our songs to make a living." Well,
that's how they got to where they are today. There's nothing
wrong with making a living, but when you're doing it through
praising the Lord, don't you think that it becomes wrong? I
do.
That was probably the first blow to today's Christian
Contemporary Music (CCM)...but now let me share a little bit
more musical history with you.
In the early 80's, which was about the time when CCM first
got started, it wasn't very popular with a lot of people,
who preferred music like rock, heavy metal, etc. My dad says
that this drastic change in musical style actually started
much earlier in the 50's and 60's with the introduction of
rock 'n roll, and gradually grew worse with sexual
movements, and filthy words, eventually finding their way
into modern pop music, so that today, a lot of it is totally
disgusting!
The fact that CCM wasn't too popular back then caused some
Christian artists to think, "Well, maybe if I change my
style a little bit, it would attract people's attention and
spread the Gospel more than with my current style." There's
nothing wrong with mildly-fast music...but when Christians
do it just to be popular and to get on the 'charts', and to
seem just like all of the other worldly bands out there,
then that is wrong; and as my dad said, some of the music
which is passed for modern Christian music, is no better
than some of the ungodly rock music his generation listened
to during the 60's and 70's. Some CCM is demonic garbage
with the words 'Jesus' and 'God' sprinkled in here and there
so that they can label it 'Christian', when it most
certainly is no such thing! Sadly, this is also what has
been done with some of the beautiful, old Gospel hymns. Even
at my own Christian school they have done this very thing,
and it is horrible.
But the main lesson I want to share is how the beat of the
music affects the lives and thoughts of many people. Because
of the beat, some people, particularly young people, are
drawn away from the true intention and meaning of the song,
which is to praise and honor God in some way. Instead of
focusing on the words of the song, and what they represent,
as they should, some people focus instead on the beat. If it
makes them want to get up and dance, then they consider the
song a 'cool' Christian song. In other words, the song isn't
popular because of what it says, but rather because of the
way it sounds, and the way it makes people feel. The whole
message of the song is missed, and the song could easily
pass for just another worldly song, if people don't take the
time to listen carefully to the words. In fact, some
Christian music artists, probably under pressure from the
music industry, have even gone as far as to write or sing
some weak songs, which contain very little of a Christian
witness, in order to make both Christians and non-Christians
happy. This is a compromise of their faith, but it is a
popular thing to do; and of course, it makes them, and the
music companies, money. How sad!
So the main point I am trying to make here, is that instead
of being drawn TO God through some of these modern Christian
songs, people are being drawn AWAY from God, and TOWARDS the
spirit of the world, through the style and beat of the song,
and that is exactly what Satan the Musician, the false angel
of light, wants. That is his trap. He wants to get people's
eyes off of God, and on to the music. He wants to make
people think that they are acting in a Christian manner,
when they are not. He wants them to think that they are
close to God, when they may in fact be closer to the world.
In some cases, they are acting just like the children of the
world, while pretending to be Christians.
I am sure that there's a few Christian artists out there who
do sing the CCM songs for what they are; sincere praises to
God; but the fact that they have become trapped in the
worldly system of commercial music is sad; the fact that
they sell praises to God for money, is wrong.
So the lesson I have learned is: Watch out for the beat, and
don't let it take you away from God and His REAL Word, the
Bible, because there is no substitute for it. Don't let
Satan squeeze the Word out of your life through snappy
Christian music. Don't become so addicted to Contemporary
Christian Music, that you begin to idolize the artists, or
you allow CD's, MP3's or the radio, to take you away from
your special time with God and His Holy Word. Keep God and
His Word first place in your life, and NOT CCM! I hope that
my lesson has been a blessing to you.
A Friend in Jesus,
Chica4Jesus
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