Monday, July 22, 2013

The Type Of Music God Hates

According to the Bible, there's definitely a certain type of music God hates! Did you think I was going to say Rock&Roll? No, I'm not talking about Rock! Especially since that's the music I used to play. Is it Country or Bluegrass? Not that either. How about Rap? Hip-hop? Jazz? Would you guess Classical? Pop? Maybe Heavy Metal? Soul? R&B? Reggae? Blues? No, none of those either. I'm not talking about a certain genre.

And I'm not talking about the idea of God hating a particular song. Can you picture that? God covering His ears when a song that He can't stand is played? Ha, I doubt that too (well, maybe, considering some of the songs that have been written). As for me, there are a couple of songs that drive me crazy. One is the old song, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" and the other, "Who Let The Dogs Out". But, I'm not talking about God hating a certain song.  

And I'm not talking about God hating the music played by a particular musical instrument being used. Although, there are some instruments that man has invented that are very irritating. The one I can't bear to listen to is the bagpipe. To my ears, a bagpipe is always dissonent and out of tune. I wonder if God hates a certain instrument that man has come up with? There are all kinds of musical instruments mentioned in the Bible - such as lyres, harps, flutes, horns, trumpets, tambourines, and cymbals. Nothing to indicate He dislikes any. But as far as the type of music God hates,  I'm not talking about an instrument.

The type of music God hates has nothing to do with the style of music, or the song's melody, or the song's instruments. The type of music God hates is music that is intended to worship and glorify Him, but is played or sung with a hypocritical heart. He cannot stand it!

In the Old Testament, there was a time when the nation of Israel was corrupt with injustice. The wealthy took advantage of the poor. Extortion and bribery in the court system ran rampant. God was not pleased with them, and as long as this went on, He was not going to bless them. He used the prophet Amos to give the Israelites the message that repentance is the only way to avoid destruction. And as far as the nation's hypocritical religious gatherings and songs of praise, this is what God said:

“I hate all your show and pretense—the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings. I won’t even notice all your choice peace offerings. Away with your noisy hymns of praise! I will not listen to the music of your harps. Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living." (Amos 5:21-24)

Because these people's lives weren't right with God, He called their worship songs "noisy hymns of praise!" And God refused to listen to the music of their harps. He hated it and called it "noise".

I just wonder, if we are singing songs of worship and praise, and we don't really mean what we say, or we are hypocritical in what we sing, does God feel the same way toward us? Yikes! I would say yes! If we are playing or singing music, and we are just going through the motions with false motives or hypocritical hearts, forget it! God refuses to hear it. Not only that, He hates it!

And if we are living a sinful lifestyle, and then pretending to be worshiping God on Sunday, or any other day, it won't work. God is looking at our hearts, and we should be worshiping from our hearts. Otherwise our efforts are in vain. God will not accept or hear our songs of praise and worship. But if we are trying to live righteous lives, are in Christ and under His grace, then we can lift our songs to Him with thankful hearts, and He will accept them.

"Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs to God with thankful hearts." (Colossians 3:16b)

One more thing. As far as God listening to our music, I think there are three basic categories of songs: songs He is pleased with, songs He is neutral to, or songs He hates.
1. Songs God is pleased with.
These are songs that glorify and honor Him. WIth these, He is pleased and listens, when they are presented with a sincere heart.
2. Songs God is neutral to.
These are secular songs and include all genres and all instruments. With these I believe He is neutral.
3. Songs God hates.
These are songs that are hypocritical. He hates these, as well as any songs that deny Him or are offensive to Him.

So, let's make sure our worship is real and our hearts are true.

"But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:23-24)







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