satan's beats for GOD'S GLORIES? (Part 2)

here we go.
standards.

we talked about satan owning nothing, including musical rhythms, styles, and genres.  satan owns nothing.  God owns everything.  all that is good and perfect in music comes from God, and all that is evil and imperfect comes from satan, and is controlled by the sovereign will of God. 

we discussed three musical possiblities in christian music: 
1. copying the "worldly," as defined in part 1, making it clear that copying in and of itself is not bad
2. rejecting the "worldy" and doing only the traditional hymns of "old time religion"
3. creating cliche, sorry christian music, neither "worldly" nor "old school."

now, i plan to give standards by which we can measure "good music" verses "straight up sorriness."  i do this as one gifted by God in music, and i believe the standards for any area of expertise should come from those who possess God given ability in these areas.  they see what the ungifted do not see, but what the ungifted know intuitively.  in other words, we all know good music and bad music when we hear it.  the difference is, the gifted know HOW AND WHY it is good or bad, because the gifted make music.  we all know a well built house and a house that is straight garbage!  but architects and carpenters or builders know how and why houses are built well or built with shabbiness.

having said all of this, the standard by which one can measure good and bad music christian music, whether the christian musician copies a definitively "secular" style, uses only "traditional" or old school styles, or creates their own style, is this: 

Does the christian music emotionally take  the christian and nonchristian listener into the very presence of God through lyrics that skillfully express faith in Christ Jesus, by the tangible presence of the Holy Spirit filling and leading the musician.

i'll deal with each component of my defintion. before i do, understand that styles of music are just that.  they are a means to an end, and they are only as useful as they accomplish the goal of expression for the christian musician.

first, we all know intuitively that music is meant to move us emotionally.  it is meant to be felt.  it is not primarily to present doctrine or a sermon in lyrical or rhythmic form.  i'm not saying truth can't be expressed or taught in songs.  i'm saying that this is not the PRIMARY purpose of ANY kind of music.  music, songs, and poetry are meant to express emotions in relation to a person or object. 

second, the person or object of focus is none other than God Himself, the Omnipresent.  because the christian musician is singing to and about God Himself, one should feel not only the musicians spirit pouring out to God, but God responding with pleasure to the musician, and all who unite with the musician.  this is the norm!!  the standard!!!!

third, the means to this end is SKILLFUL expression.  the songwriter should be gifted in writing songs!  we all know this when we hear it. the singer takes the listener to places in God through words that express the inexpressible.  poets do the same with those who read their poetry.  this is a gift that should not be taken lightly.  the psalmist wrote with skill lyrics sung for the glory of the God of israel. 

fourth, the musician undeniably expresses faith in and focus upon Christ, not himself or herself.  yes, HE OR SHE IS PERFORMING!!  yes, he or she SHOULD BE HONORED FOR HIS OR HER GIFT.  and yes, the gift of the musician SHOULD BE ENJOYED!!!  the devil lies most in this area.  his lie is based in the truth of celebrity worship today.  he makes it seem as if honoring someone's talent in music is the same as the worship the unsaved give to secular musicians.  but i believe the christian musician makes all of the difference in this, leading to the next point.

fifth, the musician, focused on his or her faith in Christ and not themselves, manifests the very real presence of the Holy Spirit in them and leading them.  they manifest what the bible calls the "fruit of the Spirit."  by this it is known that the musician is following the Spirit, and by this God receives all of the supreme honor due to the Creator, while the musician receives the honor of a creature due to him or her, as it is written, "He who honors me, I will honor.  But he who despises me shall be lightly esteemed."  It is also written, "Let another man praise you and not your own mouth, someone else and not your own lips."

so when christian musicians sing for God's glory, they will bring you into God's presence, inspiring you to worship God with them.  they will skillfully do this through the lyrics and music, whether in a "secular style," "traditional style," or the unique style of the musician.  in the next post, i'll talk about these styles, and the ways they glorify God or satan.