Music
There is controversy as to what is considered Christian music, and the best way to answer that is by what examples are set forth in scripture, though there are few of them.
Keep in mind there is a difference between acceptable church music and acceptable home music.
Music in the church is of a narrow focus.
- MESSAGE SHOULD PRAISE THE LORD
- MESSAGE SHOULD BE CLEAR
- EMPHASIS THE MESSAGE — NOT THE MUSIC
- CAN BE LIVELY OR MUTED (ACCORDING TO CONGREGATIONAL TASTE)
1 Samuel 18:6 "And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of music."
1 Chronicles 15:16 "And David spake to the chief of the Levites to appoint their brethren to be the singers with instruments of music, psalteries and harps and cymbals, sounding, by lifting up the voice with joy."
2 Chronicles 5:13 "It came even to pass, as the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord; and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying, For he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever: that then the house was filled with a cloud, even the house of the Lord;"
2 Chronicles 7:6 "And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with instruments of music of the Lord, which David the king had made to praise the Lord, because his mercy endureth for ever, when David praised by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood."
2 Chronicles 23:13 "And she looked, and, behold, the king stood at his pillar at the entering in, and the princes and the trumpets by the king: and all the people of the land rejoiced, and sounded with trumpets, also the singers with instruments of music, and such as taught to sing praise..."
2 Chronicles 30:21 " And the children of Israel that were present at Jerusalem kept the feast of unleavened bread seven days with great gladness: and the Levites and the priests praised the Lord day by day, singing with loud instruments unto the Lord."
Psalm 33:2-3 "Praise the Lord with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings. Sing unto him a new song; play skillfully with a loud noise."
Psalm 98:4 "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise."
Psalm 150:3-6 "Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals. Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord. And when he was come nigh, even now at the descent of the mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to rejoice and praise God with a loud voice for all the mighty works that they had seen;"
Music was always an important part of religious services, there were singers and musicians who took part in most worship services, be it the weekly sabbath or annual sabbaths. Music, singing, and dancing were part of the celebrating before the Lord.
Songs at home can be fun, less worship oriented, even secular if;
- MESSAGE SHOULD BE CLEAR AND NOT GLORIFY OR PROMOTE UNGODLY ACTS
- PERSON OR BAND SHOULD NOT BE PROMOTING UNGODLY ACTS IN THEIR PUBLIC LIFE
- SHOULD NOT BE PLAYED SO LOUD AS TO BOTHER THOSE THAT DO NOT WANT TO HEAR IT