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We have seen the television commercials for all of the music CDs, now available. There is a CD box set called: “The
Greatest Classical Music Set In The World.” Yes, that is the actual title. There are other CD sets including: “Now
That’s What I Call Music,” available in several volumes: “Monster Ballads,” including all of the 80s hair bands; and
even “Songs of Soul,” which is a set including old Motown hits. And now, there is even a set titled: “Wow, That’s
What I Call WORSHIP,” which is a CD box set made up of hundreds of songs for “praise and worship” set to
mechanical instruments of music. As I spoke to several Christians about this it was brought to my attention that there
are many Christians who actually listen to, and Karaoke to, this type of music, commonly called “Christian Music.” It
has also been noticed that there are many Christians who would never listen to such music, as that just mentioned,
who have no problem listening to “Christmas Music,” which songs are often “songs, hymns and spiritual songs,”
simply set to music. (I am not speaking of songs such as: Jingle Bells, of White Christmas, but songs such as: Joy To
The World and Silent Night). Since this is such a large problem among churches of Christ, this topic has become
worthy of our greatest consideration.
Let us start with the type of music commonly called “Christian Music.” This type of music ranges from the typical
hymns we might sing in worship like: Amazing Grace or I’ll Fly Away set to musical instruments; and includes more
modern songs, such as are used in denominational settings, like say, music by Amy Grant, etc. These songs are 1,
spiritual songs set to music; 2, used for man’s entertainment; and 3, often teach false ideas of premillennialism,
grace only and once saved always saved. We will now examine some arguments given to defend listening to music
such as this.
First, some say, “Isn’t it better to listen to this type of music than to the modern music played on the radio?” This
argument has absolutely no logical structure. One thing being better than another does not make a wrong thing
right. That is the same as saying, isn’t it better to steal than to murder? Granted, stealing does not bear the serious
charge as does murder, yet stealing is still wrong. Imagine one caught shoplifting telling the police, “Isn’t stealing
better than murdering?” I would say it is best to not steal or murder, just as I would say it is best to not listen to
anything that defiles the mind or insults the Great God of heaven. The Bible says that spiritual songs are to be sung
making melody in the heart, not with the use of mechanical instruments of music (Eph 5:19; Col 3:16,17).
Others say that it is ok to listen to these songs because it is outside of the worship assembly. As I understand the
context of Ephesians 5 the apostle is explaining that Christians should not defile themselves by participating in the
drunken feasts to Bacchus (the wine god), but should be “filled with the spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and
hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” Thus, the apostle speaks of
singing spiritual songs without the accompaniment of instrumental music whether in or out of the assembly- this
would include “Christian music;” if not why not?
Now, to Christmas music: The same arguments apply to this type of music when the songs are spiritual songs.
Notice the lyrics to “Joy To The World”.
“Joy to the world! The LORD is come: Let earth receive her KING…Joy to the earth! The SAVIOR reigns… No more
let SINS and sorrow grow… HE comes to make HIS BLESSINGS flow…He rules the earth with TRUTH and GRACE…”
Can one honestly say that this is not a spiritual song set to music? Now notice the lyrics of “Silent Night”:
“Silent night, HOLY night…round young VIRGIN mother and CHILD…HOLY INFANT so tender and mild…HEAVENLY
HOSTS sing ALLELUIA…CHRIST the SAVIOR is born.”
Again, can one honestly say that this is not a spiritual song set to music? Of course not, because it is a spiritual
song set to music. What does the Bible say concerning this type of song? It should be sung making melody in the
heart unto the Lord.
Let us render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and unto God the things that are God’s. Musical instruments
are beautiful things, and things I love, however, when added to spiritual songs, then we have taken that which
belongs to man and have rendered it to God. Let us think before we listen, and pay attention to the lyrics and
meaning of the songs to which we listen.
Roger A. Scully, Jr.
