The Bible doesn’t provide a playlist, but it does offer principles on the music we listen to. It emphasizes music that uplifts, encourages, and brings us closer to God. The Bible celebrates music as a way to worship God and express our faith. However, it also cautions against music that leads us away from Godly principles.
Ever wondered how your music choices align with your faith? Let’s tune into what the Bible says about music.
What Does the Bible Say About Music We Listen To?
Discussing music, the Bible hits some high notes on its significance and impact. While it doesn’t critique specific genres, it does highlight the kind of music that harmonizes with Christian values.
Music in the Bible is often linked to worship and praise. It’s used to express joy, gratitude, and awe of God. This kind of music uplifts the spirit and focuses the mind on divine things.
But what about secular music? The Bible doesn’t explicitly ban it, but the principles it teaches can guide our choices. Music that promotes messages contrary to Christian values, like encouraging sin or glorifying ungodly behaviors, is obviously out of tune with biblical teachings.
The New Testament, especially, encourages believers to focus on whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable. Applying this to music means choosing songs that align with these virtues.
God’s view on music, as inferred from the Bible, seems to be about its influence on our hearts and minds. Music can shape our attitudes, emotions, and even actions. So, it’s important to be discerning about what we listen to.
The Bible also recognizes the power of music to bring people together and foster a sense of community. Songs of praise and worship in a church setting are a prime example. This communal aspect of music is celebrated and encouraged.
In essence, the Bible suggests that the music we listen to should reflect our faith and values. It should be something that brings us closer to God, rather than pulling us away. So, while the Bible doesn’t hand us a set playlist, it certainly sets the tone for making music choices that resonate with our Christian beliefs.
Bible Verses About Music
- Psalm 150:1-6 – “Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp!” This Psalm celebrates music as a form of praise and worship to God.
- Ephesians 5:19 – “Speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord.” Paul encourages the use of music as a way to worship and connect with God, emphasizing music that comes from the heart.
- Colossians 3:16 – “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.” This verse highlights the role of music in teaching and encouraging each other in faith.
- James 5:13 – “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.” This verse suggests using music to express our emotions and states, whether in times of trouble or joy.
- 2 Chronicles 5:13-14 – “The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the Lord. As they raised their voices in praise to the Lord and sang: ‘He is good; his love endures forever,’ then the temple of the Lord was filled with the cloud.” This passage describes a powerful moment where music was used in worship, resulting in a tangible manifestation of God’s presence.
- 1 Samuel 16:23 – “And whenever the harmful spirit from God was upon Saul, David took the lyre and played it with his hand. So Saul was refreshed and was well, and the harmful spirit departed from him.” Here, music is shown as having a soothing and healing effect, demonstrating its power over our mood and spirit.
- Psalm 95:1-2 – “Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!” The Psalmist invites joyful musical expression as a way of entering God’s presence with gratitude.
- 1 Corinthians 14:15 – “What am I to do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will pray with my mind also; I will sing praise with my spirit, but I will sing with my mind also.” Paul speaks to the importance of understanding and intentionality in worship, including musical expression.
- Revelation 5:9 – “And they sang a new song, saying, ‘Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation.'” This verse in Revelation depicts a heavenly scene where music is used to worship and honor God.
- Psalm 101:1 – “I will sing of steadfast love and justice; to you, O Lord, I will make music.” This Psalm reflects a personal commitment to praising God through music, focusing on His attributes of love and justice.
The Bible, while not directly addressing modern musical genres, offers guidance on the type of music that aligns with Christian values. It celebrates music as a powerful medium for worship, expression of joy, and a tool for spiritual and emotional healing. The emphasis is on music that uplifts, edifies, and brings us closer to God, encouraging us to choose songs that resonate with truth, purity, and godliness. Whether used in personal reflection or communal worship, music, according to the Bible, should be a reflection of our faith, an expression of our love for God, and a means to foster spiritual growth and unity among believers. Ultimately, the music we listen to is more than just a background soundtrack; it’s a component of our spiritual journey, shaping our hearts and minds in ways that should honor God.