A pastor of mine once said, "Music is vital to your soul," and went on to state that what you listen to will most certainly and undoubtedly impact how you think, feel, and act. So I guess if you kept on thinking about it, it would naturally follow that Christian music, especially if you're a Christian, is the best thing for your soul.
However, I've also heard the argument that Christian music doesn't really have anything to do with real life situations… I mean, what happens when you're just feeling down, or when something serious and life changing is really upsetting you; who is actually going to pop in a praise cd at that moment in time? Wouldn't it feel better to make a playlist of a bunch of songs written by lonely, tortured souls… they can relate so much better, right?
I think I've found the answer in the same sermon my pastor was preaching on; his main text for that Sunday morning was Psalm 42. His very fitting title, or thesis, for that sermon was "The Theology of Sorrow for the Glory of God"… I say that it is very fitting because once you read Psalm 42, it becomes apparent very quickly that this psalmist is in a deeply sorrowful, depressive state. He is being oppressed by not only his situation, but also by his enemies who stand by and mock him—his situation is so bad that it looks and feels as if God has abandoned this man, and he is fighting for hope. What does this have to do with music? Look at Psalm 42:4— "These things I remember, as I pour out my soul: how I would go with the throng and lead them in procession to the house of God with glad shouts and songs of praise, a multitude keeping festival" [emphasis added]. So in the psalmist's deepest bout of depression, he turns not to the world for comfort, but to his memory of praising God through music… and not just any music! Look closely… he talks about how he would "lead them in procession to the house of God"… He's talking about going to church and singing songs of worship! That absolutely blows my mind. He doesn't turn to the emptiness of the world, or even superficial "churchy" things like socialship (a fake form of fellowship); he holds dearest the worship of our Savior and King in the time of severe trial.
So this is my challenge to myself, and to you who have read this: Self, next time you are downcast, don't turn to the world for comfort when you personally know the source of all joy! Instead, turn to God's Word… preach to yourself through psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. Preach to yourself through Psalm 42. And Self, whatever you do, don't forget the cross!
Related links and info:
- For a sermon filled with the same Truth and Biblical principles on sorrow and, by extension, on music, download C. J. Mahaney's sermon on Psalm 42 for free at the Sovereign Grace Ministries website.
- Looking around for some good Christian music? Not just for something superficial that has a good sound, but for something that you like the sound of AND is filled with sound Biblical doctrine that makes you want to draw closer to God? Try Chasing Cadence's album Awake O' Sleeper (available on iTunes), or Enfield's album "O For That Day". Also, check out the Sovereign Grace Ministries website for good worship music (and lots of other great resources, lots of them free!)… right now, they have a free song called "Praise the Lord" available for download.
"Praise the Lord" Lyrics:
Praise the Lord, Oh praise His name
From the heights of heav'n He reigns
Seated in the highest place
Surrounded by unending praise
Praise Him for His mighty deeds
Awesome in His majesty
Praise Him now with trumpet sound
Lift your voice and dance around
Everything that has breath, praise the Lord
Everything that's in us, praise Him
Everything that has breath, praise the Lord
Praise the Lord with instruments
Praise Him for His excellence
Look at what He's done for us
Bore our sins upon the cross
Praise the Lord with all you are
Mind and soul and will and heart
From His hand comes everything
He alone is God and King
P.S.—Are you up for another challenge? Try to find out which Psalm(s) this song is from! Check out the links on the left hand column of the blog for some useful tools you can use in Scripture search and study… Tell me if you find it ;-)
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2 comments:
You might want to check out the following blogs about C.J. Mahaney and the group he leads.
www.sgmsurvivors.com
www.sgmrefuge.com
They share about another side that people are just starting to become aware of.
Steve--
Thanks for commenting!
As with anything and everything in my life, I want to base my belief on what Mahaney preaches, and really what any pastor preaches, solely on the basis of this one question: Is it Biblical?
If God is not the authority of my life, I am allowing sin to enslave me. And if I am not believing that who God says He is, then I am believing in some made up god in my head. So the only way for me to live my life is based on the authority of Scripture, and I strive to bring my life more and more under subjection to what God says rather than what the world says.
With that being said, I would encourage you to analyze what Mahaney says based on Mahaney's own words, not the words of what others have said of him. I don't know what SGM survivors exactly propose that they are survivors of, but I do know that it is Biblical and God-ordained for believers to be plugged in to a local church that lives and breathes by the Bible, the very Word of God, and that does include being under the authority of the leaders of that church.
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