Is Music Neutral?

Q: Is Music Neutral?
This was the subject of discussion at the Furaha Gist meeting on 27th Jan 07, see evidence reviewed and conclusions drawn below.

The score/ Composition.
Music affects the human body in subtle, but powerful ways. But isn't music just notes and chords, etc. how can notes be "bad" or "good"? The human body and mind can be controlled and altered with music. Many scientific and medical studies have proved conclusively the tremendous effects of music. Music is used to lower blood pressure, treat mental illness, depression, mental retardation, insomnia and many others. Musicologist Julius Portnoy found that not only can music, "change metabolism, affect muscular energy, raise or lower blood pressure, and influence digestion," but "It may be able to do all these things more successfully ... than any other stimulants that produce those changes in our bodies." (Tame, David, The Secret Power of Music, p. 138). “Music is used everywhere to condition the human mind” (Dr AK). “It can be just as powerful as a drug and much more dangerous, because nobody takes musical manipulation very seriously." (Family Weekly, January 30, 1983, p. 15). Dr. Adam Knieste, a musicologist who studies the effects of music upon people noted: "It's really a powerful drug. Music can POISON you, lift your spirits, or MAKE YOU SICK without knowing why." (Family Weekly Magazine, January 30, 1983, p. 12, article by David Chagall)

“Music has POWERS FOR EVIL as well as for good” (Dr HH). Dr. Howard Hanson, of the of the famous Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester, and one of the greatest authorities on music, stated: "Music is a curiously subtle art with innumerable, varying emotional connotations. It is made up of many ingredients and according to the proportions of those components; it can be soothing or invigorating, ennobling or vulgarizing, philosophical or orgiastic. (The American Journal of Psychiatry, vol. 99, p.317). ". . . music designed to soothe can be altered to TORMENT . . .” (Lanza, Joseph Elevator Music, p.196) it’s worth noting, that we are not talking about "lyrics" but simply the instrumental music. Dr Alfred B. Smith, author of many hymns and choruses including the chorus, "For God So Loved the World" and editor of Living Hymns states: "Some would have us believe that all music is a-moral and that it is only the words that make it Christian or not. I beg to differ with this philosophy! . . . music in itself is a language which can capture and control the very thoughts and actions of an individual, a crowd, or a nation. It is the fountainhead for good or for evil! As one must be discerning in the device of their friends and their food for a happy and healthy life ... so we must be careful and prayerful in the music we chose to listen to or sing." (Hart, Lowell Satan's Music Exposed, foreword)

"Through foolishness they, the people, DECEIVED THEMSELVES into thinking that there was no right or wrong in music that it was to be judged good or bad by the pleasure it gave." (Plato, Laws as quoted by Tame, David The Secret Power of Music, p. 189). It's important to note, that musicologist, David Tame, who shows no sign of being a Christian, makes these alarming statements: "More than any other form of the misuse of sound, it is rock with which we must deal today. ... It is a global phenomenon; a pounding, pounding destructive beat which is heard from America and Western Europe to Africa and Asia. Its effect upon the soul is to make nigh-impossible the true inner silence and peace necessary for the contemplation of eternal verities. ... How necessary is it in this age for some to have the courage to be the ones who are `different’ and TO SEPARATE themselves out from the pack who long ago sold their lives and personalities to this sound. . . I adamantly believe that rock in all its forms is a critical problem which our civilization must get to grips. . . if it wishes long to survive" (Tame, David The Secret Power of Music, 1984 p. 204).

The Bible clearly teaches music is NOT neutral! 1 Samuel 16, 14 But the spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him. 15 And Saul's servants said unto him, Behold now, an evil spirit from God troubleth thee. 16 Let our lord now command thy servants, which are before thee, to seek out a man, who is a cunning player on an harp: and it shall come to pass, when the evil spirit from God is upon thee, that he shall play with his hand, and thou shalt be well. 17 And Saul said unto his servants, provide me now a man that can play well, and bring him to me. 18 Then answered one of the servants, and said, Behold, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite, that is cunning in playing, and a mighty valiant man, and a man of war, and prudent in matters, and a comely person, and the LORD is with him.. . .23 And it came to pass, when the evil spirit from God was upon Saul, that David took an harp, and played with his hand: so Saul was refreshed, and was well, and the evil spirit departed from him. Who that has ever read 2 Chronicles 5 could ever believe that the Lord thought music was neutral? At the sound of music - the glory of God was so strong the priests could not even stand "for the glory of the LORD had filled the house of God."

The Lyrics/ Message.
Psychological Effects of Rock Music the messages we hear do go into our brain and do go on to affect our attitudes to some extent. This is true even when we reject the message with our conscious mind. If we like the music enough we will allow its message to repeat inside our heads even if we disagree with it initially. Rock music, and more recently, rap, hip-hop and other forms of audio entertainment is generally repetitive, insistent and seductive in nature. Its a perfect tool for brainwashing people. It can totally transform and mould the personalities of those who are devoted to it.

What is the Message of Rock Music? Every song is different, but there are certain messages that come through again and again in rock/pop and rap music. Message Number One - Rebellion and Lawlessness. "Do what you want." "No one can tell you how to live your life." "I don't care what you say anymore, this is my life". These lyrics encourage young people to despise the authority of parents, teachers, church leaders, government authorities - anyone who would dare to try to instruct them and teach them in the way they should go. They appeal directly to pride, independence and lust. If everyone followed these principles without compromise the world would be an unbearable place to live in. There would be no happy families, just a bunch of selfish hedonists hell-bent on having a mad time. In practice, the constraints of society put limits on this kind of thing.

Message Number Two - Lust is the Way to Go. A lot of songs talk about love, but often this doesn't mean much more than lust. Love wants to give, but lust just wants to take. Lust views people as a means to sexual gratification - not a really high view of humanity, in my view. The body language of today's pop musicians is loaded with sexual innuendo. Even if the words aren't always about sex, the body language on TV channels usually is. It is well known in the music industry that sex sells. Modern music has had an enormous influence on the attitude of people towards sexual morality. Whereas before the 1960's most people believed in keeping yourself sexually pure until your wedding night, today, the majority of adolescents are sexually active in their early teenage years. The consequence of this is usually hardness of heart, misery and dissatisfaction later on in life. In countries where rock music prevails, not many couples manage to build an enduring, life long relationship. The break-ups multiply the cycle of hurt in both parents and children. Hurt people are vulnerable to temptation to rebellion and to feed on the same things that guarantee failure in future relationships.

Message Number Three - evil is good and good is evil It is amazing how popular satanic heavy metal music is in many places. These bands glorify things that are evil and perverse, and despise what is clean and noble. Their attitudes are transmitted to their listeners. Just a casual look at the album covers shows a fascination with demonic and occult imagery. It’s not uncommon for these bands to openly mock God, Jesus Christ and the Cross. It seems as if these musicians have become controlled by demons who seek to express their hatred towards God and the Christian message. If you find yourself in sympathy with these messages of rock and roll it could well be that this music has captured your soul!

Messages from Satan in Rock and Roll. How do these words strike you, from AC/DC's song, "Hell's Bells". "Won't take no prisoners, won't spare no lives. Nobody's putting up a fight. I've got my bells I'm going to take you to hell. ... Satan get you. Hell's bells." Michael Hutchence, who tragically killed himself at the end of 1997, was a successful rock and roll artist who clearly had some leaning towards religious themes. The songs of INXS, such as "Original Sin", "Dancing on the Jetty" and others reflect this. I was amazed though when I heard the words of the hit song, "Devil inside". "Devil inside, devil inside, every single one of us, the devil inside". I could not make out some of the lyrics of that song at first. It says, "It's hard to believe we need a place called hell, a place called hell". When I heard it I could only make out, "We need a place called hell, a place called hell". Its tragic, but we have no reason to believe Hutchence is not in hell now, experiencing the horror and agony of what it means to be cut off from all comfort in a place of eternal punishment. When people meet the Lord Jesus they don't go off and commit suicide. You want to live for the glory of God.

A: No. Not according to EVERY serious scientific, medical, physiological and psychiatric research known. Not according to EVERY serious musicologist. Not according to the word of God.

For detailed discourse on above see following web links:
http://www.christian-faith.com/christianrock.html
http://www.christian-faith.com/rockandroll.html
http://www.av1611.org/rock.html

C: Wrap up from Furaha Gist participants.
Do not be fooled the structure of life follows the way of the seed, what you sow is what you reap. As a Christian take up your cross and follow Jesus Christ the light and author of life let no dark shadow be cast over your life via the music you listen to but rather let your light shine. Be aware of corrupted so called Christian Rock and contemporary Christian music. Listen to the right Godly music whose message and attitude is wholesome designed to produce praise and worship of God and encourage devotion to the good life He wants us to live. We expect to sing the song of the redeemed in heaven to the glory of God and he takes pleasure in the music of our lives here on earth too.