Thursday, October 31, 2013
Islam, Common Sense, and Ringtones!
We often hear from Muslims that Islam is a rational religion and as such that it is the best foundation for civilization. That's why the following video concerning the Islamic position on Ringtones will come as no surprise to you, at least if you are an intelligent person, though it will still no doubt leave you in awe and wonder that Muhammad saw this matter so clearly in seventh century Arabia. If people in Western society had not been so bent on kicking against the goads of reason and would have just accepted what they knew to be true, which is just to say, if they would have bucked their love for music and took a logical approach to this issue, we all could have been spared from such obvious threats to civilization as Beethoven, Bach, and Brahms. If you have been resisting the dictates of common sense, then listen as Muhammad through one of his modern followers beckons you back to the straight path, the path of all the prophets, including David, the sweet psalmist of Israel (oops!).
4 comments:
Lol! Anthony....nice one :)
Islam seems to have a rather ignorant view of music.
From the Biblical perspective, whether music has either a good or an evil influence depends on whose influence the musician is under; the Holy Spirit or the devil.
A good influence in music should cause a strengthening of faith and belief in God’s word and help to draw us closer to the Redeemer.
An evil influence will attempt to cause a weakening of faith through doubt...
“Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not…’?” Genesis 3:1
...and unbelief in what God has spoken; in particular, concerning sin, death and salvation.
"Has God indeed said, 'You shall not...'?" refers to Satan using God’s words within the context of his own deceitful argument in order to give his lie a foundation. He needed to use a combination of God’s words and the serpent as a disguise to make a successful assault on mankind, who, except for being open to temptation (a test of faithfulness/loyalty), were otherwise under God’s protection.
In today’s world the devils’ influence can come through a variety of means including music. Music itself is a medium through which the devil is very good at communicating...
“The workmanship of your timbrels and pipes was prepared for you on the day you were created.” Ezekiel 28:13
...and he does not care which style of music (“all kinds of music.” Daniel 3:5) his influence is transmitted through. If it honours him he is satisfied.
Music that is beautiful and moving is no indication that it is godly.
And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers [including musicians] also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. 2Corinthians 11:13-15
So the style of music is irrelevant; rather, music’s influence is dependent on what is in the musicians’ heart and whose influence the musician is under; the Holy Spirit or “…the god [ruler] of this world…” John 14:30
This is also why God does not refer to any style of music but simply says, “Take away from me the noise of your songs, for I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments.” Amos 5:23.
Daniel 3:5-15 describes music being used in the service of idolatry, but again, without any style being mentioned, it simply says, ‘all kinds of music’.
“That at the time you hear the sound of the horn, flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, in symphony with all kinds of music, you shall fall down and worship the gold image that king Nebuchadnezzar has set up.” V. 5
This would make sense, because until all the standard components that make up music and literature (or the lyrics in music; letters, punctuation etc. and which are of themselves lifeless) are assembled into a specific structure or composition that can communicate what is in the writers’ heart, they remain just a bundle of inert/neutral characters.
And while some instruments may have idolatrous carvings, inscriptions, artwork etc. incorporated into them, all musical instruments are still just dead objects which can only convey what is in the musicians’ heart (But having said that, a musician guided by the Holy Spirit would not use instruments that have idolatrous themes incorporated into them, in order to, “Abstain from all appearance of evil” 1Thessalonians 5:22. And as it says in 1Chronicles 23:5 …praised the Lord with musical instruments, “which I made,” said David, “for giving praise.” David’s instruments would have been devoid of anything idolatrous).
So it all gets back to whose influence the musician is under and what is in the musicians’ heart.
“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of his heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45
Much of today’s music (and film, books, art and the entertainment industry in general), lends itself to idolatry in respect to the way it puts anything and everything including the devil, on a pedestal, while making no mention of Christ except to slander or misrepresent him to the hearer.
It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise than for a man to hear the song of fools. Ecclesiastes 7:5.
Many are led astray by the song of fools
“…for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction [‘the highway to hell’].” Matthew 7:13
And, “I did it my way” (Frank Sinatra) as opposed to God’s way, is the most common means by which we can find ourselves on this road to destruction.
Satan himself was the first one to perform this number and travel this road to his eternal ruin. And foolish Adam, the first man and also the first criminal, followed suit (but he was rescued by grace).
The term ‘magic’ (or ‘magik’) is also associated with, and appears in some music; and is a title for that which, in purpose and application, could be defined as:
To influence, beguile and lead astray from the truth, by causing things that are true and good to be thought of as evil, and conversely, things that are false and evil to be thought of as good (and ultimately, the benevolent Creator thought of as evil and the murderous devil thought of as good) by means of deceit consisting of a combination of doubt and allure – as originally happened to Eve, the first victim to fall for Satan’s ‘magic’, as described in Genesis 3:1-6.
So while music itself is not evil, it can, like the serpent in the garden, be used as a disguise to enable the devil to get close enough to influence and lead an audience astray.
If left unchecked, this influence eventually deteriorates into the devils' golden rule of, "Do as thou wilt shall be the whole of the law" or, do as you please and never mind the consequences, and thereby finally achieving his objective of bringing God's judgement down on our heads. The worst case scenario being the examples of that which happened to those who perished in the Flood and in the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah
Music itself is good when it honours its Creator, but when used in the service of idolatry…
“Take away from me the noise of your songs...” Amos 5:23.
God is long suffering towards us, but it can only be a matter of time before,
“I will put an end to the sound of your songs, and the sound of your harps shall be no more.” Ezekiel 26:13
“The sound of harpists, musicians, flautists, and trumpeters shall not be heard in you [Babylon, this sinful world] anymore.” Revelation 18:22
To know whether something (including music) is evil or good is determined by the fruit it bears.
“For a tree is known by its fruit.” Matthew 12:33
If it leads people away from Christ and causes wreckage and ruin, then it is evil. If it leads people to Christ then it is good.
amuzing!
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