The Great

Debate :
MUSIC

Adapted from Christian Berdahls

presentation Distraction Dilemma:
Exposing Distractions & Dangers in Music

Rebellion in heaven led to

war

Lucifer was cast out(Revelation

12:7-9)
Rev 12:17 He goes now to
make war with the remnant
What was his role in heaven?

The questions:
Is music moral or amoral?
Is it the lyrics or the music bed
that matters most?

 *Amoralists -It doesnt matter

what we listen to music is
amoral(not concerned with the
rightness or wrongness of
something)
*Moralists It does matter what
kind of music we listen to

Sandi Patti
Music is a very powerful force. It has a way of breaking
down barriersbut a lot of artists are taking that
very powerful tool and putting negative, horrible
lyrics to it and those lyrics are getting into the hearts
of the listeners and are shaping their values.
Why cant we (i.e Contemporary Christian musicians)
take that same powerful force music put positive
lyrics to it and begin shaping values that way?
What side is she on? Lyrics or music?
LYRICS

David Meece
Basically you have to focus on the lyrics and what the
song is saying. That is my criteria to decide whether
the song is right or wrong.
It has nothing to do with the music style. It has to do
with the lyrics. What is the song saying ? As
Christians we can objectively judge it from that
standpoint.
What side is he on? Lyrics or music?
LYRICS

Professor Marshall
Mcluhan
*His work is viewed as a cornerstone on media The medium is the message. That is to say, the music:
its melody, harmony and rhythm, all by itself
disposes man to virtue or vice by moving the
emotions.
Therefore, the way in which they move the passions
should serve as a principle basis for judgement on
whether any given piece of music is good or bad.
What side is he on? Lyrics or music?
MUSIC

Brain Specialist Dr.

Richard Pellegrino
Music has the uncanny ability to trigger a flood of
human emotions and images that have the ability to
instantaneously produce very powerful changes in
emotional states.
Take it from a brain guy in 25 years of working with the
brain, I still can not affect a persons state of mind
the way one simple song can.
Billboard Magazine, Subliminal Power of Music
September 1999.
What side is he on? Lyrics or music?
MUSIC

Musical Experiment
Can music alone influence the
listener?
Step 1: Listen to this piece of
music while closing your eyes
Step 2: Indicate what you are
feeling afterward.

Listen to these clips

play)

(click to

Dr. Norman M. Weinberger

Professor of Neurobiology an
Behaviour at UC Irvine research
confirms thatmusic can rapidly and powerfully set moods and do
so in a way not easily attained by other means

RH, April 21, 1885

If the thoughts are wrong, the
feelings will be wrong; and the
thought and feelings combined
make up the moral character.
*Moral: concerned with right and
wrong

RH, April 21, 1885

When we decide that as
Christians we are not required to
restrain our thoughts and
feelings we are brought under
the influence of evil angels, and
invite their presence and their
control.

Divide yourself into groups

Think about these questions while you gather your

thoughts:
If Lucifers role in heaven was a choir master Would he
leave music alone when cast out of heaven?
Which is more powerful lyrics or music(melody)?
Can music (not lyrics) change your mood?
Is music a language by itself? Or does it need lyrics (even
a title) to direct the listener?
Did God intend music to be able to change your moods
and thoughts?
Is it possible to have Christian lyrics with unchristian
music?
If that is possible how practical is it to stop such music ?

Listen to how similar secular

music and Christian music
was in earlier Centuries