Soul-winning is a rare lifestyle in the modern conservative church. We do not emphasize the Word as much as the early church seemed to do. Their prayer was that God would prove or magnify His Word by signs and wonders. The Word "increased" mightily among them. But even though music is not seen in Acts to the degree that the modern church emphasizes it, I do know that music is important. The Old Testament worship had music as a valid and needed part of worship. Certainly King David was a musician who followed God with all His heart (most days). The Book of Psalms has much exhortation to use music to praise God and honor Him.

The hidden danger of music is deceptive. Music is to be used to praise God. WE use music to worship. But often music is used to move people instead of being used to praise God. That is a danger that I have written about before in a pamphlet "Music is our tool, not God's." But there is another danger I found while reading about David a man after God's own heart.

Look at these verses. 1 Sam. 16:13 Then Samuel took the horn of oil, and anointed him in the midst of his brethren: and the Spirit of the LORD came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel rose up, and went to Ramah. 14 But the Spirit of the LORD departed from Saul, and an evil spirit from the LORD troubled him. We see here that The Spirit of the Lord came upon David. In the next verse, the Spirit departs from Saul and an evil spirit begins to trouble him. In verse 17, Saul finds a method to lessen or hold back this evil spirit. Is this method repentance? Does Saul pray and fast, as Nehemiah, seeking to change the mind of God? No! He seeks worshipful and pleasing music to shut out the feelings and emotions of that evil spirit! 1 Sam. 16:16 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.

I believe that many people are deceived into thinking they are spiritually OK because during the anointed singing at our churches, their emotions and feelings are affected in a positive way. The ensuing good feelings cause them to feel better and they tell their own heart that they are OK. Saul was getting more evil, yet worshipful music made him feel better. This modern church needs so desperately to repent of spiritual laziness and of loving this world, yet the gospel music industry (sic) is growing many times over every year! Many new "artists" in the liberal AND conservative churches churn out many albums, yet the signs and wonders similar to the Book of Acts are few and far between.

Anointed music should cause pure living worshippers to praise God with all their heart. Yet the same music can make a loose living "Christian" feel better and go home sort of refreshed in their feelings. Great danger lies here! If you dress immodest, if you are caught in the lust of the world, or if you live in any manner contrary to God's Word, you can be deceived! The worst thing you can do (at a holiness, Pentecostal or conservative church) is to refuse to constantly keep a repentant heart and keep a close watch against sin. I really believe that I have sat in many services and watched people, whom I know are living contrary to scripture, and know better, get a "blessing" during the musical part of the service. These same people never weep at the altar. They never come to pray with or for someone who is seeking at the altar. I really feel I am correct in assuming that they are in great danger. They have allowed anointed music to SOOTH their weak, half-baked Christian life and they know not that they are "miserable, blind and naked" and do not know the true condition of their soul. 1 Sam. 16:23 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. While in Bible college, I heard a young man play and sing in chapel and powerfully move those gathered. Ten minutes after chapel I was in the restroom where he came in and was telling vulgar, filthy jokes. I have known many who learned to move people through improper use of music and their own life was filled with lies, deception, division and more. It is said that Elvis Pressley sang hymns and gospel songs to calm his spirit before doing his worldly albums. This idea works, but it is deceiving! Praise can be deceptive if it does not include purity!

We must carefully and powerfully remember that the Word of God has priority in our church meetings. The Word must increase. Mark 16:20 And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. It is imperative that we constantly inform people that if they are living in sin or in a questionable manner, they are in danger no matter how good they feel after church. Often, we get the "spiritual splash" from another's "full cup". Great care must be taken to watch and guard our heart against sin and worldliness. Praise can be deceptive if it does not include purity!

EACH INDIVIDUAL believer is responsible to carefully watch over their heart and soul. YOU must keep sin out by staying humble before God and letting the Spirit "mortify every deed of the flesh" in your life. Do not think that if you feel goose bumps and emotions during the singing, that it is a sign you are OK with God. God has given us His Word to judge our life by. You will feel the power in music and in other people's worship, but do not fool yourself. You will answer to God if you are not a clean living, praying, humble Christian. Let us use music carefully and worshipfully, but let us stay aware of the danger and WATCH for other men's souls. Pastor's! Judge your members by God's Word alone, not by their worship. James 1:26 If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain. (vain: empty) Praise can be deceptive if it does not include purity!

Music is one of our ways to worship and praise God. Good, clean living is our foremost way to give honor to the One who redeemed us. Purity brings about Power. Praise can be deceptive if it does not include purity! Music often gets caught in between these ideas, so be aware of the hidden danger that is there. Music affects the soul more easily than the spirit. Emotions are moved to weep, even if the heart is not moved to change. The Word affects the spirit of man first. The mind is affected and the will is moved by the Word. Take care!

Related verses: 2 Chron. 7:6 And the priests waited on their offices: the Levites also with instruments of musick of the LORD, which David the king had made to praise the LORD, because his mercy endureth for ever, when David praised by their ministry; and the priests sounded trumpets before them, and all Israel stood. Job 21:12 They take the timbrel and harp, and rejoice at the sound of the organ. NOTE: ("do them not") Eze 33:32 And, lo, thou art unto them as a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice, and can play well on an instrument: for they hear thy words, but they do them not.

New Testament: Ac 16:25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them (Probably no music accompanying them) - Eph 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Praise can be deceptive if it does not include purity!