Music and Morals
Author: Kimberly Smith
Published by: Winepress Publishing

There is no question that music is an integral part of most lives and that every culture has their own unique form/style of music. Yet, what is being rediscovered in this book is a scientific and Scriptural approach to defining exactly what kind of music we should listen to as followers of the Messiah. Certainly, music has more of an effect on the mind and inhibitions than even science admits it has discovered. Every kind of noise has an effect on the human brain, from vocal to instrumental, triggering a variety of our emotional reactions. A soul-filled, Chassidic niggun to a "spirit-filled" Christian contemporary rock song has its effective properties and powers. Music really influences us more than we might think, and definitely, as science tells us, more than we understand.

The types of music that are immoral can be classified often without much musical knowledge. This is done by understanding how the body desires to move according to the rhythm – or the way the music is played. In accordance with this, one can classify music by determining whether it appeals to the intellect and the mind, or simply to the body itself. As the author points out, lyrics never make immoral music moral – the beat, rhythm, and way it is played classify it. As studies have shown, godly lyrics set with immoral music rarely, if ever, have a godly affect on the audience; it is the music itself which makes the listener respond in a sensual way.

For those of you who like jazz, pop, rock, Salsa, hip-hop, Christian Contemporary, and all variations of these, your musical and spiritual palate is about to be refreshed with this very Biblically solid and scientifically-accurate resource.

When Believers walk out of their world of sin by accepting the Messiah, there sometimes remains parts of their lives that they unwilling to release to the Holy Spirit. Music is one of the most major areas where failure to do this is so prevalent. Most, if not all, of the different types of music are classified in this book. There is also a CD included with the book, which gives descriptions and examples of each type of music discussed

Here is an eye-opening quote from Bob Dylan, "If people knew what we were really selling with (rock music), we’d be arrested." The music itself is doing the selling – not the lyrics. It is proven that the beats of certain music are addicting. It works like this: certain rhythms and beats cause the mind to go into high stress. In response, the body releases opioids, which act like morphine, in attempt to maintain a false sense of well-being. This hormone is highly addicting when released often enough. People sometimes, if not often, listen to such music for the adrenaline increase or the emotional "high." Listening to this kind of music, and especially developing an addiction to it, is spiritually and physically unhealthy, and is basically demonic in nature.

This point and many others are covered thoroughly in this small, truthful, easy-to-read study. This book can be read in a reasonably short amount of time, and it is guaranteed to make an impression on your mind, and hopefully, strengthen your convictions in the process.

Ashley Palladino
2008
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