Participants: Jay Rosario & Daniel McGrath (Host), Nestor Soriano
Series Code: E
Program Code: E000019
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00:20 Hello again, My name is Jay Rosario,
00:21 your host for the Engage Program, 00:24 which is the series dedicated 00:26 to address some of the most relevant challenging issues 00:31 facing young adults all over the world. 00:33 Joining us is my good friend, Dan McGrath. 00:36 Dan, how is it going? Good, Jay, how are you going? 00:37 Doing all right. Dan, what exactly 00:39 are we gonna be talking about? 00:40 Well, today we're gonna look at the issue of music. 00:42 It's something that's caused a few ripples in the church. 00:45 People have, you know, enjoyed music for centuries. 00:48 Other people have thought to ban their existence. 00:50 We're gonna try to tackle all of this today. 00:52 And to do that we have my good friend 00:54 Nestor Soriano coming to join us on the set. 00:56 Nestor, welcome. 00:58 Good to see you, Dan. Good to see you too. 00:59 Nestor, for those who-- who don't know you, 01:02 I know you, Dan knows you, and many know you, 01:04 but for those that may not know you... 01:08 who are you, where do you come from? 01:10 And since we're talking about music tell us a little bit 01:12 about your early experience with music as a child growing up. 01:17 It's a good question, Jay. 01:18 You know, I grew up in the city of Chicago 01:21 and I also grew up in the church as well. 01:25 Currently, I'm in Berrien Springs, Michigan, 01:28 working on my Masters of Divinity. Nice. 01:30 Now to where God has brought me to that point 01:32 that's another story, but specifically where I grew up. 01:36 I grew up as a teenager. 01:38 I loved music. It was always in my heart. 01:39 Now I know in your culture, you love music. 01:41 It's inside your very own culture. 01:43 Yes. Got the rhythm. 01:44 Yes. Now you are of a Filipino background right? 01:47 Filipino background, that's correct. 01:48 Is it Kumusta ka? Yes. 01:49 Did I get it right? That's correct, you got it right. 01:51 And of course Filipino is very musical, 01:53 it has a really much into singing. 01:55 I think every Filipino that I met sings. 01:57 Yeah, a lot of, a lot of Filipino's 01:59 that I do know enjoy music. 02:01 They sing they play an instrument. 02:03 Well, that was kind of the story of my life as well. 02:06 I grew up singing. 02:08 I can remember when I was a little boy 02:09 four or five years old. 02:10 My dad would have me sing in front of my family. 02:15 I was very embarrassed but still they would force me to do that. 02:18 And it gave me a confidence and love for music. 02:20 I played piano. 02:21 I learned recorder and saxophone at a young age. 02:24 I use to learn cello in high school 02:26 then I learnt guitar in around early 2000, 2001. 02:30 Very versatile. 02:31 So as a young person-- 02:33 who were the main influences that-- 02:35 I mean who would you listen to? 02:37 What type of genre maybe-- 02:38 You know, you write your own music, 02:39 so, you know, what were you into back then? 02:42 Sure, I would say probably in the 1990's 02:46 I can remember listening to tapes that my friends had. 02:52 Cassette tapes, remember those days? 02:53 Those were the golden days. 02:55 Before CD's. Exactly. 02:57 I can remember tapes of popular pop music 03:00 whether it's Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey, music like that. 03:04 And then A cappella groups, 03:05 Boyz II Men and lot of R&B songs, 03:08 you know, some of these just secular artist. 03:11 I can remember that-- having a strong influence 03:13 in my-- in my life. 03:15 So as growing up as a child 03:17 it was--seems like you were musical 03:19 from the-- from the get go. 03:21 Was it always--when was it always a struggle between 03:26 because it sounds like did you grow up in the church 03:28 in a Christian environment is that? 03:29 Yes, I did. I grew up in a Christian environment. 03:31 So then you kind of grew up with the hymns, 03:33 you grew up with some of the Christian songs, 03:34 and then you also maybe were aware 03:37 and also listen to some of the other types of music. 03:39 Did you ever find a conflict with that 03:43 as growing up in your teenage years? 03:44 Tell us a little bit about that. 03:45 Sure, I think because I was so-- 03:50 I guess you could say engrossed in popular music 03:53 it did give me lack of a desire for--for the Bible 03:57 and for spiritual things. 03:58 Although I did grew up in a Christian home 04:01 my great grandmother played a large role 04:02 in my spiritual development. 04:04 She would sing those hymns, worship on Friday nights. 04:08 I can remember times when she would sing her-- 04:09 her favorite songs. 04:11 Some of the classic hymns like the Old Rugged Cross. 04:14 I can remember singing those songs. 04:16 But to answer your question because-- 04:19 because of my then influences in my life 04:21 and being in a city and from-- from my different friends 04:25 I definitely--I could--I could definitely sense a conflict 04:30 but I was leaning more towards secular music-- 04:32 Okay. During that time. 04:34 Okay, did you-- was, was there any particular, 04:39 was there a particular breakthrough at a given time 04:41 when you were kind of enlightened 04:43 on the subject of music at all? 04:45 Yes. And around what age? 04:46 May be you don't give us too much, 04:47 we maybe jumping ahead of ourselves, 04:49 but around what age did you kind of have an enlightenment, 04:51 maybe--maybe we can say a deeper encounter with God 04:54 where things started making a little more sense? Sure. 04:57 I started writing music, I remember one time the church, 05:01 a local church that I was a part of asked me to sing a song. 05:04 And so I decided to write my own song. 05:08 And so I wrote a Christian song for church, 05:11 it was in a very simple key with a very simple melody. 05:14 And it turned out to be a great blessing. 05:16 That was the beginning of my journey. 05:19 But it wasn't until the summer of 2002 05:23 that a good friend of mine who was also-- 05:26 who was also a lover of music. 05:30 He had a Christian punk band, but in his experience 05:33 he--he found Christ and once he shared Christ with me, 05:40 I was very-- I was very impressed 05:42 and drawn to my friend Peter's spirituality. 05:46 I wanted a piece of what he had. Right. 05:48 And so when I found Christ for myself--I'm, 05:51 you know, making this long story short. 05:53 When I found Christ for myself 05:56 that then gave me a different taste for, for music, 06:00 than I-- than I once had. 06:01 All right, well, Nestor, we're gonna try to breakdown 06:04 the issue of music a little bit and one of the reasons why 06:07 it's an issue is because there are some people 06:08 who think that music needs to be a certain way 06:11 and there are other people who think it doesn't. 06:13 And a lot of people think music is neutral, 06:16 like it's not good and it's not bad it just is. 06:19 And can you talk a little bit about that, 06:21 a little bit about the biblical concept 06:23 of good quality music versus bad music. 06:26 Well, first of all maybe we should answer the question, 06:28 is music neutral? That's a very good question. 06:30 And in fact I have been spending some time 06:32 brooding over this issue. 06:33 I think as we address this issue 06:35 specifically your question, is music neutral? 06:38 We have to--we have to unpack at least two things. 06:41 First we have to realize that 06:43 music is just another form of communication. 06:46 Okay, it's one form of communication. 06:48 Right. What's another? 06:50 What's one form of communication that we're using right now? 06:53 Talking. Yeah. We're using speech. 06:54 Okay, that's a form of communication. 06:56 Another one is what we have right here 06:58 which we read everyday. 07:00 Right. Print, right. 07:01 Writing, that's another form of communication. 07:03 You can even throw-in sign language there. 07:05 People who can't-- who are deaf and can't speak 07:07 that's a form of communication. 07:08 Music is a form of communication one 07:11 and the second thing that we have to understand two 07:13 is that music is communicated by different mediums. 07:18 For example, the form of communication 07:22 called music can be communicated through voice. 07:26 Okay, so I can sing a note, 07:28 you know, I can use an instrument 07:30 I play guitar and piano. 07:31 I can play use an instrument to communicate that music 07:33 through that medium, okay? 07:36 So there is nothing inherently evil 07:39 necessarily of the form of music and any of the mediums. 07:45 Okay, for example, you know, 07:48 we are saying that music is not wrong, 07:50 neither is a certain instrument wrong. 07:52 I don't think a guitar is inherently evil, 07:55 neither is a piano inherently evil 07:56 or a drum inherently evil in itself. 07:59 But to answer your question 08:00 and I think it's a very good one, 08:02 is music neutral? 08:03 We have to take three things into consideration though, okay? 08:07 I have a nice acronym for you, okay? 08:09 PE and M, okay. 08:12 The first is P, we have to consider-- 08:14 we have to consider the use of music, okay, 08:16 which is the purpose of music. 08:18 Now we want to go to scripture. 08:19 Let's go to this written form of communication 08:21 and see one way that music was used for a good purpose. 08:27 That's our first, our first, 08:29 our first point, purpose. Okay. 08:31 Second Chronicles, Chapter seven, verse six, okay. 08:33 The background is that Solomon is-- 08:36 he builds the temple for the Lord 08:38 and he is dedicating the temple. 08:40 And we can see what purpose 08:42 Solomon uses music, look at this. 08:44 The scripture says in 2 Chronicles Chapter 7, verse 6. 08:48 "And the priests attended to their services, 08:50 the Levites also with instruments 08:52 of the music of the Lord, 08:54 which King David had made to praise the Lord, 08:57 saying, 'For His mercy endures forever,' 09:00 whenever David offered praise by their ministry." 09:02 Look at this "The priests sounded trumpets opposite them 09:06 while all Israel stood." Wow. 09:08 Do we see a good purpose for music in here? 09:11 Yeah. Absolutely. 09:12 Now let's think about 2012, 09:15 are there good purposes for music today? 09:18 I think so. 09:20 There are times where we want to be 09:23 spiritually uplifted so what we do? 09:24 We stick a CD in our car we play an MP3 09:28 on our iPod or iPhone and we listen to music, 09:31 to music that will for the purpose 09:33 of uplifting our hearts toward God, right? 09:35 Now there is also bad, 09:37 there is also--there are also bad ways of using music, 09:40 bad purposes for music. 09:42 Look at what the Bible says in Daniel, Chapter 3, okay? 09:45 Now in Daniel 3 we know the story 09:49 of Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego. Right. 09:52 And we learn in Daniel Chapter 3 that King Nebuchadnezzar, 09:57 he makes this very large golden statue 10:02 or image if you could say. 10:04 And what he wanted to do was invite the entire town 10:08 to come and to bow down to this image. 10:11 Now look what the scripture says 10:12 specifically of how music was used in this way. 10:15 The Bible says in Daniel, Chapter 3 verses 4 through 6. 10:18 "Then a herald cried aloud, To you it is commanded, 10:22 O people, nations, and languages, 10:24 that at the time you hear the sound of the horn, 10:28 flute, harp, lyre, and psaltery, 10:31 in symphony with all kinds of music, 10:34 you shall fall down and worship the gold image 10:36 that Nebuchadnezzar has set up 10:38 and whoever does not fall down and worship," 10:40 what will happen "they shall be cast immediately 10:43 into the midst of a burning fiery furnace." 10:48 So we can see here that music was used 10:50 for the purpose of obeisance. Right. 10:53 It was against their, it was against their freewill. 10:56 Praise the Lord, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego 10:59 they stood faithful to the Lord. 11:01 So we can see that, we can see that music 11:03 can be used either for good or bad purpose. 11:05 Are we clear on that? Yeah, yeah, definitely. 11:07 How about our second acronym? Okay, our second letter E. 11:11 Music has certain effects on us. 11:13 Right. Okay. 11:15 Now you know this story. 11:16 Let's go to 1 Samuel, Chapter 16 verse 23, okay? 11:21 This has to be the Saul story. 11:22 This is the Saul story, you are right, okay. Yeah. 11:24 First Samuel Chapter 16, verse 23. 11:30 We see the effect of music in a good way. 11:36 The Bible says in verse 23 and so it was 11:39 "whenever the spirit from God was upon Saul, 11:41 that David would take a harp and play it with his hand, 11:45 then Saul would become refreshed and well, 11:48 and the distressing spirit would depart from him." 11:52 Isn't that interesting? 11:53 When he added a stressing spirit upon him 11:56 David would come and play the harp. 11:58 It's to why we don't have the music notes. I wish we did. 12:01 To know exactly what David was playing? 12:02 I wish we did. 12:03 Now I do want to pick on my friend Dan here, 12:06 but we were roommates a few months ago 12:08 and sometimes he would play he would play guitar 12:11 and it had a soothing effect on me. 12:13 Now I wouldn't say to this point, 12:14 to the point where Saul was, 12:16 but I would-- you can see that 12:18 there was a good effect on Saul. 12:20 You are giving me too much credit. Yeah. 12:22 But we also see a bad effect in scripture. 12:25 Okay, let's go to Exodus, Chapter 32. 12:28 Now we all know this story. It's a very unfortunate one. 12:33 While Moses was on the Mount 12:37 receiving the Commandments from God 12:39 something was going on with the people 12:41 that he led out of Egypt. 12:44 And we read something, we know from a previous 12:48 from early on in the passage that they began to celebrate, 12:54 dance, take all of their jewelry off 12:57 and make an image. 12:59 And the Bible says in starting with verse 17 13:01 of Exodus Chapter 32, verse 17, 13:04 "and when Joshua heard the noise of the people 13:06 as they shouted, he said to Moses, 13:08 There is a noise of war in the camp." 13:11 But he said, "It is not the noise of the shout 13:14 of victory nor the noise of the cry of defeat, 13:17 but the sound of singing I hear." 13:20 Okay, so there was music. 13:22 It wasn't only shouting but there was singing going on. 13:24 And the rest of the scripture says verse 19, 13:27 so it was "as soon as he came near the camp, 13:30 that he saw the calf and the dancing, 13:32 so Moses' anger became hot, 13:34 and he cast the tablets out of his hands 13:36 and broke them at the foot of the mountain." 13:38 Now we see the effect that it had on Moses. 13:41 He was very upset because he was thinking 13:43 how could this happen but what I want to focus 13:45 on is the effect that music had on the people 13:48 that were dancing and worshiping. 13:49 And we know that in this-- 13:52 there's another verse in this passage 13:54 that speaks about how the Israelites rose up to play. 13:58 When you look at the actual word the phrase there 14:01 it's not speaking about playing games 14:04 and it's not a regular-- regular setting. 14:06 It's not monopoly-- 14:08 It's not a regular Saturday night 14:09 get-together, okay? Sure. 14:11 There was some sexual activity going on in this passage. 14:15 Watch out. And it's very clear. 14:17 So not only number one, do we see that music 14:19 has a purpose we can also see that 14:22 in this instance that music had an effect in a bad way. 14:25 You know, I just read an article 14:27 and I think this has been around for quite some time. 14:30 There was a student who did an experiment on mice. 14:34 With one group of mice this individual played 14:40 had the mice listen to classical music 14:43 for about 24 hours-- for 24 hours. 14:46 And then for another group of mice he had this, 14:49 he had this group of mice listen to hard rock, 14:53 heavy metal music for 24 hours. 14:56 What he wanted to do was to see what kind of music, 15:00 what kind of influence or what kind of effect 15:02 would music have on these mice as they went through a maze. 15:07 Guess what happened when he put them inside that maze. 15:10 The good mice were trying to find their way 15:14 through the maze, the one that listened to classical music. 15:16 But this individual had to stop the experiment 15:20 because the mice that were-- 15:22 that listened to heavy metal music for 24 hours 15:26 they started killing the other mice. 15:28 Wow. Wow. 15:30 Music doesn't only-- not only carries a purpose, 15:34 but it also has an effect. 15:38 And it doesn't really affect humans apparently 15:40 it actually affects the animal kingdom. 15:43 And actually it's interesting because when we look at, 15:46 you know, like documentaries when we look at epics 15:48 or when you look at even some films 15:50 usually in order to magnify a particular scene 15:55 you have the appropriate music that goes with it. 15:57 For example when you have the conquering hero 16:01 that liberates the nation from whatever the oppressed people, 16:05 you have kind of this, you know, 16:07 very majestic type of crescendoing type of music. 16:12 Because it's appropriate to the scene 16:14 and it's supposed to develop a sensation to you. 16:18 And of course in a romantic type of a setting you have-- 16:21 Sure they are documentaries you're watching? 16:25 Documentaries as well, you know, 16:26 documentaries, movies, 16:27 even commercials you find that. 16:28 You know, even science is backing that up 16:31 that sound carries an emotion with it. Right. 16:34 You know, the study of syntax and those things, 16:36 so it definitely has an effect. 16:38 Now this is, so the first one just so that our viewers know 16:41 because just to make sure that I remember, 16:45 the P is purpose, the E is effects, 16:49 and you gonna take us to the-- 16:51 M. The M. 16:53 M. So this spells PEM. 16:54 It spells PEM. Is PEM a word? 16:56 It's not, maybe, maybe in my dictionary it is just PEM. 16:59 Okay, that's fine, PEM. So the M, what is the M? 17:02 The M is the message, the message, okay. 17:05 It's the message behind the medium. 17:08 Now people, some people will say that 17:12 music is neutral and in fact I wanted to take that position 17:14 when I was thinking through this. 17:16 Music is neutral, doesn't have an effect 17:18 but when you really, when you think about music, 17:20 when you think about the medium there is always a message, 17:24 there is always some type of worldview, 17:27 there is always some type of culture, 17:28 there is always some type of belief system 17:30 beliefe system attached to that medium. 17:32 For example, I'm not using speech out of the vacuum. 17:36 I'm using speech right now 17:37 for the purpose of talking to you 17:40 and the audience about the issue of music. 17:42 There was--there's always a purpose behind the medium. 17:46 I am indebted to Christian Apologetics, 17:48 his name is Ravi Zacharias. 17:49 In fact I had an opportunity to see him a few days ago. 17:53 And he said that there are three levels of philosophy. 17:55 He said that there is a hard educated level, 17:56 higher level, academic philosophy. 17:58 There is the arts, music, media, 18:03 and then you have the third level 18:04 which is kitchen-- kitchen talk, 18:06 you know, table talk like what we're doing right here. 18:08 And when he says is that the arts basically reflects-- 18:11 it reflects a certain philosophy or worldview behind it. 18:16 And I completely agree with that. 18:17 I think that's a very, that's a very profound statement 18:20 and I think it's very accurate of a society today. 18:23 In other words certain artist that are conveying 18:27 a particular type of music, 18:29 there is a message behind it-- Exactly. 18:32 That attitude, there's values, 18:33 there is a philosophy that maybe-- Exactly. 18:35 Maybe could be hid-in at times 18:37 but nonetheless is there is what you are saying. 18:39 It's always there. Okay. 18:40 It is always there. So let use the instance of, 18:42 let use the instance of a rap music for example. 18:46 Specifically rap music, violent rap music-- 18:49 Like the gangster rap type-- 18:50 The gangster rap or the one's that promote sexuality. 18:54 Sure. There's a message behind that. 18:58 You think of rock music, 19:01 there's a certain message behind that. 19:03 In fact if you look at-- 19:04 I did some study on the history of rock and roll 19:07 seeing that the very, the very essence of it 19:11 is a rebellion against the foreman, 19:13 rebellion against law, against convention against values. 19:18 So it's a rebellion against convention like you said 19:21 I think it's a very good word, Dan. 19:22 So we see here that, that there is a message behind the medium. 19:26 Now what about classical music, okay. 19:29 That one is, that one is debatable I understand, 19:32 but at the same time I was just talking 19:34 with a friend during a certain point in time 19:36 classical music was used by a certain group of people 19:40 mostly the Boricua or the elite part of society 19:43 where as the common folk people 19:45 wouldn't necessarily listen to that type of music. 19:47 So may be at a certain point what was being communicated 19:50 during that time was--was elitism. 19:55 One--may be I am stretching it there 19:56 but there may have been a message behind that. 19:59 But instrumental music can still communicate a message 20:04 you just talked about romance films, 20:06 let's just think of a horror film, 20:07 they play, you know, they play-- 20:08 Gloomy, doomy type-- There's always a message, 20:11 some type of message that's being portrayed 20:14 trying to scare the people for example. 20:17 But let's look at the positive side of the message 20:19 behind the music, behind the medium. 20:21 Let's look at Christian music. 20:23 Let's look at music that we listen to, 20:26 music that has a theological message behind it. 20:29 I don't know about you but music that really uplifts my heart, 20:33 are songs that--that have a strong message behind it. 20:37 For example this song, "It Is Well With My Soul." 20:40 "When peace like a river, attendeth my way, 20:42 when sorrows like sea billows roll." 20:44 And then the second verse, 20:45 "My sin, oh, the joy of this glorious thought, 20:47 my sin, not in part but the whole." 20:49 They're speaking about the struggle, 20:51 this intensity inside the human heart 20:53 and finding Solace in God. 20:55 So that's what's wonderful and the good side 20:58 it's just as wonderful about music. 21:00 It ties positive and good meaning behind the music. 21:03 So then obviously there is good messages. 21:07 There is music with good messages 21:09 and there's music with bad messages. 21:10 So the idea then is not necessarily 21:12 to throw out music entirely 21:14 because music was created by God. 21:17 Music was intended originally for the purpose. 21:20 So, Nestor, let's get practical, 21:21 what do we tell young adults who may be watching this program 21:25 gonna say okay, well, how do I know what the message is, 21:31 what--what the purpose of that particle genre of music? 21:34 I guess some may be a little bit more obvious with the yelling 21:39 and with the blatant vulgarity in the content of the lyrics, 21:43 but is there any principles may be that you discovered 21:45 in your experience that may be helpful for young person 21:47 trying to make intelligent decisions. 21:49 That's a very good question. 21:51 I think that if we just dwell--you know, 21:53 just dwell on the theology and the ideas behind it 21:55 and if you don't get practical then this really wasn't, 21:58 this really wasn't a relevant program. 22:01 I think that one thing that we can, 22:03 one principle that I can think of is having the right filter. 22:07 Now what is that filter? So glad you asked that question. 22:09 Philippians, Chapter 4 verse 8, okay. 22:12 Philippians, Chapter 4 verse 8. 22:16 This is a text that I've shared, you know, 22:17 I've let out in teen camp meetings. 22:20 I've shared this with teens when young people ask me, 22:23 you know what--then what music is good to listen to. 22:25 Well, the scripture says here in Philippians, Chapter 4 verse 8, 22:27 "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, 22:30 whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, 22:32 whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, 22:34 whatever things are of good report, 22:36 if there be any virtue, 22:37 and if there be any praise worthy, 22:39 meditate on these things." 22:41 So I allow this to be my filter to determine 22:46 what I should listen to. 22:49 You know, we can talk about music, 22:52 we can talk about bad music, but, you know, 22:54 there's a lot good music out there. 22:56 There are a lot of songs out there 22:57 that really uplift the soul. 23:01 I know that, you know, there is a Christian artist 23:04 by the name of Fernando Ortega that I listened to sometimes. 23:07 And he has music that-that's straight from scripture 23:10 and that uplifts the soul. 23:12 Songs, a lot of hymns that I've already mentioned, 23:14 songs that lift the heart, you know, 23:16 I am sure that there are songs that you know 23:20 fit this category of being true, noble, honest, 23:23 pure, of good report, things that have virtue. 23:26 I am sure that there's music in your own library 23:27 that fits this category. 23:29 So Philippians 4 is a good guide for us 23:31 to kind of distinguish between good music and bad music-- 23:34 And it'll definitely give us an opportunity 23:36 to make intelligent decisions with the choice of music. 23:39 Now in may be a minute, Nestor, 23:42 what--why is there may be challenges 23:46 with music in the church? 23:49 I know that's kind of torture in one minute. One minute. 23:52 Can you maybe give us, you know, why, why, 23:54 what is the fundamental problem 23:55 that there's problems in the church. 23:56 We talked about secular music and maybe the messages, 23:59 but what about Christian music? 24:00 Why is there controversy within this genre? 24:04 Sure. I think that, I think that, in one minute, 24:08 I can't believe you're only giving me one minute. 24:10 I think that I can think about these two things of why 24:12 there's a problem in the church over this issue 24:15 and it comes with those levels. 24:16 I think first of all I think that a lot of individuals 24:21 sing music or they don't criticize and reason 24:25 or critique the music that they listen to. 24:28 So there may be music that might have a connotation 24:30 with a certain genre maybe there is rock or hip hop 24:33 or what not, things that might remind individuals 24:36 of the secular world. 24:38 The issue is that I think that some people 24:40 don't critically think about their music. 24:42 It's important to think about the medium 24:44 and the messages behind it. Right. 24:46 And I think, I think most importantly 24:51 when I think the issue stems from the fact that 24:54 if we as individuals really are honest 24:56 and we come to the word and we say Lord, okay, 24:59 I see Philippians 4:8. 25:01 How can you, how can I allow you Lord to determine 25:05 the kind of music that we should listen to? 25:07 I think that if we are humble enough as individuals 25:10 as a church and say and say how can I truly praise God. 25:15 How can I truly praise Him 25:18 and how can I even use this music at church? 25:21 How can I determine-- how can I determine the base 25:23 on what scripture says. 25:24 I think that if we try to be theological 25:26 and at the same time if we're critical 25:27 about the music that we listen to I think 25:29 that some of the problem will subside. 25:31 Yeah, I like that because it's a good way of determining, 25:34 you know, what an individual should listen to 25:36 but also for organizations like the church 25:38 and selecting music for the church service. 25:41 You know, it's a good filter, you know, 25:44 does this fit in the Philippians 4:8 category. 25:47 And I think a lot of times we say 25:49 if it's not a hymn its not, you know, Philippians 4:8, 25:52 which isn't true from what you are saying. 25:54 We have to filter it and be very critical, 25:57 you know, about the music that we allow to come 26:00 into our worship service. Right. Exactly. 26:02 Now Nestor in 30 seconds, I gave you a minute, 26:05 now I'm gonna give you 30 seconds. Okay. 26:08 What counsel would you give a young person 26:10 may be that's kind of like you at an early age, 26:13 may be identify it or maybe he's just recently 26:15 identifying that God has given them a gift of music 26:17 and they want to use it for the Lord? 26:20 You know, what counsel would you give them 26:22 to develop this gift in about 30 seconds? 26:25 What do you think? Sure. 26:27 I think that if God has given you a gift for music 26:31 if He has given you a gift in voice or gift 26:33 within instruments definitely use it for the Lord. 26:37 I can speak from my own experience the gift 26:40 was confirmed at a very early age for me 26:42 and through a series of events I was--by God's grace 26:45 I was able to make my first CD. 26:48 Some original compositions and some--one hymn as well. 26:52 Which I've heard and I love. Praise God. Praise God. 26:56 But I think that if the Lord is pressed upon your heart, 26:59 he's giving you a skill definitely use it for His glory. 27:03 Get involved in your church, speak with your pastor 27:07 and I want--I also want to say speak to the pastor 27:10 about the values of--of the values of music in your church. 27:13 Ask them, you know, how can I use my music 27:15 at the same time being biblically sound 27:17 and using my music in a good way 27:19 that won't necessarily harm the people. 27:22 That's one way and whenever the opportunity comes, 27:25 you know, sing, enjoy, enjoy singing with friends, 27:30 if you have a group, you know, 27:33 former group sing songs together just expose yourself and-- 27:36 Expose yourself, get out there, and get involved. 27:38 Nestor, I wish we had more time. 27:39 Wow, this has been very insightful 27:41 and I pray that the Lord blesses you in your 27:43 music ministry and I know that He has blessed others 27:46 and He will continue to bless those 27:48 that are yet to listen to your music. 27:50 For those that have watched this program, 27:52 I want to encourage you that there is wholesome music 27:55 out there that is tasteful, that is edifying, 27:57 and that will enrich your experience with God. 27:59 God bless you till next time. |
Revised 2014-12-17