Are DRUMS suitable to worship God?

(article by aymon de albatrus with some additional notes by Nate Marino)

"Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and
sing praise." - Psalms 98-4

The act of worshipping God is defined as:

The act of paying divine honours to the Supreme Being; religious reverence and
homage; adoration, or acts of reverence, with supreme respect and veneration; to
perform religious exercises in honour of; to adore; to venerate God.
To worship is to formally praise, honour, and declare one's devotion to the supreme God;
the Creator, Governor and Sustainer of all that has been created. Typical acts of worship
include: singing hymns or psalms, preaching, praying, etc.
Here we are concentrating in the worship aspect of music and singing and in particular to
check out if Drums are fit instruments as an aid to producing a pleasant sound to the
Lord.
The musical instruments that are approved by the Bible to produce joyful noise to the
Lord are clearly stated in:
"1 ¶ Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his
power. 2 Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness. 3
Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp. 4
Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and
organs. 5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding
cymbals. 6 Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD." -
Psalms 150:1-6
We have here listed seven types of musical instruments:
Trumpet - Shofar:
"Praise him with the sound of the trumpet,.... Which was used in calling the assembly
together, for worship and on other occasions; and at the feast of blowing of trumpets, and
in the year of jubilee, Numbers 10:1; and by the priests in temple service, 1 Chronicles
16:6; and was typical of the Gospel, which gives a certain and joyful sound, and is the
cause and means of praising God" - John Gill

While leading the Israelites in their Exodus from Egypt, Moses ordered his metal smiths
to fashion two long silver trumpets that could perform a variety of uses; signalling,
summoning assemblies, sounding the alarm, and initiating celebrations:
"[2] Make thee two trumpets of silver; of a whole piece shalt thou make them: that thou
mayest use them for the calling of the assembly, and for the journeying of the camps.
[3] And when they shall blow with them, all the assembly shall assemble themselves to
thee at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
[4] And if they blow but with one trumpet, then the princes, which are heads of the
thousands of Israel, shall gather themselves unto thee.
[5] When ye blow an alarm, then the camps that lie on the east parts shall go forward.
[6] When ye blow an alarm the second time, then the camps that lie on the south side
shall take their journey: they shall blow an alarm for their journeys.
[7] But when the congregation is to be gathered together, ye shall blow, but ye shall not
sound an alarm.
[8] And the sons of Aaron, the priests, shall blow with the trumpets; and they shall be to
you for an ordinance for ever throughout your generations.
[9] And if ye go to war in your land against the enemy that oppresseth you, then ye shall
blow an alarm with the trumpets; and ye shall be remembered before the LORD your
God, and ye shall be saved from your enemies.
[10] Also in the day of your gladness, and in your solemn days, and in the beginnings of
your months, ye shall blow with the trumpets over your burnt offerings, and over the
sacrifices of your peace offerings; that they may be to you for a memorial before your
God: I am the LORD your God." - Numbers 10:2-10

Psaltery and harp

Psaltery
"[2] Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of
ten strings." - Psalms 33:2
Most scholars say this was a stringed instrument, but that may not have been the case
according to John Gill:
"to which psalms were sung;
the name of this instrument is in the Hebrew language "nebel": the account which
Josephus gives of this, and of the former, is,
"the harp is extended with ten strings, and is plucked with a quill;
the "nabla"(nebel), or psaltery, has twelve sounds, and is played upon with the fingers;'
but it seems from Josephus that it was not a stringed instrument, but had holes, and those
twelve; and besides it is distinguished from the instrument of ten strings, Psalm 92:3; it
was in the form of a bottle, from whence it had its name. " - Gill
"The viol was an instrument of ten strings, it was played upon with a bow; the psaltery
had twelve musical notes, and was played upon by the fingers;" - Josephus, Flavius - The
Works of Josephus
The Hebrew word "nebel" means: a leather bottle, wine bottle or skin - this could have
been a type of bagpipe or other type of pipe
Harp
The harp - kinnôr This is a well-known stringed instrument, employed commonly in
sacred music. It is often mentioned as having been used to express the pious feelings of
David; Psalm 32:2; Psalm 43:4; Psalm 49:5.
It is early mentioned as having been invented by Jubal;
"[19] And Lamech took unto him two wives: the name of the one was Adah, and the
name of the other Zillah.
[20] And Adah bare Jabal: he was the father of such as dwell in tents, and of such as have
cattle.
[21] And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp
and organ." - Genesis 4:19-21
It is supposed usually to have had ten strings (Josephus, “Ant.” B. x. ch. xii. Section 3).
In the first age it was consecrated to joy and exultation. Hence, it is referred to as the
instrument employed by David to drive away the melancholy of Saul(the evil spirit) 1
Samuel 16:16-22, and is the instrument usually employed to celebrate the praises of God;
Psalm 33:1-2; Psalm 43:4; Psalm 49:5; Psalm 71:22-23.
The harp was generally used on occasions of joy. Only in one place, in Isaiah Isaiah
16:11, is it referred to as having been employed in times of mourning.
We can only say that it was an instrument made of sounding wood, and furnished with
strings. Josephus says that it was furnished with ten strings, and was played with the
plectrum (“Ant.” B. viii. ch. x.)
Suidas, in his explanation of it, makes express mention of strings or sinews (p. 318);
and Pollux speaks of goats‘ claws as being used for the plectrum.
David made it out of the berôsh or fir, and Solomon out of the almug.
Pfeiffer supposes, that the strings were drawn over the belly of a hollow piece of wood,
and that it had some resemblance to our violin. But it is more probable that the common
representation of the harp as nearly in the form of a triangle, with one side or the front
part missing, is the correct one.
The elders in heaven have harps:
"[8] And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell
down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours,
which are the prayers of saints." - Revelation 5:8

Timbrel
"[3] Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the
timbrel and harp." - Psalms 149:3

A hand held mini-drum that resembled a tambourine. The tambourine consists of a wood
or metal shell ranging from two to three inches in depth and seven to twelve inches in
diameter. Tambourines usually have one or two rows of jingles, and sometimes small
bells, mounted in pairs in the shell. The primary sound from the instrument comes from
the jingles, not the head, although the technique of drumming on the head can be used to
great effect. Moses' sister Miriam played one to celebrate the crossing of the Red Sea
(Exodus 15:20),
"[20] And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all
the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.
[21] And Miriam answered them, Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously;
the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea." - Exodus 15:20,21
It was a percussion instrument but was carried by women so it was small in size, nothing
like the huge modern band drums and its sound would have been not ear deafening.
Tabrets
The difference between tabrets and timbrels is that timbrels are associated with praising
God, while tabrets are associated to praising man, except for when tabrets were a part of
Lucifer before his fall.
"[27] Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and didst not tell
me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with
harp?" - Genesis 31:27
"[6] And it came to pass as they came, when David was returned from the slaughter of the
Philistine, that the women came out of all cities of Israel, singing and dancing, to meet
king Saul, with tabrets, with joy, and with instruments of musick." - I Samuel 18:6

Stringed Instruments
"[19] The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he
will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed
instruments." - Habbakkuk 3:19
"An harp of ten strings, as the Targum.
(The targumim (singular: "targum") were spoken paraphrases, explanations and
expansions of the Jewish scriptures (also called the Tanakh) that a Rabbi would give in
the common language of the listeners, which was then often Aramaic.)
The harp invented by Terpander had only seven strings;
(Terpander of Antissa in Lesbos, was a Greek poet and citharede who lived about the
first half of the 7th century BC. He was the father of Greek music) citharede - refers to a
classical Greek professional performer (singer) of the cithara (or sometimes lyre), as one
who used the cithara to accompany their singing.
according to Pliny; Simonides added the eighth,
(Simonides of Ceos (556 – 468 BC) was a Greek lyric poet, born at Ioulis on Ceos)
and Timotheus the ninth;
(Timotheus of Miletus (446 – 357 BC) was a Greek musician and dithyrambic poet, an
exponent of the "new music." He added one or more strings to the lyre, whereby he
incurred the displeasure of the Spartans and Athenians)
but this of David was of ten strings: " - Gill
Psalm 33:2 - instrument of ten strings
Lyre
The lyre is a string instrument known for its use in Greek classical antiquity and later
periods. The lyre is similar in appearance to a small harp but with distinct differences.
The lyre of classical antiquity was ordinarily played by being strummed with a plectrum
(pick), like a guitar or a zither, rather than being plucked with the fingers as with a harp.
The fingers of the free hand silenced the unwanted strings in the chord.
However, later lyres were played with a bow, including in Europe and parts of the
Middle East.
Cithara
The cithara or kithara was an ancient Greek musical instrument in the lyre or lyra
family. In modern Greek the word kithara has come to mean "guitar" (a word whose
origins are found in kithara).
The kithara was a professional version of the two-stringed lyre. As opposed to the simpler
lyre, which was a folk-instrument, the kithara was primarily used by professional
musicians, called kitharodes. The kithara's origins are likely Asiatic.
The barbiton was a bass version of the kithara popular in the eastern Aegean and ancient
Asia Minor.

The kinnor is conspicuous among the instruments, not only because it was one of the first
two instruments that Jubal contrived, but also because the kinnor was the instrument of
King David.
The kinnor, is exclusively associated with joyful occasions.

Organ - Pipe
Pipe
conveys the idea of a flute bored through, and furnished with holes

A simple shepherd's instrument, probably single-reed and apparently widely used.

"The people piped with pipes" when King Solomon was anointed by Zadok the Priest (1
Kings 1:40).
"[39] And Zadok the priest took an horn of oil out of the tabernacle, and anointed
Solomon. And they blew the trumpet; and all the people said, God save king Solomon.
[40] And all the people came up after him, and the people piped with pipes, and rejoiced
with great joy, so that the earth rent with the sound of them." - I Kings 1:39,40
Lucifer had pipes built into his body:
"...Thus saith the Lord GOD; Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom, and perfect in
beauty.
[13] Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God; every precious stone was thy covering,
the sardius, topaz, and the diamond, the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper, the sapphire, the
emerald, and the carbuncle, and gold: the workmanship of thy tabrets and of thy pipes
was prepared in thee in the day that thou wast created.
[14] Thou art the anointed cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: thou wast upon
the holy mountain of God; thou hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of
fire.
[15] Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was
found in thee." - Ezekiel 28:12-15
Other versions take the musical instruments out of Lucifer:
"You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone adorned you: carnelian,
chrysolite and emerald, topaz, onyx and jasper, lapis lazuli, turquoise and beryl.Your
settings and mountings were made of gold; on the day you were created they were
prepared." - NIV
"You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, sardius,
topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire,[a] emerald, and carbuncle;and
crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings. On the day that you were
created they were prepared." - ESV
"You were in Eden, the garden of God. Your clothing was adorned with every precious
stone[a]— red carnelian, pale-green peridot, white moonstone, blue-green beryl, onyx,
green jasper, blue lapis lazuli, turquoise, and emerald—all beautifully crafted for you and
set in the finest gold. They were given to you on the day you were created." - NLT
"“You had everything going for you. You were in Eden, God’s garden. You were dressed
in splendor, your robe studded with jewels: Carnelian, peridot, and moonstone, beryl,
onyx, and jasper, Sapphire, turquoise, and emerald, all in settings of engraved gold. A
robe was prepared for you the same day you were created." - The Message

Pipes are associated with praising man or with people who are judged by God.
The flute is only mentioned in association with the worship of Nebuchadnezzar's image.
After the fall of Lucifer, we can see that God does not use the tabrets and pipes for His
praise.
Makes sense why Pan is always playing his pipes and this is associated with the Pied
Piper. Led Zeppelin talked about the Piper calling you to join him.

Organ
"[4] Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and
organs." - Psalms 150:4
which have their name from the loveliness of their sound; these are of ancient original
and use, but were not of the same kind with those now in use, which are of much later
invention.
The word is derived from a verb meaning to breathe, to blow; and would be applicable to
any wind-instrument. It here represents the whole class of wind-instruments.
The organ was the other instrument mentioned in Genesis 4:21.
"And his brother's name was Jubal: he was the father of all such as handle the harp and
organ." - Genesis 4:21

Cymbal.
"[8] And David and all Israel played before God with all their might, and with singing,
and with harps, and with psalteries, and with timbrels, and with cymbals, and with
trumpets." - I Chronicles 13:8

Cymbals are thin metal plates that are usually played in pairs and produce sound when
struck together. When they are grated one against the other, cymbals produce a pleasing
metallic rumble. The technique used when a single cymbal is called for is produced by
striking it with a drumstick, or "rolling" with a soft mallet, usually felt-tipped. The only
permanent percussive instrument in the temple orchestra was the cymbal. In the Holy
Scriptures, the use of cymbals is solely confined to religious ceremonies.
"[5] Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals." -
Psalms 150:5
The "loud cymbals" were of a larger diameter than the "high (pitch) sounding," and were
two-handed cymbals.
The high sounding cymbals were much smaller and played by one hand, the cymbals
being attached to the thumb and the middle finger respectively.

A summary of singing and use of musical instruments in Psalms is tabulated below:

Sing Timbrel/ Trumpet/

Harp/s Psaltery Cymbal Drums
Only s s

Psa Psa
Psa 7:17 Psa 33:2 Psa 33:2 Psa 47:5 Zilch
68:25 150:5

Psa 9:2 Psa 43:4 Psa 57:8 Psa 81:2 Psa 81:3
 Psa
Psa 9:11 Psa 49:4 Psa 98:6 Psa 98:6
68:25

Psa Psa Psa

Psa 13:6 Psa 57:8
71:22 149:3 150:3

Psa Psa Psa Psa

18:49 71:22 78:70 150:4

Psa
Psa 81:2 Psa 81:2
21:13

Psa 27:6 Psa 92:3 Psa 87:7

Psa
Psa 30:4 Psa 98:5
89:19

Psa Psa
Psa 92:3
30:12 108:2

Psa Psa Psa

51:14 137:2 108:2

Psa Psa Psa

59:16 147:7 144:9

Psa Psa Psa

59:17 149:3 150:3

Psa
Psa 61:8
150:3

Psa
65:13

Psa 66:2

Psa 66:4

Psa 67:4

Psa 68:4

Psa
68:32

Psa 75:9

Psa 92:1
 Psa 95:1

Psa 96:1

Psa
101:1

Psa
104:12

Psa
104:33

Psa
105:2

Psa
106:12

Psa
135:3

Psa
138:1

Psa
138:5

Psa
145:7

Psa
146:2

Reference to singing only is far more present than also with instruments. There is no
reference to actual drums except timbrels and tabrets which are not the same as full size
drums. Among the groups of instruments, the most primitive is undoubtedly the
percussion instruments.
It is interesting to note that the first two instruments that the Bible mentions are not
percussion instruments, but harp and organ. (Gen 4:21) Perhaps the reason that underlies
this situation is the ambiguous nature of percussive instruments. While the stringed
instruments and the wind instruments are meant specifically for making music,
percussive instruments often blur the line between religious function, music and dance.
To note that the more beautiful music ever written by man makes no use of drums, that is
classical music. Modern music, of far inferior quality, makes extensive use of drums,
perhaps to confuse the issue and to cover up bad playing and poor melody.
Music has to be in tune with the harmony of God’s creation, modern music is not, as
evidenced by the many tests that have proven that even plants and cows when subjected
to classical music they grow towards the speaker or produce more milk, whilst when
subjected to rock music the plants die and the cows’ milk dries up. Many farms play
classical music in their stalls all day long. Recently they have found that playing classical
music to the vines produces better grapes and also keeps vermin away.

DRUM - TOPHET

The drum is a percussion instrument, known in various forms and played throughout the
world and throughout history. Essentially a drum is a frame over which one or more
membranes or skins are stretched. The frame is usually cylindrical or conical, but it
comes in many other shapes. It was known since the beginning of time, nevertheless it is
not found in the Bible as an instrument in the worship of God.
However, we see plenty of it in the satanic worship with the name of Tophet, the same as
Topheth;
"[31] And they have built the high places of Tophet, which is in the valley of the son of Hinnom,
to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire; which I commanded them not, neither came
it into my heart." - Jeremiah 7:31
JOSIAH DESTROYED THE PLACES OF CHILD SACRIFICE

"[10] And he defiled Topheth, which is in the valley of the children of Hinnom, that no man
might make his son or his daughter to pass through the fire to Molech." - II Kings 23:10

WHY IS THAT PLACE CALLED TOPHETH?

TOPH is the Hebrew word for "drum"

"And he defiled Topheth,.... A place so called, as is generally thought, from the beating of drums
in it, that the shrieks of the infants sacrificed here to Molech might not be heard by their
parents, and they repent of delivering them to him, and take them away. So the Indians in India
now, at the burning of wives with their deceased husbands, attend them with drums and
trumpets; and at such time as the fire is put to the wood, the drums and trumpets make a
terrible noise for fear their cries should be heard; See Gill on Isaiah 30:33, Jeremiah 7:31 this he
defiled by casting any sort of filth or unclean thing into it, in contempt of the idolatry there
committed, and to alienate the minds of men from it: " - John Gill

" There is some agreement between this account of Jarchi, and that which Diodorus SiculusF26
gives of Saturn, to whom children were sacrificed by the Carthaginians; who had, he says, a
brasen image of Saturn, which stretched out his hands, inclining to the earth; so that a child put
upon them rolled down, and fell into a chasm full of fire: " - John Gill

Moloch was the god of the Ammonites, portrayed as a bronze statue with a calf's head
adorned with a royal crown and seated on a throne. His arms were extended to receive the
child victims sacrificed to him. Moloch was a frightening and terrible demon covered
with mothers' tears and children's blood. When a child was sacrificed to Moloch, a fire
was lit inside the statue. The priests would then beat loudly on drums & other objects so
that the cries of the roasted baby would not be heard. Such was the use of the Drums.
The large frame drums were never used in the worship of God, the nearest thing
resembling a drum was the Timbrel or Tabret similar to a tambourine but these were hand
held making light sounds, not deep and loud sounds.

(The following section is taken from an article about rock music by Terry Watkins from
the website av1611.org)

DRUMMING UP DEMONS

CHRISTIAN MUSIC SHOULD FEED THE SPIRIT — NOT THE FLESH

The Christian life is a spiritual life.

A Christian is born-again of the Spirit.

That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. John 3:6-7

A Christian is to walk in the Spirit:

This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. Galatians
5:16

God is a Spirit — and you "MUST worship him in spirit".

God is a Spirit: and they that worship him MUST worship him in spirit and in truth.
John 4:24

And a Christian's music should be spiritual — not carnal.

 I will sing with the SPIRIT, and I will sing with the understanding also. 1 Cor 14:15

I've had CCMers scream many times, "The Bible doesn't give ANY guidelines for
Christian music. It's all a matter of TASTE and PREFERENCE". I usually turn to
Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16, and they surprisingly "eye" them for the very "first
time". Apparently it's important enough to the Lord to list them twice. The Bible lists
three specific types of Christian songs; psalms and hymns and SPIRITUAL songs. I
certainly do NOT think CCM and rock music is a psalm, hymn or SPIRITUAL SONG!

ROCK MUSIC AND CCM IS FLESHLY MUSIC!

Christian music should feed the spirit — NOT THE FLESH.

Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and SPIRITUAL songs, singing and
making melody in your heart to the Lord; Ephesians 5:19

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing
one another in psalms and hymns and SPIRITUAL songs, singing with grace in your
hearts to the Lord. Colossians 3:16

A Christian has "crucified the FLESH".

"And they that are Christ's have crucified the FLESH with the affections and lusts."
Galatians 5:24

The SPIRIT and the FLESH are contrary and opposite. They are enemies.

"For the FLESH lusteth against the SPIRIT, and the SPIRIT against the FLESH: and
these are contrary the one to the other:. . ." Galatians 5: 16

It couldn't be clearer — Christian music should feed the SPIRIT — NOT THE FLESH.

And Rock music (which is what CCM is) is FLESH.

There is no doubt — rock music is FLESH. It’s CARNAL. That’s why the world "loves"
rock music. The world does not love "spiritual" things – But the natural man receiveth
not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know
them, because they are spiritually discerned. (1 Corinthians. 2:14) – but FLESHLY,
CARNAL things. And that is why the world "loves" rock music. A few "testimonies"
from the world:

"But rock music has one appeal only, a barbaric appeal, to sexual desire – not love, not
eros, but sexual desire undeveloped and untutored." (Bloom, Alan, The Closing of the
American Mind, Simon & Schuster, 1987 p.73)

"Its admirers want to make rock appealing by making it respectable. The thing can’t be
done. Rock is appealing because it’s vulgar, . . Rock is the quintessence of vulgarity. It's
crude, loud, and tasteless." (Pattison, Robert, The Triumph of Vulgarity, 1987, preface,
p.4)

Rock music, any rock music – is FLESH! You can label it "Christian", but that doesn’t
change it’s nature – it’s still FLESH. You can label strychnine "candy", but that doesn’t
make it candy – it’s still POISON.

WHAT IS ROCK MUSIC?

What is the main characteristic of rock music? What makes rock different from other
music? Why does rock appeal to the flesh? What is it about rock that is has "taken-over"
the music world?

In order to answer that question, let's examine the components of music. Music is
composed of three main components; melody, harmony and rhythm. If these ingredients
are not present, then it's not music, but noise.

Melody:

Webster's Dictionary defines melody as; 1. Sweetness of sound; music 2. The chief theme
of a musical composition. 3. A tune; song (The Grosset Webster Dictionary, p. 372)

Melody is the most prominent part of music. Melody is the theme of the tune. Without the
melody line, there is no music. Melody is the horizontal line the notes follow on the
music score.

Here's a few quotes from famous musicians on melody:

"Melody is the main thing; harmony is useful only to charm the ear." Joseph Haydn
(Wordsworth Dictionary of Musical Quotations, p. 15)

"Three things belong to composing, first of all melody; then again melody; then finally,
for the third time, melody." Salomon Jadassohn (Wordsworth Dictionary of Musical
Quotations, p. 15)

"Melody is the very essence of music." Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Wordsworth

Dictionary of Musical Quotations, p. 16)

Harmony:

Webster's Dictionary defines harmony as; Agreeable proportion of sound. A succession of

chords. (The Grosset Webster Dictionary, p. 281)

Harmony is when two or more note are played at the same time. Harmony adds depth to
the melody line. Harmony is the basis for the formation of chords. Harmony is the
vertical line where the notes meet on the music score.

Rhythm:

Our friend, Webster defines rhythm as; The pattern of tones with regard to their relative
time value. (The Grosset Webster Dictionary, p. 490)

Rhythm is the movement in music. Without rhythm, music would be one, long
continuous sound, or an uncontrollable noise. Rhythm or the beat is the "glue" that holds
everything together. The rhythm is an "unseen" but required component of the music
score.

WHAT IS DIFFERENT ABOUT ROCK MUSIC?

Because of that, rock is unlike any other music. In other music, the melody is the main
component, but in rock – the rhythm or th beat literally takes over the music.

"The rhythm in rock is the dominant part of the sound. The heavy emphasis on the
BEAT is what distinguishes rock from every other type of music." (Frank Garlock, Music
in the Balance, p. 32)

"Perhaps the most important defining quality of rock and roll is the BEAT, . . . Rock
and roll is different from other music primarily because of the BEAT." (Charles Brown,
The Art of Rock and Roll, p. 42)

And it is that BEAT that the FLESH loves!

"The sexuality of music is usually referred to in terms of it's rhythm — it is the BEAT
that commands a directly PHYSICAL response." (Simon Frith, Sound Effects, Youth,
Leisure, and the Politics of Rock 'n' Roll, p. 240)

"Rhythm is the element of music most closely allied to BODY MOVEMENT [fleshly,
carnal], to PHYSICAL action. Its simpler patterns when repeated over and over [which is
exactly what rock does] can have a hypnotic effect on us". (Joseph Machlis, The
Enjoyment of Music, p. 19)

Larry Norman, in his song, "Why Should the Devil Have All the Good Music", sings
about the FLESHLY and PHYSICAL response (moves my feet) of the BEAT of rock.

I ain't knocking the hymns,

Just give me a song that has a BEAT.
I ain't knocking the hymns,
Just give me a song that moves my feet

I've talked to hundreds of young people about the satanic and filthy lyrics in secular rock
and nearly every one, replies, "I don't listen to the lyrics. I don't care what the lyrics say.
It's the BEAT that I get in to".

Donnie Brewer of 1970's groups Grand Funk says:

"We take the kids away from their parents and their environment to where the only
reality is the rhythm and the BEAT." (Hart, Lowell Satan's Music Exposed, p.102)

When secular rock-star, Michael Jackson was asked why he did the filthly-sexual, hand
gestures on stage, he replied:

"It's the music that COMPELS me to do it. You don't think about it, it just happens. I'M
A SLAVE TO THE RHYTHM." (The Evening Star, February 11, 1993, p. A10)
I've had hundreds of CCMers' say to me, "The Bible gives no instructions on the STYLE
of music for a Christian to listen to. It's all a matter of preference and culture." I have
read many articles and books by CCM advocates, that claim, the Bible gives no
instructions on the type of music for a Christian to listen to.

Don Butler, Gospel Music Association executive director

"There is no such thing as 'gospel music'. Every style and form of music can become
gospel, whether it's jazz, pop, rock 'n' roll, or rap." (IM Mar/Apr 1991 p. 27)

But "what saith the Lord"? Does the Bible give us any indication to the type of music we
should sing? Did the Lord God who made heaven and earth, who created music and
sound, who put so much emphasis on music in His Word — did He forget to tell us what
is Christian music?

Not hardly. Thank God — He has given us instructions for our music. Thank God — we
can BURY "once and for all" the ridiculous LIE that — "the Bible gives no instructions
on the type of music for a Christian to listen to. It's all a matter of preference and
culture."

Take an harp, go about the city, thou harlot that hast been forgotten; make sweet
MELODY, sing many songs, that thou mayest be remembered. Isaiah 23:16

For the LORD shall comfort Zion: he will comfort all her waste places; and he will
make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of the LORD; joy and
gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the voice of MELODY. Isaiah 51:3

And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making
MELODY in your heart to the Lord; Ephesians 5:18-19

The Lord God refers to music as — MELODY! According to God — the emphasis of
Christian music is the MELODY — not the BEAT! How is it, that the CCM world keeps
"parroting" — "the Bible gives no instructions on the type of music for a Christian to
listen to. It's all a matter of preference and culture"? Is it because they can NOT read 5th
grade English? Or is it — they do NOT care what God says! I've shown many CCMers
Ephesians 5:19, and nearly all coolly, reply, "Aw, It don't really mean that". In other
words — "I don't care what God says — I'm gonna rock 'n' roll"!

I'm reminded of the words of the Lord Jesus Christ, as he described some people, much
like the CCMers, who "having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not?"

17 And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no
bread? perceive ye not yet, neither UNDERSTAND? have ye your heart yet hardened?
18 Having eyes, see ye not? and having ears, hear ye not? and do ye not remember?
Mark 8:17-18

So far we've seen:

1. MELODY is the main theme of music.

2. Rock music emphasizes the BEAT.
3. God defines music as MELODY.

Now are you ready for this? Fasten your seat belt and hold on — here comes a biggee!
Most of rock music and CCM does not have ANY MELODY! According to the technical
definition of music — rock is NOT even music! According to the Lord God — rock
music is NOT music!

NO MELODY = NO MUSIC!

The world famous composer and conductor, Dimitri Tiomkin said of rock music:

"The big beat is deliberately aimed at exciting the listener. . .There is actually very
little MELODY, little sense in the lyrics, ONLY RHYTHM [beat]". (Los Angeles Herald-
Examiner, Aug., 8, 1965, p. 9J)

Lenny Seidel, a concert pianist and twenty-five year Christian music scholar, gives this
definition of both godly music and rock music:

"True godly music will be composed of three elements - all in perfect balance with
each other. They are: melody, harmony, and rhythm.

Rock "music" has NO MELODY only fragments of melody endlessly repeated. Since
there is no true melody, there is no real harmony. There is ONLY RHYTHM. And rhythm
in and of itself is not music." (Leonard J. Seidel, Face the Music – Contemporary Music
On Trial, pp. 46-51)
In his classic book, The Understanding of Music, author Charles R. Hoffer, answers our
question: How does rock differ from other popular music?:

"How does rock differ from jazz and other popular music? One characteristic is its
HEAVY BEAT, which led one critic to define rock as 'music in which the bass drum
carries the MELODY?'" (Charles R. Hoffer, The Understanding of Music, p. 503)

Popular author, Martha Bayles, writes in her eye-opening book, "Hole in Our Soul: The
Loss of Beauty and Meaning in American Popular Music":

". . . popular music seems terminally hostile to any sound traditionally associated with
music." (Martha Bayles, Hole in Our Soul: The Loss of Beauty and Meaning in American
Popular Music, p. 4)

Even the secular, satanic rockers the Rolling Stones admit rock is NOT music — but
NOISE!

"It's a NOISE we make. That's all. You could he kind and call it music." Mick
Jagger, Rolling Stones (Roy Carr, The Rolling Stones - An Illustrated Record, p. 37)

NO MELODY = NOISE!

Rock music emphasizes that HARD, driving BEAT. What instrument do you hear more
than any other in rock? What instrument is it that pounds out that heavy beat?

THE DRUM

The Bible lists many kinds of instruments: Psalms 150:3-5 says:

3 Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
4 Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and
organs.
5 Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
Psalms 150:3-5

With all the many references to musical instruments, there is one instrument that is
NEVER mentioned! The DRUM! Why is that? The drum was a very common instrument
in Egypt and the lands around Israel. And yet the DRUM is NEVER mentioned in a King
James Bible.

Did the Lord just forget to include the DRUM or is there another reason?

Is it because — drums are associated with voodoo, shamanism, paganism and magic
rituals?

"[Drums] represents the beat of the heart and is played to summon up magic powers."
(Miranda Bruce-Mitford, The Illustrated Book of Signs & Symbols, DK Publishing, 1996
p.80)

"The shaman was the original 'long hair', the first rock star draped in leather, dancing
POSSESSED to a rhythm banged out on A DRUM." (Danny Sugerman, Appetite for
Destruction, p. 208)

In Siberia, in northern Asia, drums are used in shamanic rituals to heal people. It is
believed that the shaman can communicate with the spirit world THROUGH
DRUMMING. (Louise Tythacott, Musical Instruments, Thomas Learning, 1995, p. 37)

"Pagan dances and rituals are always accompanied by the incessant BEAT of DRUMS.
Rhythm plays a major role in these demonic activities." (Hart, Lowell Satan's Music
Exposed, Salem Kirban Inc., 1980 p.71)

Robert Palmer is a contributing editor to Rolling Stone and other rock magazines. Palmer
has also taught courses in music at Yale, and many other universities. Palmer was the
chief advisor for the highly acclaimed "History of Rock 'n' Roll" that aired on public
television. Palmer, an advocate and lover of rock music, is among the leading authorities
on rock music. Here's what Palmer says about rock and the drum:

"Bata drums [drums used in voodoo], sacred to the Yoruba people of Nigeria and
Cuba: Their push and pull provided a template for the inner rhythms of rock and roll."
(Palmer, Robert Rock & Roll An Unruly History, Harmony Books, New York, 1995 p.46)

"The idea that certain RHYTHM patterns or sequences serve as conduits for spiritual
energies, linking individual human consciousness with the gods, is basic to traditional
African religions, and to African-derived religions throughout the Americas. And whether
we're speaking historically or musicologically, the fundamental riffs, licks, bass figures,
and drum rhythms that make rock and roll can ultimately be traced back to African music
of a primarily spiritual or ritual nature. In a sense, rock and roll is a kind of
'voodoo' . . . ," (Robert Palmer, Rock & Roll, An Unruly History, Harmony Books, New
York, 1995 p.53)

Palmer describes how drums are used in "voodoo" possession — and the same drum
patterns are part of the basics of rock 'n' roll and CCM!

"Bata drummers tap out their toques, or rhythm patterns, like signals to the realm of the
gods, inviting and enticing them to come on down and mount or POSSESS their horses,
or devotees. . .The specific drum patterns or toques include some riffs and licks basic to
the rock and roll vocabulary." (Palmer, Robert Rock & Roll An Unruly History, Harmony
Books, New York, 1995 p.62)

Here's an episode from the occult, new-age magazine, New Age Journal, describing the
"possessing" power of drums. Notice, even the devotees of the occult stay away from
those drums:

"I remembered a conversation I'd once had in Cuba with a reporter from The New York
Times, 'Stay away from those drums,' he had told me, referring to the ones said to call
down the gods in Santeria's sacred ceremonies. 'If I ever really gave in to those DRUMS,
my life would change in ways I'm not prepared to take on,' he had added. I knew what he
was talking about. It was all there in the drumming. Listen long enough, and some energy
field, some kind of interconnectedness, became palpable. I was hungry for those drums.
Yet I still ran from them." (A Shaman's Story, by Elizabeth Hanly (A Vodoun priest leads
the author on a journey of understanding, New Age Journal, March/April 1997 pp.56-57)

Little Richard, the self-professed "architect of rock ’n roll", readily admits Satan’s control
and influence in his life and rock music:

"My true belief about Rock ‘n’ Roll — is this: I believe this kind of music is
demonic . . . A lot of the BEATS in music today are taken from voodoo, from the voodoo
DRUMS." (Charles White, The Life and Times of Little Richard, p. 197)

Danny Sugerman, an authority on rock music, and author of several books on rock, writes
in Appetite for Destruction:

"The shaman was the original 'long hair', the first rock star draped in leather, dancing
possessed to a rhythm banged out on a DRUM. . . To these people, communication with
the gods was synonymous with DRUMS . . .the body can become the conduit for a deity,
a deity not necessarily the same sex as the worshiper, and DRUMS are the catalyst for the
whole process. The trance of the RHYTHM then begets the hysteria, which begets what
Westerners simplistically call 'possession'." (Danny Sugerman, Appetite for Destruction,
p.208, 181)
David Tame writes in The Secret Power of Music:

"Today's DRUMMER differs but little from the shaman in his incessant beating out of
a rhythm, and likewise often enters into a form of trance while performing." (The Secret
Power of Music, David Tame, p. 199)

The DRUM has always been associated with the paganism and the devil. In fact, a little
more than a hundred years ago, drums were forbidden (except for the military) in
America!

"The arrival of African slaves has had one of the strongest influences on North
American music. In the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, millions of African people
were taken as slaves to the U.S. to work on plantations in the South. They brought many
of their own traditions with them but were forbidden to play their DRUMS." (Louise
Tythacott, Musical Instruments, Thomas Learning, 1995, p.19)

Do you know why New Orleans is the voodoo capital of the U.S, and also the birthplace
of jazz? Because drumming was forbidden in the U.S. – except in New Orleans!

"This was especially true in New Orleans. African-based DRUMMING, singing, and
dancing, discouraged and repeatedly banned elsewhere in North America, had flourished
there since the early eighteenth century. This unique heritage has informed and enlivened
New Orleans music ever since, as well as distinguishing it from the rest of American
musical culture, making the city an ideal incubator for a nonmainstream music as
rhythmically oriented as rock and roll. (Palmer, Robert Rock & Roll An Unruly History,
Harmony Books, New York, 1995 p.21)

When the first blacks from Africa were converted to Christianity they knew the power
and evil influence of DRUMS. And the converted blacks strictly forbid the use of drums!
They referred to the drums as "the Devil's drum". (Martha Bayles, Hole in Our Soul: The
Loss of Beauty and Meaning in American Popular Music, p. 138)

"Historically blacks had drawn the line between particular instruments and practices;
They permitted tambourines, for instance, but not DRUMS." (Martha Bayles, Hole in
Our Soul: The Loss of Beauty and Meaning in American Popular Music, p. 130)

One simple guideline for Christian music is NO DRUMS!

CHRISTIAN MUSIC SHOULD FEED THE SPIRIT — NOT THE FLESH!

CHRISTIAN MUSIC SHOULD EMPHASIZE THE MELODY — NOT THE BEAT!

THE EFFECT OF MUSIC ON THE BODY AND BRAIN

taken from:
Music and the Brain
by Laurence O'Donnell
Many revealing scientific experiments, studies, and research projects have been
performed to try and discover the extent of the power of music. Up until 1970, most of
the research done on music had to do with studying the effects of the beat of the music. It
was found that slow music could slow the heartbeat and the breathing rate as well as
bring down blood pressure. Faster music was found to speed up these same body
measurements.
The key component of music that makes it beneficial is order. The order of the music
from the baroque and classical periods causes the brain to respond in special ways. This
order includes repetition and changes, certain patterns of rhythm, and pitch and mood
contrasts. One key ingredient to the order of music from the baroque and classical periods
is math. This is realized by the body and the human mind performs better when listening
to this ordered music.
One shining example of the power of order in music is King George I of England. King
George had problems with memory loss and stress management. He read from the Bible
the story of King Saul and recognized that Saul had experienced the same type of
problems that he was experiencing. George recognized that Saul overcame his problems
by using special music. With this story in mind King George asked George Frederick
Handel to write some special music for him that would help him in the same way that
music helped Saul. Handel wrote his Water Music for this purpose.
Another key to the order in music is the music being the same and different. The brain
works by looking at different pieces of information and deciding if they are different or
the same. This is done in music of the baroque and classical periods by playing a theme
and then repeating or changing the theme. The repetition is only done once. More than
one repetition causes the music to become displeasing, and also causes a person to either
enter a state of sub-conscious thinking or a state of anger. Dr. Ballam goes on to say that,
"The human mind shuts down after three or four repetitions of a rhythm, or a melody, or a
harmonic progression." Furthermore, excessive repetition causes people to release control
of their thoughts. Rhythmic repetition is used by people who are trying to push certain
ethics in their music.
An Australian physician and psychiatrist, Dr. John Diamond, found a direct link between
muscle strength/weakness and music. He discovered that all of the muscles in the entire
body go weak when subjected to the "stopped anapestic beat" of music from hard rock
musicians, including Led Zeppelin, Alice Cooper, Queen, The Doors, Janis Joplin,
Bachman - Turner Overdrive, and The Band. Dr. Diamond found another effect of the
anapestic beat. He called it a "switching" of the brain. Dr. Diamond said this switching
occurs when the actual symmetry between both of the cerebral hemispheres is destroyed
causing alarm in the body along with lessened work performance, learning and behavior
problems in children, and a "general malaise in adults." In addition to harmful, irregular
beats in rock music, shrill frequencies prove to also be harmful to the body. Bob Larson,
a Christian minister and former rock musician, remembers that in the 70's teens would
bring raw eggs to a rock concert and put them on the front of the stage. The eggs would
be hard boiled by the music before the end of the concert and could be eaten. Dr. Earl W.
Flosdorf and Dr. Leslie A. Chambers showed that proteins in a liquid medium were
coagulated when subjected to piercing high-pitched sounds

5 WAYS DUBSTEP IS MESSING WITH YOUR BRAIN

https://www.nuskool.com/learn/lesson/5-ways-dubstep-is-messing-with-your-brain/

Here's Scientific Proof That Dubstep Makes You Want to Kill People
http://www.laweekly.com/music/heres-scientific-proof-that-dubstep-makes-you-want-to-
kill-people-2401724

LOUD NOISE

In the Bible we read in Psa 98:4 make a loud noise and modern people have taken "noise"
to mean "huge fracas with anything you got". The context of this verse means "explode"
with SINGING of joy and praises for the Lord, there is no hinting to instruments, but to
human voice. The word "noise" is taken by modernists to mean something else than
intended. It definitely means to sing with all the voice one’s got, and not rock out as loud
as you can, but surely with intelligence and not with the mesmerizing beats of powerful
drums.

"[1] Rejoice in the LORD, O ye righteous: for praise is comely for the upright.
[2] Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten
strings.
[3] Sing unto him a new song; play skilfully with a loud noise." - Psalms 33:1-3

"play skilfully with a loud noise" this is taken by the modernists to mean "bang the drums
loudly so no one understands anything". The fleshly carnal beat of Rock music is much
different than what the Bible is referring to here.
Will the worship in Heaven be loud?
I have tried to make a count of how many voices will (are) be singing praises to our God
in Heaven and this is what I got:
"And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the
beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and
thousands of thousands;" - Revelation 5:11
Which number at least this many angel voices:
10,000 x 10.000 = 100,000,000 (One hundred million) plus the "thousands of thousands"
Besides the multitude of saved humans that no man can number:
"After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all
nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the
Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;" - Revelation 7:9
I reckon that this enormous number of voices would make a HUGE sound.
It does appear that worship in Heaven is mostly done with the voice for there are no
specific references to musical instruments (except harps).

Therefore, what is Christian music?

Firstly, the words must be true to the Bible.
Secondly, the music must not sound like or remind people of the world.
Thirdly, the music must honour and glorify our Lord Jesus Christ, who is the
Name above every name!
Fourthly, the musicians must be so dedicated to the Lord that they will do
everything possible, including dress and music style, not to attract attention to
themselves or the world but to magnify our Lord Jesus! Amen!

IN CONCLUSION
Singing is part of the worship requested and due to God the Almighty, but it is not all
there is to worship. The acts of worship that are specified by God are:
reading + meditating on + preaching the word of God, praying, singing, giving, and
the Lord’s Supper.

Worship must promote awe and reverence, spirituality and thoughtfulness. Joy must
flow from the heart, and not be worked up by the excessive use of external helps.
"[16] Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and
admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with
grace in your hearts to the Lord." - Colossians 3:16

God has given the human voice as the primary source of expressing singing worship,
however He will accept also some musical instruments to aid the voice in its
expression. There is no evidence that there are many musical instruments in
heaven, yet there is music:
"[2] And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice
 of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps:
[3] And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four
beasts, and the elders: and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty
and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth." - Revelation 14:2,3

Scripture list those instruments that may be used, some instruments are never
mentioned, such as the Drum, and it is best not to use them in our worship. The
general rule is that all instruments are only an aid to the voice, not a supplanter or
an overwhelmer thereof. The voice must be heard clearly over the instruments in
its purity, musical instruments that are confusing and distorting must not be used.

Drums, although in wide use and well known in all history were never used to
worship God because drums have always been associated with voodoo,
shamanism, paganism and magic rituals, the church of Christ has no part with
that.

Singing worship can be loud and we must sing with all our hearts to the Lord giving
all that we got, but the voice is supreme in worship and the instruments are just an
aid and we are singing to the Lord not to ourselves. Worship is not for human
exhibitionism—God resists the proud. It is not to show off or to admire human
artistic ability. Musical aids must never be allowed to turn worship into
entertainment. They must never interfere with the spiritual character of worship.

The standard of God remains—that musical instruments should be modest in

character, limited in number, and that they should never be allowed to overwhelm
the intelligent and sincere offering of worship voiced from the minds and hearts of
believers.
The worship of the church of Christ is plainly given in the New Testament. Jesus said:
"God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in
truth" (John 4:24

"[2] And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten
the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the
number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.
[3] And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the
Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and
true are thy ways, thou King of saints.
[4] Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for
all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made
manifest." - Revelation 15:2-4