Motive

 a reason for doing something; especially one that is hidden or not obvious.
 A musical fragment or succession of notes that has some special importance or intension.

“Music is a very powerful force. It has a way of breaking down barriers… But a lot of artists are taking that very powerful tool and putting negative,
horrible lyrics to it, and those lyrics are getting into the hearts of the listeners and are shaping their values. Why can’t we (i.e., contemporary
Christian musicians) take that same powerful force – music – put positive lyrics to it and begin shaping values that way?” – Sandi Patti (CCM Artist)

“Basically you have to focus on the lyrics, and what the song is saying. That is my criteria to decide whether the song is right or wrong. It has
nothing to do with the music style. It has to do with the lyrics. What is the song saying? What are the words saying? As Christians, we can
objectively judge it from that standpoint.” – David Meece (CCM Artist) –

“The medium is the message. That is to say, the music: its melody, harmony and rhythm, all by itself disposes man to virtue or vice by moving the
emotions. Therefore, the way in which they move the passions should serve as a principle basis for judgment on whether any given piece of music
is good or bad.” – Prof. Marshall McLuhan –

“(Music) trigger a flood of human emotions and images that have the ability to instantaneously produce very powerful changes in emotional states.
Take it from a brain guy, in 25 years of working with the brain, I still cannot affect a persons state of mind the way that one simple song can.” –Dr.
Richard Pellegrino (Brain Specialist) –

“…music can rapidly and powerfully set moods and do so in a way not easily attained by other means.” –
Dr. Norman M. Weinberger (Professor of Neurobiology and Behavior, UC Irvine) –

“If the thoughts are wrong, the feelings will be wrong; and the thoughts and feelings combined make up the moral character. When we decide that
as Christians we are not required to restrain our thoughts and feelings, we are brought under the influence of evil angels, and invite their presence
and their control. – RH, April 21, 1885 –

“Our thinking and our behavior are colored by music, which seems to have direct and unconscious access to the brain substrates of much, if not all,
of our individual lives.” – Dr. Norman M. Weinberger –

Dr. Manfred Clyne, a researcher of neuroscience, discovered:

 That people respond to color and music in the exact same ways neurologically speaking.
 All human beings respond to visual and audible stimuli in the exact same way, the same imprint is made in the brain.
 Language and culture had no bearing.

“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. – Joseph Machlis –

“They also have shown that driving drum rhythms in excess of 3 to 4 beats per second will put the brain into a state of stress. Regardless if the
listener likes or dislikes the music. When the brain is in a stressful state, it will release opioids – a group of hormones that function like morphine –
to help return itself to normal equilibrium. These opioids, when experienced often enough, can be addicting and the listener seeks for the “high”
again. (This is why listeners tend to move from less to harder music). Loud booming bass music has a similar effect and it’s no wonder that
adolescent males prefer these types of music: they are either stimulating a release of brain chemical, stimulating their hormones, or both!” – The
Power of Sound –

“There is a great deal of powerful sexual stimulation in the rhythm of rock music.” – Dr. David Elkind –

“The sexuality of music is usually referred to in terms of its rhythm – it is the beat that commands a direct physical response.” – Simon Frith, Sound
Effects, Youth, Leisure, and the Politics of Rock n’ Roll, p240. –

“The throbbing beat of rock provides a vital sexual release for adolescent audiences.” – Jan Berry –

“Rock music is the strongest drug in the world.” –Steven Tyler, Aerosmith-

“We take the kids away from their parents and their environment to where the only reality is the rhythm and the beat.” – Donnie Brewer, Drummer
for 1970’s Grand Funk-

There is scarcely a single function of the body which cannot be affected by musical tones. The roots of the auditory nerves are more widely
distributed and possess more extensive connections than those of any other nerves in the body. Investigation has shown that music affects
digestion, internal secretions, circulation, nutrition and respiration. Even neural networks of the brain have been found to be sensitive to harmonic
principles" (Tame, David, The Secret Power of Music, p. 136)

“It may be able to do all these things more successfully… than any other stimulants that produce those changes in our bodies.” – Julius Portnoy,
Musicologist –
Contemporary Christian Music – a genre of modern popular music, which is lyrically focused on matters concerned with the Christian Faith.

“…the human voice in singing is one of God’s entrusted talents to be employed to His glory. The enemy of righteousness makes a great account of
this talent in his service. And that which is the gift of God, to be a blessing to souls, is perverted, misapplied, and serves the purpose of Satan. –
Evangelism, 497 –

MUSIC Tests (Guidelines):

1. Meaningful – not trivial

 Godly music will contain lyrics and instrumentation that are full of beauty, dignity, reverence and simplicity, worthy in the
praise and worship of God.
 Psalm 33:8. Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him.

“Music was made to serve a holy purpose, to lift the thoughts to that which is pure, noble, and elevating, and to awaken in the soul devotion and
gratitude to God. What a contrast between the ancient custom and the uses to which music is now too often devoted! How many employ this gift
to exalt self, instead of using it to glorify God!” – VSS, 448 –

2. Untainted – not worldly

 Godly music will lead us to think in Biblical patterns. It will not seek toi imitate the world’s ways.
 Phil 4:8. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever
things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there
be] any praise, think on these things.
 1 Thess. 5:22. Abstain from all appearance of evil.

“When turned to good account, music is a blessing; but it is often made one of Satan's most attractive agencies to ensnare souls. When abused, it
leads the unconsecrated to pride, vanity, and folly. When allowed to take the place of devotion and prayer, it is a terrible curse.” – 1T, 506 –

“In their efforts to reach the people, the Lord’s messengers are not to follow the ways of the world.” – GW, 357 –

“Now, the industry is celebrity-driven. The song is almost irrelevant. The focus is on the person, and songs have become disposable. The direction
and value system are getting worse faster than any of us can imagine.” – Michael Card, CCM artist (published by Christianity Today, May 20, 1996) –

3. Spiritual – not carnal

 Godly Music will promote and accompany a lifestyle of godliness and modesty encouraging the spirit. It will not encourage
aggressive or sexual acts or promote carnal behavior.
 1 Jn. 2:16. For all that [is] in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father,
but is of the world.

Titus 2:11-12. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we
should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.

“There is nothing more offensive in God's sight than a display of instrumental music when those taking part are not consecrated, are not making
melody in their hearts to the Lord. The offering most sweet and acceptable in God's sight is a heart made humble by self-denial, by lifting the cross
and following Jesus.” {RH, November 14, 1899 par. 7}

“The greatest single cause of atheism in the world today are Christians who acknowledge Jesus with their lips and walk out the door and deny Him
by their lifestyle.” – unknown –

Regarding her album covers and publicity photos, which portray her as a sexy, attractive young woman, the Christian pop star says, “I’m trying to
look sexy to sell a record…I feel like a Christian young woman in the 80s is very sexual. If somebody says, ‘You’re trying to go secular,’ I say, “Of
course I am: That’s the whole point.’” – Amy Grant on Rolling Stone Magazine –

4. Inspirational – not degrading

 Godly music will be expressive of the peace that accompanies the Christian life. It will not emphasize the clamor, confusion, din
and turmoil of the world.
 Col. 3:15,16. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. 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.
“The enemy will watch closely and will take every advantage of circumstances to degrade the truth by the introduction of undignified
demonstrations. None of these demonstrations are to be encouraged. The precious truths given us are to be spoken in all solemnity and with
sacred awe.” – Ev, 138 –

5. Clear – not confused/disguised

 Godly music will contain lyrics and instrumentation that are full of clarity, beauty and dignity, worthy in the praise and worship
of God. The genre will not cloud or confuse the message.
 1 Cor. 14:14,15. For if I pray in an [unknown] tongue, my spirit prayeth, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is it then? I
will pray with the spirit, and I will pray with the understanding also: I will sing with the spirit, and I will sing with the
understanding also.

“Let all take time to cultivate the voice, so that God's praise can be sung in clear, soft tones, not with harshness and shrillness that offend the ear.
The ability to sing is the gift of God; let it be used to His glory.” {MYP 294.1}

Christianity Today commented that CCM sales were slumping because of CCM performers’ “lack of spiritual commitment and meaningful lyrics.”

“Some ‘Christian’ songs today are so veiled in terms of spiritual content that their meaning is lost to all but the most imaginative.” – John Styll, CCM
Magazine editor –

“The only difference between Amy Grant’s love songs and those of Olivia Newton-John is that often Grant’s pronouns come with capital letters.” –
Billboard Magazine and Face the Music –

“Many singers, have softened their Christian message in an effort to ‘cross over’ into the secular marketplace. But many now say this practice has
damaged their credibility with Christian audiences while blunting their impact on secular customers.” – Christianity Today –

“The lyrics of a good number of the songs don’t say anything specifically Christian – they may have some moral message, but not a lot of the big
songs are identifiably Christian. ‘What happens to the message when we start getting the music to as many people as possible?’ There is an
essential part of the gospel that’s not ever going to sell. The gospel is good news, but it is also bad news: ‘You are a sinner, and you are hopeless.’
That’s a part of the message, too, and if that’s taken out – and it frequently is in Christian music – it ceases to be the gospel.” – Michael Card –

“Those things which have been in the past will be in the future. Satan will make music a snare by the way in which it is conducted. God calls upon
His people, who have the light before them in the Word and in the Testimonies, to read and consider, and to take heed. Clear and definite
instruction has been given in order that all may understand.” 21 Manuscript Releases 130

Prov. 12:46. For a just [man] falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.