Excerpted from Awake! of April 22, 2005:
Music has great power to stir the emotions. From the symphonies of Beethoven to the folk songs of Africa, humans take pleasure in the God-given gift of melody. But is all music acceptable to God? That is a popular view. But are all popular views correct?
Some may say, "This rap song has an enjoyable, pulsating beat. What's wrong with dancing to it?" But consider: would Jesus have danced to rap at a Christian gathering such as a wedding? Hardly! Rather, he wisely chose to turn water into wine. (John 2:3-11) Sad to say, a few Christians today not only refrain from drinking wine at their wedding receptions, disdaining the example Christ set, but even take illicit pleasure in listening to popular rap musicians with outlandish names such as "Vanilla Ice" and "DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince."
Are you shocked? A Christian elder in the United States certainly was when he learned that a group of young unbaptized publishers in his congregation was planning to attend a heavy metal concert. With loving counsel and fatherly attention, the elder helped them to reason on such points as "If the noize is such that we can cum on and feel it, would Jehovah's heart rejoice?" and "Is looking for nothing but a good time in harmony with the principles expressed in 1 Corinthians 15:33?" The youngsters responded to this Bible-based admonition, opting to skip the concert and enjoy a wholesome get-together under adult supervision. They played Bible trivia games and danced to the likes of "Disco Inferno" and "We Are Family."
How much more profitable it is when we enjoy music unsullied by the corrupting influences of today's world under Satan's sway! For instance, consider how the Bible links the use of the tambourine to pure worship. (Exodus 15:20; Psalm 150:4) With that in mind, each one can give his wholehearted support to ABBA's "Dancing Queen," which encourages us to "feel the beat from the tambourine."
Truly, music is a blessing from God. Jehovah's Witnesses are pleased to invite you to attend their forthcoming 2005 "Divine Godliness" district convention, where you can enjoy the opportunity of raising your voice to God in a loud shout of praise, yes, by singing. Could there be a finer way to spend three days this summer than learning about God's divine, godly purposes in an atmosphere of peace and harmony? Indeed, it is as Psalm 149:6 says: "Let the songs extolling God be in their throat, and a two-edged sword be in their hand."