Interview:

Music has a huge spiritual significance. That is why Satan tries so desperately to use music to keep people away from Christianity and leading a Godly life. Music is such an expression of God’s power, and Satan endeavors to steal that. We see David in the Old Testament soothing the pain of Saul with his harp playing. That is spiritual power to a tormented man; a gift given to David from God.

The Psalmist in Psalm 150 tells us to praise God with many instruments including stringed instruments and loud clashing cymbals. I think this is why Metal music can be used so powerfully for or against God. In the Old Testament the musicians would lead armies into battle. Music has a war-like power to it, and the musicians lead God’s armies into victory.

People are very affected spiritually by music. Notice that all religions use music to enhance their “spiritual” experience. Everything outside of Christian hymns and True God-focused worship music being used by false religions is Satan recognizing the spiritual power of music to deceive, and he perverts it. This is why Christian Metal music has such power. It is presenting the most powerful message 116 in the world with the most powerful music. A lot of music, especially Metal music is actually many people’s religion in itself. People worship Metal and worship Metal bands. This is because their spirits are searching for the answer and feel false spiritual power in Heavy Metal. When a band of Christians presents the same music with a Jesus message many people have moved from worshipping Metal to worshipping Jesus. The Devil wants people to have their identity in music and thus, unknowingly, in him. When people turn and find their identity in Christ, the Devil’s counterfeit deception is smashed.

Even in some “Christian” churches, the emphasis has become so focused on the “worship”, and what people can get from God, that the music is being used falsely. If worship is not used to extol and lift up the name of Jesus, and show gratefulness to God, then it is being used wrongly. I cringe when I see churches on T.V. chanting, and moving into mantra-style false “worship”, in order to get some sort of buzz from God. If “worship” in a church is self-focused, not God-focused, and is chant-like, then it is from Satan. Yes, Satan is sadly deceiving many churches and this is the “Christianity” that many non-Christians are seeing on many Christian T.V. programs.

We all need to be very aware of the spiritual significance of music and use music wisely. Music should never reflect anything godless when presented by Christians. I cringe when I hear young “Christian” bands singing about boyfriend and girlfriend relationships in a way that is not Biblical. Young people are easily influenced by music, and with “Christians” presenting such songs, teens can start worshiping the band, and thus indirectly Satan. Christian musicians need to point young people in the direction of Jesus Christ, even if they are not openly evangelistic.

“We all need to be very aware of the spiritual significance of music and use music wisely.”
– Steve Rowe, bassist and vocalist in Mortification