Interview:

When you think about it, music is truly amazing. God created everything for his glory and pleasure [Revelation 4:11], including music. It can make us laugh or cry, help us remember facts, and even affect our world view. Like a lot of human effort, much music falls short of glorifying God. The first Biblical reference to music is in Genesis 4:21 where Jubal is mentioned. He was the first to play the harp and flute, so he may have had a hand in creating the instruments themselves. Certainly there are many more references to music in the Bible. There are songs of praise, worship, woe, victory, and defeat. God once used what can be called an “instant oldie” as a promise, a prophecy, and an indictment of Israel’s rebellion. God warned Moses that once Israel entered the Promised Land, they would eventually begin to worship foreign gods and turn from Him. To emphasize His words, God instructed Moses to teach the song to Joshua and have it read throughout generations as a witness against them [see Deuteronomy 31:19-47]. Today, with so many choices in the marketplace, we can choose what we listen to wisely, knowing that we aren’t just providing entertainment, but also have the potential of programming our minds and hearts.

Excerpt taken from the introduction (page viii) of Tony Rufo’s “The Complete Book Of Pop Music Wit & Wisdom” (2006) available from Tyndale House Publishers, and Original New Material. © Tony Rufo, All Rights Reserved. Used with permission.

“God created everything for his glory and pleasure, including music.”
– Tony Rufo, author of “The Complete Book Of Pop Music Wit & Wisdom”