Wednesday, December 10, 2008

Pleasing God With your Music

Maraming pag-aaral na ang nagsasabi na kayang baguhin ng musika ang isipan at emosyon ng isang tao. Greek philosopher Plato once said, “Give me the music of a nation and I will change the mind of that nation.” Ang musika rin ang ginagamit ni satanas upang mailayo sa Panginoon ang maraming kabataan. Many teenagers already struggling with personal and family issues are attracted to heavy rock and metal music, because the lyrics express their own troubled feelings. Ang patuloy na pagbabad sa isipan at pandinig ng mga musika ay maaring magdala sa isang kabataan sa mga gawain na may kinalaman sa okultismo, satanismo, paggamit ng bawal na gamut, premarital sex, suicide at marami pang iba. Many researches even argue that when music lyrics are illustrated in music videos, the lyrics' potential impact is magnified by the accompanying video images. Ano ba ang ipinapakita ng maraming MTVs? Many of them glorify sex and violence. They depict women as sexual objects, show lewd scenes as normal and promote violent activities. Many of them do not really complement the lyrics of the song. They just want to arouse the interest of the teenage viewers.

SECULAR vs. WORLDLY MUSIC
Hindi lahat ng awitin ay lumalabag sa kalooban ng Diyos. Kailangan nating maintindihan ang pagkakaiba ng “secular songs” o mga kantang walang kinalaman sa anumang relihiyon o mga espiritwal na bagay, sa mga tinatawag na “worldly songs” o mga bagay na nagpapakita o sumusuporta sa paggawa ng kasalanan o mga bagay labag sa batas at kabanalan ng Diyos.

Secular songs may or may not be worldly. For example, the most famous “Happy Birthday” song is secular but it does not oppose the holiness of God. Nagiging makamundo ang isang love song kung hindi na ito umaayon sa Salita ng Diyos. Maraming kantang nagpapahayag ng tunay na commitment sa pagitan ng dalawang nag-iibigan. Sa kabilang banda, maraming love songs na naririnig natin sa FM stations ang nagpapahayag na hindi kasalanan ang premarital sex at homosexuality. The Bible declares that corrupt things should not proceed from our mouth. We must carefully choose the songs we sing. It is not sinful to sing secular songs. The Lord is displeased when we sing SINFUL secular songs. I can say that youth should listen to secular songs which promote a neutral and balanced message at their own risk.

SOME GUIDELINES
Ano’ng uri ng musika ang dapat pakinggan ng mga kabataan? There is no straightforward answer to this question mainly because we have different ways of valuing and interpreting music. No particular musical style is commanded in the Bible. For instance, I don’t believe that there is a definite CHRISTIAN MUSIC. There are only CHRISTIAN LYRICS. Naniniwala ako na sa Diyos nanggaling ang musika. Sinira lamang ni satanas ang paggamit sa musika para ipahamak ang maraming tao. Kailangan lang nating alaman kung kailan ginagamit ang musikang ipinagkaloob ng Diyos sa maling paraan. Before patronizing and singing a secular song, I recommend that you do the following:

Basahin ang lyrics ng kanta – Songs must be judged according to their lyrical content. Maraming kabataan na kanta lang ng kanta dahil maganda ang tono at tempo ng musika. Ang hindi nila alam, sinasabi na nilang “Magpakamatay na tayo!”, Mag-suicide na tayo!, at marami pang iba. Bago kumanta, please magbasa. What are the lyrics of the song? Does it contradict or support the Word of God?

Alamin ang pagpapahalagang ipinapakita sa kanta - What values does the song promote? Does it promote righteousness or sin? Huwag nang kantahin ang isang awit kung kinakalaban nito ang kabanalan at utos ng Diyos. We must test everythin, hold on to the good and avoid every kind of evil.

Alamin ang buhay ng singer/composer – Sinabi ng Panginoon na ang isang masamang puno ay hindi maaring magbunga ng mabuting bunga. Kung ano ang pagpapahalaga ng composer o lumikha ng kanta, iyon ang lalabas sa kaniyang musika. Who composed/performed the song? Is he/she a good example to you and to others? When you buy a record of an artist promoting wrong values, you are supporting him/her to continue his sinful work. Choose well your music even if they identify themselves as Christian bands. Does the band glorify God and not themselves? Does the band live what they sing?

Nilalapit ka ba o nilalayo ng kanta sa Panginoon? - Alamin Kung saan ka dinadala ng inaawit mo. Napapalayo ka ba sa Diyos o mas lalong napapalapit sa Kaniya? Bilang Cristianong kabataan, bakit natin sasayangin ang ating panahon sa pagkanta ng mga secular songs? Kahit balanse ang mensahe nito, hindi pa rin ito nakatuon sa pagbibigay papuri sa Panginoon. My main recommendation is surround yourself with Christian music and focus more on singing songs that will glorify God.

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