Entertainment is amusing, fascinating, or enjoyable
activity which may provide rest, relaxation, and distraction from serious
pursuits like work or study. Forms of entertainment include the arts,
literature, music, drama, comedy, dance, sports, and hospitality.
Entertainment may be Good or evil. It may
be inspired by God or the devil. Good entertainment is Divine Good
production. It has underlying truth, which is compatible with Bible
Doctrine. This truth may be establishment truth, which is available
for unbelievers. Good entertainment includes true Love, truth, Happiness,
and beauty. Fiction can convey truth. Evil entertainment is
inspired by the devil and his Cosmic System. It furthers the devil's
lie. This evil may include sin, lust, and human good. Evil
entertainment may include false love and anti-establishment themes.
Even Good entertainment may not be a wise use of
one's time (Eph 5:16; 2 Tim 2:4). The Christian has the highest calling
of human history, and the Church Age is the intensified stage of the Angelic
Conflict. In this strategic period advancing in the Spiritual life
is much more important than entertainment.
The Lord Jesus Christ did not shun all forms of entertainment
even though he suffered the most intense strategic pressure of any human
being. He was often entertained at dinner parties (Matt 9:10; 26:6-7;
Lk 5:29; 7:36-39; 10:38-42; 11:37; Jn 12:1-3).
Music
Good music includes hymns and Church music for
worship, thanksgiving, and praise (Psa 33:1-3; 100; Eph 5:19; Col 3:16).
Good music for Church must be doctrinal. The lyrics must convey Biblical
truth and divine Love. It is not enough to arouse good feelings and
emotion. Rhythm and harmony must foster respect, adoration, and praise
for God and the Lord Jesus Christ rather than distraction, reaction, or
self-centeredness.
Let the Word (doctrine)
of Christ dwell in you abundantly,
In all wisdom, teaching and
correcting one another,
In Psalms, hymns, and Spiritual
songs,
In Grace singing in your
hearts (right lobes) to God. (Colossians 3:16)
Bible Doctrine must dwell in the believer in the
Edification Complex of the soul. It must be the basis for everything
in life. It is learned under the "teaching" of the pastor, and it
becomes the basis for standing up to those who have departed from the Faith.
This does not mean counseling or trying to straighten others out.
The doctrinal believer can oppose the unfaithful by executing the Spiritual
life and standing his gound in Grace. And Bible Doctrine must be
the basis for Psalms, hymns, and Spiritual songs offered to God in praise
and adoration. Many of the hymns in most hymnals are sadly devoid
of doctrine, and what is often called Christian music today is not even
sanctified from the world. The believer-priest must first sing in
his heart (right lobe) in Grace. Grace is response to God.
Unless the believer is responding to God in Grace, his singing is out of
tune with God and hopelessly lost in the Cosmic System. He is living
in sin and singing in sin, which is evil.
Church music must be offered in the Filling of
the Holy Spirit. Offering praise to God apart from the Filling of
the Holy Spirit amounts to religion, which is man trying to gain the approbation
of God. Christianity is not a religion, but a Love relationship with
God through Jesus Christ. Holy rollers, who are overcome by their
own emotion, are not worshipping God, but operating in the power of the
Cosmic System. They are under the power of the Prostitute of Babylon
in a state of grieving and quenching the Holy Spirit.
Music can also be therapeutic (1 Sam 16:23).
David sang Psalms to drive away a demon that terrorized Saul. However,
most of what is pushed as music therapy today is nothing more than harmony
with evil. Satan can also heal.
Musical instruments are designed to communicate non-verbal
truth. Words are not necessary so long as the instrumental vocabulary
is understood. Great orchestras and choirs entertained and sang Psalms
of praise to God in Israel. The meaning of musical instruments includes:
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Brass – justice, judgment. Trumpets made of silver symbolized judgment.
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Woodwinds – love.
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Flutes – happiness.
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Strings – accompaniment, love response, intimacy.
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Percussion – rhythm.
