Music – The Effects on the Soul

       The recorded history of Western art music properly begins with the music of the 
Church.  However, all through the Middle Ages and even to the present time artists
and intellectuals have continually turned back to Greece and Rome for instruction, for 
correction, and for inspiration in their various fields of work.

       There was a special reason for the disappearance of the traditions of Roman 
musical practice at the beginning of the Middle Ages: most of this music was connected 
with social occasions that involved lascivious and intoxicated behavior on which the early 
Church looked with horror, or with pagan religious exercises which the Church believed had
to be exterminated.  Consequently, every effort was made not only to keep out of the Church 
that music which would recall such abominations to the minds of the faithful, but, if possible,
to blot out the very memory of it.

       Greek mythology ascribed to music a divine origin. They named as its inventors and 
earliest practitioners gods and demigods, such as Apollo, Amphion, and Orpheus.  In this 
dim prehistoric world, music had magic powers.  People thought it could heal sickness, 
purify  the body and mind, and work miracles in the realm of nature.  From earliest times,
music was an inseparable part of religious ceremonies. 

      The Greek philosopher, Aristotle says, “Music directly imitates (that is, represents)the    passions or states of the soul; gentleness, anger, courage, temperance, and their opposites and other qualities. Hence, when one listens to music that imitates a certain passion, one becomes imbued (filled) with the same passion; and if over a long time one habitually listens to the kind of music that rouses ignoble passions, ones whole character will be shaped to an ignoble form. In recent years, it has been argued that much of the urban rap music of the late 90’s have encouraged incorrigible and inappropriate behavior. This notion is the same as was recorded by the great philosophers of the Middle Ages.

       Aristotle continues, in short, if one listens to the wrong kind of music, one will become the wrong kind of person; but conversely, if one listens to the right kind of music, one will tend to become the right kind of person. Consider this in relation to why God commands us to sing praises unto our God. Music that is filled with praise and adoration to and of God can only bring one into a realm that acknowledges the goodness of God and His grace. Hence, ones life can become overflowing with joy.

       Music affects character and different kinds of music affect the character in different ways. 
As believers in God and followers of Christ the music that we sing and listen to, should 
be selective.  It should be music that will give praise to God. It should also lift our spirit 
to exemplify the attributes and nature of God in the earth realm.

        I submit to every reader that is called by the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, consider the kinds of passion that is stirred when you listen to your favorite music. Consider this, as Christians the music we listen to should encourage us to continue to live daily a lifestyle that shows forth praise and worship to our God according to 1Peter 2:9.