I’ve heard some fascinating extrabiblical arguments in favor of conservative music over the years. . . . Sometimes they’ve been borderline racist. . . . Converted cannibals said that CCM sounds like the music they used to worship the devil.

I find these remarks¹ to be problematic for several reasons.

First, in remarking about some people whom he believes have made invalid extrabiblical and “borderline racist” arguments supporting the use of conservative music, Chris uses terminology (“racist”) that is not found anywhere in Scripture to make his assessment that their arguments are faulty–the Bible does not even once use the words “racism” or “racist” to speak of unjust actions or unjust people. Nor does the Bible ever speak of people who unjustly speak disapprovingly about or judge the music of certain other people because they have some personal biases of one sort or another against those people based on their “race.”

In effect, therefore, Chris has himself regrettably made an invalid extrabiblical assessment to assert the supposed faultiness of people whose arguments Chris believes are invalidly extrabiblical. In order to have credibility in speaking against these supposedly extrabiblical assessments of others, Chris needs to make a thorough and rigorous biblical case for his view that such statements about music are “borderline racist” and invalidly extrabiblical.

Second, these remarks could be taken by converted cannibals as portraying them in a negative light. If these in fact do portray them in that manner, would the converted cannibals wonder if the remarks reflect some personal bias against them as former cannibals who have become believers?

In this respect, we should consider what missionary Margaret Stringer presents in her book From Cannibalism to Christianity.² On the cover of her book and in many places in the book, she has photographs of the people of West Papua to whom she ministered. Based on these photos, would she (or someone else who refers to or cites her book in some way) be regarded as being “borderline racist” because of the obvious differences between her and the cannibalistic people to whom she ministered?

If her relating what God has done for cannibals through her and others is not “borderline racist,” why would it be “borderline racist” to cite a music testimony from “converted cannibals”?

Third, these statements appear to deny that certain unspecified converted cannibals are able to make valid assessments that CCM sounds like the former music that they themselves used to worship the devil. If so, on what basis would it be thought that they are incapable of validly making such assessments?

Alternatively, if someone believes that converted cannibals can validly make such assessments, but also believes that such assessments by converted cannibals are wrong or holds that the converted cannibals’ making such assessments is irrelevant, why would it be believed that they are wrong assessments or that their making those assessments is irrelevant?

Conclusion

Chris appears to sincerely believe what he has remarked. He, however, has provided no valid support for his statements concerning arguments that he has assessed to be invalidly extrabiblical and “borderline racist” because they relate that “converted cannibals said that CCM sounds like the music they used to worship the devil.”

In actuality, these remarks by Chris are invalid, untenable, and unhelpful.³ God does want us to seek biblical unity and harmony among His people, but asserting (or implying) that consecrated, God-fearing believers who are musically conservative are “borderline racist” in their positions about worship music is not a biblically supportable way to seek such unity and harmony.

Footnotes

1. The Scandal of Schism, 126 ︎
2. My citation of this book and her work is not intended to be a wholesale endorsement of her, her book, her missionary activities, her ministry associations, etc. Rather, my purpose in citing her book is to provide documentation of a published source that relates information about cannibals who have been converted through their receiving the gospel. ︎
3. See my post On “Cultural Racism” and Christian Opposition to “Holy Hip-Hop” for a treatment of Scripture that addresses faulty claims that Christians who are musically conservative are guilty of “cultural racism.” ︎

Copyright © 2011-2025 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.

As God leads, I invite you to profit from that thread.

See also My Discussion Posts on Sharper Iron

Copyright © 2011-2025 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.

Revelation 18:21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. 22 And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee; 23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. 24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

Revelation 18:22-23 reveals that God’s judgment will bring about the permanent end of five specified things in Babylon: (1) the voice of harpers, musicians, pipers, and trumpeters; (2) all craftsmen of every craft; (3) the sound of a millstone; (4) the light of a candle; and (5) the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride. What does this passage reveal to us about the music of Babylon that is in view in the first of the five specified things that will be permanently terminated?

Interpreting Revelation 18:22 Properly

The right way to interpret what this passage reveals concerning the music of Babylon is to let the text speak for itself. Paying attention fully to what God has actually explicitly said shows us that the permanent termination of the various, specified music makers of Babylon that is spoken of in the passage is a divine judgment that the Spirit explains as resulting from the occult wickedness of Babylon:

Revelation 18:21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. 22 And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; . . . for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

We must note carefully, however, that the permanent termination of these music makers that is specified in 18:22-23 is not just resulting from Babylon’s sorceries deceiving all nations. In between that revelation and the explanatory statement about her sorceries is an intermediate explanatory statement: “for thy merchants were the great men of the earth, for by thy sorceries . . .”

What the passage says, therefore, is that the permanent termination of those music makers of Babylon is explicitly tied to Babylon’s merchants being the great men of the earth because by her sorceries all nations were deceived. The permanent termination of her musicians is therefore not just a statement of the termination of Babylon’s “innocent” enjoyment of their music; it is directly connected to her merchants profiting from their commercial ventures that disseminated the deceitful effects of the sorceries of Babylon to all nations.

Because the Spirit has made known that great city Babylon will be the cause of worldwide deception through her sorceries, we can be certain that Babylon herself will be a city permeated by such occult wickedness. Based on that certainty, we can certainly know that at least some of the music making of the music makers spoken of in 18:22 that God will bring to a permanent end will have been the making of occult instrumental music that was not, is not, and never will be acceptable to God.

The merchants’ exporting of such occult kinds of music (originated by her musicians and prevalently played by them in Babylon) from Babylon to all nations as a means of both deceiving all nations and profiting monetarily from that deception parallels the evil masters in Philippi using the occult activities of a demon-possessed girl for their profiting financially in a great way (Acts 16:16, 19).

God’s permanent destruction of Babylon’s musicians for the reasons explained in this passage, therefore, certainly points to at least some of her music being unacceptable to God because of the occult character of their music.

Copyright © 2011-2025 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.

Heavenly Music

Revelation 5:8 And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints. 9 And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.

Revelation 14:2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harps: 3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders: and no man could learnthat song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth.

Revelation 15:1 And I saw another sign in heaven, great and marvellous, seven angels having the seven last plagues; for in them is filled up the wrath of God. 2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: andthem that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. 3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb, saying, Great and marvellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty; just and true are thy ways, thou King of saints. 4 Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy name? for thou only art holy: for all nations shall come and worship before thee; for thy judgments are made manifest.

Earthly Music

Revelation 18:21 And a mighty angel took up a stone like a great millstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great city Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all. 22 And the voice of harpers, and musicians, and of pipers, and trumpeters, shall be heard no more at all in thee; and no craftsman, of whatsoever craft he be, shall be found any more in thee; and the sound of a millstone shall be heard no more at all in thee; 23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived. 24 And in her was found the blood of prophets, and of saints, and of all that were slain upon the earth.

I hope to add to this post in the future the lessons that I believe God wants us to learn from them. In the meantime, what do you think the Spirit want us to learn from comparing these passages?

Copyright © 2011-2025 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.

By meditating much on this biblical revelation, I pray that God will see fit to grant me much more illumination about the importance of this subject in the Bible and especially in the book of Revelation.

Revelation 2:9 I know thy works, and tribulation, and poverty, (but thou art rich) and I know the blasphemy of them which say they are Jews, and are not, but are the synagogue of Satan.

Revelation 2:10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

Revelation 2:13 I know thy works, and where thou dwellest, even where Satan’s seat is: and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those days wherein Antipas was my faithful martyr, who was slain among you, where Satan dwelleth.

Revelation 2:24 But unto you I say, and unto the rest in Thyatira, as many as have not this doctrine, and which have not known the depths of Satan, as they speak; I will put upon you none other burden.

Revelation 3:9 Behold, I will make them of the synagogue of Satan, which say they are Jews, and are not, but do lie; behold, I will make them to come and worship before thy feet, and to know that I have loved thee

Revelation 9:11 And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomless pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon.

Revelation 9:14 Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.

Revelation 9:15 And the four angels were loosed, which were prepared for an hour, and a day, and a month, and a year, for to slay the third part of men.

Revelation 9:20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk:

Revelation 9:21 Neither repented they of their murders, nor of their sorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts.

Revelation 11:7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.

Revelation 12:3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.

Revelation 12:4 And his tail drew the third part of the stars of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devour her child as soon as it was born.

Revelation 12:7 And there was war in heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels,

Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

Revelation 12:12 Therefore rejoice, ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them. Woe to the inhabiters of the earth and of the sea! for the devil is come down unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time.

Revelation 12:13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man child.

Revelation 12:14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness, into her place, where she is nourished for a time, and times, and half a time, from the face of the serpent.

Revelation 12:15 And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.

Revelation 12:16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.

Revelation 12:17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make war with the remnant of her seed, which keep the commandments of God, and have the testimony of Jesus Christ.

Revelation 13:1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea, and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads and ten horns, and upon his horns ten crowns, and upon his heads the name of blasphemy.

Revelation 13:2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority.

Revelation 13:3 And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.

Revelation 13:4 And they worshipped the dragon which gave power unto the beast: and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make war with him?

Revelation 13:11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth; and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

Revelation 13:12 And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed.

Revelation 13:13 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men,

Revelation 13:14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast; saying to them that dwell on the earth, that they should make an image to the beast, which had the wound by a sword, and did live.

Revelation 13:15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speak, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast should be killed.

Revelation 13:16 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads:

Revelation 13:17 And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.

Revelation 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six.

Revelation 14:9 And the third angel followed them, saying with a loud voice, If any man worship the beast and his image, and receive his mark in his forehead, or in his hand,

Revelation 14:11 And the smoke of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever: and they have no rest day nor night, who worship the beast and his image, and whosoever receiveth the mark of his name.

Revelation 15:2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire: and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God.

Revelation 16:2 And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.

Revelation 16:10 And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain,

Revelation 16:13 And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.

Revelation 16:14 For they are the spirits of devils, working miracles, which go forth unto the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of God Almighty.

Revelation 17:3 So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns.

Revelation 17:7 And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns.

Revelation 17:8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

Revelation 17:11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eighth, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.

Revelation 17:12 And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten kings, which have received no kingdom as yet; but receive power as kings one hour with the beast.

Revelation 17:13 These have one mind, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast.

Revelation 17:16 And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn her with fire.

Revelation 17:17 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree, and give their kingdom unto the beast, until the words of God shall be fulfilled.

Revelation 18:2 And he cried mightily with a strong voice, saying, Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird.

Revelation 18:23 And the light of a candle shall shine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride shall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were the great men of the earth; for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.

Revelation 19:19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.

Revelation 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone.

Revelation 20:2 And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,

Revelation 20:4 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.

Revelation 20:7 And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,

Revelation 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Revelation 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.

Revelation 22:15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.

¹ As I keep studying, I will be adding to this list any verses that I may have missed in the book of Revelation that also pertain to demons and demonic entities.

Copyright © 2011-2025 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.

Exodus 32:17 And when Joshua heard the noise of the people as they shouted, he said unto Moses, There is a noise of war in the camp. 18 And he said, It is not the voice of them that shout for mastery, neither is it the voice of them that cry for being overcome: but the noise of them that sing do I hear.

Comparing Scripture with Scripture is vital for interpreting these verses rightly. To that end, I have compiled the following passages that mention in some manner the sounds of war.

1 Samuel 17:20 And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle.

2 Kings 7:6 For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us.

Job 39:25 He saith among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he smelleth the battle afar off, the thunder of the captains, and the shouting.

Isaiah 5:26 And he will lift up an ensign to the nations from far, and will hiss unto them from the end of the earth: and, behold, they shall come with speed swiftly: 27 None shall be weary nor stumble among them; none shall slumber nor sleep; neither shall the girdle of their loins be loosed, nor the latchet of their shoes be broken: 28 Whose arrows are sharp, and all their bows bent, their horses’ hoofs shall be counted like flint, and their wheels like a whirlwind: 29 Their roaring shall be like a lion, they shall roar like young lions: yea, they shall roar, and lay hold of the prey, and shall carry it away safe, and none shall deliver it. 30 And in that day they shall roar against them like the roaring of the sea: and if one look unto the land, behold darkness and sorrow, and the light is darkened in the heavens thereof.

Isaiah.9:5 For every battle of the warrior is with confused noise, and garments rolled in blood; but this shall be with burning and fuel of fire.

Isaiah13:4 The noise of a multitude in the mountains, like as of a great people; a tumultuous noise of the kingdoms of nations gathered together: the LORD of hosts mustereth the host of the battle.

Jeremiah 4:19 My bowels, my bowels! I am pained at my very heart; my heart maketh a noise in me; I cannot hold my peace, because thou hast heard, O my soul, the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.

Jeremiah 4:29 The whole city shall flee for the noise of the horsemen and bowmen; they shall go into thickets, and climb up upon the rocks: every city shall be forsaken, and not a man dwell therein.

Jeremiah 6:23 They shall lay hold on bow and spear; they are cruel, and have no mercy; their voice roareth like the sea; and they ride upon horses, set in array as men for war against thee, O daughter of Zion.

Jeremiah 10:22 Behold, the noise of the bruit is come, and a great commotion out of the north country, to make the cities of Judah desolate, and a den of dragons.

Jeremiah 47:3 At the noise of the stamping of the hoofs of his strong horses, at the rushing of his chariots, and at the rumbling of his wheels, the fathers shall not look back to their children for feebleness of hands;

Jeremiah 50:22 A sound of battle is in the land, and of great destruction.

Jeremiah 50:46 At the noise of the taking of Babylon the earth is moved, and the cry is heard among the nations.

Jeremiah 51:14 The LORD of hosts hath sworn by himself, saying, Surely I will fill thee with men, as with caterpillers; and they shall lift up a shout against thee.

Ezekiel 26:10 By reason of the abundance of his horses their dust shall cover thee: thy walls shall shake at the noise of the horsemen, and of the wheels, and of the chariots, when he shall enter into thy gates, as men enter into a city wherein is made a breach.

Joel 2:5 Like the noise of chariots on the tops of mountains shall they leap, like the noise of a flame of fire that devoureth the stubble, as a strong people set in battle array.

Amos 1:14 But I will kindle a fire in the wall of Rabbah, and it shall devour the palaces thereof, with shouting in the day of battle, with a tempest in the day of the whirlwind:

Nahum 3:2 The noise of a whip, and the noise of the rattling of the wheels, and of the pransing horses, and of the jumping chariots.

Revelation 9:9 And they had breastplates, as it were breastplates of iron; and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battle.

By carefully meditating on what these verses reveal, we put ourselves in the right position for the Spirit to illumine our minds concerning the right interpretation of Exodus 32:17-18. As God directs, in one or more future posts, I may treat further one or more of these passages to explain its relevance to interpreting what “a noise of war” signifies in this key battleground passage concerning Christian music.

Photo by British Library on Unsplash

Copyright © 2011-2025 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.

The diagram is patterned after the X-Y axes diagrams used in mathematics to display the coordinates of points in their proper quadrants.

It provides many (but not all) biblical truths about foodstuffs or things used as foodstuffs in my Four-Quadrant Approach to understanding what Scripture reveals about foodstuffs or things used as foodstuffs.

Acceptable versus Unacceptable Uses of Foodstuffs or of Things as Foodstuffs

In this diagram, a positive value on the “X” axis (on the right half of the diagram) denotes biblical information about acceptable uses of foodstuffs or of things as foodstuffs. A negative value on the “X” axis (on the left half of the diagram) relates biblical information about unacceptable uses of foodstuffs or of things as foodstuffs.

Eating or Offering Foodstuffs in Corporate Worship versus Eating Foodstuffs in Ordinary Life

A positive value on the “Y” axis (on the top half of the diagram) denotes biblical information about eating or offering foodstuffs in corporate worship. A negative value on the “Y” axis (on the bottom half of the diagram) relates biblical information about eating foodstuffs in ordinary life.

Properly Interpreting Romans 14:1-4

This diagram helps us in interpreting properly the statements about foods in the following battleground passage in Scripture concerning “Christian liberty”:

Romans 14:1 Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. 2 For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. 3 Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. 4 Who art thou that judgest another man’s servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand.

Because Paul says in Romans 14:2a, “For one believeth that he may eat all things,” some have wrongly understood this teaching to be without any limitations. Scripture, however, teaches us that understanding is false.

All of the Scripture-based entries in the bottom left quadrant of the diagram that are preceded by an “x” relate biblical teaching about things that no one may believe that it is right for a believer to eat. Eating any of these things is not a matter of “Christian liberty.”

Romans 14:2a does not teach that a believer who is strong in the faith eats things that are poisonous to humans (cf. 2 Kings 4:40), It also does not teach that being strong in the faith includes eating human flesh (Deut. 28:57) or blood (Lev. 17:10; Acts 15:20).

Conclusion

“Christian liberty” does not extend to eating all things without any qualifications whatever they may be. Using the teaching of Romans 14:1-4 as the basis of asserting that “Christian liberty” entails the legitimate use of all things without any qualifications at all in matters that one believes are matters of “Christian liberty” is a misunderstanding and misuse of Scripture.

Photo: Public Domain

Copyright © 2011-2025 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.

God has granted me the privilege of witnessing to hundreds of people over the years and giving out or leaving at a door probably at least 1500-2000 tracts. He has enabled me to evangelize people in English and in Spanish.

If the Lord tarries, I hope to be active in door-to-door evangelism for many more years.

Photo by Jonathan Wells on Unsplash

Copyright © 2011-2025 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.

Exodus 15 Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying,

I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.

The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him. The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name.

Pharaoh’s chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea. The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone.

Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy. And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble. And with the blast of thy nostrils the waters were gathered together, the floods stood upright as an heap, and the depths were congealed in the heart of the sea.

The enemy said, I will pursue, I will overtake, I will divide the spoil; my lust shall be satisfied upon them; I will draw my sword, my hand shall destroy them.

Thou didst blow with thy wind, the sea covered them: they sank as lead in the mighty waters. Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders? Thou stretchedst out thy right hand, the earth swallowed them. Thou in thy mercy hast led forth the people which thou hast redeemed: thou hast guided them in thy strength unto thy holy habitation.

The people shall hear, and be afraid: sorrow shall take hold on the inhabitants of Palestina. Then the dukes of Edom shall be amazed; the mighty men of Moab, trembling shall take hold upon them; all the inhabitants of Canaan shall melt away.

Fear and dread shall fall upon them; by the greatness of thine arm they shall be as still as a stone; till thy people pass over, O LORD, till the people pass over, which thou hast purchased. Thou shalt bring them in, and plant them in the mountain of thine inheritance, in the place, O LORD, which thou hast made for thee to dwell in, in the Sanctuary, O Lord, which thy hands have established. The LORD shall reign for ever and ever.

For the horse of Pharaoh went in with his chariots and with his horsemen into the sea, and the LORD brought again the waters of the sea upon them; but the children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea.

And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances. And Miriam answered them,

Sing ye to the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously; the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.

Photo: Frans Francken III, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

Copyright © 2011-2025 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.

Actually, it seems that God likes music of all kinds. No one style can sufficiently capture his glory or even begin to reflect the vastness of his wisdom, creativity, beauty, and order. That doesn’t mean some kinds of music aren’t more complex or beautiful than others. It just means no single genre of music is better than the rest in every way.

Tellingly, Kauflin offers no biblical support of his own for these statements. Instead, he offers as his support the teaching of another writer who offers no valid biblical support for his views.

False claims such as these (by Kauflin and others) about God and His supposedly liking “music of all kinds” is one of the chief reasons that we have the debacle that we have musically in the Church in our day.

For a lengthy discussion of the issues concerning the viewpoint of Tomlin and others who hold similar positions, see the comments on Sharper Iron in my thread God Likes Music of All Kinds.

Photo by Mikhail Pushkarev on Unsplash

Copyright © 2011-2025 by Rajesh Gandhi. All rights reserved.