It was a hot summer afternoon on the plain of Dura in the province of Babylon. The ungodly King Nebuchadnezzar is hosting a massive celebration honoring all he has accomplished. He summons all provincial officials and people from every nation to assemble before his ninety foot gold statue. The herald shouts, “This is what you are commanded to do, O peoples, nations and men of every language: As soon as you hear the sound of the horn, flute, zither, lyre, harp, pipes and all kinds of music, you must fall down and worship the image of gold that King Nebuchadnezzar has set up. Whoever does not fall down and worship will be thrown into the blazing furnace.” (Dan. 3:4-6 NIV) This is a worship service. The band begins to play. People start singing, dancing, shouting, raising their hands like at a huge rock concert. They all fall down of their faces before the fake god, giving honor and glory to the king. No one was standing, except for 3 brave young champions for God: Shadrach, Meschach and Abednego. They boldly defied the king’s command and took a stand for God. The king freaks out. But, he gives them another chance to bow down or burn. I can hear these 3 champions reply, “Look, King, we don’t have to defend ourselves. We love our God and Father. He’s our King. He created the universe by speaking it into existence. We’ll only worship Him and Him alone. We ain’t bowing down to nobody, no fake idol or other god, not in a million years! Do what you want to us. God can save us from the blazing furnace. But, if He chooses not to, we’ll just go to heaven anyway. We ain’t bowing down before your stupid statue.” The punishment is executed and they get thrown in the furnace. Miraculously, God rescues them and eventually King Nebuchadnezzar becomes a believer because of the faith and Christian witness of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. In my new book, Kiss What?, I teach teenagers some godly life-living principles from the lives of these 3 young believers. But, we miss something extremely important to Christian young people today. Music played a major role in this celebration. It wasn’t until the people heard the music, they were to bow down and worship the statue. Music was used to capture the hearts of the people, to prepare and lead them to bow down to worship the statue representing King Nebuchadnezzar’s evil kingdom. It wasn’t a well crafted sermon, in-depth bible study, inspiring speech or exciting dance number. It was… MUSIC! Today, Satan still uses music to assault, capture and infiltrate easily influenced young minds. Having spent nearly twenty-five years in the secular music industry, attaining rock star status, I know the power of music to capture one’s attention and communicate a message. The Bible reveals music was present from the beginning of creation. God challenges Job saying, “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundations – while the morning stars sang together and all the angels shouted for joy?” (Job 38:4-7 NIV) “God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.” (Gen. 1:31 NIV) Therefore, we know it was good, godly music the angels sang and shouted to as God was creating the earth. Lucifer was one of God’s most gorgeous angelic creations. His body had instruments built into him enabling him to play music with and through his body. “Thy workmanship of thy tabrets and pipes wast prepared in thee on the day thou wast created.” (Ezek. 28:13 KJV) Tabrets and pipes are musical instruments. He was a special anointed cherub on the holy mountain of God. I believe Lucifer was leading worship in heaven as God was creating the universe. The music brought honor, glory and praise to God. How has some of today’s music become so corrupted? Lucifer wanted the honor, glory, praise and worship God was receiving. He amassed one third of the angels in a rebellion to take God out, but was defeated and hurled down to earth. Lucifer lost the battle, his place in heaven, lost his name and became Satan. He was rotten on the inside and his evil influence is the root behind all evil in the universe today, including ungodly music and entertainments. Not all music is evil. There are no evil instruments. The Bible is silent about what style God likes What’s good or evil in music today is what’s being expressed and the spirit behind it. God’s music brings honor, glory, praise and adoration to Him and His Kingdom. Satan has his music, too. When Lucifer was cast to earth, nowhere in the Bible does it say he lost his musical powers, understanding of music, ability to perform music or power to influence the human heart and mind. Satan isn’t possessing most rock stars. Musicians who aren’t born again, don’t have the Holy Spirit of God residing in them. They have no protection against the devil’s influences upon them. Therefore, demonic powers can work through the hearts and minds of lost musicians, inspiring them to create music representing the devil’s evil kingdom. When a Christian teenager listens to music representative of Satan’s kingdom, they’re actually fellowshipping with him through their music. They walk on the music fence between the Kingdom of God and the kingdom of Satan. Paul warns, “Don’t team up with those who are unbelievers. How can goodness be a partner with wickedness? How can light live with darkness? What harmony is there between Christ and the Devil? Separate yourselves from them, says the Lord.” (2 Cor. 6:14-17 NLT) Again, “Do not put out the Spirit’s fire. Avoid every kind of evil.” (1 Thess. 5:22 NIV) That means all Christians, not just teenagers, must stay away from ALL evil, including evil music and entertainments. If not, you grieve the heart of God, stifle or quench the Spirit’s fire and life in you! It breaks God’s heart. In Daniel Chapter 3, every time the word worship is used, it is the Hebrew word “segad.” It means to bow down, show adoration and pay homage to a dignitary or someone higher than you. In the New Testament, the Greek word used is often “proskuneo.” It means to kiss, like a dog licking it’s masters hand. It originally carried with it the idea of subjects or servants falling down to kiss the ground before a king or kiss his feet. In some countries, it would be kissing the ring finger of a dignitary or king to show them honor and respect for their high position of authority. As Christians, when we say or sing that we worship and adore Jesus with all our heart, it’s saying we bow to the ground to kiss the feet of our King Jesus. It’s like we’re kissing His ring finger hand, showing Him the honor, adoration, reverence and worship only He deserves. Satan hasn’t lost his hunger to be worshipped. I believe too many Christian teenagers are satisfying his hunger to be worshipped and adored. When they listen to music representative of Satan’s ungodly, evil kingdom, he revels in their fellowship. When a teen opens their heart and mind to listen to music he offers, Satan sees their heart bowing down to kiss his feet, in worship to him, giving him the glory, honor and adoration only God rightly deserves. God’s heart is grieved. Only God alone is to be worshipped and adored. Who does your teenager’s music show they really adore, God or Satan? Whose feet are they bowing down before, God or Satan? Are they kissing the nail pierced feet and ring finger hand of Jesus who proved His love for them on the cross?
This article is taken in part from the new book for teenagers, parents and youth pastors, Kiss What? by former rock star now evangelist Nick Costello. It is available at nickcostello.org, amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com. Reach Nick at: www.nickcostello.org