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Influences

             speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. (Ephesians 5:19-20)

Following this command wouldn’t be as unvarying as it might seem. There are different psalms, hymns, and (likely) songs from the Spirit for different moods. There are psalms of confession, request, gratitude, anger, wisdom sought, wisdom found, sorrow, and comfort. The thing about many of the old songs is that they focus on God and His attributes and actions. Modern versions seem to do that less.

I like to listen to music and sing songs not only because I like the music but also because of the effect it often has on my mood. Granted, a pernicious mood may not change because I turn on some good old hymns, but I have experienced non-Christian music that heightened aggression and music (both Christian and not) that soothed a sour mood.

This isn’t unknown to the ancients. David was initially brought into King Saul’s court to play music to soothe the king. Years ago, I watched a program about Stonehenge that at least suggested that the circular formation would have echoed back the drumbeats played, with the high priest standing at the focal point of the echoes. They went on to show that our bodies’ rhythms are influenced by beat, and therefore, Stonehenge may have served as a means by which the priest could enter altered states of consciousness. (I can’t pass up the opportunity to say that, in a sense, he got stoned.)

It seems reasonable to suggest that God intended music to influence us, just as food and beverages, smells, light levels, words, tones of voice, and everything else we experience do. This influence can be good or bad. We can influence ourselves or be influenced by others. But the thing about speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, etc., is that the influence is part of a connection. That may be the best influence involved.

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