I spent some time in Psalms this morning listening to some interesting music about them.

Music is a powerful thing. It moves the soul. In years past, much of the scripture was sung. This is because it’s easier to remember a song than it is to remember words alone.

When I think of God speaking everything into existence, I can’t imagine it was anything other than an amazing sound. A perfect combination of strength and power with care and love. Strong enough to move the mountains and yet gentle enough to blossom the flowers.

At the very same time, the right frequency of sound can crumble those mountains down to rumble and wither a plant down to its death.

In between those extremes are us mere humans. Lead to move by the hypnotic beat of a tune. The right song will bring us to tears, feel comfort, or bring forth rage. Music was created to lead us, but is also used to deceive us.

Just take a look at the top Christian worship songs today and you’ll see their theological makeup is almost non-existent.

In the last decade, we’ve seen top artists like Hillsong turn to pagan new-age practices that are very clear in their performances. We’ve watched the most popular worship bands turn their back on God as they deconstructed their faith, which makes you wonder, did they even know God in the first place? Or was it just a good gravy train to jump on?

But this isn’t about them. This is about you and I understanding the power music has over us.

We can see the secular charts are full of devil worship, sex cult, and satanic messaging. Do what thou wilt. Take all you can get. Buy, buy, buy, and be happy.

And their fans flock after them, buying everything they promote and worshipping them as gods.

The world actually uses the term “rock gods” and “idols” and yet, even Christians go along with it being a part of the world. Being manipulated by the music thinking “it’s not that harmful”.

But each beat, each word, each bass note influences us as it does what music does, moving our soul. The question we must always ask is, in which direction is this music taking me?

As a music lover and former soundboard operator, my job was to make sure the worship band sounded good. And that’s not a bad thing.

Great worship brings people closer to God.

But what I later realized was the power I had. The deceitful ability I had to produce a false connection to God in people by simply adjusting the frequency of the bass, or adding an echo vibration to a voice.

Of course, my intent was not to deceive. Of course, making a song sound better and influencing people with it is not evil. And I have no guilt in doing any of it.

But in my last months of operating the soundboard, I was conflicted with the fact that 90% of these people had no idea how much power one has over them with music. Again, the right beat, the right frequency, the right note, and you can fabricate a spiritual experience that is false.

Since then I have been very refreshed in going to a smaller chapel where the music is simple. Very little to amplify it, no big production, no manipulating emotional responses. Just people, bringing what they have to God, singing with joy regardless of their musical talents. Sometimes it’s a small band, other times it’s just voices singing to the Lord.

None of this is to say one way is wrong or better. It’s just a reflection and an understanding. It’s a warning. Understand the power of song and frequency. Have discernment.