The Power of Music: God's Call to Change the World One Song at a Time

By Michael L. Brown

Music can either Connect You to God or Drive You to the Devil.  God created the human race to enjoy music and to make music, and through music the world has been dramatically changed—for good and for evil. In this fascinating book Michael L. Brown takes the reader on a journey through the history of music—from classical to rock and from hip-hop to gospel—showing just how transformative music has been and how much God wants to use it to change the world again.
 
Brown contends that it is time for all Christians to make a concerted effort to recover the potential of anointed music and song—in our assemblies and in society, in our services and on the streets, in studios and in schools. The counterculture revolution of the 1960s only succeeded with the help of satanically inspired music and mind-altering drugs. Could it be that today’s Jesus revolution can only succeed with the help of Spirit-inspired music and a life-altering encounter with God? What else will produce the necessary change in our perspective?
 
After reading this book, believers will never again listen to music the same! They will finally understand its power and divine origin, but more importantly they will know how God wants to use it to usher in a global outpouring that will change the world forever.

This book will show you how music can either indoctrinate or educate you, spark rebellion or patriotism, and drive you to the devil or draw you closer to God.​

“This book will stir up musicians, artists, and worshippers everywhere to dive deeper into an appreciation and adoration of the One Himself who created sounds, songs, and melodies!”
—BECKAH SHAE, Dove Award-Nominated Singer/Songwriter

“Musicians and non-musicians alike will be inspired by the powerful ways God intends to use music in today’s end-time drama.”
—BOB SORGE, Author of Exploring Worship: A Practical Guide to Praise and Worship

“Dr. Brown has written a must-read for all musicians, singers, and songwriters who desire to harness the power of music to glorify Jesus, change the atmosphere, and release heaven’s sound on the earth.”
—KELANIE GLOECKLER, Worship Leader and Songwriter,
Executive Director of Access Worship International


 

• Language: English
• Publisher: Charisma House
• Release date: Jan 8, 2019
• ISBN: 9781629995960

Book preview

This book will stir up musicians, artists, and worshippers everywhere to dive deeper into an appreciation and adoration of the One Himself who created sounds, songs, and melodies! It challenges your eternal perspective on music and its power to revolutionize the world. It has set my soul on fire with even more desire to partner with the sound of heaven to write lyrics that would pierce and captivate hearts to purity, renew the minds of listeners, pave a path to freedom, and create sanctified atmospheres to see people experience divine encounters with God!

—BECKAH SHAE, DOVE AWARD-NOMINATED SINGER/SONGWRITER

Once again Dr. Brown has outdone himself with the amount and scope of the research/information and the impact, bringing this work to the obvious conclusion for all of us who have dedicated our lives to just this purpose—making Him known and experienced through powerful and anointed music and vessels! I was brought to tears with the experiences of G. F. Handel and the incredible victory of the Messiah, remembering that his music still plays to sold-out audiences in Israel!

—PAUL WILBUR, MESSIANIC WORSHIP ARTIST, SONGWRITER, SPEAKER, AND AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR OF TOUCHING THE HEART OF GOD

Michael Brown’s experience and research combine to give a compelling perspective on rock and roll’s seismic impact as it crashed on the shores of history. Musicians and non-musicians alike will be inspired by the powerful ways God intends to use music in today’s end-time drama. Grab a mug and enjoy!

—BOB SORGE, AUTHOR OF EXPLORING WORSHIP: A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO PRAISE AND WORSHIP

This is a well-researched and thought-provoking look at an important topic. I particularly appreciate Dr. Brown’s reminders that the musical revolutions of the past fifty-odd years, though they introduced a degree of chaos into the culture, were also expressive of a deeply felt spiritual need that was not satisfied by traditional religion.

—SPENCER KLAVAN, LECTURER IN GREEK AND SCHOLAR OF ANCIENT MUSIC, UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD

As long as I’ve known Dr. Michael L. Brown, which is for more than twenty years, I’ve never known him to give less than 100 percent in any aspect of his life. This translates into his private devotion and his studies into the art of worship. This book is for all ages, musician or non-musician, quiet or loud, kneeler or dancer. It doesn’t matter as long as it’s 100 percent.

—LEONARD JONES, FOUNDER OF MORNINGSTAR WORSHIP

Dr. Brown has written a must-read for all musicians, singers, and songwriters who desire to harness the power of music to glorify Jesus, change the atmosphere, and release heaven’s sound on the earth. I will be using The Power of Music in our worship school to equip students with an understanding of music’s influence throughout history and to encourage them to fully step into partnership with God to shift culture and make history through music and song.

—KELANIE GLOECKLER, WORSHIP LEADER AND SONGWRITER, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ACCESS WORSHIP INTERNATIONAL

Most CHARISMA HOUSE BOOK GROUP products are available at special quantity discounts for bulk purchase for sales promotions, premiums, fund-raising, and educational needs. For details, write Charisma House Book Group, 600 Rinehart Road, Lake Mary, Florida 32746, or telephone [phone].

THE POWER OF MUSIC by Michael L. Brown, PhD

Published by Charisma House

Charisma Media/Charisma House Book Group

600 Rinehart Road

Lake Mary, Florida 32746

www.charismahouse.com

This book or parts thereof may not be reproduced in any form, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form by any means—electronic, mechanical, photocopy, recording, or otherwise—without prior written permission of the publisher, except as provided by United States of America copyright law.

Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked ISV are taken from the Holy Bible: International Standard Version®. Copyright © 1996-forever by The ISV Foundation. All rights reserved internationally. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations marked MEV are taken from the Modern English Version. Copyright © 2014 by Military Bible Association. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked PHILLIPS are from The New Testament in Modern English, Revised Edition. Copyright © 1958, 1960, 1972 by J. B. Phillips. Macmillan Publishing Co. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations marked TLB are from The Living Bible. Copyright © 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189. All rights reserved.

All emphasis in Scripture noted with italics is the author’s.

Copyright © 2019 by Michael L. Brown, PhD

All rights reserved

Cover design by Justin Evans

Visit the author’s website at https://askdrbrown.org.

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data: An application to register this book for cataloging has been submitted to the Library of Congress.

International Standard Book Number: 978-1-62999-595-3

E-book ISBN: 978-1-62999-596-0

While the author has made every effort to provide accurate internet addresses at the time of publication, neither the publisher nor the author assumes any responsibility for errors or for changes that occur after publication. Further, the publisher does not have any control over and does not assume any responsibility for author or third-party websites or their content.

CONTENTS

Preface

Introduction: A World Without Music

CHAPTER 1From the Jimi Hendrix Experience to the Joy of the Lord

Vignette: The Songs That Helped Stop the War

CHAPTER 2Can You Imagine Movies Without Music?

Vignette: Vangelis Gives Us Wings to Fly on Chariots of Fire

CHAPTER 3How Music Affects the Brain

Vignette: Using Heavy Metal as Psychological Torture

CHAPTER 4Can Classical Music Reduce Crime?

Vignette: The Miracle of Handel’s Messiah

CHAPTER 5The Musical Sounds of Communism

Vignette: Do You Hear the People Sing?

CHAPTER 6Songs of Protest

Vignette: Is This Land Your Land?

CHAPTER 7The Rock Revolution

Vignette: Talkin’ ’bout My Generation

CHAPTER 8The Spiritual Side of Rock

Vignette: Are We Just Dust in the Wind?

CHAPTER 9Heavy Metal and Punk and Pop

Vignette: The Quickest Song to Reach One Million Downloads (and the Message It Carried)

CHAPTER 10How Rap Gave Voice to a Culture

Vignette: What Is The Message?

CHAPTER 11Sing a New Song to the Lord

Vignette: The Amazing Grace of a Beautiful God

CHAPTER 12Time to Change the World Through God-Empowered Music

Notes

PREFACE

WHENEVER I TELL one of my friends that I’ve written a book on the power of music, the reaction is almost always the same: Really? They associate me with books on Jewish apologetics or biblical scholarship, books on revival and cultural revolution, and books on doctrinal error and reformation. But a book on the power of music? Really?

As you’ll see in the pages that follow, music has had a great impact on my life over the years, at first for the worst and for many decades now for the best. It is an incredibly powerful tool, a world-changing tool, and when it is put in the hands of anointed men and women of God, it is an indescribably glorious tool. Have we fully recognized the amazing power of music?

Virtually every day of my life I’m writing something new. It could be an article on moral and cultural issues. It could be part of a chapter of the current book project. It could be some scholarly research, part of a commentary or academic article. But virtually every day I am writing, feeling a divine calling and grace to do so, whether I’m flying overseas or in a hotel between preaching meetings. But I don’t always feel intensely gripped. I don’t also feel powerfully moved by the Spirit. (Trust me. Working on a commentary on Job or Jeremiah has its moments of extraordinary exhilaration, but for the most part it’s like climbing a mountain, one hard step at a time.)

That was not the case with this book. I truly felt gripped and moved and stirred to write. I felt an unusual burden to get the message out. And as I wrote, not only was I writing for every member of the body who loves and appreciates music, I was writing especially for worship leaders, for singers and musicians, for lyricists, for prophetic poets. Somehow, I wanted to get this into their hands—your hands—to inspire even greater creativity, greater vision, and greater devotion to producing life-changing, Jesus-exalting music. Songs to heal a dying world. Songs to challenge a rebellious society. Songs to comfort the afflicted. Songs to teach divine truth. Songs to wake up sleeping saints. Songs to take us into the heavenlies!

I pray that the pages that follow will help deepen a Bible-based, Spirit-empowered, Jesus-centered use of music for God’s revolutionary purposes. Do we have a more powerful medium than this—joining words on fire with tunes on fire to praise and proclaim the God who Himself is fire?

My appreciation to the team at Charisma Media, beginning with Marcos Perez and Debbie Marrie, who expressed an immediate interest in publishing The Power of Music. And to Adrienne Gaines, my faithful Charisma editor. Because of copyright issues with lyrics and other technical issues, she had to do a mountain of work to get the manuscript fully fit to print. I can’t thank her enough for her professionalism and insight and also challenging me to fill in some blanks along the way.

I also appreciate the interest taken in the project by friends at IHOP KC, including Samuel Whitefield and Jono Hall. And I was greatly encouraged by the enthusiastic support of other worship leaders and musicians and writers, including my dear friend of many years, Paul Wilbur, a Messianic Jewish psalmist of extraordinary gifting. I was also greatly helped by the constructive comments of my black Jewish colleague Sar Sharaht Ma‘asehyahu, who read through the chapter on hip hop and provided me with some important references and insights.

And now for the reading of the book. If it’s a blessing to you, I’d love to hear from you. You can write to me directly at AskDrBrown.org or connect with me on social media through that very same site. May the Lord be exalted in your hearts as you read and think and pray and sing.

INTRODUCTION

A WORLD WITHOUT MUSIC

WHERE WOULD THE world be without music? Where would life be without a song? Imagine a world without a melody, without a tune, without music. It would be a dry and sterile world, a stiff and rigid world, a harsh and uninviting world.

No music. No songs. No lyrics to remember. No tunes to repeat. No chorus to hum along with, no beat to tap along to. What a boring and tedious world it would be.

Just think for a moment of your favorite song and sing the lyrics in your head. Then put those lyrics on paper—just words on a page, without a tune or melody, recited flatly and coldly—and that’s a picture of a world devoid of music.

No mothers singing their babies to sleep at night. No children singing their ABCs. No Happy birthday to you at your party. Just toneless words in a monotonous drone. Where is the joy, the celebration?

No religious hymns, no gospel choruses. No national anthems, no ballads. No theme songs, no love songs, no happy songs, no sad songs. No symphonies, no concertos. No orchestras, no bands.

No classical music. No contemporary music. No ethnic music. No jazz. No rock. No soul.

No violins, no guitars. No drums, no tambourines. No trumpets, no flutes. No pianos, no organs, no keyboards. No instruments of any kind.

No solos, no duets, no harmonies. No musicians. No songwriters.

No words to be sung, no prayers to be chanted, no melodies to be cherished. Not a musical sound to be heard.

That is a picture of a world without music. What a dull and dreary world it would be.

But, oh, for a world full of music and song! What celebration and power, what expression and emotion, what life, what color, what vigor. Oh, for the sounds of music!

Romance has a melody. Grieving has an outlet. Love is given lyrics. Worship has wings. Words are given spirit. Music does all this. Who could imagine a world without music?

But I do not want to exaggerate. I am a writer and a reader, and I live in the world of words—simple words, spoken words, written words. And those words can be radical and life-changing, impacting us to the very core of our being. Words—just words—have power too.

At this very moment, you are reading words written on a page—not sung, not chanted, but merely written and read. And these words can move you and stir you. These words can paint vivid pictures and convey graphic images. Yes, there is great power in words alone!

The most powerful, influential book in human history is the Bible, and though some of it was once sung (especially the psalms), as we have it today, it is just words on a page. Yet those words contain eternal life, and those words can save a soul from eternal death. There is great power in God’s holy words.

Still, music can take us to a unique place, have a unique impact, and make a unique imprint on us. And joined together with powerful words, music can change the world. The God who gave us words gave us music too!

And just as heaven is filled with music, God intended earth to be filled with music too. As it is written, Oh, sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth! (Ps. 96:1, NKJV) The Bible even tells us in Revelation 15:1–3 that at the end of the age, when wickedness has been finally defeated, all the Lord’s people will gather together and sing. What a song that will be!

As the prophet Isaiah describes it, "And the ransomed of the LORD shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away" (Isa. 35:10). The greatest day in the history of the world, the day when sorrow and pain will disappear forever, will be celebrated with song.

But we don’t need to wait until the climax of the ages to sing. Paul tells us that every day we should be speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Yes, he writes, Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord (Eph. 5:19, NIV).

It’s time we sing to the Lord! There’s no reason to have a world without music—especially without music for the Lord. And it’s time we use music to the full to change this world for the Lord. In the pages that follow, you’ll see how music has impacted millions of people through the centuries, for good or for evil. And you’ll be freshly inspired to use your musical gifts and talents for the King. But first, a personal word.

CHAPTER 1

FROM THE JIMI HENDRIX EXPERIENCE TO THE JOY OF THE LORD

IT WAS NOVEMBER 28, 1968, and New York’s Philharmonic Hall was packed. Performing that night was the Jimi Hendrix Experience, and the crowd was charged with expectation.

Among those sitting in the crowd was a thirteen-year-old boy with his seventeen-year-old sister. He had been playing drums since he was eight, and he could hardly wait for the concert to begin. Little did he know how profoundly his life would be impacted by that one rock concert, the first of many he would see over the next three years. Little did he know that the music would so captivate him that he would follow in the footsteps of those rock stars as much as possible, forming a band with his two best friends, getting immersed in drugs and rebellion, and giving himself totally to the spirit of that age—the age of the 1960s counterculture revolution.

That young teenager was me, and I can safely say that the performance that night rocked my world. I wanted to be like those band members! Everything they did and everything they were was compelling to me. The sound, the spirit, the power of the music, the breaking of the rules, the going against the grain, the challenging of cultural norms—it all came together in that one concert on that one night. You could feel it in the air.

But before the Hendrix trio came out, there was an opening act—quite a surprising opener for this heavy rock band. It was the New York Brass Quintet, men in coats and tails performing classical pieces. Was this just because the performance was taking place in their house, so to speak? I don’t think so. I think it was part of the 1960s blow your mind approach, where they’d do something different and out of the box just to do it. It reminds me of the time I saw the Woody Herman orchestra, famous for their jazz music and featuring older musicians, play before Led Zeppelin at the Fillmore East. Groovy, man!

But there was another surprise coming. Next to this traditional brass quintet was a set of drums, and partway through the performance, Mitch Mitchell, the drummer for Hendrix, came to the stage. Wow!

He wore a long, flowing suit (with formal shirt and tie, if I recall)—probably the coolest suit I had ever seen—and little by little, he began to accompany the quintet, starting with his right hand on the ride cymbal. I couldn’t believe