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The Voice in Speech and Song
love for music leads the unwary to unite with world-lovers in pleasure-
gatherings where God has forbidden His children to go. Thus that
which is a great blessing when rightly used, becomes one of the most
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successful agencies by which Satan allures the mind from duty and
from the contemplation of eternal things.—
Patriarchs and Prophets,
594
.
Ambition for Display—Musical entertainments which, if con-
ducted properly, will do no harm, are often a source of evil. In the
present state of society, with the low morals of not only youth but
those of age and experience, there is great danger of becoming care-
less, and giving especial attention to favorites, and thus creating envy,
jealousies, and evil surmisings. Musical talent too often fosters pride
and ambition for display, and singers have but little thought of the
worship of God. Instead of leading minds to remembering God, it
often causes them to forget Him.—Lt 6a, 1890.
Counsel to Music Leaders—I was taken into some of your
singing exercises, and was made to read the feelings that existed in the
company, you being the prominent one. There were petty jealousies,
envy, evil surmisings, and evil speaking.... The heart service is what
God requires; the forms and lip service are as sounding brass and a
tinkling cymbal. Your singing is for display, not to praise God with
the spirit and understanding. The state of the heart reveals the quality
of the religion of the professor of godliness.—
Evangelism, 507
.
God’s Choice of Singing—Singing is just as much the worship of
God in a religious meeting as speaking, and any oddity or peculiarity
cultivated attracts the attention of the people and destroys the serious,
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solemn impression which should be the result of sacred music. Any-
thing strange and eccentric in singing detracts from the seriousness
and sacredness of religious service.
Bodily exercise profiteth little. Everything that is connected in
any way with religious worship should be dignified, solemn, and
impressive. God is not pleased when ministers professing to be Christ’s
representatives so misrepresent Christ as to throw the body into acting
attitudes, making undignified and coarse gestures, unrefined, coarse
gesticulations. All this amuses, and will excite the curiosity of those
who wish to see strange, odd, and exciting things, but these things will
not elevate the minds and hearts of those who witness them.