Stop listening to music like this...do this instead...

Three Levels of Listening to Music - (Three Kinds of Music)

1. Basic Listening: Enjoying music for fun and entertainment. This level is about liking the beat, rhythm, and melody without thinking much about it.

2. Emotional Listening: Feeling the emotions that music brings out, like happiness, sadness, or excitement. At this level, you connect with the music on a deeper, emotional level.

3. Divine Listening: Experiencing a spiritual or divine connection through music. This highest level involves feeling a profound sense of peace and a connection to something greater than yourself.

   “The highest goal of music is to connect one’s soul to their Divine Nature, not entertainment.”

   — Pythagoras

Many of us listen to music purely for entertainment sake. But did you know that there were other kinds? Figure out what other music there is that evokes certain emotions in you, that lead to calm, success, determination, spirituality. You may have to experiment for a bit to find those. For example, I dont always listen to the Rocky training music, “Gonna Fly Now”, but when I do, it makes me want to work out.

Also, find music that is solely designed to bring your conscious and subconscious mind into awareness of the presence of God.

It is this third level, I think, that Apostle Paul was trying to get us to when he said: Ephesians 5:19-20 (NIV): "Speak 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."

In the 1st-century church, music and singing played a significant role in worship and community life, reflecting the instructions given by Paul in passages like Ephesians 5:19-20 and Colossians 3:16. Here’s how these practices likely manifested in the early Christian gatherings:

1. Psalms, Hymns, and Spiritual Songs:

- Psalms: Early Christians often sang the Psalms from the Hebrew Scriptures. The Psalms were well-known and cherished songs of worship, praise, and prayer, making them a central part of Christian liturgical practice.

- Hymns: These were songs of praise composed by early Christians, possibly including Christological hymns that emphasized the divinity and lordship of Jesus Christ. Hymns might have been newly created songs expressing the theological truths and experiences of the Christian faith.

- Spiritual Songs: This term likely referred to spontaneous or inspired songs, possibly including prophetic utterances or songs inspired by the Holy Spirit. These songs could have been more personal and immediate expressions of worship.

2. Corporate Worship:

- Early Christian worship was communal, often taking place in homes or small gatherings. Singing together helped to unify the community, reinforce their beliefs, and express their shared faith.

- Music was an integral part of the liturgy, used not only for worship but also for teaching and admonishing one another, as Paul suggested. Through songs, believers reinforced theological teachings and encouraged one another in their faith.

3. Expression of Gratitude and Joy:

- Singing was a way to express joy, gratitude, and thanksgiving to God. This was especially important in a community that faced external pressures and persecution; music provided a means of spiritual encouragement and upliftment.

- Songs of praise helped to cultivate a spirit of thankfulness and reliance on God, reinforcing the believers’ trust and hope in their relationship with Him.

4. Teaching and Admonition:

- Music was a tool for teaching doctrine and moral instruction. Through the repetition of lyrics, important theological concepts and scriptural truths were memorized and internalized by the congregation.

- Singing songs with rich theological content helped to embed Christian beliefs in the hearts and minds of the believers, making them a living part of their daily lives.

5. Diversity of Musical Expression:

- The variety of musical expressions (psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs) allowed for a rich and diverse worship experience. This diversity catered to different aspects of faith, from structured liturgical worship to spontaneous and personal expressions of devotion.

So we can use music to connect ourselves to the Divine, Transcendent God; and when we connect to God, we can experience lower levels of anxiety and stress, which produces heathier outcomes for our bodies.