Charismatic Experiences in the Seventh-Day Adventist Church

Music to Be a Snare:

As with the holy flesh movement, music will again be used by Satan in an attempt to lead God’s people into experiences that will blunt the true workings of the Holy Spirit. “Those things which have been in the past will be in the future. Satan will make music a snare by the way in which it is conducted.”—Selected Messages 2:38 CESDAC 5.4

An increase in decibels does not indicate the presence of the Spirit, nor does it lead to true worship. Ellen White had a few choice words for a person who thought that “loud” was holy: “Any oddity or peculiarity cultivated attracts the attention of the people and destroys the serious, solemn impression which should be the result of sacred music. Anything strange and eccentric in singing detracts from the seriousness and sacredness of religious service. CESDAC 5.5

“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. CESDAC 5.6

“The very same may be said of singing. You assume undignified attitudes. You put in all the power and volume of the voice you can. You drown the finer strains and notes of voices more musical than your own. This bodily exercise and the harsh, loud voice make no melody to those who hear on earth and those who listen in heaven. This singing is defective and not acceptable to God as perfect, softened, sweet strains of music. There are no such exhibitions among the angels as I have sometimes seen in our meetings. Such harsh notes and gesticulations are not exhibited among the angel choir. Their singing does not grate upon the ear. It is soft and melodious and comes without this great effort I have witnessed. It is not forced and strained, requiring physical exercise.”—Selected Messages 3:333 CESDAC 5.7