"Where Did the Music Go?"
Larry Kirkpatrick
30 May 1999
They asked him, "Where did the music go?"
Anxiety for change rose up inside
This sensory-stimulate sound,
seemed so necessary, so important, so right.
They heard it on the radio
They listened intently
To the ever-hypnotic beat
emanating from the CD.
"We hear it everywhere,"
This thought echoed through their minds
"We must hear it in God's church
We mustn't get behind!"
"We need it to reach the masses
We need it for our youth
We'll use its questionable qualities
to present the gospel truth."
But those who had been there
And read also from counsels inspired
Were alert to several dangers
And to the service that God required.
It must not enter
in to the church,
For it is the music
of the earth.
"Be in the world but not of it,"
Tis' the Saviour's command,
"That draft from below
enters not the promised land."
The songs of the Advent movement
But a century ago
Told an entirely different story
Than the new sounds from below.
They told of Jesus' coming near,
of victory over sin,
of the beauty of effectual cleansing
from control by darkness within.
Salvation from the bondage
of slavery to passions low,
Healing from worldly addictions
that dehumanize the soul.
And now the music of my being changed
A different Spirit welcomed in
We forsook our days of darkness
And received the truth from Him.
Then we were not understood,
But called "critical," "intolerant."
Because we would not countenance
the destruction of God's remnant.
And so a conflict is in evidence
We bleed from this enervation
But our young people are just too precious
To abandon to sensualization.
Thus here we are
Caught in this shift
From music of life
To music of the pit.
And you might be asked
"Where did the music go?"
Because you left behind
Its demon glow.
For a brighter light shining
Joyfully down
From heaven's halls
Filled with angel sound.
Where there are no drums
Or thumping beat
But the sound of angel voices
Clear and sweet.
Singing praise to God
In reflective words
This is the music
That we have heard.
Where then did the music go
Which had come from another place?
Back down to the pit from whence it rose
And led to our disgrace.
And now we stand
In freedom true
To praise our God
while they have no clue.
Who still hear the sound
That strikes the chords
Operating to make
Lower passions Lord.
And our prayer goes up
That leaders will hear
And be brave guides
who have no fear.
To call us up
To music that heals
And will ever echo
Through heaven's hills.
Where there are no CDs
Or electric guitars;
No copyright restrictions
Or syncopate bars.
Where we will know as we are known
And our souls freely sing
And pure praises to Jesus
Through all eternity ring.
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