Geists

This morning I was reflecting a little bit on the music industry, the powers that be, and the influence that all these artists have.

I think of certain different artists, ones who have given inspiration to me, and others who have rubbed me the wrong way. I think the impact on me that an artist has, has a lot to do with who their master is, who they serve, and the direction in which they push the world through their art and their music.

In conversations with an artistic mentor of mine, Anthony Visco, I learned about the phenomenon of the "Zeitgeist", and how it impacts and affects artists and the art they produce and we see today. I was able to differ the "Zeitgeist" - the spirit of the times, from the "Heiliger Geist" - the Holy Spirit. I was able to realize through analysis of recent history, and also what's occurring today, that these different spirits affect artists and the type of content they produce and release into the world. It is not limited to music, but here I will talk just a bit about the music aspect.

I will name a few influential artists that come to mind, and if you are familiar with their content, then this article will provide a good source of material to reflect on:

- Bob Dylan

- Johnny Cash

- John Lennon

- Bob Marley

- Kanye West

- Drake

- Kendrick Lamar

So, I think the first thing that stresses importance is to look at the type of content these authors or artists are producing. When I think of music, I realize it has the power to capture feelings. It is a tangible way, to make manifest and incarnate, movements of the soul. In it we can feel anger, joy, sadness, glee, excitement, fear, nervousness, rejoicing, envy, revenge, happiness, longing, despair, relief, and possibly an unending list of other emotions. It engages body, mind and soul, so that you can feel the rhythm, engage with the lyrics. or composition, and allow those same feelings and emotions to be triggered and released in you.

Music possesses other powers as well, such as the potential both to unify and control, but I will not go into those now.

When I look at these artists, and the content released under their names, it begs me to think about what they are doing with their work. I tell you as an artist myself, that an artist knows the power and the influence they have. They know how great a gift the music is, but the difficult distinction comes in where the inspiration for the music we make as artists comes.

Does the music cause or focus on a progression or regression? Is the progression internal or external?

Is it for building a better world for the other, or building a better world for the self?

Where is it leading? To eternal life, or this one?

Is it about overcoming internal struggles, or satisfying the flesh?

The best artists are those that recognize that the battle with light and darkness is within themselves, and then choose light.

These are difficult questions, and what might seem like a positive response could in fact be negative. I look at certain artists like Kanye West, and despite much of his music having "externally negative content" (from a faith based point of view), overall, I see an internal struggle and desire for the light and personal redemption.

I see a similar positive from Bob Marley – at the end of the day, it seems like he cares about his soul.

I look at the music of Bob Dylan, and John Lennon, and to me it seems like they want to comment on and judge the world around them, while they themselves are directionless. I think they took the powerful [earthly] seats of political commentators, and for that they have built themselves a place of esteem in society. While they sit in their lofty seats, they direct the masses in the direction they want them to go - to an idea of "peace" "life" and "carefree living" here on Earth. The problem here though is that it is exactly that, they are focused on what they think will bring peace on Earth, but neglect the future destruction of their own bodies.

They sit in the political sphere, in these lofty seats, as I said, even using references about God, but one has to remember, that they are sitting in seats of honor in the courts of Satan. They think that by taking the sacred, and making it profane that they can foster a control of the people. When you take what externally is most sacred to people, what do you have left. We especially see it today in the efforts to try to take the body and sexual identity from people today. The battle of the mind has taken great losses against the military onslaught of technological progression. It seems like the spirit is the last thing left, and they are already touching it with the other tactics. When the anti-christ comes, that will be the final effort at the soul of God's beloved.

The "Zeitgeist" is the devil. However, we need to be willing to speak in the language of the people today, in order to remove them from the influence of the evil spirit, and enlighten them to the positive one. In much music, even from wretched artists, we find beauty, because the enemy twists and distorts that which God has created as good; but we must be willing to reclaim that which has been stolen from us, from our father, and from our family as Children of Light and brothers and sister of God Himself in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Because all people are under God's direction, we must also acknowledge that good can still be taken from the music itself and from these people. To neglect to see any good or value in these things at all is not of God, but of the devil.

So, remember, when you listen to Drake's music, that God's plan is not to get bunch of women and satisfy the desires of the flesh, to mob around in a threatening way with your crew, and flaunt money, fame, and power.

Remember that Kendrick Lamar is not using his music to promote good values. There is power in words, and to use one like humble, to tell someone, sit down b****, be humble, that is prideful. When he wears a crown of thorns, something sacred, but his music does not match the real meaning of the crown of Christ, the teachings, and the values, then it's profane, and in fact blasphemous.

The Christian journey is about repentance. An artist that leads astray, but then towards the end changes his direction is a good artist in my book, even if it's only in his or her heart. An artist that struggled can be forgiven. He who thinks he has nothing to be forgiven for cannot be forgiven. He who does not forgive others cannot be forgiven.

If the content leads to greater love of the other it is good, if it leads to self-exultation, it is evil. A good tree can have a bad apple once in a while, that does not mean to cut it down. Some need to reach maturity first, before they bear the good fruit for which they have potential. Other trees are rotten, and threaten others through sapping up the energy of those good trees that are struggling hard to grow up. The master of the garden knows his trees however, and will not let the bad tree survive for long!