Music and Spiritual Warfare
How worship songs change the atmosphere
When I was in secondary school, I studied Theatre at A-Level. One of the plays that formed part of the curriculum was Dancing at Lughnasa by Brian Friel. The play is about a group of poverty-stricken Irish women who, living in the 1930s, experience the novel wonder of having a radio.
A line from the play describes how Marconi’s voodoo transforms the kind, sensible women into shrieking strangers (Marconi being the inventor of the wireless radio, and voodoo being a metaphor for the magical power of radio). As a teenager, this idea really struck me and I borrowed the phrase ‘Marconi’s voodoo’ to use as the name for a progressive metal band I formed with my peers. We expanded the metaphor to portray the amazing power of music to change lives.
Technology has of course evolved tremendously since the 1930s and these days many of us are hooked on music streaming services which are magical in ways Friel, and Marconi, probably never imagined. At the press of a button we can manifest virtually any song that comes to mind in any genre. The technology associated with music is affordable and convenient and we can take our favourite songs with us anywhere and everywhere. Music-related technology is so ubiquitous that it’s hard to imagine a train carriage, an exercise class, or a social gathering in which people aren’t listening to music on wireless devices.
The reason why we are so music obsessed is because sound has the power to change the atmosphere. This is especially true in a religious context. Worship music has the power to usher in the presence of God and to hush demonic entities. This is evident in church services, and is also true in our homes.
In the accommodation where I live I have two neighbours in the same building and neither of them are religious, or so it seems. Not only that, but they both struggle with mental illness and I have reason to believe they are both demonically possessed. The atmosphere in the building is often highly oppressive, to the extent that I have had to utilise a range of coping strategies in order to avoid being overwhelmed by the forces of darkness.
I have found the most effective way of changing the atmosphere in the building is to play sacred music. I don’t play it very loudly - that would be inconsiderate - but loud enough that I assume a little of the sound filters through into the other flats. It’s truly amazing the way that the atmosphere in the building changes in response to choral, orchestral, and other sacred music. I have experienced demonic forces fleeing at the sound of a Hillsong album, a traditional hymn, or a Mozart opera.
Perhaps you are also troubled by a dark spiritual atmosphere in your home or in your neighbourhood. If you are, don’t underestimate the wonderful things that putting on music that honours God can do. I know that in my personal circumstances, I probably wouldn’t be alive to write this today if I hadn’t had sacred music to play in my home to cleanse the atmosphere and repel the demonic entities.
For the Christian, spiritual warfare is part of daily life. The tool of atmosphere-cleansing music is a gift from God that can help us to win spiritual battles for good and for Jesus. Your peace of mind might be just one choral classic away.