Ellen White's Warnings on Holy Flesh Movement Music

The music of the "holy flesh" movement was characterized by loud, confusing demonstrations and theatrical performances that distracted from the solemnity of true worshipLDE 159.1+2.

🚩 Nature of the Music and Demonstrations

The musical manifestations in this movement were not the workings of the Holy Spirit but were designed by Satan to lead souls into dangerous delusions6MR 59.4. Instead of bringing peace, these services involved:

• Noisy Instrumentation: The use of drums, fiddles, flutes, organs, tambourines, and horns created a high pitch of excitementLDE 159.1+1.

• Confusing the Senses: The shouting and loud music were so intense that the senses of rational beings became confused, making them unable to make right decisionsLDE 159.1.

• Theatrical Performance: Musicians involved often used a style suited for the stage rather than the house of God, which destroyed the serious and sacred impression music should produce3SM 333.1+1.

• Physical Demonstrations: The music was used to work up excitement until individuals fell prostrate, which was then falsely claimed to be a "Gethsemane experience" necessary for obtaining "holy flesh"2SM 31.1+1.

🛡️ Divine Warnings and True Worship

True sacred music should be an intelligent expression of praise, whereas the "holy flesh" music was an untamable element marked by extravaganceST May 19, 1890, par. 6. We are warned that:

• A "Strange Work": The Lord has given a definite testimony that such manifestations are a "strange work" and a dangerous delusion that is not prompted by the Holy SpiritGCB April 23, 1901, Art. A, par. 11.

• Order and Harmony: There is perfect order in heaven, and there should be a system on earth so that God's work moves forward without such fanaticism4T 601.4+1.

• True Sacred Song: When the love of Christ abounds in the soul, vocal music exceeds every instrument in its heaven-inspired pathos5MR 197.3+1.

• Fruit of the Spirit: True religion is characterized by a deep searching of heart and a quiet confidence, rather than ecstatic joy or boisterous physical exercises Isaiah 30:154SP 249.1.

⚠️ Consequences of Fanatical Music

Encouraging these noisy demonstrations leads to a wave of fanaticism that closes doors against the soundest principles of truth6MR 59.4+1. It creates a "species of fanaticism" that causes some to question all revival work, even that which is genuine1SM 141.3. We must watch unceasingly to bar the way against these devices, for Satan will try to push souls into the fire of fanaticism if he cannot keep them in the ice of indifferenceSpTA01b 35.2+1. By their fruits you shall know whether a work is truly of God Matthew 7:20.