Can music lead us to God?

Words by Scott Axtmann

When I was a teen I was obsessed with Pink Floyd. I went to several concerts and my favorite thing to do was get high and listen to The Dark Side of the Moon. Sometimes I would try to get up onto the top floor of a parking garage or out in some open field so I could look out into the vast unknown while listening to these haunting harmonies as if I was standing on the edge of the earth gazing out.

While this activity was flawed on so many levels I think there was one aspect that was good. My use of drugs was foolish no doubt but I’m not so sure my use of music to move me toward eternal things was wholly misguided. Music is very powerful and since the early days of humanity it has been used to heighten spiritual senses. Music is the language of the soul. It seems to be saying what we cannot say with mere words. It expresses our angst, our longing for a better world. It resonates with a part of us that we seem to always be wanting to get in touch with but can’t quite reach.

It resonates with a part of us that we seem to always be wanting to get in touch with but can’t quite reach.

Pink Floyd definitely caused me to imagine the possibilities of a future world beyond this world. The music created a thirst in me to know the Eternal. I’m thankful for the ways that music led me to the door but I always found that door shut, locked and impossible to open. The door opened when I asked the One behind the door to open up. The One I refer to is God. One of the greatest promises Jesus ever spoke was “knock and the door will be opened”. Music led me to the door but it was God who opened the door.

Scott_blog bio.jpg — Scott Axtmann

Scott grew up in Western Massachusetts and came to the faith at the age of 21. As the outcome of his transformed life, he founded and now Pastors Renaissance Church and CityLove.