---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When music is allowed to take the place…"
description: "\"When music is allowed to take the place of devotion and prayer, it is a terrible curse. Young people assemble together to sing, and, although professed..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/992/ellen-g-white-1229_choices_when-music-is-allowed-to-take-the-place_1865736.jpg"
---

#  When music is allowed to take the place of devotion and…

![“When music is allowed to take the place of devotion and prayer, it is a terrible curse. Young people assemble together to sing, and, although professed Christians, frequently dishonor God and their faith by their frivolous conversation and their choice of music.” quote by Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/992/ellen-g-white-1229_choices_when-music-is-allowed-to-take-the-place_1865736.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/992/ellen-g-white-1229_choices_when-music-is-allowed-to-take-the-place_1865736.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/992/ellen-g-white-1229_choices_when-music-is-allowed-to-take-the-place_1865736.jpg)

> “When music is allowed to take the place of devotion and prayer, it is a terrible curse. Young people assemble together to sing, and, although professed Christians, frequently dishonor God and their faith by their frivolous conversation and their choice of music.”

[Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Replacing worship with entertainment can degrade spiritual sincerity, leading to superficial faith expressions.

**In simple terms:** Entertainment can replace true worship.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize sincere devotion over entertainment.

Themes

faith authenticity culture

Mood

concerned serious

Type

warning theological

When to use this quote

- church services
- youth ministries
- personal prayer

Key Concepts

spirituality idolization

Questions to Reflect On

- How does music affect your spirituality?
- Can entertainment coexist with faith?

A Different Perspective

Some music can inspire genuine worship.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/) [Christian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christian/) [Christianity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/christianity/) [Conversation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/conversation/) [Curse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/curse/) [Devotion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/devotion/) [Dishonor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dishonor/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Prayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/prayer/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Young people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-people/)

## Related quotes

> [Secular music was not allowed in our household.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-brandt/secular-music-was-not-allowed-in-our-household/)

[Paul Brandt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-brandt/)

> [The music has allowed me to see the world, make a lot of friends and learn a lot about life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-bailey/the-music-has-allowed-me-to-see-the-world-make-a-lot-of-friends-and/)

[Philip Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-bailey/)

> [If a man aspires to the highest place, it is no dishonor to him to halt at the second, or even at the third.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-tullius-cicero/if-a-man-aspires-to-the-highest-place-it-is-no-dishonor-to-him-to/)

[Marcus Tullius Cicero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-tullius-cicero/)

> [“Each partner, in fact, shares in the honor and dishonor of the other.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teresa-of-vila/each-partner-in-fact-shares-in-the-honor-and-dishonor-of-the-other/)

[Teresa of Ávila](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teresa-of-vila/)

> [Dishonor will not trouble me, once I am dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euripides/dishonor-will-not-trouble-me-once-i-am-dead/)

[Euripides](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euripides/)

> [It's not unfortunate that people aren't genuine; what's unfortunate is that insincere people try to act sincere and in doing so, mislead and deceive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-s-not-unfortunate-that-people-aren-t-genuine-what-s-unfortunate-is/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [There is no dishonor in losing the race. There is only dishonor in not racing because you are afraid to lose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-stein/there-is-no-dishonor-in-losing-the-race-there-is-only-dishonor-in-not/)

[Garth Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-stein/)

> [We honor God by asking for great things when they are a part of His promise. We dishonor Him and cheat ourselves when we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vance-havner/we-honor-god-by-asking-for-great-things-when-they-are-a-part-of-his/)

[Vance Havner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vance-havner/)

> [Fellow-citizens, we cannot escape history. We of this Congress and this administration, will be remembered in spite of ourselves. No personal significance, or insignificance,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/fellow-citizens-we-cannot-escape-history-we-of-this-congress-and-this/)

[Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/)

> [We adorn graves with flowers and redolent plants, just emblems of the life of man, which has been compared in the Holy Scriptures to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-evelyn/we-adorn-graves-with-flowers-and-redolent-plants-just-emblems-of-the/)

[John Evelyn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-evelyn/)

> [Teaching people to become like Jesus, outside of the power of Jesus, dishonors Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-stetzer/teaching-people-to-become-like-jesus-outside-of-the-power-of-jesus/)

[Ed Stetzer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-stetzer/)

> [Death Before Dishonor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ace-hood/death-before-dishonor/)

[Ace Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ace-hood/)

> [“Why, man, he doth bestride the narrow world Like a Colossus; and we petty men Walk under his huge legs, and peep about To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/why-man-he-doth-bestride-the-narrow-world-like-a-colossus-and-we/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [I wrote what I did because as a woman, as a mother, I was oppressed and broken-hearted with the sorrows and injustice I saw,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/i-wrote-what-i-did-because-as-a-woman-as-a-mother-i-was-oppressed-and/)

[Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/)

> [Thousands of Americans have given their lives in Afghanistan and Iraq upholding their oaths and defending this nation. Chelsea Manning broke her oath and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/thousands-of-americans-have-given-their-lives-in-afghanistan-and-iraq/)

[John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/)

## More by Ellen G. White

> [Parents should have perfect control over their own spirits, and with mildness and yet firmness bend the will of the child until it shall…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/parents-should-have-perfect-control-over-their-own-spirits-and-with/)

[Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/)

> [Do not borrow the productions of other men's brains and pens and recite them as a lesson; but make the most of the talents,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/do-not-borrow-the-productions-of-other-men-s-brains-and-pens-and/)

[Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/)

> [I find myself frequently placed where I dare give neither assent nor dissent to propositions that are submitted to me; for there is danger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/i-find-myself-frequently-placed-where-i-dare-give-neither-assent-nor/)

[Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/)

> [Nature utters her voice in lessons of heavenly wisdom and eternal truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/nature-utters-her-voice-in-lessons-of-heavenly-wisdom-and-eternal/)

[Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/)

> [Flesh-meats will depreciate the blood. Cook meat with spices, and eat it with rich cakes and pies, and you have a bad quality of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/flesh-meats-will-depreciate-the-blood-cook-meat-with-spices-and-eat/)

[Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/)

> [“At family worship let the children take a part. Let all bring their Bibles and each read a verse or two. Then let some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/at-family-worship-let-the-children-take-a-part-let-all-bring-their/)

[Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/)

> [“While it is important on the one hand that laxness in dealing with sin be avoided, it is equally important on the other to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/while-it-is-important-on-the-one-hand-that-laxness-in-dealing-with/)

[Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/)

> [We do not mark out any precise line to be followed in diet; but we do say that in countries where there are fruits,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/we-do-not-mark-out-any-precise-line-to-be-followed-in-diet-but-we-do/)

[Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/)

> [I wish that we had much more of the Spirit of Christ and a great deal less self, and less of human opinions. If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/i-wish-that-we-had-much-more-of-the-spirit-of-christ-and-a-great-deal/)

[Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/)

> [“What can be more pleasing to God than to see those who enter into the marriage relation seek together to learn of Jesus and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/what-can-be-more-pleasing-to-god-than-to-see-those-who-enter-into-the/)

[Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/)

> [“Many despise economy, confounding it with stinginess and narrowness. But economy is consistent with the broadest liberality. Indeed, without economy, there can be no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/many-despise-economy-confounding-it-with-stinginess-and-narrowness/)

[Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/)

> [Next to the Bible, nature is to be our great lesson book.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/next-to-the-bible-nature-is-to-be-our-great-lesson-book/)

[Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/)

> [“He hath said it, and He will perform His Word. Calmly rely on His promise, because He means all that He says. Say, He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/he-hath-said-it-and-he-will-perform-his-word-calmly-rely-on-his/)

[Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/)

> [Whatever attracts the mind from God, whatever draws the affections away from Christ, is an enemy to the soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/whatever-attracts-the-mind-from-god-whatever-draws-the-affections/)

[Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/)

> [“God loves you. He does not wish to draw you nigh to Him to hurt you, oh, no; but to comfort you, to pour…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/god-loves-you-he-does-not-wish-to-draw-you-nigh-to-him-to-hurt-you-oh/)

[Ellen G. White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/)

[Explore all 263 Ellen G. White quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/)

## More Choices quotes

> [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/teddy-atlas/of-all-the-people-who-have-affected-my-life-and-influenced-the/)

[Teddy Atlas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/teddy-atlas/)

> [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/)

Alison James

> [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/)

Pancho Barnes

> [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/)

[Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/)

> [Movies have power. Power to impact society and the choices we make. I want to entertain, but I also want to say something to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-prince-bythewood/movies-have-power-power-to-impact-society-and-the-choices-we-make-i/)

[Gina Prince-Bythewood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-prince-bythewood/)

> [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/)

[Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/)

> [Personally, I prefer contemporary films, but the market calls for more period choices, especially since China opened up a cinema market in Hong Kong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-yen/personally-i-prefer-contemporary-films-but-the-market-calls-for-more/)

[Donnie Yen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-yen/)

> [Clarissa," he said, "here with the vampire, I see. When things have settled a bit, we really must discuss you choice in pets..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cassandra-clare/clarissa-he-said-here-with-the-vampire-i-see-when-things-have-settled/)

[Cassandra Clare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cassandra-clare/)

> [Change is inevitable but personal growth is a choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-proctor/change-is-inevitable-but-personal-growth-is-a-choice/)

[Bob Proctor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-proctor/)

> [Time hath not yet so dried this blood of mine, Nor age so eat up my invention, Nor fortune made such havoc of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/time-hath-not-yet-so-dried-this-blood-of-mine-nor-age-so-eat-up-my/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [If you choose to draw from the inner well of free will, then you can make choices that are outside your current karmic patterns.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/if-you-choose-to-draw-from-the-inner-well-of-free-will-then-you-can/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [Act always so as to increase the number of choices](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heinz-von-foerster/act-always-so-as-to-increase-the-number-of-choices/)

[Heinz von Foerster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heinz-von-foerster/)

> [Give me a platter of choice finnan haddie, freshly cooked in its bath of water and milk, add melted butter, a slice or two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-claiborne/give-me-a-platter-of-choice-finnan-haddie-freshly-cooked-in-its-bath/)

[Craig Claiborne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-claiborne/)

> [I don't know that any woman could ever not think about that at some point - even making the choice not to do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-watts/i-don-t-know-that-any-woman-could-ever-not-think-about-that-at-some/)

[Naomi Watts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-watts/)

> [In this choice of inheritance we have given to our frame of polity the image of a relation in blood; binding up the constitution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edmund-burke/in-this-choice-of-inheritance-we-have-given-to-our-frame-of-polity/)

[Edmund Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edmund-burke/)

[Browse all 11,466 Choices quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "When music is allowed to take the place of devotion and prayer, it is a terrible curse. Young people assemble together to sing, and, although professed Christians, frequently dishonor God and their faith by their frivolous conversation and their choice of music.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ellen G. White"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/when-music-is-allowed-to-take-the-place-of-devotion-and-prayer-it-is/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Choices"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/when-music-is-allowed-to-take-the-place-of-devotion-and-prayer-it-is/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/992/ellen-g-white-1229_choices_when-music-is-allowed-to-take-the-place_1865736.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/992/ellen-g-white-1229_choices_when-music-is-allowed-to-take-the-place_1865736.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/992/ellen-g-white-1229_choices_when-music-is-allowed-to-take-the-place_1865736.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When music is allowed to take the place of devotion and prayer, it is a terrible curse. Young people…” — Ellen G. White",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Ellen G. White",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-g-white/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "When music is allowed to take...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/when-music-is-allowed-to-take-the-place-of-devotion-and-prayer-it-is/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-g-white/when-music-is-allowed-to-take-the-place-of-devotion-and-prayer-it-is/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
