The most infamous heretic in church history was a man named Arius in the fourth century. He denied the deity of Jesus Christ. He taught that Jesus was a created being, not divine, not eternal, and therefore, not fully God. Those claims alarmed church leaders and put Arius on the heresy watch-list.

But the problem was that Arius was not only a heretic. He was a musician. He wrote songs. Catchy songs. Clever songs. Songs that were easy to remember and fun to sing. The content of his songs? Jesus and his un-divine nature. Hymns filled with heresy.

Arius lived in the bustling, metropolitan city of Alexandria. It was a commercial, working town and filled with musical opportunities. Sailors at the docks would sing as they worked. Merchants in the waterways would pick up the tunes. Traders coming in and out of the city would sing songs as they travelled.

Music became the key means by which Arius’ poisonous theology spread to the masses. His heretical hymns filled the air. In the workplaces, in the streets, and yes, eventually, even in the church. It was not a small crisis. It fractured the church.

When they realized how popular Arius’s beliefs had become, church leaders, like Athanasius, sounded the ecclesiastical alarm. The conflict reached the ears of Emperor Constantine, who called a special meeting to confront the issue head on and decide what the official belief of the church should be. That special meeting was the Ecumenical Council of Nicaea in 325 AD.

Some memorable events transpired at that meeting. One, Saint Nicholas slapped Arius in the face. No joke. He could no longer endure to hear Arius spout his heresy. Two, the church leaders drafted an official document to articulate the orthodox beliefs of the church. That document was the Nicene Creed. I suspect you’ve heard of it. It’s kinda famous. It defined the deity of Christ in no uncertain terms. A third thing that happened was Arius was exiled for his heresy. Good riddance!

Why talk about a musically-inclined heretic? Because I think Arius was on to something. Songs are powerful. One of my favorite chapters in the Bible is a song. It’s Psalm 46. I know the subscriptions of Psalms don’t get a lot of attention, but they should! They are inspired. Check out the beginning of Psalm 46.

To the choirmaster. Of the Sons of Korah. According to Alamoth. A Song. Those are important lines! They tell us the truths that follow (all 11 verses) were set to music and intended to be sung and celebrated by God’s people. Can you imagine anything more powerful to remind yourself in the midst of a crisis than: “God is our refuge and strength. A very present help in time of trouble. Therefore, we will not fear.”? I like that tune a heck of a lot better than a false song about Jesus’ creatureliness or his un-god-like limitations. Give me Psalm 46 any day.

Martin Luther seized the idea of modern music as a medium when he put Psalm 46 to some contemporary music of his day (allegedly he got the melodies from pubs) and gave us the hymn “A Mighty Fortress.” History tells us when conflict over the reformation reached a fevered pitch, Luther would grab his friend Melanchthon and say “Come Philip! Let us sing the 46th and let the devil do his worst!”

If you take a look at popular songs throughout history, they always share two themes: a catchy tune and a powerful message. You don’t have to be a heretic to compose dangerous, misleading songs. And you don’t have to be a heretic to sing them, either.

God knows that music is powerful. So do we. So does Satan. After all, he was the choir-director in heaven. True story. Check out Ezekiel 28 when you have time.

Here’s my point: the Bible tells us "be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart” —Ephesians 5:18–19.

I think some of the greatest songs to sing—both to ourselves and others—are the Psalms. Basil the Great said, “A psalm drives away demons, summons the help of angels, furnishes arms against nightly terrors, and gives respite from daily toil; to little children it is safety, to men in their prime an adornment, to the old a solace, to women their most fitting ornament.” He’s right! The 46th Psalm is a great example. Just last week I reminded myself over and over again that I have a strong refuge in Jesus, a well-proven aid in my greatest time of need.” That truth liberated me from fear and insecurity.

It reminded me that God is not so much interested in shielding me from trouble as he is in giving me a refuge during trouble. I needed that reminder. Maybe you do too. That Psalm tells us that God will shelter us. He will satisfy us, and He will save us.

When the pressures and stresses of life come at you, when the false shelters and fortresses you took refuge in start to crumble, when “the earth gives way, the mountains get moved into the heart of the sea, and its waters roar and foam,” what settles your heart? What songs do you sing to yourself? As clear and powerful as the Sons of Korah made their tune in that Psalm, it becomes even more clear when we consider the New Testament and the finished work of Jesus.

“It is finished!” I like that. “We are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.” I need that. “Nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus.” There’s a song to sing to your shaken heart! Sing it, Christian.