Question:
Several months ago
while driving, I
was listening to
one of my favorite
southern rock CDs.
I caught myself
singing about flirting
with disaster, being
out of money and
hope, and my whole
life looking like
self‑destruction.
I trust in Jesus
and I began to feel
a sense of guilt
about singing these
lyrics that don’t
apply to me at all.
Do you think I should
toss this kind of
music?
Answer:
Can you remember
a time when you
asked somebody something
and suddenly discovered
you just answered
your own question?
If
not, I think you
just did. Although
there is no condemnation
or adverse sentence
against those who
are in Christ Jesus,
God does expect
Christians to live
according to the
internal leading
of His Spirit. (See
Gal 5:16.)
God’s
Holy Spirit within
allows a Christian
to feel uncomfortably
convicted about
anything which leads
us into sin, temptation
or destruction.
He allows these
feelings in order
to draw us close
to Him in our relationship.
Those who ignore
God’s warnings by
continually entertaining
sinful pleasures
or thoughts often
feel as though God
is far away.
(See
Jms 4:7‑8.)
What
occupies our minds
will eventually
determine our speech
and actions. Thus,
Christians are to
take every loose
thought into captivity,
making it obedient
to Christ. (See
2Cor 10:5.) There
is nothing wrong
with the style of
music as much as
its message.
If
a song moves us
to become involved
in anything that
doesn’t glorify
God, then we should
avoid it. In our
church library,
we have George Harrison
on video laughing
at the number of
Christians he lured
into singing the
lyrics of his song
“My Sweet Lord,”
which had far more
to do with Hinduism
than anything Christian.
It’s
not wrong to listen
to all secular music,
but you know when
something is bad
for you. You felt
the Holy Spirit
warning you not
to listen to that
CD anymore. Remember,
the only reason
God places borders
in our life is to
protect our freedom.
If we allow garbage
into our minds,
then garbage is
all we can expect
to come out.
Believers
are under grace,
not law, but make
no mistake: Music
is a powerful force.
The key to experiencing
joy in your heart
is to have the right
thoughts in your
mind. Paul wrote
that we are to think
on things that are
true, honest, just,
pure, lovely, of
good report, virtuous
and praiseworthy.
(See Phil 4:8.)
Colossians
2:8
