thaliquelle

I personally like rock music. I also listen to a lot of secular music, mostly from the 70's - 90's as that is what I grew up listening to and have always enjoyed. I do listen to the lyrics and have found, for me, that music with lyrics promoting promiscuity or objectification of women or satanic messages or swearing etc. really does spoil a song for me even if I do love the melody or the awesome guitar solo. All good things come from God and music is no exception in this. As with all good things in this world, as many people here have pointed out, music can be corrupted. But even when music isn't being used to worship God, surely that doesn't make it automatically evil? I believe that music is also meant for our enjoyment. If someone has a real talent and if in using their talent they aren't producing something that is offensive to or against Christian values (while not necessarily being in obvious agreement - shall we say say neutral?) is there any reason why that can't be enjoyed by a believer? What about non-worship music written by Christians? My husband particuarly enjoys heavy music and I have listened to it and personally, it's not for me. I can't hear the lyrics, the music is not melodic enough for me and well.. it's just not for me. He listens to a wide range of music and I like to see what he listens to and find out if he's discovered anything I might enjoy. Once I was worried about some of the stuff he listened to. We talked about it and he agreed some of the music he had been getting into probably wasn't the kind of thing he, as a Christian, should be listening to (mostly because of the sexualised nature of the lyrics). He now screens stuff before purchases music. That said, he's introduced to me a handfull of different rock bands from the 80's with Christ centered lyrics and I do enjoy listening to that music. I know that I can sing along and enjoy the music knowing the lyrics are good. Willamina mentioned Stryper - one of my favourites - but there's also bands like Whitecross... and others who I can't remember off the top of my head. Those of you who are skeptical, even if you don't like the music, just listen to or look up the lyrics. The singing is clear so the words can be heard. Like someone else said many people who wouldn't step foot inside a church might go a concert and if that's how God chooses to reach them then I'm not sure that we can say with any certainty that this is not one way God chooses to bring the lost to Himself or to encourage His own. I understand not everyone here will agree with me and that is fine (it's not a Gospel issue). As for the op... Pastors should be held to a higher standard, that is part of the job description. *If* their choices in music are against Christianity that would certainly be a problem. Does your pastor know (really know) how worried the situation makes you and that it could cause you to leave that particular congregation? He might not realise how important this is to you and your wife. Would you stay if he didn't make reference to music that is obviously against Christian values?

I agree with Willimina too. I think it's biblical for men to provide leadership and teaching in church. There may come times when this isn't possible but as a blanket rule, in a mixed congregation, men should take the lead. There are many different ways in which women can be actively involved in ministry though; to women, children, etc. Where I am, there is a yearly conference held for women. All the organising, leadership and teaching is done by women. When you're talking about an audience who is exclusively female, I don't see there being any problem if the person delivering the teaching is another woman. I don't know what others might about that?

Rom 8:28 is often used without acknowleding the greater context of the verse. If you look at verse 29 as well it reads more like the good God is working out for us is actually conforming us to the image of His Son (note the "for" at the start of the sentence) which is, in the long run, better than any other type of good which He could be working out for us.

I think the most important thing is the spirit in which you do things. If you're doing it because you feel it brings honour to God to keep a sabbath for whatever reason (maybe you put aside a day to be with God in prayer and in the scriptures or spend time in His creation etc.) then there's nothing wrong with that and, for you, the sabbath is still very real and valid. As followers of Christ in the new covanent, we aren't bound by old testament laws and traditions (including the sabbath), rather we have been saved by grace and we won't be measured against the law. That said, a lot of today's western moral code is derived from teaching across the Bible, including the law. The law also serves to show us God's ultimate standard for humanity and how much the Isrealites had to do to keep themselves right with God. It shows us how helpless we are without God's intervention and that it is only because of Jesus that we can be made right with God. If you are keeping the sabbath because you see it as a hard and fast rule that can't be broken or others are making you feel that to be a genuine Christian you must keep a sabbath day then I would question the motives there. Keeping a tradition in place for no other reason than it makes you feel superior to those who don't, or so that you will look good next to someone who does isn't going to serve to honour God, only those who would impress this tradition upon others. Christians in the early church were advised by Paul in regards to different festivals, what they do or don't eat and drink doesn't matter (see Colossians 2:16-23). v23 says: "Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence." Paul also writes to the Corinthian church about a similar matter (1 Cor 10:23-33). Although this is directly about meat that has been used as a sacrifice, the logic still applies. You are free to choose and your salvation is not hinged on whether or not you keep the sabbath, or even on what day you observe it. As v 31 says: "whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."