music? a sin?

[princess2000]

Ok, music is not now, nor has it ever been a sin, it is always the contents of the song that determin whether or not it is bad or good. For good secular music, I tend to listen to what is probably considered pop, if you have sirius radio it's The Pulse, and I guess since they merged with XM radio it's now there too. Dad and I will sing along, but sometimes we just stop and listen to the lyrics, usually it's pretty good, Pink never is, but I'm not expecting much on that end anyway. Daughtry is actually probably the best out there in terms of secular bands, I used to have a problem with it because it looked a lot like adultry, but then I researched the band and found out it was the lead singer's last name. Anyway, their song "What about Now?" is apperantly like at least 50% taken from scripture, but you would never guess that by listening to it. It has like the exact same message as Tim McGraw's "Live Like You Were Dieing" both are about this being your last day...actually so is Nickleback's "If Today Was Your Last Day".

Jesse McCartney's first cd "Beautiful Soul" has an amazing message prettty much all through it, "Without U" doesn't but his song "Beautiful Soul" is about wanting a girl because she's beautiful on the inside, "She's No You" is about girls flaunting their physical beauty and how they hold nothing to the girl he's singing to, because he likes her, and he wants her. "Take Your Sweet Time" is about the girl wanting space, probably because of something bad, and the boy saying "ok, I'll give you all the time and space, but if you ever need someone, I'm here." "That Was Then" is about the guy being a jerk, and finally respecting his girlfriend. "Because You Live" is about being saved from dark thoughts (suicide from the sound of it). I kinda just realized that it's like listening to Skillet, but a compleatly different tone to the music.

Peace out

~Beka

[artsylady]

I really like the new rule that says if it doesn't edify God, it is a sin. What will they think of next?

I guess fishing with a friend, taking an art class, time at the park with your dog or enjoying a latte alone at a coffee shop are all no-no's too!

Can I go on to another question? If you and your neighbour are chatting and he is playing secular music in his garage, do you stick around to talk or do you feel spiritually tainted and have to leave?

[artsylady]

I can not say what spirit another might do this, but if the end result is not to win your child to Christ then i would say it is sin. But it is not sin to sing Eensy Wensy Spider to a child for the right reason.

So it is wrong to sing eensy weensy spider with your child unless you are using this song to bring the child to Christ? Is it wrong to sing it just for fun?

Is it wrong to make balloon animals with your kid, just for fun??

[nebula]

So what is the purpose of music?

I keep thinking of the song here:

Then He Said, "Sing!"

(wait for the song to start on its own after clicking the link)

[nebula]

The Son of man comes to seek and save that which is lost. This combined with the great commission gives us the certainty that this is the main goal once we become Christians. The methods and ways we can fulfill this are myriad, but everything done is for this end.

i.e We are commanded to love God first and then our neighbour and ourselves according to the merits of doing so.

When we worship and love God we are empowered and set free to better save souls.

Again, I have to disagree with you.

What ever happened to worshiping God to draw closer to Him?

Matt. 7:22-23 - "Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles ?' "And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.'

In Hebrew thought, "knowing" implies deep, personal interaction.

Consider what do you make of an evangelist who is guilty of immorality? What bothers you more - his poor witness or his separation from God?

Yes, "The Son of man comes to seek and save that which is lost," but He also trained disciples, and He cultivated His relationship with His Father.

Yes we need to bring others into the Kingdom, but we also need to grow and mature. The Church is more than a "baby factory" you know. Why else would Paul speak of maturity?

1 Corinthians 3:6 - I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth.

Apollos' ministry was to minister to people who were already saved, to help grow them in the Lord.

JSISGD, it's great that you have such a strong heart for evangelism, and I pray the Lord grant you a bountiful harvest. However, not all are called to be evangelists, some are pastors (who shepherd the (already saved) flock) and some are teachers (again, a ministry to those already saved).

Asking a teacher like me to be an evangelist is like asking a duck to climb a tree.

[mizzdy]

I think it is a great shame and ultimately pretty unhelpful that this thread started by someone with a serious question has boiled down to the personal theology of one or two individuals...the whole thrust of the thread has been lost and the focus changed.

If I was a young guy like GregortheGaliant who is 16 years old, and has come to Worthy seeking to know how to find a better walk with G-d, I would be dismayed/confused in particular by some of the rigidly super-spiritual advice...and the heavy condemnation that inevitably accompanies such apparent spirituality.

What if your wrong? I am certainly not rigid or offering super spiritual advice. Im sure Gregor can choose for himself what is right and wrong. None of us have someone holding our hand, we all have to go to Jesus the author and finisher of our faith. If we dont we are at fault for there will always be false teachers.

Sometimes we all need a hand even in our walk with God, sometimes its His hand or one He sends our way. Sure Gregor can choose for himself yet he choose to come here and ask for others thoughts and guideance. There is a lot of rigid thinking in many of yours posts, this seems to be the way you communicate whether its unintentional or not, its still there. In the end its true we are all held accountable for our own actions and walk but for those who believe they are 'teaching' there is a higher standard God holds them to.

Adressing the OP,

Music in and of itself is not 'bad' its the intention and direction the music takes you, which I'm sure someone has already said here. Words mean something and if we are listening to music that uses words that effectively say to go and kill someone well that just might be something one shouldn't listen to. Although I don't know many who listen to country music that speak about cheating and such who have actually gone out and cheated because the music talked about it. Listen to the Spirit, listen to what is being laid upon your heart and if you still have concerns bow your knees and heart to God.

[artsylady]

Although I don't know many who listen to country music that speak about cheating and such who have actually gone out and cheated because the music talked about it.

Country music has changed in the last decade. There is now some very positive Country lyrics out there with some artists who are Christians. I am not much of a fan myself except for a few songs "Amazed" by Lonestar "Any Man of Mine" by Shania Twain, "Let Freedom Reign" Martina McBride - that's about it i think for me personally.

I just recently learned the Oakridge Boys are Christian after I saw them on a Gaither special. And yes, they sang Elvira!

[JCISGD]

I really like the new rule that says if it doesn't edify God, it is a sin. What will they think of next?

I guess fishing with a friend, taking an art class, time at the park with your dog or enjoying a latte alone at a coffee shop are all no-no's too!

Can I go on to another question? If you and your neighbour are chatting and he is playing secular music in his garage, do you stick around to talk or do you feel spiritually tainted and have to leave?

A. I would hang around if I thought it would advantange my goal of saving him, and depart if it would only waste time while there was better things to do with my time. I would not be tainted either way.

Artsy, Im NOT saying listening to secular music is sin, Im saying listening with the wrong objective is wrong. In most cases it is not what we do that makes a thing wrong but why we do it.

If I worship God with wrong motives it is wrong and a sin.

You seem to be taking my arguement further than intended, perhaps I am a poor communicator?

I have not objected to any of the activities above or Eensy Wensy Spider, I have only said that everything we do is to be for the glory of God and that Gods only mission on this earth is to seek and save the lost using a myriad ways, methods and activities.

The OP asked if secular music was a sin, and I replied that it is IF for mindless entertainment and not to glorify God.

[artsylady]

A. I would hang around if I thought it would advantange my goal of saving him, and depart if it would only waste time while there was better things to do with my time. I would not be tainted either way.

I really don't think you're going to be able to save anyone. I think I know what you mean though. I think every opportunity one has a Christian to be a witness is beneficial, if the unbeliever can see that you're a decent guy and not a self-righteous holier-than-thou judge (which is the perception a lot of people have of Christians. Even if YOU don't bring him to Christ, you can still plant a seed. He may move away and you'll never know if that seed has taken root or not.

Artsy, Im NOT saying listening to secular music is sin, Im saying listening with the wrong objective is wrong. In most cases it is not what we do that makes a thing wrong but why we do it.

If I worship God with wrong motives it is wrong and a sin.

You seem to be taking my arguement further than intended, perhaps I am a poor communicator?

I have not objected to any of the activities above or Eensy Wensy Spider, I have only said that everything we do is to be for the glory of God and that Gods only mission on this earth is to seek and save the lost using a myriad ways, methods and activities.

The OP asked if secular music was a sin, and I replied that it is IF for mindless entertainment and not to glorify God.

I think I understand. Singing Eensy Weensy Spider with your kid is a sin if you are just doing it for fun, or mindless entertainment. ????? Really now!?

[JCISGD]

Nebula, I agree with everything you say in your post above. My point is that one may teach, and another have the gift of hospitality etc, but when boiled down it is all ultimatley towards the salvation of the lost. Those you teach will be encouraged and strengthened in their walk and understanding etc and it all adds to the body whose mission on earth is to save as many as possible while it is still daytime. Absolutley not all are evangelists and not all our activities directly save the lost, but saving them is our highest privaledge next to worshipping God, but this too leads to the lost getting saved and will be so untill the night comes.

Mizzdy, I agree that my posts seem rigid, but i run the risk of being tedious by prefacing everything and my internet dropping out and losing all I have typed.

It could also be because they are so foriegn to todays modern gospel which has lost so much of real gospel teaching.

When I first came accross the author I have learned these things from, I threw his writings down in disgust as "legalist rubbish". I did this 3 times over a period of 3-4 mths but God kept me coming back untill the light dawned and I saw the heart of them was to save from sin which always robs, steals and destroys.

Please dont accuse me of worshipping a man and not God, it is God who made me see the truths I now hold to.