Yesterday an anonymous commenter asked the question, "Does secular music have a place in the Christian's life."
I have heard it taught (and would subscribe to the belief) that Colossians 3 and Ephesians 5 is giving us the guidelines for the three styles of music Christians should listen to - Psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. So then, the qeustion becomes, Where does secular music fit in? If the latest chart topper is not a psalm, a hymn, or a spiritual song - should the believer listen to it and sing it? I would think "No" based on the guidelines given.
Today I want to approach the question from a different angle though - Psalm 40.
In Psalm 40 David begins by talking about his conversion and how God took him up out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set his feet upon a rock and established his goings. The very next verse David proclaims - "And He hath put a new song in my mouth, even praise unto our God." In light of his salvation, David stated that God changed the songs that he sung! David sang new songs - not simply because he was given guidelines, but because that is all his heart wanted to sing!
Rather than refraining from secular music only out of obedience to Colossians 3 and Ephesians 5, how about we consider the fact that as blood-bought believers who were miraculously saved by God's glorious grace, we should desire to sing a new song about our Redeemer, our Saviour, our Friend!
I don't think secular music has a place for Christians. But I also think the Christian should not want to sing secular songs - but rather sing songs that glorify and praise the Lord Jesus. Why do I think that - because in light of what God did for me on the cross - He is worthy to receive all glory, honor and our praise!
Anyway, just a thought.
12 comments:
Andy, I would think that you then have to use the same standard when evaluating classical music and patriotic songs as you mentioned yesterday. So, if it's a song like "You're a Grand Old Flag" or "Beethoven's 5th" or "Old MacDonald" that would be secular. Whereas songs like "God Bless America" or Handel's "Messiah" would be acceptable. Would you agree?
Great post!! - Earlier you wrote, "Therefore we have now arisen the issue of Classical Music, Patriotic music (songs that don't bring glory to God - think "You're a grand ol' flag..."), love songs for your wife, etc..." --- is your conclusion that songs that don't bring glory to God are inappropriate for a Christian to sing?
Classical - there are no words to classical music, so for this post, I'm going to stick to lyrical issues...
Love Songs to your wife - not a problem. I don't think writing a poem to your wife would be wrong, nor would singing your wife a song professing your love for her. for her... in her presence... Not, in the car on the way to work, or at the office, etc.
Patriotic music that doesn't thank/praise God for what He has done - Also that could fall in to this category: Commercial Jingles, Songs about winter wonderlands, etc. I would say that these things would fall under the 'vain' category (empty, worthless). If they take up much of your "music time" then it is unprofitable and the time should be spent better. At the same time, there are vain things in our lives - could we get rid of all of them completely? I don't know - but I would say that we should choose to dump the vain things when it's our option.
so then is there no room for a Christian to have any entertainment in his or her life out side of "churchy" type things? what about movies and t.v. is it only ok when it's about God? or broadway shows? when is a Christian ok to take part in this stuff? or should all personal entertainment be left behind? i really do want to know what you think on this im not trying to be smart by asking...
Dave, that is a good question... My answer may not suffice you, but "Whether therefore ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."
I've typed and re-typed like 3 different paragraphs to go here. I'm scratching them all and leaving the verse to speak for itself. Whatsoever ye do, do ALL to the glory of God.
Andy - I like this post! It is not "Can I listen to secular music?" but rather "Why would I want to!?"
Dave - it is difficult to find Scripture to back up entertainment and the such - I do see a Sabbath principle throughout the Scripture that allows believers time to rest and refocus - but we really don't see what types of things are allowable during that resting period.
The verse Andy keeps posting (1 Cor 10:31) is a real encouragement to keep our focus on the things above and not get caught being sidetracked by the lures of the world. Wish I knew where the line is...
We are to be separated - IN the world, but not OF it. Our pastor once likened it to the marriage vow "forsaking all others." We forsake relationships with anyone else for our marriage. There is NO room for another person besides my husband. Likewise, we forsake the world's music and entertainment for GOD - re-iterating the point of "why would I want to [have the world]"?
Just as a testimony... When I was tempted to listen to secular music, it was a first step in the wrong direction. I could justify country, and then it would go to a little more up beat from there... you see the pattern. In my life, I could gauge my spiritual condition by which music I desired to listen to.
Psa 25:5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day.
Psa 35:28 And my tongue shall speak of thy righteousness and of thy praise all the day long.
Psa 44:8 In God we boast all the day long, and praise thy name for ever. Selah.
Psa 71:8 Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day.
Psa 71:15 My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.
Psa 71:24 My tongue also shall talk of thy righteousness all the day long: for they are confounded, for they are brought unto shame, that seek my hurt.
Psa 89:16 In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted.
Psa 119:97 MEM. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
Pro 23:17 Let not thine heart envy sinners: but be thou in the fear of the LORD all the day long.
1Co 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
(Psa 119:113) SAMECH. I hate vain thoughts: but thy law do I love.
Psa 119:37 Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity; and quicken thou me in thy way.
Those verses don't seem to leave any room for movies or other entertainment venues (sporting events, theater plays and more).
We are bought with a price and created for His pleasure with a mandate to die to ourself and to redeem the time in the work of the Lord.
What other cultures or peoples through time have consumed so much time on their own pleasure and entertainment. Are we justified in doing it because it is acceptible and promoted in society? What is the eternal value of entertaining ourselves? Its humanism.
When I dont have an answer for someone or dont witness to someone because I was too busy entertaining myself, God is not glorified and souls are jeopardized for eternity. I will never get back the wasted time and if I get it right I will still have to consume more time in learning what I could have been learning while I was entertaining myself instead.
Lastly, not just the direct verses above mentioned but also the examples we have to follow - I fail to find record of Jeremiah, Isaiah, Daniel, Samuel, John the Baptist, JESUS, Paul etc spending their time doing vain things and entertaining themselves.
Read about adoniram judson and george mueller - their lives should sober us up and humble us away from our vain desires.
Believing the above to be biblical I admit to falling far short of attaining it. Thank God He is not finished with us yet! Are we willing though to take steps that are unthinkable in this culture and generation?
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