Expert: Quentin Parker - 12/6/2010

Question
Hi, hello, and how is your day Quentin? Ever since I reaccepted Christ back into my life last year, the Holy Spirit has convicted me of some things and other areas no conviction. For example, for some reason, I have a strong conviction now for dating (maybe because I abused the dating game --- this is when I backslided and left the Lord). Now the Lord has really put a strong desire for marriage and a burden in my heart to want to settle down and start a family and be a mother. Ever since I came back to the Lord the Holy Spirit too has been talking to me about how I dress, my testimony of Christ through my dress, and learning to dress as a Christian lady with a proper attitude, a pleasant attitude, and good works.
This is my question: my mother makes a really big issue over born-again Christians displeasing the Lord when they listen to secular music. I really do not like the term secular ---- it's as if that world of music is against God. I believe that God is the Creator of all things, and that the original state of man has corrupted all things, but that beautiful music is all a gift from God as expressed through the artist.
I listen to Gospel (Fred Hammond and Radical for Christ, Hezekiah Walker and the New Fellowship, Donnie McClurkin, Yolanda Adams, Bebe and Cece Winans, Tri-ni-tee 3:5,7..and the list goes on...). But I do admit that I also love pop and R&B music (Ne-yo, Usher, Beyonce, Alicia Keys, Mariah Carey, the Dream. Kanye West, Jay-Z, Timbaland, and the list goes on). The Holy Spirit has not convicted me of listening to pop and R&B music, but yet my mother maintains that I cannot be possibly born-again and even dare listen to this music. She says that it does not glorify God. The content of this music talks about love, relationships, and the artist's personal experiences, or expression of what they are feeling at the time when they wrote that particular song. I enjoy the music, with no kind of evil thoughts, or sinful intentions!!! I relax with this music. That's pretty much it!!! Truly if the Holy Spirit spoke to me about the particular content of a song, I would definitely stop listening to it. When I come back from a hard day at work, I stay in range of God's voice by reading the Bible. But a couple of times during the week, I just want to unwind and listen to mainstream music (the pop and R&B music). If the Holy Spirit hasn't convicted me of these, why does my mother say that it is sin to listen to these?
P.S. she also says that the minister taught them in church that when Satan fell from heaven that that the first thing that he did was corrupted music. Is this really true?
Just need some of your insight and Biblical expertise. Thank you so much for all of your help Quentin. God bless you!
In Christ, Mahilia

Answer
Hello Mahilia,

I’m very well and thank-you for your question.

It’s wonderful to hear the ways in which the Lord has been convicting you in such areas as dating and modesty! Thanks for sharing.

I believe that music, in many ways, is one of those areas of ‘liberty’ as described in Romans 14. So, you’re right – your mother likely cannot judge whether your conscience is clear before God in this matter. At the same time, it’s always wise to consider seriously any constructive counsel from others (especially your mother - Eph. 6:1,2) and examine your life just to make sure your conscience hasn’t grown calloused.

Also, we must remember that areas of so-called Christian liberty are not ‘neutral’. We still want to make sure that we are doing the very best we can to make sure what we are doing is glorifying to God. If there is any doubt in our minds, we should eliminate it (Matt. 5:29,30). It’s always better to tend towards caution and make sure our primary thought is for Christ and His glory and not our own pleasure and comfort. We have to make sure that if we realized that what we were doing was wrong or not beneficial (1 Cor. 6:12; 10:23) we’d be willing to let it all go for the sake of Christ (Phil. 3:8).

Songs are usually judged in two aspects: the words and the music. The words are easy to judge – it’s generally clear whether the content brings glory to God or not (Ephesians 5:3-19)). The music? Well, not so much. However, even the music isn’t neutral. There’s definitely music that glorifies God and music that doesn’t. Music is primarily targeted at our emotions and it can have a powerful affect on our thinking that’s so subtle we don’t even realize it. We have to be careful to make sure that the emotions our music promotes are pure, God-honoring, and obedient ones. And yes – this is something one must consider, judge, pray, and decide for oneself. Different people draw the line different places; different people are more susceptible to different emotions or sins. It’s always good to exhort one another and give each other constructive help in such decision-making but ultimately the matter rests between them and God.

No, it’s not at all a scriptural notion that “the first thing Satan corrupted when he fell from heaven was music”. It’s a powerful tool he can use to stir up wrong thoughts and emotions in people, to be sure, but Scripture does not support your mother’s minister’s story.

Thanks again for your question, Mahilia. I hope this is helpful to you.

God bless you as you seek to follow Him!
Quentin Parker