First, the music part of it has nothing to do with Christian or secular. It’s the lyrics.
There are a lot of secular songs that outright talk about ungodly things. Which with these it is no contest, the bible flat out forbids us not to talk of them or "associate with them(Eph 5:7)." This much is self-evident.
Now what about those lyrics that talk neither of God or any right out evil, but if you would, are just kind of neutral. First of all nothing is neutral, Christ says either you are with me or against me.
What I am about to say is based on 2 biblical convictions. 1.) God commands us to not talk or listen or associate with filthy words, joking etc. 2.) God commands not only we should abstain from bad things but instead think and meditate purposefully all the time on God and His Son Jesus Christ.
There is a listing of too much of music, which is just neutral and trivial, and not Jesus provoking, that numbs the mind, which our minds were made by Go to think and enjoy Great thoughts of the Lord Jesus. So I will not tell an absolute amount of mind numbing music one can listen to until it becomes harmful to the Christian and dishonoring to Jesus. But if you love God, then your love for Him will make the decision an easy one. It all depends how much of your mind you want to be saturated with King Jesus all the time! How much are you filled with love and thanks for your God, is how you decided this question. So I ask plainly how much do you want your mind to be actively engaged in loving thoughts and worship toward your God and Savoir Jesus Christ? Just some times, or all the time, what will be for you? I ask now before, Christ the heavenly Judge ask you later, when there will be no opportunity to turn things around. How much do you love your majestic God. Is it enough that you are willing to pursue those things that actually cause you to continually think on Christ your treasure?
Exposition from the bible about this issue
1 Corinthians 10:31, “So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” ESV
Matt 22:37, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” ESV
Just between these to “COMMANDMENTS” it is clear that listening to most kinds of Secular music is out right rebellion and treason against God. With most secular music it is impossible for a person to be listing to it and at the same time “honestly” look up to heaven and say “Father I love you with all my mind by listing to this music, and I am listing to this music to Glorify you”. You could not do that any more than if a person was committing the act of adultery and say those things. Therefore to listen to this type of music is absolutely going against the Commandment given by God Himself.
Ephesians 4:1-2,
“Walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called,”
Ephesians 4:4-6,
“There is one body and one Spirit — just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call — 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all”
There is ONE God and therefore only one FAITH that is able to please the Almighty God and allow me to “walk in a manner worthy of [His] calling”. Now this sets the stage for Ephesians 4 and part of 5. God is going to give us Commands so that we might walk worthy before this ONE God. And encourage us in the right way to live a life that “treasure’s” the Supremacy of Jesus Christ above all things.
Eph 4:13-14
“Until we all attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ,”
In Ephesians 4:13 we learn what the goal of Gods commandments and truth are to produce in us, “unity of Faith” and unity of “knowledge”, so that our lives would Glorify Jesus by obtaining a level of fullness of Christ, by His grace (Eph 4:7).
In Ephesians 4:17 and 18 we learn that the gentiles are very sinful because their minds are “darkened”, that they “walk in the futility of their mind.” Now does listing to secular music help “lighten” or “darken” or just “numb” the mind toward Jesus Christ our Exulted Savoir?
This is more than just a nice thought Paul gives us here it is a COMMANDENT, thus he says, Eph 4:17, “that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds.” And then we are commanded in verse 23, “be renewed in the spirit of your minds… in true righteousness and Holiness”
If listing to you secular music does not “renew” your mind in Jesus Christ then we are told, commanded not to listen to it.
Eph 5:7
“Therefore do not associate with them;” ESV
Eph 5:11,
“Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.”
Now here we are explicitly COMMANDED not to “associate with them”. Which, we will learn soon what the “them” referrers to. We are COMMANDED to “take no part in the unfruitful works”, but not only that but are COMMANED to as far as to even “expose them.”
Here are the “unfruitful works” that God is referring to, (Eph 4:29), “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up”, (Eph 5:4) “Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving”, (Eph 5:5) “an idolater has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God”, (Eph 5:6) “because of these things the wrath of God comes”, (Eph 5:8-9), “Walk as children of light …for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true” ESV
Therefore we are told not to let “no corrupting talk come out of (our) mouths”, and “let there be not filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place.”
Now for those who might think that just because we are COMMANDED not to talk about evil things, that doesn’t mean we are commanded not to “listen” to evil things. That is the same if you say God only said don’t have sex until your married, but He didn’t say you cant watch other people do it. This is of course is both a contradiction and ridiculous. For if you say that then you have completely missed the message of Chapter 5 verses 7 and 11.
First we are commanded not to even “associated with them.” Therefore we are not to “speak” or listen to evil, filthiness or corrupting things, because if you listen to “them”, then you are “associating” and partaking with them. Nothing more could be more self-evident; we are instructed NOT to “associate with them”.
Plus we are commanded to “expose them”. Meaning if a song speaks of “ungodly” things we are to “not associate” with it, but then also “EXPOSE” it as what is truly is, “evil” and blaspheme against our Glorious God and Savoir Jesus Christ.”
By not “exposing them” we are doing the very thing that God said in, Romans 1:18-31, why His wrath has been manifested. Because people “suppress the truth”, “the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men”(Rom 1:18).
That is why we are to “Expose” evil as it truly is because it shows the infinite worth of Jesus Christ and His Glory. That is why if we really “LOVE” God with “ALL our MINDS” we will do what we are commanded in Phil 4:8 and meditated on the things that are “TRUE”. And we have already learned what is true from Jesus Christ, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life”(John 14:6)
Therefore I find the Commandments of God are clear on this issue. Much harm is done to God and other people when people make what is evil and make it look common and ok. Who knows how much blood shed and harm each one of us has brought upon others by making what is evil, seem common and ok, which God will hold all of us accountable for!
(Eph 4:29), “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up.”
Therefore I encourage all to do those things that build up people in our Great God and Savoir Jesus Christ. Not to build up their self-esteem, but build up their faith, hope and Love in the Lord Jesus Christ. Lets build each other up, in light of what has just been discussed, in what we listen to, good or evil. One point I hope I was able to convince you on, is if you seek God you cant be neutral, but you must actively seek or in this case listen to that which will positively build you up in our God and Savoir Jesus Christ. I pray God will give you this desire for I know He is willing and ready to give us His kingdom if you but only seek Him diligently.
May Gods grace through His might Son be with His elect children forever, Amen.
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