What About Secular Music

By: Qu'Derrick Covington

Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. (Philippians 4:8 NKJV)

And the Lord said, “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” (Luke 22:31, 32 NKJV)

The person behind the music makes it good or bad. His goal,what inspires,what it's dedicated to or consecrated for the person is serving.

Whatever a person allows to occupy his mind will sooner or later determine his speech and actions.

Musical instruments are found throughout the Bible. Harps, trumpets, string instruments, cymbals, tambourines, wind instruments are throughout the Bible. David used an instrument to drive the demon from Saul.

And the priests attended to their services; the Levites also with instruments of the music of the Lord, which King David had made to praise the Lord, saying, “For His mercy endures forever,” whenever David offered praise by their ministry. The priests sounded trumpets opposite them, while all Israel stood. (2 Chronicles 7:6 NKJV)

But now bring me a musician.”
Then it happened, when the musician played, that the hand of the Lord came upon him. And he said, “Thus says the Lord: ‘Make this valley full of ditches.’ For thus says the Lord: ‘You shall not see wind, nor shall you see rain; yet that valley shall be filled with water, so that you, your cattle, and your animals may drink.’ (2 Kings 3:15-17 NKJV)

To sing with music was common and expected.

Sing to the Lord with the harp, With the harp and the sound of a psalm, (Psalm 98:5 NKJV)

Psalm 33 Rejoice in the Lord, O you righteous! For praise from the upright is beautiful. Praise the Lord with the harp; Make melody to Him with an instrument of ten strings. Sing to Him a new song; Play skillfully with a shout of joy. (Psalm 33:1-3 NKJV)

Music isn't bad but what about the person behind it. So what about secular music?
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Secular - something that pertains to the temporal rather that the spiritual, not specifically pertaining to religion or to a religious body,pertaining to or advocating secularism.

Secularism - the view that consideration of the present well being of mankind should predominate over religious considerations in civil affairs or public education.

Secularize - to cause to draw away from religion orientation; make worldly.

Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:16 NKJV)

The devil (world) depends on music and entertainment to advance their agenda.

You were running the race nobly. Who has interfered in
(hindered and stopped you from) your heeding and following
the Truth? This [evil] persuasion is not from Him Who called you [Who
invited you to freedom in Christ]. A little leaven (a slight inclination to error, or a few false
teachers) leavens the whole lump [it perverts the whole conception of faith or
misleads the whole church]. (Galatians 5:7-9 AMP)

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. (John 10:10 NKJV)

Leaven - sour dough in a high state of fermentation used in making bread; symbolizes the pervasive character of evil; paints the picture of being bred of corruption coming from previous things.
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If you can't come to church and enjoy Christian music - you have been seduced.

3 Reasons Why People Say They Don't Like Christian Music.
1. I don't like it.
2. It doesn't do anything for me.
3. It's not what we listen to.

If you find yourself only wanting to listen to secular music the devil has accomplished his goal to seduce and addict you - take you from God.

The devil goal is to have the fleshly desires control and run you - so you will never experience the things of the spirit.

For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. (Galatians 5:17NKJV)

And it came to pass when the priests came out of the Most Holy Place (for all the priests who were present had sanctified themselves, without keeping to their divisions), and the Levites who were the singers, all those of Asaph and Heman and Jeduthun, with their sons and their brethren, stood at the east end of the altar, clothed in white linen, having cymbals, stringed instruments and harps, and with them one hundred and twenty priests sounding with trumpets— indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the Lord, saying:
“ For He is good, For His mercy endures forever,” that the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God. (2 Chronicles 5:11-14NKJV)

No desire for Christian music means something has taken over - and it's spiritual - in an ungodly way.

The "we" in it is not what we listen to - implies a backslid den state, wrong
Associations, and the leaven has spread (also shows poor self image, fear, etc...)

Not all gospel music is legitimate either - gospel artists have a secular artist on their cd's. We must look at lyrics, the person, the lifestyle, and where they get their inspiration.

God's restrictions, parameters, boundaries, and prohibit actions are only expressions of His love, knowledge and foresight.

“When the Lord your God brings you into the land which you go to possess, and has cast out many nations before you, the Hittites and the Girgashites and the Amorites and the Canaanites and the Perizzites and the Hivites and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than you, and when the Lord your God delivers them over to you, you shall conquer them and utterly destroy them. You shall make no covenant with them nor show mercy to them. Nor shall you make marriages with them. You shall not give your daughter to their son, nor take their daughter for your son. For they will turn your sons away from following Me, to serve other gods; so the anger of the Lord will be aroused against you and destroy you suddenly. (Deuteronomy 7:1-4 NKJV)

You shall burn the carved images of their gods with fire; you shall not covet the silver or gold that is on them, nor take it for yourselves, lest you be snared by it; for it is an abomination to the Lord your God. Nor shall you bring an abomination into your house, lest you be doomed to destruction like it. You shall utterly detest it and utterly abhor it, for it is an accursed thing. (Deuteronomy7:25, 26 NKJV)

Can we trust an omniscient, omnipotent, and omnipresent God and Father?