Are secular songs good or bad for a Christian?
Have you ever wondered why every human being including babies responds to pleasant sounds and enjoys listening to songs or music of some sort?
I find it quite amazing! And I often wonder why; especially because no matter a person's age, race, or tribe, and no matter the level a person has attained in life, they would still enjoy at least one genre of music...
Also, considering the thousands of religions in the world today; there is literally none that does not involve the use of sounds or songs of some sort as part of their rituals or means of worship...
Many also do agree that 'music is food for the soul', having good therapeutic abilities... But, is that really all there is to the songs? Could there be a greater purpose from God's perspective?
Music for ages has made a massive impact on lives and generations in no small way, with some of the most renowned celebrities emanating from the music industry...
God our Creator and the Devil His Arch-Enemy both have an interest in this vital aspect of humanity... We know from the Bible that sounds and songs are a major core in Heaven; with the myriads of Angels and other Heavenly Beings worshipping God non-stop with sounds that we can only fathom from the perspective of Eternity...
We also know from the Bible that the Angel Lucifer (now called Satan/the Devil) before his fall, was a Chief Musician amongst the Angelic Hosts and his makeup was framed with sounds and unusual musical abilities...
Little wonder that the only man in the Bible whom God referred to as 'a man after His heart' (King David), was known to be a prolific musician, songwriter, singer, and instrumentalist; And to this day, the Book of Psalms in the Bible largely written by King David is one of the most vital Books in the Bible used for worship and prayers...
Even in the Church back in the days, till this day, the Choir or Worship department is the most popular and most dignified; the department which most congregations cannot do without... In the secular world also, most social vices and social justice movements are often championed by popular Musicians...
From all indications; there seems and there really is much more to songs and sounds than the natural mind comprehends... And music simply being acclaimed as food for the soul would not do justice to the deep questions in our minds...
The truth however is that God created all living creatures and beings on Earth for His own glory, and He put the ability for sounds and songs in them to bring Him pleasure, just as the angelic and other celestial beings do in Heaven...
This however has equally attracted the interest of God's Arch-Enemy, who also desires the worship of the earthly beings, since he could not win that of Heaven...
There is really no music or songs that are incapable of having either a positive or negative impact on a person's mind and consequently the person's life... Because it would be only a matter of time before the listener starts to behave and become like whatever or whoever the songs are glorifying, oftentimes even unconsciously...
Therefore, it becomes important to guard one's ears even as much as we guard our hearts because the ear is also one of the vital gates into one's life... We must pay attention to the kinds of songs we listen to if we desire to grow spiritually; because songs are also mediums for spiritual worship and edification...
Yes, some may say they only listen to secular songs for entertainment purposes or that they are just listening to the instrumentals or rhythm of the songs and not the lyrics... And yes the Bible may not be explicitly against entertainment, after-all on one occasion it was written that Jesus attended a wedding event and even turned water to wine for them when their wine got exhausted...
And I believe most likely they were not providing 'spiritual' entertainment at that wedding... But this does not dispute the fact that most songs especially those that attain widespread popularity have a spirit behind them, and it is either the Spirit of God or it is not...
Also if it is entertainment a believer wants, we have some beautiful 'Christian songs' today that are not edifying in any way but just for listening pleasure; and also some great 'Gospel concerts' today that are not spiritual in any way but just for pure entertainment...
Those would still be preferable than giving one's ears consistently to secular songs inspired by strange spirits propagating non-Christian values, which may end up defiling one's mind and soul with lust, pride, hatred, idolatry, or the likes, rather than providing the so-called food for the soul...
The Bible says:
"Don’t get drunk on wine, which leads to wild living. Instead, be filled with the Spirit by reciting psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs for your own good. Sing and make music to the Lord with your hearts." Ephesians 5:18-19 (GW)
"...Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created." Revelation 4:11 (KJV)
"...Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord." Psalms 150:6 (KJV)
Indeed! God made all things to bring Him glory even in their sounds and songs, and everything else that exists for any purpose other than this would not stand the test of eternity...
If the sounds or songs are not drawing you or others into a greater awareness of God or creating in you a hunger for a deeper relationship and fellowship with God, then it does not add any eternal value to your life or the lives of others, and for your own good, you should not make a habit of giving your ears to such songs...
And in closing, I leave you with this food for thought:
Since Heaven would be made up of people from diverse races and languages, in what language would everyone sing or worship in Heaven???
Thank you for taking the time to read. God bless you!
#JesusChristIsLORD #GODisStillinCharge
