Though the Christian entertainment industry has grown exponentially in the last decade, most Christians still enjoy secular entertainment. I The roads to Zion mourn, for none come to the festival; all her gates are desolate; her priests groan; her virgins have been afflicted, and she herself suffers bitterly. And thereby put me to the test, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need. Worship songs typically don't have a very long lifespan, but a few favorites like "How Great Is Our God" and "In Christ Alone" make it to the CCLI top 100 and stay there. 1964. You may also buy from among the strangers who sojourn with you and their clans that are with you, who have been born in your land, and they may be your property. One of the activities that is a regular part of my course on the Bible and music is a scavenger hunt in which I ask students to search for allusions (i.e., indirect references) to the Bible in secular popular music. The appearance of the Devil or demons in a work is not necessarily enough to disqualify it from Christian must-watch lists, but Christians should take care to pay attention to how the demonic is treated in the work. It can be used to praise God, or it can be used to entertain people. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. Psalm 95:1-99:9 ESV / 7 helpful votesHelpfulNot Helpful. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. And they rose up early the next day and offered burnt offerings and brought peace offerings. And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. It could potentially be used in sinful ways just like anything else, but it is not sinful in itself. Fill your horn with oil, and go. Singers pack their songs with as many curse words as they can manage. Ephesians 2:1-5: The sinful nature brings death. When Phinehas the son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the priest, saw it, he rose and left the congregation and took a spear in his hand and went after the man of Israel into the chamber and pierced both of them, the man of Israel and the woman through her belly. And he said in the presence of his brothers and of the army of Samaria, What are these feeble Jews doing? But if there is harm, then you shall pay life for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, stripe for stripe. Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God. Unless otherwise indicated, all content is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License. It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart. The Bible does speak of those who are "set apart" ("sanctified") for special use. But we must run aground on some island. When the fourteenth night had come, as we were being driven across the Adriatic Sea, about midnight the sailors suspected that they were nearing land. Therefore shall the protection of Pharaoh turn to your shame, and the shelter in the shadow of Egypt to your humiliation. The elders of the city came to meet him trembling and said, Do you come peaceably? And he said, Peaceably; I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. My son, do not forget my teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments, for length of days and years of life and peace they will add to you. Will you still say, I am a god, in the presence of those who kill you, though you are but a man, and no god, in the hands of those who slay you? At that time Menahem sacked Tiphsah and all who were in it and its territory from Tirzah on, because they did not open it to him. The one who speaks in a tongue builds up himself, but the one who prophesies builds up the church. They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind. - Benjamin Franklin. Contact me: openbibleinfo (at) gmail.com. Blog, A The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin. Since there is a blemish in them, because of their mutilation, they will not be accepted for you.. As Bob Kauflin, a songwriter and worship leader said, "There's something about singing that both enables and encourages the rich indwelling of the word of Christ in our hearts. Give them, O Lord what will you give? It is important that we think deeply and reflect on what we believe and our actions. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. Therefore, if we have Christ's righteousness credited to us by faith, then no work we do can add to . Here he answers questions related to his talk "When Grief Visits Continued W e live in a world of music. Social media and the entertainment industry now celebrate "gender fluidity" as a more enlightened way of thinking than the biblical view. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep. First, however, we have to tackle the question of what constitutes an "allusion." It isn't an easy question to answer. K The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up. As such, it is unsurprising that the entertainment Christians enjoy would also tend toward the secular. Do not cover their guilt, and let not their sin be blotted out from your sight, for they have provoked you to anger in the presence of the builders. For your iniquity teaches your mouth, and you choose the tongue of the crafty. Sorrow is better than laughter, for by . A Psalm of David. If a love song promotes the sanctity of . The gospel supplies the power to say yes to God and no to endless entertainment. What more was there to do for my vineyard, that I have not done in it? When a Christian goes to see a movie that was not what they thought it was or buys an album that they later find unpalatable, they should set it aside and forgive themselves. Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from before your birth, carried from the womb; even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. Whoever despises his neighbor is a sinner, but blessed is he who is generous to the poor. Because you have rejected the word of the Lord, he has also rejected you from being king. Saul said to Samuel, I have sinned, for I have transgressed the commandment of the Lord and your words, because I feared the people and obeyed their voice. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly I will destroy. Let him rain coals on the wicked; fire and sulfur and a scorching wind shall be the portion of their cup. You may choose what's best for your heart, between you and God. Saying, I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise. And again, I will put my trust in him. And again, Behold, I and the children God has given me. Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. A bloody battle or a single love scene is not necessarily reason for a Christian to walk out of a theater or put down a book. A Psalm of David. The crown of the wise is their wealth, but the folly of fools brings folly. You ask if Christians can enjoy worldly pleasures. What it has to do with secular music I do not know. To the choirmaster: according to The Sheminith. For the Lord is righteous; he loves righteous deeds; the upright shall behold his face. Here we uncover the beauty of our wonderful master and realize that Jesus is better. However, there are many secular songs with no mention of God that still uphold godly values such as honesty, purity, and integrity. You were in Eden, the garden of God; every precious stone was your covering, sardius, topaz, and diamond, beryl, onyx, and jasper, sapphire, emerald, and carbuncle; and crafted in gold were your settings and your engravings. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. And you shall eat the fruit of your womb, the flesh of your sons and daughters, whom the Lord your God has given you, in the siege and in the distress with which your enemies shall distress you. It is before his own master that he stands or falls. This does not, of course, mean that there are not. Many movies promote . The unexpected death of a main character or the sudden reveal that one of the detectives was the murderer all along can take a story to new heights. B Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Rather, many sexually explicit films are actually laments that sex is often far from the good thing it was created to be. We need to start with a biblical theology of culture. So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! The very word for "church" in the New Testament, ekklesia, means "a called-out assembly.". Will they restore it for themselves? For though I am absent in body, yet I am with you in spirit, rejoicing to see your good order and the firmness of your faith in Christ. He went up from there to Bethel, and while he was going up on the way, some small boys came out of the city and jeered at him, saying, Go up, you baldhead! 1 John 4:20 - " If anyone says, "I love God," and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen .". They have turned aside quickly out of the way that I commanded them. At the same time, do not harshly judge those who choose different music than you. Like snow in summer or rain in harvest, so honor is not fitting for a fool. Say this to them, Thus says the Lord God: As I live, surely those who are in the waste places shall fall by the sword, and whoever is in the open field I will give to the beasts to be devoured, and those who are in strongholds and in caves shall die by pestilence. The Bible tells us to think on things that are above. Copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Oh come, let us sing to the Lord; let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation! Here are four things Christians should avoid in secular entertainment. Therefore let your words be few. Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall surely be put to death; their blood is upon them. For the Lord is a great God, and a great King above all gods. The king has brought me into his chambers.". Jay Mosser has served in pastoral roles for over 40 years. What the Bible says about Secularism. My lips will shout for joy, when I sing praises to you; my soul also, which you have redeemed. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be dominated by anything. If Saul hears it, he will kill me. And the Lord said, Take a heifer with you and say, I have come to sacrifice to the Lord. And invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I will show you what you shall do. Cursed shall be the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your ground, the increase of your herds and the young of your flock. Do they not go astray who devise evil? From the days of your fathers you have turned aside from my statutes and have not kept them. Without warning he shall destroy many. God allows us this time to be renewed and to grow in our faith. Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with a forbidden woman and embrace the bosom of an adulteress? He had a little scroll open in his hand. To draw near to listen is better than to offer the sacrifice of fools, for they do not know that they are doing evil. A Psalm of Asaph. P This requires extra research as well as time (a valuable commodity while in college! For the household gods utter nonsense, and the diviners see lies; they tell false dreams and give empty consolation. Romans 7:14-25: Paul admits his own struggles. Christians should also be aware of what the artist, author or producers support. Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. This may be true for some, but not all, Christians. Look at what is before your eyes. God hears it a billion times a day and sees every sin committed on the planet, the most outrageous, gross, unjust, wicked, defiled he sees them all. It is better for a man to hear the rebuke of the wise than to hear the song of fools. Y Some secular films and books have very strong Christian themes. I said of laughter, It is mad, and of pleasure, What use is it? I searched with my heart how to cheer my body with winemy heart still guiding me with wisdomand how to lay hold on folly, till I might see what was good for the children of man to do under heaven during the few days of their life. Remember your congregation, which you have purchased of old, which you have redeemed to be the tribe of your heritage! Y For it has seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay on you no greater burden than these requirements: that you abstain from what has been sacrificed to idols, and from blood, and from what has been strangled, and from sexual immorality. "Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. The Bible makes clear that, despite the stigma often associated with politics, God calls and uses political leaders. Cursed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice! Then Eliphaz the Temanite answered and said: Should a wise man answer with windy knowledge, and fill his belly with the east wind? For your love is better than wine. Do not be deceived: "Bad company corrupts good morals." 1 Corinthians 15:33 (NASB) Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. Sustain me with raisins; refresh me with apples, for I am sick with love. The Exorcist, for example, is all about the effects of the demonic, but it in no way romanticizes those effects. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. We often use the term Hollywood to refer to anything pertaining to the entertainment industry, even though other cities such as New York and Nashville contribute to it also. Put your focus on what really matters. And he set his right foot on the sea, and his left foot on the land, and called out with a loud voice, like a lion roaring. I made great works. #3. Then the anger of the Lord will be kindled against you, and you shall perish quickly from off the good land that he has given to you. Joshua gathered all the tribes of Israel to Shechem and summoned the elders, the heads, the judges, and the officers of Israel. Z. Friday night at the movies. They flock to theaters to see movies like Star Wars, The Avengers and Jurassic World. They help songs like Shape of You and Sorry Not Sorry top the music charts, and they help books like Gone Girl and The Martian explode into prominence. Your understanding gradually becomes clearer, and you can see evil for what it really is and enjoy what is best. And you shall anoint for me him whom I declare to you. Samuel did what the Lord commanded and came to Bethlehem. Not at all meaning the sexually immoral of this world, or the greedy and swindlers, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world. The Bible never says we need to completely disengage from the world! Farewell.. I built houses and planted vineyards for myself. Learn more from our list of Bible verses about meditation! not ecclesiastical or clerical. Judah has gone into exile because of affliction and hard servitude; she dwells now among the nations, but finds no resting place; her pursuers have all overtaken her in the midst of her distress. You ask whether one must give up TV, movies, and games in order to be a Christian. TopicalBible M For the upright will inhabit the land, and those with integrity will remain in it, but the wicked will be cut off from the land, and the treacherous will be rooted out of it. O Nevertheless, with most of them God was not pleased, for they were overthrown in the wilderness. For they drank from the spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ. Give to them according to their work and according to the evil of their deeds; give to them according to the work of their hands; render them their due reward. Any musicChristian or secularhas the ability to do so. Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another? I will send you to Jesse the Bethlehemite, for I have provided for myself a king among his sons. And Samuel said, How can I go? The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence. 1) A heart that longs for worldly gains more than eternal gains. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. Understanding the significant differences will help us choose to think biblically about situations we face in our secular society. You shall eat, but not be satisfied, and there shall be hunger within you; you shall put away, but not preserve, and what you preserve I will give to the sword. When I looked for it to yield grapes, why did it yield wild grapes? You may make slaves of them, but over your brothers the people of Israel you shall not rule, one over another ruthlessly. We are constantly surrounded by it in myriad forms. You received without paying; give without pay. By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible. Do not make yourselves unclean by any of these things, for by all these the nations I am driving out before you have become unclean, and the land became unclean, so that I punished its iniquity, and the land vomited out its inhabitants. You adulterous people! But you who forsake the Lord, who forget my holy mountain, who set a table for Fortune and fill cups of mixed wine for Destiny, I will destine you to the sword, and all of you shall bow down to the slaughter, because, when I called, you did not answer; when I spoke, you did not listen, but you did what was evil in my eyes and chose what I did not delight in.. If we love the things of the world more than the things of our God, then . God created it for marriage and the pleasures from it are phenomenal! Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven, wrapped in a cloud, with a rainbow over his head, and his face was like the sun, and his legs like pillars of fire. 6. Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness! Those who devise good meet steadfast love and faithfulness. But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindlernot even to eat with such a one.