What Kind of Music and Video is Good to Listen to and Watch?
People have a variety of different tastes in music and video entertainment, and Christians have much freedom in this area. The Bible does, however, give us some guidelines and principles which everyone would do well to follow:
First of all, God's commandments forbid certain things and command us to do others. We are not to worship idols, misuse God's name, disobey parents and authorities, or commit murder, adultery, theft, false witness, or covet. On the other hand, God's commandments urge us to love God, worship Him, hear His Word, and serve Him. We are also to love our neighbor as ourselves and be a help to others. Cf. Exodus 20:1-17; Deuteronomy 6:4-5; Matthew 22:37-39. Listening to music or watching videos which extoll or encourage thoughts, desires, or actions which are contrary to God's commandments certainly is not good and beneficial to us.
Secondly, if we believe on the Lord Jesus Christ as our Savior, trusting in Him for the forgiveness of our sins and everlasting life, we will want to please and glorify Him in all that we do (cf. Colossians 1:9-10; 3:16-17; Romans 12:1-2).
The Bible also says: "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life" (Galatians 6:7-8). If we listen to or view material which gratifies the sinful thoughts and desires of our fallen nature, it will produce the fruit of sinful thinking, sinful desire, and sinful actions in our lives. For this reason, the Bible also counsels us: "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).
Since music and video are such powerful influences on our minds and way of thinking, we ought be very careful to choose what we listen to and watch. Choose those things which will build you up in your faith in Jesus Christ and encourage you in your walk with Him. Though it may not be the fashionable thing to do, I would suggest listening to Christian music that you might be encouraged in your faith and join in worshipping the LORD; and, be selective in the movies and video you watch, refusing to watch those which extoll or advocate those things which God's commandments forbid.
[Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1979, 1980, 1982, 1983, 1994 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]
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