Do you stop listening...

"For all have sinned . . ."

Therefore, I will not "refuse" to listen to music recorded by someone who has "sinned" -- because we all have! By the same token, I have to agree with Ann that I will not choose to listen to music recorded by someone who is "in His Face" anti-God in their behavior or songs.

A few years ago, I was visiting a church on Sunday evening, and the youth were presenting a program they had been working with to the congregation. The music they played was what I would call "hard-rock Christian", and one of the elderly members of that church got into a very angry conversation (after the service had ended) with the daughter of the music leader. The elderly woman "could not understand why that devil-music" was being played in church. I "moderated" for a while, helping her find that some of the youth in attendance that night had come to be saved by listening to that very same music. Some even admitted that they had introduced some of their friends to Jesus using the same music! The elderly lady was smart enough to acknowledge that she had learned something that night, and would support the youth ministry in using thre music "that would reach the lost"! (BTW, I agreed with her on one matter--that music was TERRIBLE!)

Is music by an avowed homosexual (Ray Boltz) off-limits? Maybe, but can it reach someone who is looking for Jesus? That is not for me to answer. MY job is to tell people about Jesus. If a good song does the job, I will use it. If the singer violates God's will, I can only tell listeners that the singer was wrong, but that the song is still a good message. "Does He Still Feel the Nails"?

Bill :jesus: :godisgood:

 

To me, the way that the polling question is literally worded would have to include any genre of music (NOTE: It didn't specifically say "Christian" music).

I listen to a variety of genres of music, several of which are not necessarily "Christian" as such.

Actually, my favorite genre isn't what most folks would classify as "Christian" music at all. It's generally referred to as "Classical" music.

Applying the "because they have 'sinned'" criteria, that probably would have to eliminate all of the music that Tchaikovsky (who many claimed was a homosexual) composed (e.g., The 1812 Overture [a Fourth of July favorite]; The Nutcracker Suite [a favorite of the Christmas season]; not to mention his Piano Concerto #1 in B-flat minor, Op. 23; or any of his 6 symphonies).

I guess any work that the late Leonard Bernstein (who died of AIDS) conducted would have to fall into this "because he has 'sinned'" category too.

And what about the many composers who probably were never born-again Christians? Fellows like Mozart (who died in what many claimed was a drunken stupor) composed several Masses and other avowedly Roman Catholic musical works [This isn't to say that NO RCC's aren't saved, but I venture to say that the majority of devout practicing ones probably aren't--but that's the subject for another thread.] come to mind. Haven't they "sinned" because they probably never received Christ as their personal Savior?

So where do you draw the line? As billreber reminds us, "All have sinned." If you've ever told a lie, you've violated one of the Ten Commandments just as much as if you've murdered some one or committed adultery.

And, speaking of adultery, didn't Jesus Himself suggest that "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her" (John 8:7)?

 

I was thinking the same thing, we wouldn't have music in this case.

 

Yes all have sinned, so I listen to the music of sinners.

At the same time if someone is openly and unrepentently living in a completely sinful lifestyle. Then no I will not support them in anyway,(other than Prayer) until the fruits of repentance show themselves in their life.

So in short it depends on the nature of the sin and repentance involved.

 

So you say there is no way to love the song and not condone the lifestyle of the artist? Jesus himself loved the sinner but not the sin. Certainly we can follow his example.

 

nope not what I said

 

I have and then realized that I am in no position to judge them. If a person shouldn't sing and praise God because of sin in his life, then none of us would be able to praise Him. I've met several people who thought they were perfect (I was married to one of them:laugh: ), but I don't think anyone other than Jesus has ever actually been perfect.

I can enjoy the music and its message without thinking about the person's sin. I don't concentrate on the person. I concentrate on the music and the message in it.

 

I'd rather not know whether an artist is liberal or conservative, Democrat or Republican, tree hugger or gas-hog, drug addict or tea-totaler ...

I want to enjoy their music.

When an artists actions and 'verbage' overpower the beauty of their music, the magic is lost and I stop listening to them.

Rob

 

This whole flap reminds me of the storm of controversy when Amy Grant first divorced her husband to marry Vince Gill and then started to "cross over" into the pop music realm.

Then we also had Sandy Patti and Michael English who had their own share of problems. I'm sure that there have been others too.

Why is it that some people are so quick to write these people off? Someone once said that it amounts to "shooting the wounded."

I'd almost kinda like to send Ray Boltz a card, but I can't send him a Hallmark card because now they print cards for same-sex marriages. I couldn't include a gift card to him from McDonalds because some of Ronald McDonald's people are on the board of some gay organization. In fact, I probably couldn't send him a letter at all on the remote possibility that it might be shipped on a truck made by Ford, or that the mail sack in which it may be placed might also include a packet of tickets for someone to visit Disney World.

 

I cannot in good conscience purchase or promote music by a Christian artist who is openly living in sin and is unrepentant about it. For me, it would be like listening to a pastor preach who was openly cheating on his wife. If I can't respect the messenger, how can I respect the message?

 

Considering my own experience with being divorced from an adulterous woman and the rejection and condemnation I experienced from deacons, I know how judgmental "Christians" can be.

I seriously doubt that very many gospel singers' lives are what God would want them to be. However, they are singing His praises, and hopefully He is getting glory and honor from it. If we listen only to those whom we KNOW are Spirit-filled and sinless, we won't have anyone to enjoy. I only know of one Person who lived a sinless life on earth.