Should Christians?

"You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial." 1 Corinthians 10:23

I stumbled across a YouTube video called, "Should Christians Listen to Secular Music?" As someone who has answered these types of behavior-oriented questions before, I watched it. It wasn't long before my suspicions about the answer given by the pastor were realized. The answer given was one focusing on asking questions about the music. Questions like, "Is the music promoting an ungodly message?" "What message is this sending to unbelievers?" "Is this music hindering my spiritual growth?" "Is the music I support causing other Christians to stumble?" "What is your spirit telling you about this music?" When I saw all these questions suggested to ask in order to determine if the music is okay to listen to, I could not help, but notice how this is just putting somebody under the law and making the Christian walk into Christian work. When the question begins with "Should Christians" the answer often contains legalism. If you're concerned about what kind of music somebody is listening to the question should be, "Why do you partake in this type of entertainment?" Or, "What is this form of entertainment giving to you that you don't believe you have in your relationship with Jesus Christ?" Otherwise, this just comes across as an opportunity for condemnation that no Christian should be subjected to. We are free to listen to secular music, but is it profitable to do so? But, why stop at secular music? If you do an internet search on "Should Christians," the list is endless. You will come up with questions like "Should Christians celebrate Halloween?" Should Christians eat pork?" "Should Christians get tattoos?" "Should Christians do yoga?" You get the point. Romans 8:5-8, says, "Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh; but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. The mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace, because the mind of the flesh is hostile to God: It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so. Those controlled by the flesh cannot please God." Too often this passage is looked at from the standpoint that to set your mind on the flesh only means that it applies to unbelievers looking for ways to indulge their flesh in sin. However, it can also apply to Christians who are continually looking for ways to restrain their flesh in an attempt to avoid sin. In either case, the focus is on your flesh and cannot please God.

While many Christians are afraid to acknowledge it, we are free to listen to things like secular music as well as the other things listed. If we are not allowed the choice to engage in activities that some deem inappropriate or, dare I say, sinful, then we are not free in Christ. For those Christians that don't agree with this, their first response is often to accuse people of giving a license to sin. Now, I am not saying that sin is okay. It is not. In fact, it is so terrible that it required the death of God as payment for it. Nor am I encouraging people to listen to secular music, eat pork, participate in Halloween and so on. What I am advocating is to look deeper when you are concerned about the activities of another person, Christian or otherwise. The Bible says that we are allowed to do anything, but not everything is good or beneficial for us. While there are some things that are obviously not good or beneficial for a Christian to engage in, there are things that are more of a matter of preference than anything else. I have always thought that if somebody is asking should they do something, they have their answer. If they are having doubts, they are probably looking to have their doubts confirmed. The other side of Romans 8:5-8 is that those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit and that mind finds life and peace. Having your mind set on the Spirit means you are looking at things from God's perspective. To God, you are forgiven of all your sins. Therefore, there is no law for you to violate that would lead to you being punished for that violation. Furthermore, because you are forgiven, you are now able to receive the unconditional love and total acceptance that God created you to receive through faith in Jesus Christ. When you have reached the point that you are beginning to experience this in your walk with the Lord, you will then realize that you no longer want to do many of the things that Christians ask should they do or not. You slowly begin to lose interest in those things. This result is you have a form of peace because you are experiencing your new life in Christ, in most cases, for the first time as a Christian.  When you have set your mind on the flesh you will have to set your mind on God's law. When you are setting your mind on God's law to control your flesh you are being hostile to God because you will never be able to get your flesh to submit to it. Should Christians set their minds on the flesh or on the Spirit? Your answer will set you free in Christ or put you in bondage to your flesh.