There are a couple of questions that came up that I wish to address before moving on to if there is an inherent good / evil in different styles of music.
In my previous post I stated that Christians should not pretend or manufacture secular fashion or style or popular forms just to be able to 'relate to' unbelievers. (Or just to sell records.) However, the following verses were brought to my attention:
1. Paul makes the comment in 1 Corinthians 9 that he has become "all things to all people" that he may reach some.
This verse is often used as a justification for "whatever works" marketing style outreach. John MacArthur has a great series on this on the Grace to You blog here: www.gty.org/blog
Paul's claim has to do with approach not style.
"to the Jews I become as a Jew." Jewish custom is to hear messages in the synagogue on the Sabbath, so that is where Paul addressed Jews. Also, Jews had been given the Law of God through Moses. They already knew of the coming Messiah. Paul's approach with Jews was to show them that Jesus is the Messiah and the Law has been fulfilled. This also meant adhering to customs. Paul knew that having a pork chop while sharing the Gospel over dinner wasn't going to win over any Jews (see Romans 14).
"To the Greek, I became as a Greek." Greek culture centered around different customs. We see Paul in Athens on Mars Hill (Acts 17). The custom was for the philosophers to gather and think deep thoughts and discuss lofty ideas in the public square. Paul didn't have to go into a synagogue on a certain day, he just joined in the philosophical discussion. Also, since Greeks did not have the theological background of the Jews, his approach was different as well. Where as the Jews knew God, Paul had to introduce Him to the Greeks. Where as the Jews already had the Law to demonstrate sin, Paul had to explain it differently to the Greeks.
No where do we see Paul trying to get on their good side, impress them, or try to 'look cool' to his audience. Paul's just Paul, and he speaks the plain truth (1 Corinthians 2:1-5), leaving the acceptance between them and God. Actually, he seems to spend half his time running from angry mobs. Obviously Paul's goal was not to win popularity contests and 'be relevant'.
Since “none are righteous” (Romans 3) and “no one comes to the Father except through [Christ]” (John 14:6) the message of the Gospel is already relevant to everyone on the planet. And a mind convinced by a slick marketing ploy or a certain music style is probably a heart still left unchanged.
The idea is that we don't need to be people pleasers or “ear ticklers” (2 Timothy 4:3). Just “speak the truth in love(Ephesians 4:15 ).
2. Also, at one point some people were preaching the gospel out to create problems for Paul, out of selfish motives and for personal gain, and Paul said he will rejoice because "the gospel is being preached." (Philippians 1) Indeed God clearly states that His Word will not be without effect when it is heard (Isaiah 55:11).
While God can use anyone, the issue here is sort of what is Moral vs Wise. My own father came to Christ through the ministry of an evangelist who was getting rich off the Gospel while living in sin. My dad's conversion was based on the message, not the messenger. So, God CAN and does use false motives. But is that any reason to do it? God used Joseph's brothers in Genesis. That doesn't mean we should go around throwing people into pits and selling them into slavery to accomplish the will of God.
Also, we are a people set apart. The bible says we are to be holy because God is holy (1 Peter 1:16). And how is God holy? He is above and beyond the things of the world. Holy literally means, separate or apart for a special purpose. So if we have been set apart by God for His purposes, why are we trying to be like the world?
Like I said previously, it's one thing if your natural musical inclinations and talents tend toward genres that happen to be dominated by secular artists. When you write from the heart, Jesus shows through. But let's not pretend to be something we're not just to please people who the bible describes to be (as we once were) “enemies of God.” (James 4:4)
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