thepassionsoflife asked:

I started following your blog from a friend of mine, and have been intrigued by your posts. I was wondering, what are your thoughts on listening to music from artists Lady Gaga and Kanye West? They are my most favorite artists to listen to, and I think they are extremely talented and creative, but I’m not sure if listening to them is hurting my spiritual journey. I just wanted to hear your thoughts on them. Thank you for taking the time to answer my question and God Bless!

Thanks for your encouragement!

Ah yes, the secular media question.  Pastor Mark Driscoll has written an epic post on this topic which I highly recommend. In a nutshell, he says we can do three things with culture: Reject, Receive, or Redeem. Some stuff must be outright rejected, some can be well received, and some stuff can have enough spiritual themes to be redeemed.

But to answer you with my convictions, I really believe this is a Romans 14 issue.  Obviously there are some movies, musicians, and literature that degrade women and endorse stupid values and have no place in the family.  But for everything else, we personally decide these matters based on our connection with God and the frequency of our hearts.  As Romans 14:22 wraps up, “So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves.”

I occasionally listen to Eminem, Gavin Degraw, Metallica, and Yellowcard, not so much because they promote “Christian values,” but because of their artistic merit and their expression of the human condition.  But I’ve lived a pre-Christ life that fell hard to dirty sins. I do find myself getting deep into secular lyrics, increasingly loving the world again, and thinking their lyrics are good ideas for life. That’s when I know there’s trouble.

Everyone has a different point of contention — mine is early, loud, and fast — BUT regardless of how strong you believe you are, the downward spiral happens quicker than you think, more often than you admit, and more internally than you’ll confess.  You must stamp 1 John 2:15-17 all over that.  I refuse to let anything drive a splinter in my love for Jesus.

I have a rule for media: At any point, no matter what, I must be able to cut it off instantly.  If I’m sucked into a TV show and find myself thinking too much about the characters (or thinking like them), I’ll turn it off immediately. Like right in the middle of the show, I’m done. When I’m able to extract myself safely from the trenches of worldliness, I re-enter.  Ever see your friends just stare at TV commercials even if the products are pointless? Try to get them to pull away from commercials and you’ll find most people cannot do it.  They’re entrenched. 

But again, I know where I’m tempted and where it causes me to sin. You’ll need to examine yourself on that too.  I currently don’t own a TV and I leave my laptop at church, and for some of you this might be a bit too Amish.  Yet when anyone asks, “Is it okay for me to listen to this?” — that question is always covering a deeper agenda to get away with something.  The question should be, “Does this hurt or help my intimacy with Jesus?” It’s a simple question that will require a complex dig of your own motives.