wisdom wanted from the saints... on music and movies

sermonindex Jul 18, 2012

I have friends where I live and across the street. Since I'm the only one with a computer I've gotten in the habit of buying music for them or putting their CD music into the MP3 players. I have not wanted to do it but I felt the Lord was saying be merciful about it.

Basically I got the point where a man wanted me to buy him Black Sabbath. I was about to do it when I went to amazon.com and saw the cover of the album he wanted and decided that I couldn't do it. Another man I have been ripping his music and putting onto a mp3 player for him. Today he asked me to put The Doors on a CD for him and I just said "No, sorry man I know what that guy was into". He got angry and felt condemned. He later asked me to get him a movie called Mrs. Doubtfire (saying it was harmless). I explained why I didn't like that movie (I can explain why here if you want). He got mad again. I admit I can be sort of condemning when I say I don't want to get involved the world's stuff. Anyway I tried to clear it up and said "Ok well I am trying not to condemn or judge you about this stuff, but just leave me out of it, ok?"

Basically I am mixed up. I don't want to be apart of this stuff. But part of me also thinks I should be merciful instead of condemning and get them what they want.

Can any of the saints give advice? I would like hear both sides if there are two sides...

Thanks

Blessings

Noah

D

dvndsn Jul 18, 2012

You can't force your convictions on others. I definitely understand not wanting to be apart of that kind of thing. When I was in high school I d-loaded all my music from Limewire. Illegally downloading music is a dangerous business.

I was scoffed at after I stopped participating in my friends poker nights. They would say "You need to stop this holier-than-thou attitude". I think now they understand where I was coming from, but they themselves have continued in sin.

N

NMatheson Jul 18, 2012

About 5 or 6 years ago I was pretty deep into the death and black metal scene. I was a christian but for some reason it really intrigued me. I was very guilty about a lot of the music and many of my friends didn't seem to be bothered by the musical themes. I can't even begin to explain how blasphemous the lyrics in many of these bands were.

I had a dream a couple years back that I was in a church and I walked up to the pastor for prayer. We were the only ones in the room. I laid his hands on me and prayed for me. I started to tremble uncontrollably and was delivered from a demon. I thanked him and left. The second I stepped out the dorr, I felt a heaviness return to me. I turned around, walked right back in and begged him to heal me again. Immediately I saw all my albums flash before my eyes. It was very specific too. Specific albums. I woke up and knew they were partially responsible for my depression.

To get to the point, I called my friends and politely said that I'm sorry, I love metal, but I cannot listen to these bands anymore. He told me to just enjoy it for what it is and all that junk and told him that it was for my benefit that I stop listening to it and that I hope he tries to understand. He took it very well and we remain friends to this day.

Your situation is different and much more difficult to me. Really if I was you, I would seek God over the matter and go with what your gut tells you. Christ lives in us and if you have discernment you should be able to tell what your flesh is saying and God wants.

I don't want to go any farther because I don't want to give bad advice but the Bible has a verse that is of utmost importance in these matters.

Matthew 22:36-40 - Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

sermonindex Jul 19, 2012

dvndsn:

" Illegally downloading music is a dangerous business. "

I'm actually downloading music purchased from Amazon.com for them. I know they wish i would get it for them free but I wont do that...

"You can't force your convictions on others."

I know what you mean. And when I DO do that... they get upset. Like if I go too far and EXPLAIN WHY I wont loan them money for cigarettes or drugs... (ie-I believe its wrong)

NMatheson:

Great advice. Its a tricky situation.

So basically... is loving my neighbor NOT encouraging him with or accepting smoking, drugs, sinful music/movies by giving him money or helping him to buy it or putting on his mp3 player? Or is it helping him and hoping God changes his heart?

A leader in my church put it this way:

"I don't believe you should give them money for cigarettes/drugs because in the Gospel Jesus never gave us anything that hurt us"

And

"I think you should use your money toward helping the saints throughout the world than loaning it out for cigarettes"

Sometimes I believe God is saying to me "its not sinful to listen to music" (in regard to the music he listens to)
But then I hear people like David Wilkerson preach and I think differently

Thanks for responding

Noah

D

dvndsn Jul 19, 2012

Noah, in thinking more about it, it is true you should not press your convictions on others, at the same time though, you should not aid in others sin. I guess those statements could fall in the same category. Most of the time I will not give a poor person cash because I do not know what they will spend it on. I will give them in-kind gifts like a water bottle, toothbrush, etc. things I know they are getting.

Even if the music is purchased, it's purchased only by you and not them. Or even if it was purchased by them, and they are just using you for an internet connection or amazon account, the same principle would apply. I can't give someone something that will lead them on to sin, it's like being a stumbling block for them in their walk, you know?

sermonindex Jul 19, 2012

dvndsn:

"I can't give someone something that will lead them on to sin, it's like being a stumbling block for them in their walk, you know?"

Yes. Also I see this particular person, my roommate, watching movies and listening to this music all day and then wondering why the Lord doesn't hear his prayers... I try to explain it to him but he just thinks I'm being unloving... I could be more gracious so he actually hears what I'm saying instead of rejecting it. That's my problem. So I'll work on that and try to be more gracious... Thanks

S

SolaVeritas Jul 19, 2012

Noah....just say, no. :)

There is a reason the preachers of old all taught separation! Paul Washer said that (or something similar). Perhaps listening to some of Washer's sermons and/or reading Ephesians 5:1-17 again may help clarify things.

sermonindex Jul 19, 2012

But part of me also thinks I should be merciful instead of condemning and get them what they want.

I've been wanting to get my hands on some porn, any chance of you getting it for me? After all, your giving me what I want.

But..........is it what I need?

Your just being used my friend as an outlet. Dry up that outlet and they will move on to another. Your not condemning anyone, your setting a standard that this far and no further.

Your a lot like me though. I love doing things like this for people. If someone is looking for something, I want to be the first to find it.

And don't give into the condemnation when they say, "I thought you were a Christian". They all say that when we don't go their way anymore. I've had that said to me recently by my Sister who's out fornicating. I took a stand and she said, "That's not very Christian of you". Those words fall off me like water off a ducks back.

You have to decide what is innocent to you. If Black Sabbath or Mrs Doubtfire is considered to be offensive to you, draw the line, "I can't get that for you". If they ask, just state the obvious, "it's against my convictions". Believe me, that kind of talk will either draw them closer with questions of interest or make them run away.

Listen to your convictions and don't fight against it.

J

joliboy11 Jul 19, 2012

Don't be guilty, rejection does not mean that you are condemning them, I do that before(illegally) and I repented of it, A.W. Tozer's 'the saint must walk alone' is a good encouragement:
http://www.theinvisiblechurch.ca/invisibly/The_Saint_Must_Walk_Alone.html

Now, I'm giving sermons/videos/songs from sermonindex since they are free..

In regard with wisdom on watching movies: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GkYCsV9ieOA