The second and third lines in Chris Tomlin's song "Good Good Father" state:
But I've heard the tender whisper of love in the dead of night
And You tell me that You're pleased and that I'm never alone
David Crowder's song "He really loves us" has this in the third line
"There is no judgment"
And Danny Gokey's song "Love God Love People" says at the end of the fourth stanza
"Love God and love People" (no brainer).
Finally there is the song "What would Jesus do" states in the 11th Stanza
"What would Jesus do
He would love first..etc."
The first question here is what is God's love? There is nothing in any of these songs that show any differentiation of God's love from that of man. Assuming that God never has anything negative to say goes against the verses that state God chastises anone He loves and we are illegitimate sons otherwise (see Hebrews 12:6; 12:8). To say there is no judgment is only true as to a believer's standing at the Bema Seat Judgment and missing the Great White Throne condemnation. We are judged according to 2 Corinthians 5:10 and be judged as to works done for Him; good or bad. If we aren't one of His own we are judged and condemned already ( John 3:18).
No one should argue as to a Christian demonstrating love and patience; but that doesn't mean that we should stand for hypocrisy within the House of God; or societal evils such as abortion without sounding the trumpet as a watchman to avoid the condemnation warned of in Ezekiel 3:18. But such exhortations seem to be missing entirely in today's Christian songs; whether it is warning of the deceptiveness of Satan or sin itself; or the Tribulation to come or hell itself without repentance. Anyone on this forum who wishes to rebut that statement let me know; perhaps there are some independent artists I should be made aware of that I haven't heard lately.
Thus; artists are idolized saying what people want to hear and are "Christian" by name only.
We can also break this commandment using things of nature. The world we live in is really naturally beautiful and we can enjoy this beauty with a heart of gratitude and wonder before God who made it all. Getting out into nature is great, but can to some be an idol along with photographs and paintings of natural beauty.
I think the important thing is to not live a life of starkness and drabness (look up the Nicholites, for example-they are in my husband's family line in the 1600's in America). We can celebrate beauty and creativity and artistic talent without falling into idolatry. We can enjoy flowers in our gardens, not just raise vegetables. We can have pets and not just food for consumption. We can have embellishment on our furnishings and not insist on only simplicity and functionality as some sects have promoted. We can enjoy food that tastes good and looks appetizing instead of gruel and mush. Asceticism is not what we are called to, but to be thankful to God for all that He has provided for our benefit, enjoyment, and contentment.
But the focus of our life should be to worship God, bring Him glory, and be filled with gratitude to Him for all that He brings to us. This world was made to be inhabited by mankind, for us to enjoy all the ways God has manifested His beauty, abundance, glory, grace, and power. We are to live a joyful life as opposed to a somber one, and still live soberly and aware of the threat of the evil one. We are to live in trust in Jesus and in all the spiritual ways given to satisfy us even when we suffer.
So, let's praise the Lord and give Him glory because He has done great things for us and is marvelous beyond what we could ever imagine. Why would we want to confine Him to an image when He is uncontainable!
I think that God has been VERY clear that we are not to make or have in our possession ANY image that we would bow down to, pray to, give reverence to, or worship.
You noted such things as items depicting our Lord. I would add crosses-whether worn or hung, if they are used more than a reminder to us of all of Christ's work for us. You mentioned things that remind us of our loved ones who have died. I think photos are fine if put in an family album or hung on our walls as long as we do not "talk" to them or hold the item or the person in a state of reverence in our minds and hearts. We need to avoid thinking that any of dead people are near us in spirit, offer any protection for us, or who have any input into our lives. I believe that there is an impenetrable division between this world and the world after death that the Lord doesn't allow any crossover. Angels are allowed to go between the heavens and our natural world in obedience to God, but we are not to seek such interactions or do any kind of worship to them.
In the area of things that represent occultic matters, I think we need to be careful about what is shown of the clothing we wear and the jewelry we wear. Often times the emblems can be from occultic artistic expressions and it is wise to scrutinize any "adornment" before we purchase or accept from others such things. I am not sure where to go to find out what some of the images that are currently fashionable truly represent. Any ideas. Perhaps simplicity in dress is a pretty safe way to show ourselves to others. We need to be careful of the impression we give to others with how we dress.
And you mentioned music artists. I don't think we should be taken in by ANY famous person, anyone with desirable gifts, and even great preachers, reformers, or Christian leaders. We need to see them all as like us, needing God's grace because we all are sinners and at the same time saints. We need to guard ourselves from idols of any kind. cont.
The second and third lines in Chris Tomlin's song "Good Good Father" state:
But I've heard the tender whisper of love in the dead of night
And You tell me that You're pleased and that I'm never alone
David Crowder's song "He really loves us" has this in the third line
"There is no judgment"
And Danny Gokey's song "Love God Love People" says at the end of the fourth stanza
"Love God and love People" (no brainer).
Finally there is the song "What would Jesus do" states in the 11th Stanza
"What would Jesus do
He would love first..etc."
The first question here is what is God's love? There is nothing in any of these songs that show any differentiation of God's love from that of man. Assuming that God never has anything negative to say goes against the verses that state God chastises anone He loves and we are illegitimate sons otherwise (see Hebrews 12:6; 12:8). To say there is no judgment is only true as to a believer's standing at the Bema Seat Judgment and missing the Great White Throne condemnation. We are judged according to 2 Corinthians 5:10 and be judged as to works done for Him; good or bad. If we aren't one of His own we are judged and condemned already ( John 3:18).
No one should argue as to a Christian demonstrating love and patience; but that doesn't mean that we should stand for hypocrisy within the House of God; or societal evils such as abortion without sounding the trumpet as a watchman to avoid the condemnation warned of in Ezekiel 3:18. But such exhortations seem to be missing entirely in today's Christian songs; whether it is warning of the deceptiveness of Satan or sin itself; or the Tribulation to come or hell itself without repentance. Anyone on this forum who wishes to rebut that statement let me know; perhaps there are some independent artists I should be made aware of that I haven't heard lately.
Thus; artists are idolized saying what people want to hear and are "Christian" by name only.
continued..I need a little more space.
We can also break this commandment using things of nature. The world we live in is really naturally beautiful and we can enjoy this beauty with a heart of gratitude and wonder before God who made it all. Getting out into nature is great, but can to some be an idol along with photographs and paintings of natural beauty.
I think the important thing is to not live a life of starkness and drabness (look up the Nicholites, for example-they are in my husband's family line in the 1600's in America). We can celebrate beauty and creativity and artistic talent without falling into idolatry. We can enjoy flowers in our gardens, not just raise vegetables. We can have pets and not just food for consumption. We can have embellishment on our furnishings and not insist on only simplicity and functionality as some sects have promoted. We can enjoy food that tastes good and looks appetizing instead of gruel and mush. Asceticism is not what we are called to, but to be thankful to God for all that He has provided for our benefit, enjoyment, and contentment.
But the focus of our life should be to worship God, bring Him glory, and be filled with gratitude to Him for all that He brings to us. This world was made to be inhabited by mankind, for us to enjoy all the ways God has manifested His beauty, abundance, glory, grace, and power. We are to live a joyful life as opposed to a somber one, and still live soberly and aware of the threat of the evil one. We are to live in trust in Jesus and in all the spiritual ways given to satisfy us even when we suffer.
So, let's praise the Lord and give Him glory because He has done great things for us and is marvelous beyond what we could ever imagine. Why would we want to confine Him to an image when He is uncontainable!
I think that God has been VERY clear that we are not to make or have in our possession ANY image that we would bow down to, pray to, give reverence to, or worship.
You noted such things as items depicting our Lord. I would add crosses-whether worn or hung, if they are used more than a reminder to us of all of Christ's work for us. You mentioned things that remind us of our loved ones who have died. I think photos are fine if put in an family album or hung on our walls as long as we do not "talk" to them or hold the item or the person in a state of reverence in our minds and hearts. We need to avoid thinking that any of dead people are near us in spirit, offer any protection for us, or who have any input into our lives. I believe that there is an impenetrable division between this world and the world after death that the Lord doesn't allow any crossover. Angels are allowed to go between the heavens and our natural world in obedience to God, but we are not to seek such interactions or do any kind of worship to them.
In the area of things that represent occultic matters, I think we need to be careful about what is shown of the clothing we wear and the jewelry we wear. Often times the emblems can be from occultic artistic expressions and it is wise to scrutinize any "adornment" before we purchase or accept from others such things. I am not sure where to go to find out what some of the images that are currently fashionable truly represent. Any ideas. Perhaps simplicity in dress is a pretty safe way to show ourselves to others. We need to be careful of the impression we give to others with how we dress.
And you mentioned music artists. I don't think we should be taken in by ANY famous person, anyone with desirable gifts, and even great preachers, reformers, or Christian leaders. We need to see them all as like us, needing God's grace because we all are sinners and at the same time saints. We need to guard ourselves from idols of any kind. cont.
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