Every believer should be conscious about what they listen to. I don't know any song I don't want to know. How did I achieve this? Over time, I have trained my ears to be able to filter what it listens to. I can be in a place with a very loud music and still not hear it playing
News came out yesterday that Tems, a secular artist, won the award for Best Gospel/Inspirational Award at the 2024 BET Awards.
The song awarded as the Best Gospel song features the artist herself in a sensual and erotic setting, as projected through her costume, dances, and teasing in the music.
There's no church that can play the song in their service.
There's no choir that can perform the song in worship.
There's no believer who can use the song in their private devotion.
There's no Christian event that can invite Tems as a gospel minister.
So why did the world declare as gospel a song that does not serve to glorify God or edify His people?
Why did the world term a celebrity, who prominently has as part of her identity the stereotypical sexual icon image that most mainstream female artists use as part of their major selling points, as a minister of the gospel that warns against such sexual immorality she so proudly projects?
What is the end goal here?
Why did BET try to remove the gap between the clean and the unclean?
Why did BET try to erase the distinction between what is flesh and what is by the Spirit?
Why did BET try to abolish the ordinance that separated the holy from the unholy?
The mission is to corrupt the soul of the believer by presenting to them music that is not of God as though it were of Christ.
It is clear the world knows something about what the Bible says about music for believers that it seems we don't.
Music in the New Testament was presented primarily as a means of sanctification and not recreation or gratification.
It is for sanctification. Paul mentioned music in two major places in the New Testament: Ephesians 5 and Colossians 3.
But the interesting thing is that Paul wasn't primarily talking about music in those chapters.
He was admonishing the church on the importance of maintaining sanctification in this life so that we would be qualified for glorification.
Paul saw music as essential to this process. Look at the pattern he followed that led to his admonition on music:
First, he told them about the new life in the faith:
Ephesians 5:2:
"And walk in the way of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God."
Colossians 3:1-2:
"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."
Then he would assure them of their salvation in Christ:
Ephesians 5:8:
"For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light."
Colossians 3:3-4:
"For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your[a] life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."
Then he would tell them about the sanctification demands of this new life:
Ephesians 5:3:
"But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God’s holy people."
Colossians 3:5-6:
"Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires, and greed, which is idolatry.
Because of these, the wrath of God is coming."
After this, he would then tell them how to relate with one another. This was where the music came in:
Ephesians 5:19:
"Speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord."
Colossians 3:16:
"Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts."
After this, he would go on to tell them about family living: wives submit, husbands love, children obey, parents don't anger, servants serve, masters be kind.
But we see that Paul mentioned music as part of the means of perseverance in sanctification!
Brethren, the music we listen to should aid our sanctification!
IT IS ABOUT HEAVEN IN VIEW!
This is why what BET did, making Tems a gospel minister when she's not, is clearly very alarming for believers.
The possibility that many would see her as a gospel singer and consume hours of her content is now high.
Such music would only gravitate people to the flesh and not the Spirit. That, we believe, is the goal of this new development.
Finally, we are not unaware of the devices of the devil. We will hold on to the truth and make clear what the Scripture says.
Tems is a worldly singer.
She is not a gospel artist.
Her songs are not fit for the spiritual growth of Christians.
They are bad for us.
Lastly, please, let us not listen to these worldly songs. They are detrimental to our sanctification.
May God keep us.
May He preserve the body of Christ.
We will be holy, and by Christ, we will be undefiled.
In Jesus' mighty name, Amen.