I haven't really go involved much in the threads on this topic for two reasons:
1 - PreacherFergy's (et al) argument is weak.
2 - The level of debate has been pretty poor.
One thing this thread has done for me however was to make me investigate what scripture says about the freedom we have as christians.
Col 2:20-23
Since you died with Christ to the basic principles of this world, why, as though you still belonged to it, do you submit to its rules: " Do not handle! Do not taste! Do not touch!"? These are all destined to perish with use, because they are based on human commands and teachings. Such regulations indeed have an appearance of wisdom, with their self-imposed worship, their false humility and their harsh treatment of the body, but they lack any value in restraining sensual indulgence.
Gal 2:3-5
Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you.
Galatians 5:1
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
And to quote John Calvin on Gal 2:3-5 - 'We here see the necessity of vindicating our liberty when, by the unjust exactions of false apostles, it is brought into danger with weak consciences...There is nothing plainer than this rule, that we are to use our liberty if it tends to the edification of our neighbour, but if inexpedient for our neighbour, we are to abstain from it. There are some who pretend to imitate this prudence of Paul by abstinence from liberty, while there is nothing for which they less employ it than for purposes of charity.'
Paul talked of Pharisees who wished to enslave other Christians because they were jealous of their freedom in Christ. How much of this have we seen in these threads? We must be wary that we are not like the Pharisee in the parable who said 'God, I thank you that I am not like other men'.
Christian liberty is a huge topic and certainly would need a thread (forum even) all of it's own. We obviously are not to use our freedom to indulge the sinful nature (Gal 5:13) but PreacherFergy or anyone else have certainly not convinced me that listening to secular music, or music by secular artists, is de facto sinful for a believer. Scripture just does not plainly state that it is so.
shalom,
Andy
