I was just wondering what were some of your thoughts on when secular artists, who profess to be Christian, thank God for their record sales/awards when their music promotes ungodly things?

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Nikki Edmond
Berean Christian Assembly (Reformed Baptist)
Tucson, AZ
HaveATulip Chat Room for Reformed Believers
Principle and Practice Blog
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

They're thanking their god.

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Josh Hicks, Chloë's Daddy
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Straight forward enough answer.

Do you think it's ever appropriate for someone who is a Christian, but does not sing songs that honor God, to thank Him for their sales? I mean, is it possible for a Christian to "do his job" as a singer, but not sing what's popularly known as "Christian music"?

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Nikki Edmond
Berean Christian Assembly (Reformed Baptist)
Tucson, AZ
HaveATulip Chat Room for Reformed Believers
Principle and Practice Blog
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

I suppose it depends on the nature of the songs. In other words, I don't think the songs have to be gospel-oriented in nature. However, so long as they're not promoting ungodliness, anti-Christian themes, etc. I don't see that there would be a problem for someone giving Glory to God for their sales success.

It's kind of like me thanking God for a nice tall glass of Beer.

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Josh Hicks, Chloë's Daddy
Member of TRBC, Attending CCRPC. My Blog
The Puritan Pub (Team Blog)
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I think they do it because they hear others do it and they believe it sounds nice. Throw in a small batch of false humility as well.

In the end I believe it's a violation of the third commandment.

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Bob Vigneault (Bawb Vēēn-yo)
I just know there's got to be a pony in here somewhere!

The Heartbeat of Heaven (blog) MySpace (Music), MySpace (Personal)
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If they profess to be Christian then should we call them "secular artists"?

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Daniel Ritchie
Saintfield, Northern Ireland - Queen's University, Belfast:History/Politics
Member of Dromara Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland (Covenanter)

Just like some of the artists (I could give a list but won't) who show up on TBN now and again and talk about their strong faith in the Lord and then go on secular shows and act is if they never even heard of Christ.

Mat 12:33 Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else make the tree corrupt and its fruit corrupt; for the tree is known by its fruit.

(BTW I never really watch TBN just catch it now and then surfing through chanels )

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Tom Mitchell
Opp, AL
Member of First Presbyterian Church PCA Florala, AL

Open profaneness is the broad dirty way which leads to hell
--but trusting in religious duties is a sure way, though a cleaner way to hell. ~ Thomas Brooks
www.myspace.com/tom_mitchell1960
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Well I'm talking about artists who do not exalt God in their songs. But rather sing about, well secular things, whatever that may be, I can think of R&B or Pop singers who thank their "Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" but, it's like hmmm..., I know I definitely cringe when I hear Rap artists thanking "God". Especially when the predominate content of their message is just blasphemous.

I guess in a sense it does depend on the content of their songs. But this can be such a wide range. I mean can you see Christina Aguilara giving thanks to God for her talents and sales? Her career was all over the place, I liked her 1st album - thought it was cute, but not the most God honoring. Or what about someone like Miley Cyrus (Hannah Montana)?

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Nikki Edmond
Berean Christian Assembly (Reformed Baptist)
Tucson, AZ
HaveATulip Chat Room for Reformed Believers
Principle and Practice Blog
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

1. It's important to remember that any unregenerate's offering, whether the content is "good" or not, is still filth in God's eyes.

2. One can glorify God by anything/everything they do; however, they can also fail to glorify God in everything. I can legitimately give God thanks for a nice tasting brew, and glorify Him in it by not being mastered by it, thanking Him for such a gift, etc.

3. These artists' material that is antithetical to the Christian faith is obviously not proper reasons for them to give thanks to the God of the Scriptures ... so, yes, it's blasphemous, etc. but so is the well-intentioned thanks to God by any who are unregenerate.

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Josh Hicks, Chloë's Daddy
Member of TRBC, Attending CCRPC. My Blog
The Puritan Pub (Team Blog)
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I see your point Nikki, but I don't think it's our place to judge their hearts, even if the content of their "art" is highly objectionable. I've heard Beyonce thank God before, but she is notorious for her videos in which she dances in very little clothing. Even if her videos are inappropriate, it doesn't mean she doesn't have a faith or isn't sincerely thankful to the true God. That applies for many of the other rappers and R&B people as well, even if we are offended or object to the content of their work.

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Mason
Member, Redeemer Presbyterian Church (PCA)
New York, NY

"Come now, and let us reason together," says the Lord, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool." - Isaiah 1:18

That is indeed a very good point. I just sometimes wonder if it hurts our witness.

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Nikki Edmond
Berean Christian Assembly (Reformed Baptist)
Tucson, AZ
HaveATulip Chat Room for Reformed Believers
Principle and Practice Blog
Proverbs 1:7 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

The question, however, wasn't should we "judge their hearts." Rather, it was what should we think about their action in giving thanks to God for their sales, etc. That being noted, true believers or not, it is blasphemous to thank God for the selling of content that is contra God and His Word. Furthermore, these professors ought to be held accountable when they give such foolish expressions of gratefulness for the sale of such filth.

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Josh Hicks, Chloë's Daddy
Member of TRBC, Attending CCRPC. My Blog
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Thanking God can be acceptable or unacceptable, depending on who is doing the thanking. I'm sure there are different degrees of good and bad, also. Without going into genres and who should and shouldn't thank God, I'll just say that quite a few could probably be justly met with Psalm 50:16: "But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?"`

That being said, it's a bit hypocritical of me to say that, because I myself have felt the sting of that scripture after some dark disobedience. Ironically, Nikki, I think there's a Cross Movement video that deals with that same issue. It's the one with the chorus that goes, "Whatchu know about this, huh what, huh, huh, huh what what?" That looks really dumb typing it out.



The video starts off with a presumed rapper thanking "God" for success and what not, and they all stand up in the crowd and start rapping at him with that line, as in, "You have neither part nor parcel with us." So apparently they wonder the same thing.

Problem is, like I said, I can often apply those words to myself and shudder.

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Joshua Wiseman
Riverview PCA
Charleston, WV

"Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings."
- Psalm 17:8

I think it is better to say it is profane. Blasphemy is a much stronger word.

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Daniel Ritchie
Saintfield, Northern Ireland - Queen's University, Belfast:History/Politics
Member of Dromara Reformed Presbyterian Church of Ireland (Covenanter)

You make a good point Joshua, but what exactly is "contra God?" I understand what you're saying, but the distinction between bad taste and objectionable content (or "profane" as Daniel Ritchie noted) is often a difficult one to make.

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Mason
Member, Redeemer Presbyterian Church (PCA)
New York, NY

"Come now, and let us reason together," says the Lord, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool." - Isaiah 1:18

contra God? Contra Scripture. Among others, promotion of fornication, adultery, unbiblical divorce, promiscuity, rebellion against God-ordained authority, drunkenness, orgies, degrading of women, so on, so forth.

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Josh Hicks, Chloë's Daddy
Member of TRBC, Attending CCRPC. My Blog
The Puritan Pub (Team Blog)
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I agree. But some of those are not so clear cut. We agree 100% in principle, but I believe there are many gray areas.

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Mason
Member, Redeemer Presbyterian Church (PCA)
New York, NY

"Come now, and let us reason together," says the Lord, "Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool." - Isaiah 1:18

Some of those things are not clearly cut as sin in Scripture?

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Josh Hicks, Chloë's Daddy
Member of TRBC, Attending CCRPC. My Blog
The Puritan Pub (Team Blog)
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I heard Beyonce to thank God for the good sales of her album. I think the name of that album was "Booty-licious."

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Pergamum


"If a commission by an earthly king is considered a honor, how can a commission by a Heavenly King be considered a sacrifice?"
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