Questions from Yahoo Answers #39

[James Blankenship]

Is it a sin to watch movies and listen to music of this world when you are a christian?
if i like going to the movies and listening to hip hop and r and b music. but i am a christian a strong one also. but is what i am doing a sin in what i just asked?

This is all to common a misconception among atheists/non-believers, (& as seen here, those who "claim" to know Christ), that we are only allowed to do things that the Bible SAYS are OK!

As I explained here:

solascripturaalone.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=choice&action=display&thread=11&page=1

just because a person has been redeemed back into the family of God, by their acceptance of the forgiveness that Christ Jesus offers, does NOT mean that we no longer can NOT do anything that is NON-Biblical!

WE can do anything that we want to do-without ANY exceptions-even go against what the Bible says, if we so choose to.

Now: this is NOT encouraging those who do have that personal relationship with Christ Jesus to do that-in fact, Scripture clearly urges against that, as seen here:

Romans 6:1-14 (New International Version)

1 What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? 3 Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

5 For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. 6 For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— 7 because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. 9 For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, he cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over him. 10 The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.

11 In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. 14 For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

But we DO have the choice to do anything that we want.

I have been a forgiven Child of God, for close to 40 years

I enjoy ALL types of music-from jazz to blues, to 80's metal, to R&B, & on & on.

I enjoy stand-up comedy, from the clean comics to those who use "salty" language, because they make me laugh.

I enjoy all kinds of animation, whether or not it may have occasional scenes of sensual activity & violence.

None of these things are sinful in and of themselves.

Every one who does have that personal relationship with Christ must trust the leading of the Holy Spirit inside them, as to what is right for them-what is proper to listen to/watch/read.

There are no set standards as to what is right or wrong for each Believer for things that the Bible DOESN'T talk about-(Music, books, videos, ect)

The best advice that I would offer this person who asked this question, (if they DO have that personal relationship with Christ), is to follow Scriptures teachings, as stated here:

Philippians 4:8 (New International Version)

8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Those who KNOW Christ personally, should trust in the leading of the Holy Spirit, to guide them in such matters.

James