Not because the Bible doesn't explicitly say "do not do this ______", does that mean it's not there. Well, dito na papasok iyung sinasabi nung ibang nag-reply na discernment, wisdom, etc.
When I 'judge' whether a music is worth listening or playing to as masama or hindi, the context is: Christ, His cross, His message, His person, His church. Why, doon ang mga basehan palagi kapag you're viewing in a Christian point of view. So when I say na this music, band, or whatnot is not ok for me, I'm not saying that the artist is bad.
Example. I am a Christian. There is this very good song I used to like, but sadly the lyrics say, "...the healing hands held back by the deepened nail, follow the God that failed." So, as a Christian, would I consider this song to be included in my repertoire nowadays? Of course not. I can say na masama siya for me, because the allusion to Christ is, for my judgement, an injustice to Him.
Example 2. I am a Christian. A 'Christian Artist' makes a song, but it's lyrics say what many Christians will deem heretic. Ito iyung problem ng CCM today as complained by many Christians. There are artists who market themselves as Christian, but are in fact what many Christians will again say as unconverted, has faulty theology, etc. Take note, they do not lightly label someone as such, but base their 'judgement' on many things like, the artist's lifestyle, his lyrics, etc. Take a look at Brian "Head" Welch. He made ripples when he announced he became a Christian. But many now doubt his testimony, because of the same thing I mentioned: his lifestyle, his friends, his lyrics, etc. So, if I see a song that for me is contradictory to any of those mentioned Christ-centered standards, kahit Christian band gumawa, I wouldn't use it sunday service lineup.
So iyung counter-charges like:
- judging things like this, is Pharisaical legalism, bigotry, and narrow mindedness
- the apparent quack labeling of music/ventures as secular or otherwise
- and all that call the Christian preferences for purity as unreasonable
are just from those who misunderstand that we are looking at all these in a Christian worldview. As much as someone can call any music as acceptable because it charges him/her emotionally while discounting many other music as boring, that person also is also judging with his/her own worldview. As for Christians, for example basing from some of the replies to this post, are looking at music that is useful in a Church environment. Others, iba naman.
