I was pondering my 29 year walk in the Lord today and have seen how the Lord has set me free from legalism and outward religious bondage. Oh, Praise God for His goodness!

Proverbs 4:18 – But the path of the just is as the shining light, that shineth more and more unto the perfect day.

Before the Lord redeemed me at age 34 I used music as an idol, a motivator, a comforter, a sympathizer, and general over-all feeling good and experiencing awesome emotions. It truly was an idol- I went to music for truth, emotion, sympathy, and love instead of Abba Father (I wasn’t redeemed back then yet so I really couldn’t do that)

Then in October of 1994 the Lord redeemed and I forsook and jettisoned all my worldly music and albums for godly worship music exclusively. I enjoyed holy, wonderful, uplifting, hymns and songs since then. It was and is a delight.

I found a truth in Colossians 3:16, that we are to sing spiritual songs with grace to our Lord. Wow- what an idea! What a command!

Colossians 3:16 – Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

Then I found Ephesians 5:19:

Ephesians 5:19 – Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.

And I thought Wow! God wants me to sing to Him! From my heart– wow! (From my heart; meaning being led by the Holy Spirit inwardly instead of anything outward) So I did that and glory, was I blessed! And still am.

But at the same time I thought I was more ‘holy’ than other believers who listened to secular music; that I was closer to God than they were- in my extreme zeal (sincere but ignorant- Romans 10:2) I swung 180 degrees to the side of legalism- “all worldly and expressly not Christian music was evil and to be avoided 100%”. Now what I was doing was good in that I realized that I was crucified to the lusts of this world (Gal 6:14) and my mind was filled with just godly truths, thoughts, and emotions but at the same time I formed the extra-biblical idea that the polar opposite categorically was necessarily bad and evil (this is error and easy to fall into- back in Jesus’ day the Gnostics who taught the physical body was inherently evil).

Then as the Lord grew me through His Word, I came to understand spiritually 1 Corinthians 6:12, which is in the context of believers being washed and sanctified by the Holy Spirit for the purpose of being separate from the world:

1 Corinthians 6:12 – All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

This truth is repeated here:

1 Corinthians 10:23 – All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not.

In our freedom in Christ, all things of this world are ok (lawful) yet not necessarily in our best interest (expedient), spiritually speaking; all things of this world are ok but we are to stay discerning lest we be overcome by them.

For example, it’s ok (lawful) to go to a Brewers game but it really doesn’t profit me in my walk (expedient). I can enjoy the game yet not be in bondage to it by needing that my team to win or I get angry, or that I need to buy season tickets every year (of course, this goes without saying that anything explicitly sinful is not lawful).

So I was set free from legalism in music. It’s ok to listen to a worldly song for simple enjoyment. But I shouldn’t let it overcome me or distract me from my sufficiency in Christ Jesus. It’s ok to listen to a song that reminds me of a pleasant memory.

I also found that I don’t have to feel guilty about it. What grace; what freedom!

Then I noticed a funny thing several years ago. Secular artists from time to time would mention God or the Lord or Jesus in their lyrics- and even biblical things. And then it occurred to me that every man has the knowledge of God in them (Romans 1:19-20) and that God has put eternity in their hearts as well (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

Songs like:
I’m Your Vehicle Baby includes “Great God in Heaven, you know I love you.”
Come Sail Away has “Oh Lord, I’ll try To carry on.”
Signs, Signs has “I said, “Thank you, Lord, for thinkin’ ’bout me. I’m alive and doin’ fine.”

Whether or not the singer(s) were saved or knew what they were singing about is secondary; the fact is they’re singing biblical truth. That is something to note.

And then there’s the song Day by Day, which is quite biblical-

“Oh, dear Lord, three things I pray
To see thee more clearly,
Love thee more dearly,
Follow thee more nearly,
day by day…”

So instead of ignoring or being overcome by secular music I have the freedom to enjoy it and also overcome!

1 John 5:4 – or whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

Instead of being judgmental and hating the artist in my heart I have freedom and compassion and turn that into prayer for their salvation.

Romans 12:21 – Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

To summarize, not only is the earth God’s because He created it but also all things as well. This includes music and singing. They are not inherently evil (like some who believe playing cards, dancing, movies, etc. are categorically evil) but were perverted by the devil.

So now I enjoy spiritual freedom and liberty, seeing God in all of it! And as I continue to grow I’m learning to apply this to all areas of God’s creation.

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If you want to dig deeper…
Three verses later, in 10:26, we notice a continuing spiritual truth to 10:23 which advances us into another grand, glorious truth-

…to be continued in Part II!