Singles & Sex…Is Music a Gateway to Sexual Temptation?
May 9, 2011 by Admin
Filed under Music, Relationships
by Kim Brooks
Victor Hugo once said, “Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and cannot remain silent.â€
As singles who are Christians, we must be mindful that our listening choices affect our thoughts, and ultimately our actions.
Music can set you up for a breakthrough from God through worship, or a breakdown of your flesh through sensual songs which influence you to “give it upâ€â€”resulting in another break—to the altar for repentance. Music is powerful. It can influence you to live a good/Godly life; or to take your own life.
The Word of God encourages us to carefully consider our listening choices, because what we hear affects what we think. In Romans 10:17, Paul wrote, “17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.â€
If your listening choices are focused on music that glorifies God, your thoughts will lead you to a lifestyle that glorifies God.
As Christian singles, one of the main struggles we face is in the area of sexual activity. Many Christians have decided to remain abstinent until marriage and are finding that it does not leave them unfulfilled and lonely.
Recently, Gospel Today’s Successfully Single caught up with Stellar Award winning artists, Evin Martin, Jor’el Quinn and Torrence Greene, better known as 21:03. The guys are all single, are careful about the type of music they listen to.
“It’s important to guard the gateways to your soul/spirit,†says Evin. “I try to refrain from listening to music that is demeaning, or doesn’t reflect the principles that I believe in.â€
Jor’el adds, “I’m conscious of what words I listen to and let in. ‘Faith comes by hearing,’ therefore, doubt can also come by hearing. I love many genres (of music) however, I am mindful of the lyrical content I allow myself to listen to.â€
“Music helps when I’m having personal worship time with God,†says Torrence. “It is important to always monitor the music you listen to as a Christian.â€
Men Who Choose to Wait
“As a Gospel artist,†says Evin, “I need God’s anointing to be effective. When I think of the price Jesus paid for my sins, I’m reminded that sexual purity is the least I can give; it’s my reasonable service.â€
“My relationship (with God) causes me to strive to do the things that please Him,†Jor’el affirms. “It keeps me wanting to make Him smile and trust me with more. My actions affect so much and so many more than me.â€
“As a Christian artist it can be difficult to stay abstinent,†adds Torrence, “I’m still human so I’m tempted just like the next person. My friends [help] keep me in line and my group members help me stay focused on my goals. Staying in the Bible really helps.”
I like this article, it’s honest. It’s harder for a young man than it is for older men to abstain if not married being a Christian. But it is possible to be a virgin if not married. Even the bible says a young Christian man will eventually go buck wild for a short time, we pray he comes back and seeks Repentance and Forgiveness of sins in Jesus name.
It’s refreshing to hear the brothers open up about issues like music and sexual temptation because mostly we [women] are the ones out there talking these topics to death. But that’s because they are REAL and, as iron sharpens iron, we need to continue encouraging each other with our words and testimonies.
I blogged about the effects of music on me–as a young, single, Christian woman–so please allow me to share my 2 cents here: http://holyhotnessbypvi.blogspot.com/2011/05/when-music-hits-you.html
Be blessed!
I agree with this article, but in a way I don’t (experience). I have seen men in my old church, while the choir is singing and praise is going up, look at some new woman in the church. the person could have on a long dress, everything covered, but they still say something. My mother always said that sexual feelings start in the mind first. That does not always require music to get you to feel that way. A man could be walking down the street and see a woman and start feeling that way. This comment I heard from a good friend of mine, He told me that if women knew what men were thinking about on a daily basis, we would slap them! If you are sexually excited, a song is not going to do anything but entice it more… but before that song plays, they are excited because they want to be. These are feelings that God gave us, we just have to control them. Unfortunately, the spirit of lust is reigning and ruling right now and that is the reason why people are so sex crazed. I love songs like Betcha By Golly Wow, Side Show, and all of those old songs.. they don’t do a thing to me.. Sorry guys! The gospel music that is made today is not all that Holy and Sanctified either. Some of those songs do not provoke a presence of God at all, they are just noise. I was listening to “This too will pass” by James Cleveland. I remember when I was sixteen and loved this song. It really makes you praise. So, we talk about secular music, but be honest some of the Gospel today is not worth buying…