secular vs christian music
Teen Devotions
Is there something wrong with listening to secular music?
What a huge question to ask. You know, I don’t think the Bible literally says to not listen
to secular music. You won’t find those words anywhere in the Bible. Personally, there is
a lot of “non-Christian” music that I enjoy. Don’t get me started with Michael Jackson’s
Off the Wall album (OK, that may before your time…). I enjoy many kinds and types of
music. But my appreciation for music and enjoyment of it never supersedes what God
may be saying to me in regards to the types of music I allow in my life and in my home.
Above all else, my desire is to keep my heart away from things that may be bad for me
or impact me in a bad way.
For this study, I will define “heart” as the following”
Heart – the most inward part of us that connects with God. The part where your
morality and character lives.
The Bible tells us to keep or guard our hearts with all diligence, for the circumstances of
our life come from what is in our hearts. Let’s read Proverbs 4:23 (NIV):
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
If you want to see different circumstances in your life, you are going to have to start
watching what you are putting before your eyes and what goes into your ears – which
are literally gates into your heart. Some of your music choices may not have the best
words to put into your ears or some of the music videos you watch the best to put before
your eyes if you are trying to change particular behaviors in your life. Only you know
what those behaviors are that need to change. If you find yourself desperate to be in a
relationship, maybe pouring music in your heart about relationships is not the best thing
for you. If you find yourself tempted a lot sexually, maybe (not maybe – definitely!)
music with sexual lyrics and innuendos are not what you should be listening to. If you
have a problem with cussing, maybe artists that tend to use cussing in their lyrics are off
limits for you. Philippians 4:8 (NIV) tells us the following:
Finally, brothers, 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.
Bottom line, if you are spending 5, 6, 10 hours a day pouring secular music into your
ears and heart and NO time in the Word, guess what? You will see more of the world’s
way of living and doing in your life than God’s way of living and doing. It is impossible to
think that you will succeed in God if you are putting more of the world into you than Him.
This is just common sense. Whatever you sow into your life, that is what you will reap
Let’s read Galatians 6:7 – 9:
7Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what
he sows. 8The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from
that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please
the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. 9Let us not
become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will
reap a harvest if we do not give up.
So, you have to be the judge of your own life. You have to set the guards up for
yourself. No one else knows what those guards are and no one else can do this for you.
If you want to see a change in your circumstances and issues, you’ve gotta change
what’s going in you. Out of YOUR heart are the issues of YOUR life. You’ve got the
control, so what are you going to do?
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christian vs non-christian friends
Teen Devotions
Should Christians have non-Christian friends?
This is an interesting topic. I personally have people in my life who are both
Christian and non-Christian. I think there are a couple of things to keep in mind
when we consider this topic:
Number 1: The Bible gives us clear instructions on this. Let’s look at 2
Corinthians 6:14. It says,
Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do
righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what
fellowship can light have with darkness?
The word yoked means to be “joined” together or to be “attached.” When
people fellowship or when you have a “communion”, there is some type of
common association of which an “exchange” of some sort is happening.
When I look this word up in a Bible dictionary, I find a few types of words
being used to describe fellowship and communion:
Share, community, association, joint participation…here are some deep
ones…intimacy, intercourse (Oooo…)
Based on these words, this scripture is basically asking us, “How can two
people that are unequal have a true, intimate relationship?”
Now when we say unequal, we are not saying that one person is better
than the other. That’s not what this means. It’s asking, “How can two
people who believe differently, have different values, and morals have an
effective relationship”? In a real friendship, you have a give and take
relationship going on. Because of this, it is really important that you are
careful about who is “giving and taking” in your life. If you have made a
decision to live a life according to God’s Word, it’s important that you do
your best to put people in your life that have decided the same. If not, you
may have a harder time, maybe even impossible time, trying to live a life
pleasing to God and one filled with His blessings.
Number 2: Now, on the other hand, if we look at the life of Jesus, we see
Him very often hanging around people that were considered sinners.
Prostitutes, criminal tax collectors, even one of his disciples was a crook!
Why would Jesus hang around these people? Well, let’s see what He
says about this.
Mark 2:16 – 17 (NIV) says:
16When the teachers of the law who were Pharisees saw
him eating with the “sinners” and tax collectors, they
asked his disciples: “Why does he eat with tax collectors
and ‘sinners’?”
17On hearing this, Jesus said to them, “It is not the
healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come
to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Jesus is saying here, how could sinners ever come to know who He is if
they were never around Him? How could they ever know God and who
He was if He never spent time with them? This is the same example we
should follow in our lives. I have family members and friends that don’t
live the Word. Some don’t even desire to. But I know the power of my life
being lived out in front of them as an example of God’s Word and love. I
know that my life can be a living testimony of the goodness of God just by
me extending God’s love towards them. Whatever way I can show them
the love of God, I purpose to do. Hopefully, one day, this will draw them to
Christ and they will be born again.
BIG NOTE!!!
Now what this DOES NOT mean is for me to go hang out around people
that I know will entice or tempt me to sin. Do not choose to be around
people that will take you away from a life in God. If you can’t stand the
heat when you are with them, you need to take a some time to separate
yourselves from them. We didn’t see Jesus being pulled into sin when He
was around sinners. He was always in control and always drew people to
Him. This is what we need to purpose to do. Our presence should
demand respect from those around us and ultimately draw others to us.
Then, if the time is ever right, maybe we can share the good news of God
with them.
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how to talk to your parents
Teen Devotions
Having good, healthy, meaningful relationships is hard work. You have to work at it.
You’ve got to want to work at it even when it is difficult to do and easier to not do. This
includes have good friendships, getting along with siblings, and even opening up to your
parents.
Your parents probably fall into one of these categories (have the children fill out
quick surveys that ask them to identify which category both of their parents fall
into):
1. Easy to talk too about anything
2. Hard to talk to and you fell like the don’t understand where you are coming
from
3. Is often judgmental or critical of you when you open up to them
4. Don’t talk to you at all
Just like it’s hard to have good relationships for you, it is also hard for adults. Just
because you get older doesn’t mean things get any easier. In fact, things become more
complex and the responsibility becomes even that much more intense for an adult. You
can, however, have good, open relationships with your parents. You don’t have to live a
life hiding things from them. As a matter of fact, you shouldn’t live a life hiding things
from them. Here are some quick pointers that you can use to start working on improving
your relationship with your parents and open up the doors of communication.
1. Start by letting them know that you want to work on talking to them more. You can
just tell your parents that you want to share more of what is going on with you with them
and would like for you both to begin working on improving this area.
2. Find a time that you and your parents can be comfortable and relaxed together.
3. Make sure no one is focusing on something else while you’re together No paying bills,
playing Playstation, making dinner, or watching TV! Try to look your parents in the eye
when you speak with them.
NOTE: These first three steps might take some effort and patience. Be persistent.
4. If you just want to shoot the breeze try to bring up something they’re interested in. Ask
them questions about their day.
5. If you have something specific you want to talk about let them know exactly what it is.
Don’t beat around the bush.
6. If they react badly to what you tell them really listen to them. . Don’t react badly back
– VERY IMPORTANT!. Let them finish and don’t interrupt. When they are finished, ask
them as respectfully as you can to do the same for you.
7. When you feel like you’ve told them what you wanted to, thank them for listening.
Remain respectful and keep your voice calm even if you’re upset.
8. If you feel like there are still things that need to be talked about set up a time with
them to talk about it another day.
9. Pray to God to help you all continue to work through this.
Tips:
1. Pray first. Ask God for His help and wisdom before you begin talking about something
deep and serious.
2. Show them respect by focusing your attention on the conversation, looking them in
the eyes, and by not being sarcastic or rolling your eyes.
3. Be honest. Honesty builds trust. And life is good when your parents trust you.
4. Stay cool. If you stay calm when things get heated up you’re showing maturity and
your parents will respect that.
5. If you are having a hard time getting out what you want to say, write it down. Send
your parents an e-mail or a letter with what you want to talk about. Writing it down does
not replace talking to your parents, but it can be an easier way to get the ball rolling.
This is not something that just gets better in one day. You will have to keep working at
it, praying, and working. Things will get better. Either your relationship with your parents
will grow, or God will send someone to help you. He will not send someone to you that
will cause division between you and your parents or someone that does not want to do
things God’s way. Whoever God sends to help will be someone that has your best
interest as well as you parents’ best interest at heart.
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