Does it bring Glory to God? Or WWJD?

Whenever some believers want to justify a “rule/tradition of men” not found in Scripture, they often invoke this question, “does it bring glory to God?” or “What would Jesus Do (WWJD)?” to justify “their Judgment upon you”.

For example, I have had questions like this directed to me:

(i) By playing Christian Rock, “does it bring Glory to God? or WWJD?”

(ii) By playing or selling Secular Music for a living or career, “does it bring Glory to God? or WWJD?”

The common verse quoted for such a Judgment is this:

“Whether, then, you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.” (1 Corinthians 10:31)

Let’s consider ‘an equivalent question’ first:

(i) By playing other Christian Music (other genre), “does it bring Glory to God? or WWJD?”

(ii) Doing a other jobs for a living or career, “does it bring Glory to God? or WWJD?”

Often, believers have a preconception that “soft Christian music brings glory to God” or that “the non-musical career which they pursue” is ‘better’.

I see it as follows:

(i) Christian Music (rock or soft) represents ‘the way you wish to worship Christ’ and therefore we should not stop each other across the various genres.

I put the genres equal, whether one worships or sings in ‘rap’ or in ‘r & b’, in ‘rock’ or ‘jazz’, in ‘metal’ or ‘sentimental’ etc. Preference of genre is a personal choice & I do not dare claim that God accepts/rejects a certain genre as a whole, generally.

Also, I believe that ‘with all other factors held constant’, the ‘one worshipping with a hymn’ brings an equivalent amount of ‘glory to God’ as the ‘one worshipping in rock’ (measure is not in number of people agreeing to it but rather “the worshipper’s intent & heart” – ‘worship in spirit’ from within the worshipper, his heart).

Also, I rather judge a song by its ‘lyrics’ and “how accurate it is to Biblical doctrine” to be able to ‘worship in truth’ (doctrinally & in singing personal testimony as God’s Work in our lives is revealed).

A principle I would take in this is to be “fully convinced in his own mind” as even the verse below speaks of ‘certain oppposite things’ may be ‘allowed in ‘practice’ accordingly.

“One person regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Each person must be fully convinced in his own mind.” (Romans 14:5)

Regarding the common “appearance of evil” or “stumbling a brother” argument, here are the “facts”:

(a) Appearance of evil verse

“Abstain from all appearance of evil.” (1 Thessalonians 5:22)

Rock music has the appearance of evil as much as “soft/sentimental music or other genres” when considered from the perspective of ‘musical type preference’ as the ‘latter’ is ‘very frequently’ played in ‘places where sin is commonly found’ (such as massage parlours, pubs, etc.).

As long as one avoids ‘sinful’ traits practiced by common rock musicians of the world such as “men having long hair which is prohibited” (1 Corinthians 11:14), “cross dressing or certain sexually provoking dressing” (exhibiting homosexual or sexually immoral traits, forbidden in 1 Corinthians 6:9), etc. and just ‘plays the music without strange conducts’, I see that it’s permissible.

(b) Stumbling the brother verse

“Therefore, if what I eat causes my brother or sister to fall into sin, I will never eat meat again, so that I will not cause them to fall.” (1 Corinthians 8:13)

“It is good not to eat meat or to drink wine, or to do anything by which your brother stumbles.” (Romans 14:21)

Apostle Paul is willing to ‘give up meat’ if a brother stumbles due to it. However, the argument works in reverse too, namely, ‘if I stop eating meat and claim that it’s a higher way God is leading me to, it could stumble a meat eating believer who might feel that he is spiritually lower due to it, right?’

The “Fact” (God’s Truth) regarding it is this as Paul mentioned that ‘both ways’ (eating meat or abstaining from it) are ‘allowed’:

“One person has faith that he may eat all things, but he who is weak eats vegetables only.” (Romans 14:2)

“But food will not commend us to God; we are neither the worse if we do not eat, nor the better if we do eat.” (1 Corinthians 8:8)

What we are to certainly avoid is ‘judging or taking sides regarding certain opposite things which may be allowed when practiced either way’:

“The one who eats is not to regard with contempt the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat is not to judge the one who eats, for God has accepted him.” (Romans 14:3)

So, the ‘brother stumbling’ argument only works if ‘someone left Christianity or ceased believing in Christ’ to the point of ‘destruction’ due to my ‘rock Christian worship’ or by me ‘playing secular music’ as the verse mentions this ‘reason’ for the ‘stumbling argument to stand’:

“For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died.” (Romans 14:15)

So, has someone like that happened due to my Worship & music? Please let me know and I want to see for certain that person has left Christ due to “this reason only” before deciding my conduct otherwise. If it has “never” happened, the judgment proposed against me is empty.

Let’s consider also the possibility that by “banning rock Christian worship” or the “freedom to play secular music” as a Christian as ‘some churches advocate such rules/traditions’, didn’t they cause some believers to ‘leave Christianity’ being unable to accept it? The quoted verses may point to those churches causing those brothers to stumble instead, isn’t it?

“Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this—not to put an obstacle or a stumbling block in a brother’s way.” (Romans 14:13)

(ii) Playing Secular Music

Regarding this, if we play for fun, it’s for fun as we intend it. If we play for making a living, it’s for making a living. If we play to impress people of our skills, it remains an intent to do so as claimed. As my intent is a mixture of these, I believe that it is as much allowed as ‘similar intents’ in “academic”, “work”, “sports” or “all other fields” in our personal frail quests to ‘bring glory to God’ whilst ‘gain something for ourselves mostly while doing these pursuits’.

In secular music of our own composition, I see the genres equally allowed. The focus is on our lyrics & message portrayed. For example, ‘if an appearance of sin is portrayed, let the message be the letting go of it rather than indulging in it’.

Another example: ‘if a lyric is sung, though it may portray our human frailties being honest about it, best is to avoid any wrong words/profanities/blasphemous or coercing to sin of any kind (no message to sin more).’

As a believing secular musician, let us not fall into the sins which are common in such arenas.

(c) An instructive New Testament Biblical career cases in principle

Regarding ‘being a Christian secular musician’, consider an analogy regarding ‘being a Christian roman soldier’.

Please understand that a Roman soldier at that time of Christ were ‘oppressing Jews, Christians & others’ in general being a ‘colonial power of some sort’.

Thus, we could ask, “Does being a Roman soldier or even being identified with such an inhumane oppressing empire bring Glory to God?”

However, ‘no’ such question even arose for such a career with more appearance of evil than rock music.

Thus, we should be careful in asking the question “does it bring Glory to God?” as the ‘faith’ of some Roman Centurions/Soldiers were ‘highly regarded in Scripture’ even ‘a believer certainly being filled with the Holy Spirit too’ (such as Cornelius, as verses below speaks good of him though he worked for an ‘evil oppressing government in general’):

“And there was a certain man in Cesarea, by name Cornelius, a centurion from a band called Italian, pious, and fearing God with all his house, doing also many kind acts to the people, and beseeching God always,

he saw in a vision manifestly, as it were the ninth hour of the day, a messenger of God coming in unto him, and saying to him, ‘Cornelius;’

and he having looked earnestly on him, and becoming afraid, said, ‘What is it, Lord?’ And he said to him, ‘Thy prayers and thy kind acts came up for a memorial before God,” (Acts 10:1 – 4)

To quote from a website:

“In the New Testament, Jesus marveled when a Roman centurion (an officer in charge of one hundred soldiers) approached Him. The centurion’s response to Jesus indicated his clear understanding of authority, as well as his faith in Jesus (Matthew 8:5-13). Jesus did not denounce his career. Many centurions mentioned in the New Testament are praised as Christians, God-fearers, and men of good character (Matthew 8:5; 27:54; Mark 15:39-45; Luke 7:2; 23:47; Acts 10:1; 21:32; 28:16).”

Hence we deduce that each person is judged individually & not by generality of ‘any appearance of evil’ in ‘type of job or general conduct of such people in certain jobs’.

(d) An instructive New Testament example regarding ‘traditions & man made rules’ (e.g. in synagogues, churches or equivalent).

Consider this seemingly right question, “Does it bring Glory to God if we eat with unwashed hands or why not we make further rules to please God?”

A situation described in Verses below:

“Then some Pharisees and scribes came to Jesus from Jerusalem and said, “Why do Your disciples break the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.” (Matthew 15:1 – 2)

Our Blessed Saviour responded these seemingly well intended traditional or cultural inventions to please God further as follows:

“And He answered and said to them, “Why do you yourselves transgress the commandment of God for the sake of your tradition?” (Matthew 15:3)

Christ is differentiating the “neglecting of commands which are actually given by God” (in analogy for neglecting of commands by some of our modern churches please consider: 1 Corinthians 14:34, 37, 38) versus “man made rules” ( additional church rules not found in Scripture).

Why is it such?
These ‘outward rules’ (trying to play music in a certain way only, analogy) Does not affect anything “inward” (such as ‘breaking God’s written command’ does) as so is the case with the ‘outward washing of hands’:

“After Jesus called the crowd to Him, He said to them, “Hear and understand. “It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man.” (Matthew 15:10 – 11)

“I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean.” (Romans 14:14)

“Therefore do not let what is for you a good thing be spoken of as evil;” (Romans 14:16)

“Do not tear down the work of God for the sake of food. All things indeed are clean, but they are evil for the man who eats and gives offense.” (Romans 14:20)

“The faith which you have, have as your own conviction before God. Happy is he who does not condemn himself in what he approves.” (Romans 14:22)