(Updated 4-21-2024) Way back in 2007, I wrote the post asking the question “Should secular artists sing Christian music?” What I had to say back then got some resistance and pushback. People took issue with me calling out secular artists like Sean “Diddy” Combs, R. Kelly, and others in my post and follow-up comments criticizing those singers’ incursions into Christian music circles. Now in 2024, I feel vindicated by the stance I took back then in light of the revelations about what has gone on in the private lives of secular artists in the secular music industry. I thank God for giving me and other believers spiritual discernment back then that has been confirmed in recent years beyond what we may have expected to discover.
A few years ago, superstar R. Kelly was exposed, arrested, tried, convicted, and imprisoned for his extreme sex crimes against women. In the midst of his abuse of women years ago, he had released several gospel songs that charted on the gospel music charts. Given his lifestyle, he had no business trying to get Christians to listen to his message. Now we’re hearing all the ungodliness that Sean “Diddy” Combs has been involved with from the beginning of his career. There had always been rumors about his involvement in violent crimes and sexual sins, but when his former girlfriend and protege Cassie filed her lawsuit exposing what amounted to his sexual abuse and sex trafficking, the credibility of all the rumors rose considerably. Others are starting to come forward with more allegations against him. All of this was happening when he released his gospel music in the first decade of this century.
It’s widely known that if you reach the top of the secular music industry, you’ve literally made deals with devils. Despite that knowledge and despite these artists blatantly living in opposition to God and his doctrines by abusing drugs and alcohol, the rampant sexual abuses, and constantly cursing (using the name of the Lord in vain), some “Christians” over the years have been willing to put blasphemers like Kanye West, Justin Bieber, and Chance the Rapper at the top of the Christian music charts. West was the top-selling “gospel” artist three years in a row, including last year, complete with lots of airplay on Christian stations despite all the perverse words that come out of his mouth on secular songs and social media. No matter how accepting these carnal Christians or fake Christians may be of such singers, I can guarantee that God isn’t pleased or impressed by their “praises” in their music. These people are mocking God’s true worshipers and God himself when they unleash this type of garbage. And I say all of this based on what he has said in his word. Here are a few reminders of godly principles for who or what God will or will not accept when it comes to praising him. In some of these passages, our prayers and praises are in lieu of the physical offerings and sacrifices mentioned:
7 Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,
8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. Matthew 15
6 A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the Lord of hosts…
7 Ye offer polluted bread upon mine altar; and ye say, Wherein have we polluted thee? In that ye say, The table of the Lord is contemptible. …
10 … I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord of hosts, neither will I accept an offering at your hand. Malachi 1
9 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son.
10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:
11 For he that biddeth him God speed is partaker of his evil deeds. 2 John
22 And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.
23 For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. 1 Samuel 15 (Note: Since our prayers and praises are considered sacrifices to the Lord, that’s how the mention of sacrifice in this scripture is applicable today. This is also eye-opening when we consider the above-mentioned secular artists have truly been involved in witchcraft and other forms of idolatry at the time they sang Christian music.)
8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord: but the prayer of the upright is his delight. Proverbs 15
6 For I desired mercy, and not sacrifice; and the knowledge of God more than burnt offerings.
7 But they like men have transgressed the covenant: there have they dealt treacherously against me. Hosea 6
Saints, when we take into account that our effectual fervent prayers and praises avail much, that they help us use the whole armor of God (Ephesian 6:11-18), that they can influence God’s judgments on Earth (Revelation 8:3-5), and much more in our walk with the Lord, then we should conclude that it’s best for us not to accept anyone who would make light of Christian praises.
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