You Believe.

We all believe. Anyone who denies this is either in a stubborn state of denial or simply has not examined the thought enough. Even an agnostic believes; even atheists believe. The question is, firstly: What do you believe? Secondly, why? Many atheists believe in science as the final and ultimate authority. They believe science was the source of our origin and will be that of our end. They herald the message of science. Even praise the work of science. Therefore, they do not only believe in science instead of God but actually believe in science as God (in a manner of speaking). Is it not so?

Don’t believers in God believe the same principles? That God is the originator of all things; don’t they praise His work? Atheist believe the same foundational concepts but ascribe the credit to a different figure. A figure with no mind, consciousness or sentience–yet somehow it randomly formed beings who have all these attributes which the originator itself did not. Given this truth, consider the second tenet of your (yes, your) belief: Why do you believe what you believe? One can list all of the common aspects of their belief systems but that is often not the only true reason why an individual believes as they do. Especially beliefs that claim no belief. People tend to believe certain things not because it has proven itself absolutely true but because it aligns with what they want in life. How they want to live, who they want to be around, how they want to be perceived by society. Do such inclinations as these influence your beliefs? If so, you will never have the vision and clarity of judgment to differentiate truth from lie until you rid yourself of these prejudicial stances. If it makes you comfortable to believe that there is no such thing as gravity, or that none of your loved ones will die in your life time, does it mean that you can float? Or that you will certainly never see any of your loved ones pass away? Obviously not. In the same way, holding to a belief because it makes you more comfortable with a certain way of life does not make the belief true.

If you honestly do not believe in God, how do you explain living things? The universe? The near-infinite dimensions of space? Did it actually come from nothing? Do you know the answer to the equation 0+0? … Spoiler alert: (whispering) It’s zero. Nothing plus nothing = (wait for it………) nothing. Literally. No. Thing. Something cannot come from nothing. Some thing cannot come from no-thing. Therefore, everything definitely can’t come from nothing. That’s the simple way of explaining it.

You might have noticed earlier that i said “near-infinite dimensions of space.” Some maintain that the universe is actually infinite and never needed a creator. Impossible. The second law of thermodynamics proves that this absolutely cannot be true. Basically it is the explanation for the widely known scientific fact that the universe is constantly running out of energy. If the universe is infinite how can it be running out of energy? The universe is not infinite. (It is ironic that people would be willing to attribute infinite power to a non-conscious, insentient, “something” known as the universe but not the same infinite power to a conscious living being, namely God.) The universe had to be created by something greater than itself with more power than itself. A baby cannot reproduce an adult. Neither can a lesser power in oblivion create a far, far, greater reality in the existence of the universe itself.

Should Christians Listen to Heathen Music?

Yes.

Sometimes.

I am no advocate of immoral and ungodly music. However, (referring to Hip Hop) some artists’ songs and albums are more or less equivalent to a published book. They are giving an artistic account of their experiences. Some artists write about human experiences in the form of a poem, others – a story, or a painting… And some use Hip Hop. Kendrick Lamar for instance. Or “C.R.E.A.M.” by Wu-Tang. I’m not referring to the foul artists (or songs) with no substance, which are just exploiting immoral messages and images for profit. I’m just referring to those with an honest account of life experience. “The one who knows to do right and doesn’t do it will be severely punished. The one who does not know what is right will be punished less severely for doing wrong.” I don’t suggest that such music should be listened to for pleasure or leisure at all, but some Christians should listen to some songs and albums once for educational purposes. A lot of Christians (mind you, Christians have the essential answer the suffering world needs) are completely unaware of the harsh realities outside of safe and comfortable Christian circles.

However, if a person knows that the music could appeal to them (meaning they will actually like it and want to listen again) or even corrupt them, then such a person should NOT listen at all. Those who know they are at a maturity level where they will not be influenced should take a listen once in a while to something that is reportedly “real.” Something that honestly communicates a depiction or account of reality that gives insight into someone else’s life experience. When I say “once in a while” I mean like once every 6 months, or maybe 3 months.

Many Christians don’t want to hear songs like “m.A.A.d City” by Kendrick Lamar, “Seen it All” by Young Jeezy (featuring Jay-Z) or “The Message” by Nas or “Dance With the Devil” by Immortal Technique, because they’re so filthy and foul. Indeed they are. Guess what… Children grow up living that. People experience those things all their lives, everyday. A large number of Christians are too out of touch with the experiences of suffering people. Especially, in the U.S., they’re out of touch with people of the inner-city. We have to keep ourselves clean, yes–but not in a sense that we hide and don’t reach out and touch those living in filth. We are not to reach out simply out of duty but we should do so out of sincere love and compassion. Simply put, don’t just preach to hoodlums, for example, just because you know you should. Instead, have genuine love and empathy for the individual. Understand. Care. That’s the main point I’m getting at in this, not so much the listening to the music.

“Do not be high-minded, but condescend to people of low estate.”