how to give up godless ways.

[braininjured]

Pastor read this passage in church yesterday... 2peter:3-9

"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.
For this very reason, make every effort to add to you faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. but if anyone does not have them ,he is near sighted and blind, and has forgotten that he has been cleansed from his past sins."

The guys in my band are of great influence, godless, materialistic influence. They have good hearts, and they respect me because I am the dictator. I sing and play guitar, I kinda run the show anyways. I am currently revamping my lyrics so that they are less evil, and contain a greater purpose within. But, I am a weak person, should I give up and dedicate my life to Jesus through the church, or express my commitment, through my lyrics and songs. I feel I would have a greater impact on the secular community than through the church. I play drums in church, there isn't much more I can give to them, since they are more than happy with the vibe and excitement my presence in the church has created.

I want to be a servant of god, but I want to make sure I'm putting my talents where they are needed most.

Anyone care to have an opinion?

[karenoka27]

There is someone on the board that was also in a band. I'll pm him and let him know you are here. Perhaps he can be of help to you.

[dljc]

The guys in my band are of great influence, godless, materialistic influence. They have good hearts, and they respect me because I am the dictator. I sing and play guitar, I kinda run the show anyways. I am currently revamping my lyrics so that they are less evil, and contain a greater purpose within. But, I am a weak person, should I give up and dedicate my life to Jesus through the church, or express my commitment, through my lyrics and songs. I feel I would have a greater impact on the secular community than through the church. I play drums in church, there isn't much more I can give to them, since they are more than happy with the vibe and excitement my presence in the church has created.

I want to be a servant of god, but I want to make sure I'm putting my talents where they are needed most.

Anyone care to have an opinion?

Look at your own words. No offense to your friends, but if they are not on the same page as you, they are likely to want to move on at some point. Fame and fortune would be what drives them, while you might want to glorify God instead. Use the talents He's given you for the latter in the previous sentence, not the former. If He wants you to be in a Christian band, He will bring the other members into your path. If He just wants you to edify the body through song and worship, then that's what He wants. Read 1 Corinthians 12 and Ephesians 4.

My

[braininjured]

I have a direction. Sometimes I'm not sure where I'm going, but I know God gave me purpose. My friends see this, and until I get all weird on them, they will follow me where I go.

I've always disliked most if not all christian music. Will you judge me if my desire is fortune over fame, to put me in a better position to spread good?

I'd like to point you to Proverbs 11:25 "A generous man will prosper, he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed."

A buddy of mine is doing a personal outreach to all minorities of music, goths, metalheads, what have you. I feel my talents could do wonders of inspiration for the secular community, quite possibly make them take interest in religion on their terms.

Fundamental Christians made me hate religion the last 7 years. If they made me hate, then they made a crap ton of other people hate, and those people I wanna reach out to.

I dunno... God has transformed my life. I wanna show non-Christians.

[dljc]

I have a direction. Sometimes I'm not sure where I'm going, but I know God gave me purpose. My friends see this, and until I get all weird on them, they will follow me where I go.

I've always disliked most if not all christian music. Will you judge me if my desire is fortune over fame, to put me in a better position to spread good?

I'd like to point you to Proverbs 11:25 "A generous man will prosper, he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed."

A buddy of mine is doing a personal outreach to all minorities of music, goths, metalheads, what have you. I feel my talents could do wonders of inspiration for the secular community, quite possibly make them take interest in religion on their terms.

Fundamental Christians made me hate religion the last 7 years. If they made me hate, then they made a crap ton of other people hate, and those people I wanna reach out to.

I dunno... God has transformed my life. I wanna show non-Christians.

Dude! I'm not judging you in any way. I only looked at what you said and helped to point out what you had said. All I was trying to say was let Him lead you, if you want to serve Him, then serve the way He wants you to, not the way you want to.

[braininjured]

Dude! I'm not judging you in any way. I only looked at what you said and helped to point out what you had said. All I was trying to say was let Him lead you, if you want to serve Him, then serve the way He wants you to, not the way you want to.

how did you determine what he wanted for you?

[markdrums]

how did you determine what he wanted for you?

Actually, I think you have a pretty good idea of what the real delimma is;

You're trying to find some way to make yourself believe you're unselfishly motivated. But the question is, "Are you really being honest with yourself, & with God?"

If God has transformed your life, (as you mentioned) you'll understand that it wasn't "fundamental Christians" that gave you a negative outlook; it was because your personal wants & desires didn't fit within the framework of Christianity.
Basically, it sounds like you were looking for a "religion" that you could bend & shape to personally suit your tastes, preferences, & lifestyle.

You can rationalize to yourself all day long, about how "fame & fortune" would allow you to reach out to more people... etc... But if God REALLY HAS transformed your life like you mentioned, then you'll know the difference between letting HIM lead you, & doing it your own way.

[braininjured]

Glad I met with Pastor for coffee this morning, or I would have been misdirected by your post.

You've made a whole lot of assumptions without asking any questions.

[dljc]

how did you determine what he wanted for you?

By following His lead, instead of going my own way.

I've never been a leader in anything I've done in my life, but I've never been a follower of men either. Some would say that's a loner, but it's not that I'm a loner, but instead I was looking for the right person to follow. And that would be Jesus Christ, the Son of Man the Son of God. Men are earthly and will lead you down the wrong path. Jesus is the way the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father but by Him.

If you had known me in high school and saw me today, you wouldn't think it's the same person...that's because I'm not the same person. It is only by His grace and mercy that this could have happened. There are many instances in my life that by my own doing, I shouldn't even be here. Today, He uses those experiences in my life to help others. I can go back into those situations knowing that He has my other hand, He's just using me to help this other person find Him.

I do admire you wanting to do good, don't get me wrong. I do understand what you are saying. All I'm saying is, follow His lead and He can do even more through you than you could have ever thought possible. The hard part is following His lead. It requires giving up self. Self, being what you want to do with the talents He's given you. Pray and ask Him to guide you.

[markdrums]

I can offer a little food for thought on the "music / drums" subject.

I started playing drums in 6th grade band, back in 1981. I stuck with it & eventually joined a rock band in High School.
Right after graduation I spent the next 16 years touring the country & playing shows 48-50 weeks out of every year.

I knew there was a reason I ended up with a music career, but didn't know exactly what that reason was, or why.
Eventually my musical focus led me from Michigan to Nashville TN. (Which is where I am now.)

After getting interest from a few record labels & doing several showcases, it all ended up fizzling out, & they passed on us.
Eventually the band took a hiatus, & a couple guys moved away.... which left me wondering, "What was the reason my music career led me here?"

It took me a little while, but after I realized that it wasn't about me acheving fame & fortune, but rather letting God lead me to the place I needed to be.
Because; I ended up working in a place where I've been able to witness to several people, and have grown more in my relationship with Jesus than I ever had in my life.

Although music was the vehicle that brought me here, it wasn't the overall purpouse for the work I'd be doing to Glorify God, and to become more equipped at defending the faith, & sharing the gospel.

All THAT happened after I got here.

The main thing is, God just might use you through music..... but if you really want to follow God's plan,& let him lead you to become the most effective witness you can be, You also have to be willing to let go of something that may not be in the plan.

[ilovemetal]

The guys in my band are of great influence, godless, materialistic influence.

does it rub off on you? i suppose that's what defins influence, or they'd be simply 'godless, and materialistic.' no?

They have good hearts, and they respect me because I am the dictator. I sing and play guitar, I kinda run the show anyways. I am currently revamping my lyrics so that they are less evil, and contain a greater purpose within. But, I am a weak person,

admittedly, i am weak too, we all are to a certain extent. i've found, (after being in many bands and youring canada 3 times) that a)bands are fun, but they get you no where, unless your on a major b)spending so much time with non believers will, no matter what have an effect on you.

so there will, in all our lives haev to be compromises to be made. i've givin up alot of what i 'want' to do, (though i'e found i no longer want to do that anymore thanks to Jesus) so i'd say read more bible, and pray morea bout it. the only harm i see is if it hinders your relationship with God. by all means you can be a light in their dark world.

should I give up and dedicate my life to Jesus through the church, or express my commitment, through my lyrics and songs. I feel I would have a greater impact on the secular community than through the church.

so do bands like underoath and life in your way (rip). i wouldn't 'give up' things, but rerout them, into things for God. if the band thing is letting you be a witness then i support it. but if it's not helping you swaer less or party less then it might be something to let go of.

I play drums in church, there isn't much more I can give to them, since they are more than happy with the vibe and excitement my presence in the church has created.

I want to be a servant of god, but I want to make sure I'm putting my talents where they are needed most.

Anyone care to have an opinion?

for me, i do what i can. God knows your heart, all you gotta do is give Him 100% of it and your gold. generally i'd go with pray about it.

[braininjured]

Thank you all for your input. I'm praying my butt off I can withstand the influence for the greater good to prevail. My bible comes to practice and sits where my beer USED to.

[markdrums]

Well... I can tell ya one thing, We're here to offer an "outside" look at things, & help out whenever we can.



And if you're anything like me, sometimes the real help & advice isn't always what I want to hear.... LOLOL!

You're definitely doing the right thing with praying about it. Keep it up!
When the time is right, & you're ready for more "work" to begin, you'll know it. (And it'll be there!)

[Big T]

Hi, I just read this and wanted to make a comment.

Good on ya, for knowing what is right. But now you MUST take a stand.

Just so you know, I'm speaking from the standpoint of one that has been in many bands and some that got popular.

Of course you should live your life for Christ. You should also leave a band that is not dedicated to the Lord. Some disagree and that's fine. But think of your witness if the whole band parties and all that. The public will group you in with them. People won't say, "That band sure parties a lot, but that one guy is a great Christian." I'm speaking from the standpoint of a couple friends that came to Christ and tried to stay in their secular bands and they had this exact problem.

You say your friends are materialistic. "What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet to lose his soul?"

You say you are weak, that's a good start for the Lord to show you that He is strong. But if you are weak and there are 3 or 4 guys influencing you... those are not good odds.

Your music can have a great influence on the secular community. My band did. However, only because the Lord blessed us and we were all believers. That's why we were blessed with recording 2 CD's and getting songs on MTV sports. (An old show that started the whole X games deal)

[My heart's Desire]

Here is an opposite side of things.
When I was younger we were in the Christian band thing, one member has since then committed suicide (had nothin to do with music tho) and another is still playing yet not in a Christian band but in the bars and stuff. He wanted to be a witness too but its not working out that way.
Be very careful about your desires. I don't have a certain thing to say about the type of music but I can understand how you wish to play in a setting that has more unbelievers in it then believers.
As they say, it is hard to preach or in this case play to the choir! Hard to witness to people already saved. Needless, to say though that if the unbelievers are seeing the same things they see anywhere else, they probably won't see Christ in the revamped verses. Just remember that our Lord said, we are in the world but not of it!
Yes, I know. None of that is probably helpful to you but I thought I tell you anyway.