4-6 Some people say, rather rightly, that music is harmless, that there's nothing to it, that there is no God other than our one God, that no matter how many concerts you go to and people that attend, it doesn’t add up to anything but old memories.
They say again, that there is only one God the Father, that everything comes from him, and that he wants us to live for him. Also, they say that there is only one Master—Jesus the Messiah—and that everything is for his sake, including us. Yes. My friends it is true. 7 In strict logic, then, nothing happened to the music when it was performed in a secular realm. It's just like any other music. I know that, and you know that. But knowing isn't everything. If it becomes everything, some people end up as know-it-alls who treat others as know-nothings. Real knowledge isn't that insensitive.
We need to be aware to the fact that we're not all at the same level of understanding in this. Before knowing Jesus, some of you have spent your entire lives listening to "secular music," and are sure that there's something bad in the music that then becomes something bad inside of you. An imagination and conscience formed under those conditions isn't going to change overnight.
8-9 But fortunately God doesn't rank us on our taste of music. We're neither commended when we turn up the stereo nor reprimanded when we just can’t stand it. But friends, God does care when you use your freedom carelessly in a way that leads a fellow believer still vulnerable to those old tunes to be thrown off track.
10 For instance, say you parade your freedom by going to a concert at a secular venue, where the main act is going to be Coldplay.
Isn't there great danger if someone still struggling over this issue, someone who looks up to you as knowledgeable and mature, sees you go to that concert? The danger friends is that he will become terribly confused, maybe even to the point of getting mixed up himself in what his conscience tells him is wrong. 11-13 Christ gave up his life for that person. Wouldn't you at least be willing to give up going to a concert or two for him—because, as you say, it doesn't really make any difference, right? But it does make a difference if you hurt your friend badly, risking his fragile conscience! When you hurt your friend, you hurt Christ. A good concert here and there isn't worth it at the cost of even one of these "fragile ones." So, let’s not go to these concerts if there's any chance it will trip up one of your brothers or sisters, let us consider others before we think of ourselves.
:adapted from the bible:
