• Matthew 15:7 “Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying,” 
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The word “hypocrite(s)” is used a total of 31 times in the Bible. Every time in the New Testament it is used (18 x’s except Mt. 7:5 & Lk. 6:42), “hypocrite(s)” is used by Jesus to scold the religious (mostly the religious leaders). As leaders (of the home or church), we have an important and sacred duty to be consistent in doctrine and practice. However, we are tempted not to be and thus open ourselves to hypocrisy. 

One of the biggest hypocritical practices in Christianity concerns media (movies, TV, PC, music, books, social media, etc…). Christians will allow scores of filth (cussing, rock ‘n roll, jazz, immorality, immodesty, alcohol, false religious teachings and practices, witchcraft, rejection of God, taking God’s name in vain, etc…) just because it is media. We love our pleasures (“more than God” II Tim. 3:4) and entertainment. Although that would be bad enough, the hypocrisy comes because we wouldn’t allow that same stuff to be up on the platform of our church, or represented behind our pulpits, or even allowed through the front doors of our home. I know because for all the years I have been an evangelist I have had to leap over innumerable hurdles to just minister in a few churches or enter a few homes. I am not bitter. Please follow where I’m going. My clothing and my family and my music and my doctrine and my preaching and my life have been scrutinized, and still most churches remain closed to us. By the grace of God, I have been found moral and consistent in my practice and teaching of biblical and historical Christianity, and yet my ministry still can barely get into your average fundamental Baptist church. However, CCM music and entertainment Southern Gospel music and Hollywood movies are freely allowed in these same churches. Neo-evangelical preachers’ sermons are listened to on our radios and their books are carried on our shelves and their messages are even preached by our preachers, but true independent, fundamental Baptist preachers like myself can barely get through the door of the average independent, fundamental Baptist home or church. This, dear reader, is hypocrisy. It is hard to swallow and accept (Imagine how the religious felt when Jesus had to lovingly scold them in front of everybody!), but it is true. Most believers will not buy the books and music of godly, faithful, independent, fundamental Baptists, but we will spend thousands in our lifetime on filthy media. That is hypocrisy. We will proclaim how bad Hollywood is while spending our money on Hollywood’s movies and barely giving a cent to world evangelism. That is hypocrisy. 

Take country rock song “God Bless the USA” by Lee Greenwood as another example. This is sung in churches despite not being a Christian song. The buzz word “God” is the only “Christian” word used, and it is repeated only in the chorus. Greenwood thanks his “lucky stars” at one point in the song. Why is a Country song by a secular Country singer who has gone through 5 marriages being celebrated and sung in our churches? To get rock music in our churches, Satan only needs to use the generic “God” which could be any God and indeed often is used in the political and secular realm as such to appeal to the masses and get as many votes and as much money as possible. Of course, the song is further enticing since it focuses on patriotism which, shockingly, many believers put on a pedestal with God even though I Pt. 2:9-11 reveals that believers are not of this world but rather we are strangers and pilgrims. (also I Chron. 29:15; Ps. 39:12, 119:19; Heb. 11:13; I Pt. 1:17)

Things must change in our homes and churches, dear reader. Media hypocrisy needs to go!  Talking about what God expects from His children concerning music:

• Eph 5:19 “Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;”
• Col 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
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In both passages, God emphasizes “in your heart to the Lord”.  What does God mean? Well, God doesn’t want hypocrisy.

• Is. 29:13 “Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:”
• Mt. 15:8 “This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.”
  Mk. 7:6 “He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.”
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Believers must stop associating with secular music, CCM, and entertainment Southern Gospel.  God only accepts His music (See “A New Song”).  Sing all you want to about God and to God with wrong music and/or a wrong heart.  You’re fooling yourself to think that God will accept corrupt praise.  Your heart must be right with God, and this can only be done with the previous verse, Eph. 5:18, of being filled with Christ’s Spirit and Col. 3:16 “singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.”

(This article is from the “Music” series.)