Romans 8:5 “For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.” 

It is truly amazing to me how much I grew in the Lord after I left CCM and Southern Gospel music completely. For years, I clung to that music really thinking that it wouldn’t affect me. And yet, my spiritual life barely changed. I still had my easily besetting sins like anger. Actually, I grew worse spiritually, not better. Why was that? 

Romans 8:5 answers the question clearly. If you are after the flesh, you mind the things of the flesh. Lot eventually was found in Sodom and Gomorrah because he first set his tent towards Sodom in Genesis 13:12. Lot was a just man (II Pt. 2:7), but he was definitely not spiritual. Lot lost his whole family to wretched sin all because he was “after the flesh.” 

There is a story about an Indian chief who was led to the Lord. After awhile the missionary visited the old chief to see how he was faring. The old chief explained that it seemed like two dogs were warring inside him: the Holy Spirit and the flesh. The wise chief stated that the dog he fed the most always won. The Holy Spirit is eternally superior to the flesh in every way, but it still comes down to what you feed on. You cannot feed on the music style of the world and expect to grow spiritually. The world’s methods will only make you worldly. The only way to mind the things of the Spirit is to go after the Spirit. Your music must be the best there is. Many believers these days don’t like hymns, but those are some of the best music of today. The hymns were written during times of revival. They were written by men and women whose lives were completely sold out and holy for God. So, the choice is up to you: fleshly music or Spirit-filled music.