Long, long ago
Ron was raised in the church. He went to seminary. He hated being a pastor, so he started his own construction business. Like many construction workers, he played music while he worked. He liked the music he played.
 
The business grew
His business grew to be more than he could handle on his own, so he hired one of his friends. Steve had a different background. He was NOT raised in the church. He had a difficult and jaded past. He was the product of the FREE and unrestrained 60’s and 70’s. AND he, too, had liked the current songs that Ron liked. But…

What’s the problem?
When Ron played the secular music from that era while they worked, it brought back memories for Steve. Music is a strong “trigger” and can easily pull us back into what we once were…especially if we have prolonged exposure.

Rather than switching over to a Christian station to help Steve be able to re-program his mind towards God and righteous thoughts, Ron was either unwilling or unable to understand the deep struggle his friend had. Ron had never had ungodly experiences like Steve had, so the music was merely “fun” to him.

It’s only music, right?
So rather than changing station, he merely told his friend, “Get over it. It’s only music!” He even began to tease him. He mocked him (thinking Steve was over-reacting; and that he “should” be able to just turn OFF the “feelings and thoughts associated with the songs from his past.)

What’s going on, anyway?
Music is a strong influencer because it engages both sides of the brain. The logical and the creative side. Music is powerful for good as well as for bad. It can lift up. And it can cause someone to stumble.

Three lessons to learn from this story

1. We are responsible before God for what we feed into our hard drives (our minds). Our “temples” belong to God. We are not our own. We were bought with a price!
2. We are responsible to check in with each other to find out if we are causing them to “stumble”. If we are making it harder for them to be faithful in their faith walk.  If so, no amount of our “Freedom in Christ” is worth that!
3. God is not a killjoy! He wants us to enjoy our lives, but He also wants us (out of love and gratitude to Him) (NOT out of legalism) to be sensitive to others’ weaknesses and temptations. To try to keep from being a stumbling block to others, whenever it is within our power to do so. Sometimes, they simply cannot “Just Get Over It!”

Entertainment
This is one way to lay down our lives for another. To die to SELF-pleasing. To give up our rights as far as entertainment goes. “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” John 15:13. People are watching. What we do really does affect others. It is a good idea to remember that. Out of kindness and love.

How the story of Ron & Steve ends
Sadly Steve had to quit the great job and source of income for his family, because it was causing him to think carnal thoughts. He was unable to fight the constant assault to his mind, spirit, and will. So, Ron lost a good employee AND a good friend because Steve had to quit in honor of his relationship with his wife and kids and to get his relationship back right with God.
 
What if?

• What if Ron had honored his friend even though to him it didn’t seem like a big deal to him personally.
• What if he just loved his friend enough to realize it simply wasn’t worth it to have his RIGHTS to listen to whatever he wanted. (After all, it was HIS business. He could do whatever he wanted. That was his reasoning.)
• What if Ron had laid down his rights to listen to secular music that did not cause him to stumble personally. What if he had denied himself for his friend’s sake?

What about you? Have you ever been either Ron or Steve in a situation? What did you do and how did you feel about how it turned out?  Please leave a comment…