As our church continues to grow, more activities are taking place each week and more types of people are attending. Non-Christians, new Christians, and long-time Christians. And all these additional people means that the amount of events, groups, and gatherings we have is increasing.
In order to make sure we remain focused on our mission to make disciples of Jesus Christ, the Church Council (the group of leaders at the church composed of the pastors and deacons) made a decision on an issue that had never really come up in the past. However, recent events led us to the discussion of whether we should have a policy about the music and movies that are used at church events.
The decision? Going forward, we will no longer play secular music or show secular movies at any church-sponsored event. On rare occasion, a secular movie might be approved if it can be shown there is a clear and strategic redeeming value attained by showing it. But this will be the exception and not the norm.
We are not doing this in a spirit of judgment or superiority. Instead, we are doing it out of a desire to lead with clarity, consistency, and care.
Let us be clear: we are not saying that all secular music or movies are evil. Many of us enjoy songs or films that are not explicitly Christian. In Christ, we have freedom to wisely choose what we listen to and watch. Art, music, and storytelling are gifts from God, and even if the author/artist is not a Christian, there are still plenty of ways a Christian can benefit from them.
But here’s why we’re choosing to draw a line in this particular context.
1. The Church Should Model Holiness
The Bible repeatedly calls the people of God to be holy and set apart for His purposes (1 Peter 1:15-16). While personal entertainment choices fall under the realm of Christian freedom, church-sponsored events are different. They’re public. They represent the body of Christ. What we do in these settings sends a message—both to believers and unbelievers—about who we are and what we value.
2. We Want to Avoid Even the Appearance of Endorsing Questionable Content
Many secular songs and movies include language, values, or themes that don’t align with the message of Christ. Even if a particular song or film seems “clean” or “uplifting,” it may be associated with an artist, brand, or worldview that conflicts with the gospel. When we use that content at a church function, it can unintentionally send the message that we endorse it.
As Paul said in 2 Corinthians 8:21, “we aim at what is honorable not only in the Lord’s sight but also in the sight of man.” Even if our motives are pure, we want to be careful not to confuse or mislead others—especially those who are spiritually searching or weaker in the faith.
3. Our Brand Is To Make Disciples of Jesus Christ
Successful businesses always put a lot of effort into branding and image. For example, when you walk into a Starbucks there is a consistent color scheme, with the same logo, specific music, and that yummy coffee smell. I don’t even like coffee, but I love the smell! All of that is for a purpose: they want to give off the coffeehouse vibe so you buy one of their drinks.
As a church, we operate with different motives and goals, but branding is important to us as well. We want to make disciples of Jesus Christ. That is what we do. That is our brand. Therefore, everything we do should point us in that direction in some way.
While not every church event is going to have that “churchy” feel, the non-churchy activities still need to align with our brand because they are part of our church. Secular music and movies are not part of the brand we are seeking to develop.
4. We’re Shepherding a Diverse Church Family
In any church family, there are people at different stages of their spiritual walk. Some may have come out of lifestyles shaped by unhealthy media habits. Others may struggle with certain temptations that are triggered by music or movie content. Out of love for our brothers and sisters, we want to be sensitive and not put anything in front of them that could cause harm or confusion (Romans 14:13).
5. It’s Not About Rules—It’s About Purpose
This isn’t a rule for the sake of rules. It’s not about being “holier than thou.” It’s about aligning our platform with our purpose. Church events aren’t just parties. They’re opportunities to edify, encourage, and evangelize. That doesn’t mean everything has to be serious or somber. We can have fun. We can laugh. We can fellowship. We can even line dance. But we want even our fun to carry the fragrance of Christ (2 Corinthians 2:15).
In conclusion, we’re not condemning those who choose differently in other settings. We’re simply saying that, as a church, we are choosing not to use (and inadvertently promote) these things anymore. As a church, we want to uphold a standard that brings clarity, not confusion, to the message of Jesus. Let’s keep making much of Him in everything we do!