![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/Not-listening-300x200.jpg\")
Jesus said, “Take care what you listen to<\/em>” (Mark 4:24). In Luke’s gospel, He says, “Take care how you listen<\/em>” (Luke 8:18). While the application is usually made to religious teaching, it should be expanded further. Sure, we need to be careful about what we hear as far as religious teaching, but we should also heed what we hear musically. I like rock & roll but the lyrics have gotten more and more offensive. More than a few artists whose music I really like have been banished from my playlist. Of course, the same goes for TV, movies, magazines, or books. Certain authors I used to really enjoy have resorted to using language that’s unneeded, considering their talents.<\/p>\nWe could even apply that to some conversations we have with other people. Sometimes conversations drift from meaningful discussion to useless babble. Worse, it can devolve into gossip and slander which does no good for anyone; not the hearer, the speaker, and certainly not for the talked-about person.<\/p>\n
As Jesus said, we need to be careful about what and how we hear.<\/p>\n
“I will set no worthless thing before my eyes<\/em>” (Psalms 101:3) and ears!<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" by Zeke Flores There are some things that are not worth wasting the time to listen to.\u00a0For me, that would be rap or any new “pop” song. Or most political drivel. Or false religious teaching. Jesus said, “Take care what you listen to” (Mark 4:24). In Luke’s gospel, He says, “Take care how you listen”…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[27],"tags":[981,353,492],"class_list":["post-62734","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-article","tag-communication","tag-influence","tag-profanity"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":69505,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/should-i-take-courses-that-teach-evolution\/","url_meta":{"origin":62734,"position":0},"title":"Should I take courses that teach evolution?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 29, 2024","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Recently, I've been thinking about the future, how my life will be, and how my career affects me. I picked a job in botany. But after taking an online course, I feel utterly terrified. A lot of history is about the evolution of plants. I know this won't affect\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":94766,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/jesus-warns-teachers\/","url_meta":{"origin":62734,"position":1},"title":"Jesus Warns Teachers","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 25, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"by Hugh DeLong Text: Luke 11 Wow! What a busy day in the life of Jesus is recorded here in Luke 11! The thing that jumps off the pages is the opposition that is building against Jesus. He went about doing good - and they hated him. He told them\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":62152,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/rules-for-religious-discussions\/","url_meta":{"origin":62734,"position":2},"title":"Rules for Religious Discussions","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"August 15, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"by Andy Sochor \u00a0 \"But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence\" (I Peter 3:15). It is incumbent upon all Christians to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/08\/discussion-200x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":60759,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/how-do-i-teach-others-about-the-bible\/","url_meta":{"origin":62734,"position":3},"title":"How do I teach others about the Bible?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"May 7, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Good morning minister, It's a beautiful morning here. I want to first express my appreciation for the good work you are doing and pray that God blesses and supports you as you help many growing Christians know God's will. I am a nursing student, and in my school, we\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":36263,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/suppose-i-was-born-a-muslim\/","url_meta":{"origin":62734,"position":4},"title":"Suppose I Was Born a Muslim","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"July 2, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"by Osamagbe Lesley Egharevba Unmasking Sophistry, vol. 1, no. 2, July-September 2021 Introduction Several times during our evangelistic trips as gospel preachers, while moving from house to house in an effort to fulfill the Great Commission - a method known by some as \"door-knocking\" or \"door-to-door,\" we have approached people\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Article"","block_context":{"text":"Article","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/article\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":14318,"url":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/is-it-okay-to-listen-to-instrumental-christian-music-outside-of-worship\/","url_meta":{"origin":62734,"position":5},"title":"Is it okay to listen to instrumental “Christian” music outside of worship?","author":"Jeffrey Hamilton","date":"March 11, 2008","format":false,"excerpt":"Question: Someone asked me this question and I would like your opinion. I looked on your great web site but didn't see it addressed. A young lady asked me if it is okay to listen to \"Christian rock\" or instrumental (\"Christian\") songs outside of worship. I would appreciate your opinion.\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Answer"","block_context":{"text":"Answer","link":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/category\/answer\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62734","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=62734"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/62734\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=62734"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=62734"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.lavistachurchofchrist.org\/cms\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=62734"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}