The justification that is given by those who support any kind of dressing or music is that as long as the motive is right, this brings us fully to the topic. We can look at the topic in the following way to help us understand the terms and the difference in their meaning. There is a human being and being a human. A human being is a person. Being human on the other hand is completely different. Being human is possessing the characteristics that a human being ought to have. That means it is not all human beings are human.
In the same way when we talk about the matter of the heart it is what is it that is motivating me to do whatever I am doing. What is the motive behind what I am doing. It is the matter of how I feel and how I think. On the other hand when we talk about the heart of the matter it is about how is it supposed to be. When we talk about the matter of heart the focus is on me but when we talk about the heart of the matter the focus is on the thing being discussed.
For instance when talking about a controversial topic such as dressing, the approach that you use as an individual matters. Is it a matter of heart (how you view and think about it) or is it a about the heart of the matter, that is, I am discussing it as a Christian and so I should use a Christian view to get the truth about the topic. Unfortunately most of the people when discussing any topic, they think that it is about the matter of the heart. The word of God tells us that the heart is deceitful Jeremiah 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it?
The heart of a man is one of the most crucial and critical parts of the body. So the heart of the matter is also very critical and these are the foundations of whichever thing. For instance as a believer when asking yourself the question of is it wrong to do a certain thing, the very first thing that should come to you is that you are Christian and so the question you should view it from a Christian point of view not the worldly view (Romans 12:2).
The fact remaining that you are a Christian who is following Christ not with lips and empty words but whole heartedly, is the heart of the matter in everything you encounter. This points one to having intimacy with God. It is after you are in the heart of the matter that the matter of the heart applies. In short, your motive doesn’t count if what you are doing is wrong. This has led many people to hypocrisy. It has also misled people to heresies which is extremely terrible. To be uninformed is bad but to be misinformed is worse.
The canon of Christian doctrine is the scriptures, which is the word of God. That means everything a believer should do in reference with the scriptures not the philosophies of men or their own feelings.
The question of whether motive is the key thing in doing what we do has been clearly answered in the Bible. Higher than motive is knowledge and understanding. The word of God gives us understanding and therefore motive should be based and founded in the word of God. The story of Uzzah is one of the best illustration 2nd Samuel 6:6. Uzzah's intention was right but it was not according to the word of God.
Therefore we can conclude and say that the matter of the heart matters only if it aligns with the heart of the matter (word of God). In short, the word of God and Truth matters more than our motive. It is the word of God that should inform our motives.
This However does not remove the place of motive in the life of a believer. 1st Thessalonians 2:3 For the appeal we make does not spring from error or IMPURE MOTIVES, nor are we trying to trick you. Our motives as believers should be pure. We are not supposed to be hypocrites or backbiters. Proverbs 16:2 All a person’s ways seem pure to them, but motives are weighed by the LORD. This gives us the magnitude of our doings. God created us to glorify him in everything we do. This is through our confession anchored in our actions. That means that Confession alone is not enough; it must be anchored in actions that show that we love God. The mention of the word God in a song is not enough for some of the mentions are mockery whether directly or indirectly. Friends, without the knowledge of God through his word, you can do something with the right motive and the action remains to be wrong. The fact that your Motive is right doesn’t make God to change his word to favor your motive. That is why Christian faith unlike other faiths is based on facts and not on feelings. Did you know you can be sincerely wrong? Sincere in the fact that you had the right motive and wrong because your action was against the word of God
In conclusion remember that God has exalted his Word above his name (Psalms 138:2), yet his name is very powerful (Philippians 2:9-11). How then powerful is the word of God. Anything that is not right According to the word of God; our feelings, our thinking and our motives cannot make it right. The word of God studied well with the right motive it has power to transform. Give yourself to prayerful study of the word of God and you will not remain the same again. GOD BLESS YOU.