Should Christians listen to "secular" music?

I prefer christian music myself. But I grew up with metallica, Aerosmith, and ZZ Top, just to name a few. I still occasionally listen to them, but most of the time it is now christian music...from Pillar to DC Talk to Phillips, Craig, & Dean. Music, movies, TV, Games, Literature...that all depends on what God tells you. And I don't care if he tells you Peanut Butter is wrong, if he does it is time to get rid of peanut butter. But that is a personal conviction, between you and God.
there is always that trap of trying to put one's persoanl convictions on everyone else, many denominations do it. basically follow your bible and listen to God. God told me to shave for example, but it was only for me, I now know the reason, but at the time didn't, I just listened. I didn't tell someone else they had to shave, nor did I envy them for not shaving, I just did what God told ME to do.
Music is the same way, listen to what God tells you to do about it.

hehe...such an elusive answer eh?
 
And I don't care if he tells you Peanut Butter is wrong, if he does it is time to get rid of peanut butter.
Click to expand...

prayin' that that never happens :D

Let me pose this question then....
To Christians who listen to secular music (including 80's rock :) ) The Bible tells us we are not to put unrighteous things before our eyes. We could extrapolate and say ears too. So with that Biblical mandate, how does one justify listening to "A little ditty 'bout Jack and Diane"
 
Yes...let's all pray that none of us has to give up peanut butter:D

But I still say it is a matter of personal conviction. I don't know music much anymore, except for Christian music. and I do limit the secular music input in my house now. But I will use some movies as an example to get people thinking. I don't have cable TV. I have 6 children, when my second oldest child was about 2 or 3 she went around everywhere singing the "Trojan man" commercial. So we got rid of cable and now spend our money on movies. That was a personal conviction.

What is worse? An adult watching Underworld...rated R...about a war between vampires or werewolves, or A child watching Hercules...rated G...a movie about people worshipping false gods and making Hercules out to be some "knight in shining armor"...which we know he wasn't.

We all know and love Narnia (well not everyone, but most of us.). Yet I hear "Christians" bash the Lord Of The Rings. Wasn't it Tolkien that converted C.S.Lewis? Doesn't LOTR promote the fruits of the spirits (in a round-a-bout way)? At which point...I will go to Harry Potter...which promotes those same fruits...Personal Conviction.

Yes...some music should be avoided at all costs...the ones that promote sex, drugs, cop killing, etc. Some movies should be avoided, specifically porn...which is only about lust and serves no other purpose. What about video games? I play Guild Wars...an innocent game...yet some of the garbage that goes on...as with almost all on line games...is disgusting, to me at least. Which is why I joined the CGA, Toj, & SoE. So my son and I could limit our exposure to the stuff that is less than virtuous.

So I still maintain it is a personal conviction. I have found out there so many good christian bands out there fortunately, that my secular music listening is limited, and some music I won't listen to at all anymore, KISS being one of those bands (because I feel they promote sex, drugs, and alcohol in almost every song...but that is me.). But not all Secular music is bad, unless God tells you it is, then you better put it up completely.
Like Peanut Butter and chocolate...hehe.
 
i dunno, for me i have trouble listening to most christian music becuase to me, alot of the times the artists are very good. i mean yeah theres some classics like, jesus freak, shine, the devil is bad. but i generally cant stand listening to christian radio becuase it sounds so ghetto sometimes. i like being in church singing praises and whatnot but most christian music i really dont like listening too.
 
Atown said:
i dunno, for me i have trouble listening to most christian music becuase to me, alot of the times the artists are very good. i mean yeah theres some classics like, jesus freak, shine, the devil is bad. but i generally cant stand listening to christian radio becuase it sounds so ghetto sometimes. i like being in church singing praises and whatnot but most christian music i really dont like listening too.
Click to expand...


Can you give me a little more info on why you dont like Christian music? Like why you think it sounds ghetto and stuff?
 
It depends on the individual Christian.

I've found it to be an aquired taste at first. I couldn't listen to anything so... soft... after years of rocking all the time. But luckily my a former boss was very much into Christian rock, and gave me a transition.

I'm not one to say that anyone who listens to music is going to have naughty thoughts about the subject matter in the song. It is something to watch out for, though... as those little diversions can turn into powerful distractions over time.

the_great_eskimo_pie said:
I was reading Philippians the other day and I came across this verse again.



And it got me to thinking about secular music. So here is my question.

If we, as Christians, are supposed to think on the above listed things. How can we condone listening to secular music?

I turned on my stereo after listening to that and there are some pretty... Risque songs on the radio.
Some are on sex, others on underage sex, still others talking about lust, others about adultery.

I highly doubt that these are things that Christians should be thinking about.
I know I am guilty for listening to them, and well, I am going to stop. There are enough Christian radio stations, cds, tapes and the like to listen to. (I have 5 differant stations in my area I can listen to if I so desire....)


What do the rest of ya'll think about this?
Click to expand...
 
If the lyrics are of a worldly immoral stature then we as Christians should not listen to it because words have power and those kind of songs will affect our walk with the Lord not to mention our witness for the Lord.

I do not say that music or all secular music is evil. Its not the music that is wrong but it can be the words in the music that can affect us and pull us towards wrong things.
 
Last edited:
the_great_eskimo_pie said:
Can you give me a little more info on why you dont like Christian music? Like why you think it sounds ghetto and stuff?
Click to expand...

I dont know alot of different artists, but 4him (sp?), toby mac, and other people. to me it doesnt seem like actual music. alot of em tell a story but, the rythms are not entertaining nor do i generally want to find the meaning in the song. that one band whats their name.... cant remember (EDIT: Band = Casting Crowns) , but they have songs like american father or flower quickly fading (?) and 1. the guys voice is annoying as heck, 2. i know alot of people can relate to the song but its not really glorifying God specifically, 3. the beats are annoying.

i like stuff like..... There is power in the blood of Jesus, Lift Your name on High, Trading my Sorrows, and other stuff like that, but when you get these artists going off on their own music tangent its not really "worship" and most of the time the artists need more singing listens and should have stayed with their day jobs to put it lightly.


edit: thought bout it longer, and the Bible does say to make a joyful noise, however i dont enjoy listening to noise lol


lately ive been listening to Rhapsody. their a secular metal rock italian band and their music is really awesome, and some of their lyrics are dark but heres a sample:

Crossed the valleys the dust of midlands
to search for the third key to open the gates
Now I'm near the altar the secret inside
as legend told my beloved sun light the dragons eyes
On the way to the glory I'll honour my sword
to serve right ideals and justice for all


For the king for the land for the mountains
For the green valleys where dragons fly
For the glory the power to win the black lord
I will search for the emerald sword

the music is like.... LOTR rock stuff its awesome.
 
Last edited:
I'm curious as to how people see metal (the music type.) While I don't really like a lot of the screaming and coarse voice stuff, I very much like a lot of the guitar, but for some reason metal is kinda tainted with a perception as being "satanic"...

There are some christian metal bands tho, like Extol (tho i dont really like them too much since their guitar isn't quite my style)
 
This is one of those things that I would say is between you and God. If you feel convicted or like you are trying to hide something when you listen to it then you spirit is telling you that it is wrong. It's not so much the music, although I think undertone's in music also can make you feel certain ways, but like Jesh mentioned it's the words. Are the words uplifting to God, do they say words that you wouldn't say around your parents or other Christians, do they talk alot about sex and drugs? I mean all of this takes affect on a person. It's like the old computer analogy "what you put in will come out". If you are feeding your spirit with things that are ungodly eventually you will see yourself slip a curse word here or there. I'm not saying that if you say a bad word every now and then that you are no longer a Christian but I am saying if you don't want that to happen then don't listen to it. For me as a parent I try to live like this: "would I want my kids to listen to this?". If the answer is no then I don't listen to it. It's just that simple. I want to live my life pleasing to God. If I think something isn't going to please him then I try my hardest not to do it.

That's my opinion. :)
 
As Mathew says:
"...If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter life without a foot..."
 
DarthDapor said:
As Mathew says:
"...If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter life without a foot..."
Click to expand...

I LOVE those scriptures! I like to use them when I'm in a discussion with someone who is being very obstinant and judgemental about my differing point of view. "You know, brother, your eye is REALLY starting to offend me."
 
Dark Virtue said:
I think it's a bad idea to limit yourself to one type of music. Confining yourself to Christian music by Christian artists leaves out a whole world, literally, of wonderful music. The same can be applied to literature and other genres.
Click to expand...

Very well said. I couldn't agree more.

When Paul writes about focusing on what is good, doesn't he mean what is good for that person? I think so, because he is very adamant in other writings that what is good for one man or woman may not be for another. That is where personal discretion comes in. And there are major differences in what brings us into good fellowship with each other and with God. For some of us, secular music is very bad and causes us to focus on evil things. For some of us, much of Christian music seems of a poor quality and can really distract our thoughts and attitudes in a negative way. In either case, one must choose whatever leads his or her thoughts and attitude in the direction God would want. To understand that direction, one must look only at his own heart - not at the personal convictions of other believers.

Paul
 
techwhosaysnee said:
I LOVE those scriptures! I like to use them when I'm in a discussion with someone who is being very obstinant and judgemental about my differing point of view. "You know, brother, your eye is REALLY starting to offend me."
Click to expand...

:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:
 
Dunno, but maybe it was meant to be insulting. (Not sure if he meant that or if he was being sarcastic or what:confused: )
 
I listen to Weird Al to a little bit.

I had to get rid of 3 of his songs because they were rather... not... appropriate... kinda. I laugh at his songs a bit, but I discover that I can more easily "jam" to songs praising God because I feel more comfortable with cleaner lyrics.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top