Is it wrong that I usually dislike Christian Artists

Your preference in music does not have anything to do with your faith as a whole.

ShadowsChild said:

Ok.. so weird question. For the most part I strongly dislike Christian artists and Worship music.
I listen to ALOT of Euro Goth Metal ... some of which can be pretty dark. My pastor thinks its a little concerning due to other issues involved. But me personally, I don't think I see it as a problem. I mean I listen to sometimes. But given a proper choice, I bypass most Christian artist and Worship music all together. I am forced to listen to Worship music at work every day and have come to resent it.
Is there something wrong with this.... with me?

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I have often considered this as well. I think there is nothing wrong with you and something wrong with you. The reason I say both is because it isn't cut and dry "yes, all music is good and we can listen to whatever we want." or "no, all non-Christian music is evil and you sin when you listen to it". A lot of it depends on you. Why do you not like Christian music? Why do you like the music you do?

I am with you in not having Christian music as my first choice, but let me share a story from my life:

When I gave my life to God (for real, and I've continued walking with him... unlike the other times I said I would live for him, but didn't) I started realising that Tool, Disturbed, Papa Roach, Metallica, and like music wasn't helping me in my pursuit of God and living my life like him. I had a lot of struggles with lust towards women and the lyrics of some of the songs didn't help me in that area. I struggled with depression and that music definitely didn't help me with that.

So I decided to stop listening to non-Christian music altogether and started listening solely to Christian music. I found it painfully boring, but it gave me words in my ears which continually spoke of God and loving him. This helped me.

Does it make sense? You have to know the real reason, within yourself, for why you are asking this question.

I have been working with live music performances and training musicians since 2007 and I see it this way:
When I buy a CD (MP3 or whatever) then I'm saying to that artist "I like the things you are telling me so much that I am willing to pay you for me to hear your words". This is talking a bit about authority. I have authority over myself and I can choose to give authority over me to someone else... which is what people are talking about when we say that listening to music will affect you.

The Bible says that all things are permisable, but not all things are beneficial.

I have changed what I listen to as I've continued to grow in strength in my relationship with God. Just like an alcoholic should probably stay completely away from the presense of alcohol while trying to gain strength over it, then eventually (after quite some time) they are strong enough to withstand the temptations it brings - and hopefully are no longer tempted by it. I stopped listening to non-Christian music back then, but I definitely listen to it now - just not anything and everything... I still have my personal boundaries based on my desire to give things up in order to live as I desire before God.

My favorite band was Tool, but I choose to never listen to them because of things Danny Carey (their drummer) said about the spirituality of their music. I think it can have an affect on me.

Jah Jah Warrior said:

I have mixed feelings when it comes to Christian music. 2 major issues I find with Christian music is...
#1. It's very hard to find Christian bands who are original or creative in their style or music writing. A lot of Christian artists tend to be imitators rather than innovators. I've noticed a lot of contemporary worship artists all sound the same.
#2. A lot of Christian artists today (especially rock) water down their lyrics with a "positive message" that really has nothing whatsoever to do with God or the bible. It's basically secular music with a positive message.

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We haven't missed the fact that it is Christian music, have we? What can define music to be Christian except for its lyrics? I'm not sure we should be complaining about the content being a "positive message" - it can only be Christian if its message is closely revolving around God.

I do agree, though, that often Christian music reflects what is going on in the secular scene and not too innovative.

Why would it be wrong? We all have different tastes in music.

ShadowsChild said:

Ok.. so weird question. For the most part I strongly dislike Christian artists and Worship music.
I listen to ALOT of Euro Goth Metal ... some of which can be pretty dark. My pastor thinks its a little concerning due to other issues involved. But me personally, I don't think I see it as a problem. I mean I listen to sometimes. But given a proper choice, I bypass most Christian artist and Worship music all together. I am forced to listen to Worship music at work every day and have come to resent it.
Is there something wrong with this.... with me?

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Don't get me wrong. I think there are some great musical talents, instrumentals and vocals, from all over the spectrum in the Christian music industry, from country to rap to reggae to heavy metal. There is some really great talent in that part of the music industry, and they have millions of fans. For me, it's usually the lyrics that turn me off from Christian music. That's just me, though.

ShadowsChild said:

Ok.. so weird question. For the most part I strongly dislike Christian artists and Worship music.
I listen to ALOT of Euro Goth Metal ... some of which can be pretty dark. My pastor thinks its a little concerning due to other issues involved. But me personally, I don't think I see it as a problem. I mean I listen to sometimes. But given a proper choice, I bypass most Christian artist and Worship music all together. I am forced to listen to Worship music at work every day and have come to resent it.
Is there something wrong with this.... with me?

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I think you're normal. I happen to listen to a lot of folk metal. I don't like a lot of Christian artists and so-called worship music either (in my world that will never be worship music). I admit though, I've not kept up with Christian music since the early 90s, so maybe it's better than I once recall. If it has the Christian label- if it isn't sacred music- then I don't have much use for it (has to be liturgy worthy).

ShadowsChild said:

Thanks everyone. Some of the other at church were shocked when i said i wasnt a fan. Nice to know i am not alone

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I think that the purpose of Christian music is as a background to lyrics which express a sense of personal awe for God in Christ. Style is more subjective; it's Biblical lyrics which count far more.

It's not some sugary thing used to hype and bombard impressionable people in a stadium or concert hall to make professions of faith (or part with their money) while gripped by an induced mood which does not last.

faroukfarouk said:

I think that the purpose of Christian music is as a background to lyrics which express a sense of personal awe for God in Christ.

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Actually Christian music has several purposes:

Evangelical outreach
Praise and Worship
Doctrinal teaching/confession
Entertainment

I would say that with the exception of #3, lyrics are not entirely necessary.

It's not wrong, everyone has personal preferences

I don't like many modern worship songs, for the same reasons, but I like songs with religious messages that feel like that have a deeper meaning than just repetitive choruses.
I really like Switchfoot.

Kate94 said:

I don't like many modern worship songs, for the same reasons, but I like songs with religious messages that feel like that have a deeper meaning than just repetitive choruses.
I really like Switchfoot.

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So are Switchfoot a Christian band?

faroukfarouk said:

So are Switchfoot a Christian band?

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They are Christians and sometimes mention God or topics of faith in their lyrics, but they consider their music mainstream.

Kate94 said:

They are Christians and sometimes mention God or topics of faith in their lyrics, but they consider their music mainstream.

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Oh okay!

So do you like Christian hard rock? Disciple does hard rock with hard hitting Biblical lyrics sometimes.

faroukfarouk said:

So do you like Christian hard rock? Disciple does hard rock with hard hitting Biblical lyrics sometimes.

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I'm not familiar with them. I'll look for them on youtube. I like hard rock. Not like Scandinavian death metal , but hard rock I do. I like secular hard rock from the 70s and 80s too.

Kate94 said:

I'm not familiar with them. I'll look for them on youtube. I like hard rock. Not like Scandinavian death metal , but hard rock I do. I like secular hard rock from the 70s and 80s too.

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Disciple does have quite a bit on Youtube, though for some reason in recent months some of it has been removed for copyright reasons.

Yes, the loud volume, the strong rhythms and even the lyrics in screamo are all what Disciple do. In some of their tracks.

If you like that sort of thing. Sounds like you do.

For me, it's the lyrics that really count.

Kate94 said:

I don't like many modern worship songs...

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PS: I do like the old, traditional hymns, such as Rock of Ages, Psalm 100 'All people that on earth do dwell', O Sacred Head once wounded, and so many others. They do seem to have a depth to them and to be based firmly on Scripture.

This has been an interesting thread to watch and read. Quite a range of thought and expression! Preferring one genre of music over another is not wrong. My preference slants heavily to older, traditional hymns. I had a wonderful experience a few years ago. My wife and I were on the infamous "Carnival Triumph" in the Gulf of Mexico when it had a fire in the engine room and lost power. A Christian gathering was held every day while we remained adrift or in tow. The numbers grew each time. Singers tried to lead us in song. Each time we would begin with some contemporary material, and those who knew it would sing along. Then, after a little while, someone would ask for an old hymn. When the singing continued, it was stronger and deeper, and the moving of the Spirit was undeniable. Could that be achieved with music like goth, hard rock, or heavy metal? Perhaps, but I have not experienced it. I enjoy the music that speaks to me. And it is a comfort that it speaks to other Christians around me, too. Listen for the Holy Spirit. If your music draws the Spirit close, listen some more. If it drives the Spirit away, you should consider choosing something else.

God bless you.

This thread and the posts remind me so much of what I experienced when I was growing up. Of course, I had seen those "anti secular rock videos" when I was a teenager, and I guess, to an extent, they did leave some impression on me. It was a combination of factors, but I didn't particularly like a lot bands when I was growing up, except for U2 and a maybe a handful of other artists. I had discovered them when I was in 5th grade, and there was a uniqueness to them that attracted me. I remember spending many afternoons listening to Under a Blood Red Sky, their live release from their concert at Red Rocks. That and The Unforgettable Fire. Huey Lewis and the News was another. Now, if you would have told my 12 or 13 year old self that I'd like metal, and count it as one of my favorite genres when I was a lot older, I would have thought you were nuts. How times change.

Anyway, where I'm going with this: I had a friend in my youth group who started to listen to the local Christian Radio station when we were in high school. I thought I'd follow her, and start listening to what I thought she was. I never could get into the CCM acts at the time. This was back in the early 90's, so the era of Michael W. Smith, Sandi Patti, and Amy Grant. Most of the other acts, for the most part, sounded bland, uninspired (on a musical composition level, as it was just some female or male, in some cases, singing over a backing track), and I didn't particularly like any of it, except for Petra.

Thinking about it now, I think I know why: I like music that utilizes actual musical instruments: guitar, drums, and bass, and most of the CCM at the time weren't actual bands, unlike like Needtobreathe and Casting Crowns for two examples. (Yes, I know about White Heart and Barren Cross and Stryper, but I never really got into them either.) What I will say is that of the more contemporary bands, one song that grabbed my attention the first time I ever heard it was "Oceans" by Hillsong United. It's one of my favorite songs right now.

After college, I saw the movie Almost Famous, and that, I think, was the turning point when my musical tastes diversified a lot more, and it was only 15 years ago that I really started to get into various subgenres of metal. Of course, I knew who Metallica was, but now I listen to everything from melodic death metal (and other subgenres of metal, including some black metal, like Immortal and Primordial (and even some Dimmu Borgir (*gasp* I know, I know, but some of their compositions are insanely catchy) to classical, to celtic, to trance.

My point is, there are certain musical styles that just "click" with certain people, and they're not really that interested in other genres. That's perfectly normal. I can't stand rap, hip hop, or country for the record, nor most pop music that's being produced today.

I think my strong sense of melody came from singing a lot of the old hymns. To this day, the melody for "Be Still My Soul" is one of my favorites. It's "Finlandia" by Sibelius. I also like the melody for "Be Thou My Vision".

Whenever I see these anti-CCM (and anti secular rock) pages on the internet, I just have to laugh now. There was a time when the song "Amazing Grace" *WAS* the CCM of its day, so I find the whole argument a bit amusing, and I don't really buy the idea that older = better.

So, to be frank, do I generally like a lot more secular music vs. CCM? Yeah, for the most part. Why? Because it's generally better on a purely artistic level. There are, of course, exceptions, in both genres. (As I pointed out in a paragraph above.)

Ha you ever tried songs like Theese :




Theese are my favorites so far. Just some suggestions.
God bless you , friend.