A Christian who prefers secular music

[Dogear]

Hello friends,

I grew up in a Lutheran church in a small city. Our church played (and still does) relatively old hymns. I remember "How Great Thou Art" most, and I love music like that. It wasn't until I was about 13 until I found out about popular pop/metal/rock music that were said to be Christian bands.

I'm a musician, played guitar since I was 13 (before I discovered Christian contemporary) and was always fond of secular music, even after that. My life outside the church, I grew up with great rock bands like Motley Crue, Van Halen, Metallica, and Journey. As well as the best blues guitarists: Stevie Ray Vaughn and Eric Clapton. I can say I was very very fortunate to be growing up with such great music, which I found out later not everyone was familiar with. They labeled it as "Classic rock" or some of my friends now: "oldies".

I'm 16 right now and still play guitar, I love it. I'm in a band, my friends love Christian contemporary and really want to play covers of that, I don't entirely mind. Somehow I talked them into doing Chuck Berry, Oasis, and Blink 128
It's just, I think that music is great for everybody, and shouldn't necessarily be narrowed down to one religion. I'm not saying Christian contemporary is bad, I just think that it would be great if music was made universally, to touch everyone's hearts, emotions. I would think that atheists would stay away from any band labeled "Christian rock". I'm just trying to care for them as much as I care for myself, though their views may be different.

My friends looked at me strange when I explained this to them, "Do you believe in Christ?" I said, "Yes!" And tried to explain some more, to no avail. Though, I don't think they resented me for voicing my opinion. We're still a band today, and great friends

Just a thought.
Thanks.

 

[Rothen]

You could always listen to some cool Christian metal here: Metal Blessing Radio

 

[vortigen84]

You could always listen to some cool Christian metal here: Metal Blessing Radio

I haven't listened to that bloke's podcasts for a while. He was playing some interesting stuff last time I checked.

 

[Thunder Peel]

I'm a Christian who prefers secular music. I have nothing against CCM but I find most of it to be dull and predictable. There are also a lot of secular artists (U2, The Gaslight Anthem, Switchfoot) that feature Christian members and contain really uplifting and wonderful lyrics.

It's different for everyone. I've just always enjoyed secular music more and found more of those artists to be interesting and exciting. Listen to what you like and don't be afraid to keep branching out and exploring.

 

[LoganTH]

It's not a requirement of being a Christian to enjoy Christian music. I, myself, don't particularly care for it outside of traditional hymns. I tend to find a lot of it to be rather heavy on the schmaltz.

 

[blackjellybean]

Hello friends,

I grew up in a Lutheran church in a small city. Our church played (and still does) relatively old hymns. I remember "How Great Thou Art" most, and I love music like that. It wasn't until I was about 13 until I found out about popular pop/metal/rock music that were said to be Christian bands.

I'm a musician, played guitar since I was 13 (before I discovered Christian contemporary) and was always fond of secular music, even after that. My life outside the church, I grew up with great rock bands like Motley Crue, Van Halen, Metallica, and Journey. As well as the best blues guitarists: Stevie Ray Vaughn and Eric Clapton. I can say I was very very fortunate to be growing up with such great music, which I found out later not everyone was familiar with. They labeled it as "Classic rock" or some of my friends now: "oldies".

I'm 16 right now and still play guitar, I love it. I'm in a band, my friends love Christian contemporary and really want to play covers of that, I don't entirely mind. Somehow I talked them into doing Chuck Berry, Oasis, and Blink 128
It's just, I think that music is great for everybody, and shouldn't necessarily be narrowed down to one religion. I'm not saying Christian contemporary is bad, I just think that it would be great if music was made universally, to touch everyone's hearts, emotions. I would think that atheists would stay away from any band labeled "Christian rock". I'm just trying to care for them as much as I care for myself, though their views may be different.

My friends looked at me strange when I explained this to them, "Do you believe in Christ?" I said, "Yes!" And tried to explain some more, to no avail. Though, I don't think they resented me for voicing my opinion. We're still a band today, and great friends

Just a thought.
Thanks.

Good music is good music.

Sometimes I have a problem with the lyrics, for example I may like hip-hop but I just can't do "**** the police", my conscience won't allow it.

Other than that, there is some interesting stuff both within and without overtly Christian music.

 

[xXDrxDiscoXx]

listen to "we came as romans"

 

[xXDrxDiscoXx]

the devil wears prada

 

[xXDrxDiscoXx]

Attack Attack!

 

[xXDrxDiscoXx]

any non christian will find you cool when you listen to these bands

 

[xXDrxDiscoXx]

or go for something soft like owl city

 

[xXDrxDiscoXx]

all the bands i listed are christian but very popular anywhere you go

 

[nikki2323]

I think it's a personal conviction. I had gotten into some pretty bad music and it was effecting how I thought and viewed things. I gave it up for awhile and then decided that I didn't need to give up all secular music, just the stuff that is bad.
So, keep on playing secular music. Just don't let it change you.

 

[Mcrfan343]

I listen to any type of music, both Christian and Secular.

 

[ChildOfTheLight]

Music is music, Although, remember your brain is like a sponge what you see and hear it absorbs. so if you are constantly listening to filthy music and watching filthy movies, your brain plays off of that. But in the same way that if you listen to uplifting music it effects you just as much if not more.

Hope this helps. God Bless

 

[differentDemocrat]

secular music is better but, please be aware that most of it (especially 70's classic rock) is satanic to its core. Protect yourself

 

[catzetier]

All secular music is not created equal. There's both wonderful stuff... and dreadful stuff.

I think one of the main reasons why I like secular music is that I am not a fan of singers with an American accent (which excludes nine-tenths of the music in my town's Christian shop right there) and have an automatic gag reflex if the singer sounds like they're trying to sound spiritual (which excludes nine-tenths of what manages to remain). I have a few Christian CDs but I've had them for about - what? - six months now and still have not managed to get through them. My level of tolerance seems to be in the realm of three songs at most.

 

[Core90]

I think it's a personal conviction. I had gotten into some pretty bad music and it was effecting how I thought and viewed things. I gave it up for awhile and then decided that I didn't need to give up all secular music, just the stuff that is bad.
So, keep on playing secular music. Just don't let it change you.

Almost exactly the same situation here. In high school, I got into harder and harder forms of metal, and it wasn't till shortly after graduation that I realized how anti-Christianity alot of these bands were.
For a while I listened only to Christan Rock, and I found alot of awesome Christian songs on Blast.fm, on iTunes radio. They play all genres of Christian Rock.
Now, I listen to Christian and secular, but I always try to evaluate the lyrics before I download a song, to make sure I'm not getting a negative or anti-Christian message that will influence me.
There are lots of secular bands with Christian members as well. Flyleaf, Skillet, As I Lay Dying, Underoath, Alice Cooper, U2 for example.

 

[cafefan374]

You are not the first one that I've heard say this. I know several Christians who say they just cannot get into christian music. It's just not their thing. They find it to be generic, cliche, predictable, etc. So it all depends on what kind of secular music you'd prefer to listen to over christian music. Me personally, there is some secular music that I prefer over christian and vice versa.

 

[blacksun1972]

people should listen to any kind of music they want.I prefer old school heavy metal classic rock and some black metal.