Secular Music

[AdrocK48]

I was talking with a mentor a few months ago and I thought i would post the question he posed to me when we had this chat...

Should a 14 year old question be listening to bands like rage against the machine etc?

i think a broader question is should a christian listen to secular music?

is a christian wrong for listening to secular bands over christian bands and worship music?

 

[DTrain]

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12.2

John 15:19--If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

That is all that I can think of at this moment. I find myself listening to secular music, though not often. When I do, I try to be careful what I listen to, lyrically. All of the music on my iPod is Christian...

 

[Celticflower]

I listen to a great deal of secular music - mostly 60's - 80's stuff. I find no problem with it because I do not let the music mold my life. If I find a song or group that I personally find objectionable I will not listen. But like my Mom told me long ago when I was a teen - "It is one thing to listen to Alice Cooper, it is another to try to act like him."

Unfortunately I find that most Christian music falls into one of three catagories -

Repetative vapid lyrics and no discernable hook

Over produced, quasi pop/rock renditions of old hymns

Good original stuff (too bad these are few and far between).

In the long run, it all comes down to personal choice. If all you want to listen to is contemporary Christian music, do so. If you like to listen to some good driving rock from decades past, do so. Or listen to opera, or Broadway, or symphonies or..... All music is a gift from God. How you choose to use it is what matters most.

 

[jiminpa]

There was a period in my life when avoiding secular music was advisible. I was young in the Lord and was developing my new worldview. Knowing that there have been groups who experimented with hypnotic patterns and those who wanted to shape opinion with music I try to approach my music choices with discernment, but the issue is an individual matter.

 

[EveryDayIsChristmas]

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12.2

John 15:19--If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

That is all that I can think of at this moment. I find myself listening to secular music, though not often. When I do, I try to be careful what I listen to, lyrically. All of the music on my iPod is Christian...

A very nice reply, DTrain! I too listen to some secular music. I think that it's very important to exercise some discernment when choosing something to listen to. I've noticed that this is something that can be difficult for new and/or young believers (it definitely was for me!).

 

[billwald]

There is good music and bad music. Bad music with "Christian" words is still bad music.

 

[engrafted]

I am 37yrs. old. And i'm a singer w/ a pretty decent vocal ability.
I've been in original band "secular" that had gotten me plenty of glory and local notice. I walked that line of trying to accomplish Gods higher purpose for my life in the flesh. Obviously, Scripturally it doesnt work! God has since stripped me of my"self". Taken me out of the equation. I don't fit in w/ the whole Praise band thing. My voice is more rock music geared. Sounding like Plant,Chris Cornell, and Shannon Hoon. I struggled w/ not finding a place in the Christian setting. Surrender is my only option. I've finely given to the Lord. I get the phone calls from musicians who know me saying, Man, you can still have your beliefs "we don't care" just sing , man.

It doesnt work. You cant be yoked to the mentality of the world and be a dedicated disiciple to the Lords work. Plus, the spiritual fight I've experienced has finally lead me away from those situations. Its always the same thing while their having beers and speaking of worldly things, my mind is wondering why am i here? Its a waste. Bottom line. Futile efforts of vanity for the few. Christ died for all. So really i test my desires over this rule. Will it be of lasting value to Christ? Or, is this really cheap immatation? Satan has power in music and we have to be wise to "his works". As a singer and musician. I've concluded that Christ died for me and that means more to me than anything. Which means top 40 or classics or whatever you may fancy musically? Really has no revelance in the born again life.
I've decided to shut everything off. I've decided that when i pick up my guitar or when i'm considering lyrical content. I want it to be new before the Lord. Not something i rehashed from secular music. A new song for Him. Something that came from my heart to commune w/ Him.

We are set free from familiarity. I look forward to what Christ has for me now in music.

 

[StreetPreacher82]

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12.2

John 15:19--If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

That is all that I can think of at this moment. I find myself listening to secular music, though not often. When I do, I try to be careful what I listen to, lyrically. All of the music on my iPod is Christian...

I agree. I've had to learn to limit myself to what I listen to. Whether it is the right thing to do for everyone is a question for the individual. However, for me it is best to limit the outside influences. I struggle daily enough without them.

 

[AmaaandaB]

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that you may prove what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12.2

John 15:19--If ye were of the world, the world would love his own; but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.

That is all that I can think of at this moment. I find myself listening to secular music, though not often. When I do, I try to be careful what I listen to, lyrically. All of the music on my iPod is Christian...

I agree. I think that there is secular music out there with lyrics that Jesus would support. Just because it's not labeled "Christian" doesn't mean there aren't good themes to be sung about. However, there IS a lot of music out there that is trash, and it can corrupt our minds if we listen to it. So, be discerning. We are in the world, not of it.

 

[ace8842]

When I grew up my Christians would not allow secular music. Stryper, Barren Cross, WhiteCross..they didn't care how heavy or hard the music was, they cared about the content. As I got into college I did start to listen to secular music, but always with some limitations. To me, I would not allow my young son or daughter to buy a lot of non-Christian music, because many young kids are very impressionable. Obviously, since my Mom allowed heavy music that was Christian, this actually helped me to develop a more positive outlook on the Christian music industry. I think the less secular music, TV, movies, and internet, as well as magazines we put into our minds, the better...

 

[StreetPreacher82]

When I grew up my Christians would not allow secular music. Stryper, Barren Cross, WhiteCross..they didn't care how heavy or hard the music was, they cared about the content. As I got into college I did start to listen to secular music, but always with some limitations. To me, I would not allow my young son or daughter to buy a lot of non-Christian music, because many young kids are very impressionable. Obviously, since my Mom allowed heavy music that was Christian, this actually helped me to develop a more positive outlook on the Christian music industry. I think the less secular music, TV, movies, and internet, as well as magazines we put into our minds, the better...

Sadly, you are very right. In most instances, entertainment focuses on the worldly evils out there. Oh for the days when The Andy Griffith Show was considered normal television!

 

[56Bluesman]

There is good music and bad music. Bad music with "Christian" words is still bad music.

As a both a christian and as a musician who has played professionally in both sacred and secular capacities your comment displays utter ignorance. I presume your definition of ' bad music' happens to be whatever styles and forms you don't happen to like, and by your personal preference they must also be unholy.

I've dealt with this sort on nonsense for years and it's as ridiculous as telling christian plumbers they can only do plumbing work in church buildings, and they must submit their tools and the technical terms and language they use in their profession to the clergy for ecclesiastical approval beforehand. I'm sorry but being a musician is legitimate profession as much as being a professional athlete is. By the way it seems a lot pro sports players get involved in hedonistic living, but I've never heard a preacher condemn sports themselves as being a worldly activity.
Sorry I had to vent, but I've had enough of the ignorance and slander for far too long directed at we christians who happen to be musicians.

 

[StreetPreacher82]

As a both a christian and as a musician who has played professionally in both sacred and secular capacities your comment displays utter ignorance. I presume your definition of ' bad music' happens to be whatever you styles and forms you don't happen to like, and by your personal preference they must also be unholy.

I've dealt with this sort on nonsense for years and it's as ridiculous as telling christian plumbers they can only do plumbing work in church buildings, and they must submit their tools and the technical terms and language they use in their profession to the clergy for ecclesiastical approval beforehand. I'm sorry but being a musician is legitamate profession as much as being a professional athlete is. By the way it seems a lot pro sports players get involved in hedonistic living, but I've never heard a preacher condemn sports themselves as being a worldly activity.
Sorry I had to vent, but I've had enough of the ignorance and slander for far too long directed at we christians who happen to be musicians.

More power to you, friend. I personally have no qualms when it comes to folks being Christian musicians. I love all styles of music, I just limit myself to mostly Christian tunes as it helps me personally. Too each his own. Don't let other folks opinions worry you. It's not worth your time.

 

[Celticflower]

As a both a christian and as a musician who has played professionally in both sacred and secular capacities your comment displays utter ignorance. I presume your definition of ' bad music' happens to be whatever styles and forms you don't happen to like, and by your personal preference they must also be unholy.

I've dealt with this sort on nonsense for years and it's as ridiculous as telling christian plumbers they can only do plumbing work in church buildings, and they must submit their tools and the technical terms and language they use in their profession to the clergy for ecclesiastical approval beforehand. I'm sorry but being a musician is legitimate profession as much as being a professional athlete is. By the way it seems a lot pro sports players get involved in hedonistic living, but I've never heard a preacher condemn sports themselves as being a worldly activity.
Sorry I had to vent, but I've had enough of the ignorance and slander for far too long directed at we christians who happen to be musicians.

WHOA--- I think you totally misread Bill. Face it, a horribly redundant secular song is horrible. A horribly redundant Christian song is just as horrible. A good message is not going to save a musically bad song, Christian or otherwise.

 

[56Bluesman]

More power to you, friend. I personally have no qualms when it comes to folks being Christian musicians. I love all styles of music, I just limit myself to mostly Christian tunes as it helps me personally. Too each his own. Don't let other folks opinions worry you. It's not worth your time.

I quit worrying about other people's opinions about my life and what I do musically long ago because I've been too busy living my life before God and man. I also respect any of my brothers and sisters in Christ to the rich liberty of living in Christ as the Lord directs them. There are artists and styles both secular and christian that I personally don't care for, but they might appeal to other persons. I do respect and understand my fellow christians who don't want to listen to any secular music as I did that for a period in my own life when I was a young christian. It was what the Lord was leading me to do far a short while.

As a christian I do draw limits for myself as to what I'll expose myself to. I'll never say that everything is good in the world because it's not! Obviously I won't be listening to a great many secular artists because of the very content of their work. Evil is evil, and wrong is wrong and there are no two ways about it. I however wouldn't condemn a style of music just because some artists in a particular genre flaunt a sinful message in their work, while a great many other good and decent, God fearing folks are creating great music in that genre even at the secular level. It seems silly to me that christian musicians get judged harshly for working in a variety of contemporary styles.

 

[56Bluesman]

Okay, I'm done venting folks and if I misread billwald, I'm not sure if I did, I apologize. I also apologize to billwald if hadn't misread her, and I apologize to all you fine folks here on this board. I guess I'm quite touchy on the the music issue in the church; but I retract nothing from what I've stated about the subject of christians being musicians as a profession and that it is a valid and worthy profession at that, even if you happen to be working in contemporary styles. Even in a secular capacity! Now back to the topic and question of the OP.

No I wouldn't be letting a 14 year old listen to ' Rage Against The Machine ' simply because of the content of their message, and not because of the style of the music. However I don't envy any parent in this position of having to look into what their teens are consuming in popular culture. I know some parents dread the initial reaction and fear that a full blown rebellion could occur, but you need to set the rules of what's allowed in your home while also allowing your teens to make some choices of their own to become the unique persons that God is making them to be. I wish the OP the best as being a parent is the toughest job I can think of.

 

[StreetPreacher82]

I wish the OP the best as being a parent is the toughest job I can think of.

 

[DemiDee]

I have grown up listening to secular music, but I don't let it influence my world view or my actions. However, I do think that young Christians and Christian youth need to have some discernment. Songs like the recent hit by Katy Perry 'I kissed a girl' and things like 'I wanna have sex on the beach' do nothing for the soul and basically corrupt young minds, making them feel as though such behaviour is 'cool' and the normal thing to do. I personally hate music like this, but I will listen to other 'secular' music, especially soul and eighties, as long as it doesn't have negative messages in I don't see any harm in that.

 

[Celticflower]

One thing we need to remember - Secular music does not just mean those songs with lyrics. It is any song that is not overtly religious. So if you don't listen to any secular music you are missing out on alot of instrumental music - symphonies, the harpestry of Aine Minogue, the guitar work of Robin Bullock, the synthesizer suites of Jean-Michel Jarre, the harmonies of the Canadian Brass Ensemble, the work of David Arkenstone etc. etc etc.

 

[pauljrose]

I have been reviewing the book of Ephesians in in Chapter 5 Paul is discussing things in Darkness and things in the Light. In regards to secular music you have to ask yourself "what category does this belong in"? Does this music help you in your relationship with Christ and your daily life as an example of others? Some say secular music is neutral and has no effect on most people. I used to think that way. I used to listen to heavy metal. I liked Kiss, Motley Crue, Ratt, AC/DC, Ozzy, Aerosmith, Guns n Roses (all of those 70s and 80s bands). I have always been, for the most part an active, Church going Christian. There was a 10 year period when I was in my 20s when I was a club hopper and heavy alcohol drinker, you could say weekend party type. Yes the music I listened to had a big influence on my life. You could say that lifestyle, the party lifestyle, and the secular music I listened to went hand in hand. I wasn't getting drunk at bars that played Carman or Michael W. Smith. When I was in my 20s I didn't see any problem with listening with that type of music. I thought it had no influence on me. Now I have been sober for 5 years, I have grown tired of all forms of non-Christian music. I can't stand the message it sends. The majority of secular music, to most people, may seem harmless but trust me it is feeding the liberal agenda in the world. I guess bottom line is this "Is it for Christ or against Christ"? That can go for anything. I admitt the Christian music selection we have today is not great but it has gotten better than it was 20 years ago. I have my 6-7 Christian groups and singers I like and I stick with them now.