Issues with music

[Mr.Williamson]

I'm a big fan of Rap music. And I struggle with the idea of me listening to it being bad. Thoughts?

 

[lovernotafighter]

I like it.
I really think it's fine.

What goes into a man's mouth does not make him unclean, but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him unclean.

The same applies to ears

 

[religious&reasonable]

I demand you to take down that picture of Clint Eastwood. No true Clint Eastwood fan would ever even have an interest in rap! have you even seen Gran Turino? BLASPHEMY I SAY! I demand you to listen to nothing but 60's rock 'n' roll and blues for 3 weeks straight! How dare you aswell quote the scritpure of Dirty Harry! I DUB THEE A HERETIC!

/normal

Until the day comes you start poppin' caps in hoes that been cheatin on ya and stealin yo moneyz because the music gave you the idea, your probably okay.

/not normal

HERETIC!

 

[RipleyCountyChristian]

Like was already said, there are some really awesome Christian rappers, with Lecrae being my favorite. His music has good beats and rhymes just like secular stuff, but it is all to the glory of the Lord. He really lays down the word in his songs.

But as far as listening to secular rap, I would say it would be ok, as long as it doesn't dictate the way you live. The life depicted in most rap songs is definitely not Christ-like

 

[HarborOrange]

Okay, personally, I hate rap with a burning passion. But then again, I'm the kid who listens to hardcore music and stuff that most people find to be hideous.
I actually had a thread up about this a bit ago, asking if it was okay for me to listen to the likes of Orchid and The Saddest Landscape... And, the conclusion I came to, after hearing out the opinions of those on the thread, was that it doesn't really matter what genre you listen to, what matters is the lyrics.
Though, I do not suggest listening to rap, or any sort of music for that matter, if the musician behind the music is immoral.

Hey, check out Listener. He's a Christian spoken word musician. Great guy, and has some really beautiful songs. It's not quite rap, but since you enjoy rap, you might enjoy him.

 

[HarborOrange]

YouTube - Sims - Future Shock

 

[MissElizabeth]

Rap is a sucker! i really enjoy slow rap. i find it really emotional and moving, but when its a lot of fast jibberish that isnt audible, then i find it really stressful! having said that, i still dont know if its right to listen to.

lyrics are definately important, but i also think the music has a lot to do with it too. music is a spiritual thing and thus should uplift and encourage the spirit in a Godly way.

Ephesians 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your hearts to the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

 

[rjc34]

lyrics are definately important, but i also think the music has a lot to do with it too. music is a spiritual thing and thus should uplift and encourage the spirit in a Godly way.

If somebody came up to you in the street and started telling you about how he had a wild and crazy night, drinking, doing drugs, getting in a gun fight... etc etc. Would it encourage you to go do those things?

Lyrics don't affect anything. If you don't like them don't listen to them. You're free to have your opinion and listen to nice christian music if you want, but the rest of us will stick with our godless music and actually enjoy ourselves

 

[christian78]

Rap Music isn't exactly weed, guns, and women in its entirety you know. Lupe Fiasco, Lauryn Hill, Nas & Damian Marley, the list goes on. Some of those artist uplift me more spiritually than most Christian artists.

 

[MissElizabeth]

If somebody came up to you in the street and started telling you about how he had a wild and crazy night, drinking, doing drugs, getting in a gun fight... etc etc. Would it encourage you to go do those things?

Lyrics don't affect anything. If you don't like them don't listen to them. You're free to have your opinion and listen to nice christian music if you want, but the rest of us will stick with our godless music and actually enjoy ourselves

No, because I know as a believer, such things are unprofitable. But to some it could pose to be a temptation. Maybe??

May I make the point that I was relpying to a Christain asking if it was right or not to listen to such music, not making a flat statement to all including athiest and humanists.

 

[rjc34]

No, because I know as a believer, such things are unprofitable. But to some it could pose to be a temptation. Maybe??

May I make the point that I was relpying to a Christain asking if it was right or not to listen to such music, not making a flat statement to all including athiest and humanists.

What difference does it make? Are not all truths universal?

 

[HarborOrange]

Many things thought to be truths are half-truths.

Either way, not all truths are universal. What you think to be true and what I think to be true are most likely complete opposites. Therefore, I do not think what you believe in is true, so it is not universal.

 

[rjc34]

Many things thought to be truths are half-truths.

Either way, not all truths are universal. What you think to be true and what I think to be true are most likely complete opposites. Therefore, I do not think what you believe in is true, so it is not universal.

While truths may be subjective, reality is not. If one's truth lines up with reality, it would be considered a 'universal' truth, regardless of what others may believe.

For example, we live on the planet Earth. That's a universal truth. It describes reality as it is.

 

[religious&reasonable]

Many things thought to be truths are half-truths.

Either way, not all truths are universal. What you think to be true and what I think to be true are most likely complete opposites. Therefore, I do not think what you believe in is true, so it is not universal.

that doesnt make any sense.

The truth does not take sides. The truth is itself. there are no different interpretations of the truth if it is the real or universal truth. We can have different interpretations of what we believe to be true, but in the end, only some of us can be right.

for example, chistianity and islam are not two different truths or different versions. lets say im christian and ur muslim. lets also assume christianity is correct, that would make it the universal truth, even though u disagree with it.

it doesnt matter what anyone believes, there is just the universal truth, anything else is false, or a false interpretation.

 

[rjc34]

that doesnt make any sense.

The truth does not take sides. The truth is itself. there are no different interpretations of the truth if it is the real or universal truth. We can have different interpretations of what we believe to be true, but in the end, only some of us can be right.

for example, chistianity and islam are not two different truths or different versions. lets say im christian and ur muslim. lets also assume christianity is correct, that would make it the universal truth, even though u disagree with it.

it doesnt matter what anyone believes, there is just the universal truth, anything else is false, or a false interpretation.

I think it's easier if we just call universal truth 'reality'.

 

[BibleDave]

If you drop listening to music by sinners then you should also stop watching a lot of the new movies that come out and stop playing a lot of the games that are out there. You can still listen to stuff by people which have lyrics about their life and what they do, even if it is sinning. As for dirty lyrics you can decide. Is it really healthy for you to listen to it? If you aren't impacted by it, fine. But if you feel it changes your attitude in a bad way then don't listen to those certain songs.

Would Jesus like those lyrics going through you? It does say, although, that Jesus hung out with sinners. Maybe that music might help you to not want take up that lifestyle. But in all, listening to 'dirty' lyrics can only really desensitize you to that kind of stuff.

I still listen to songs with those lyrics but if a song is too full on, and instead of using bad language to be passionate it's being used for the fun of it, then I won't listen to it regularly.

Hope that's helps.
God bless,
Dave.

 

[Girder of Loins]

Well, let me give you my experience with secular music as a whole. I grew up on the golden oldies of music, Styx, Boston, Don Mclean, the sorts. Then i got into techno. Nothing wrong there, no words really. That got me into rap, which got me into classical, which got me into screamo(I'm messed up, I know). I always loved rap's beats and dancing to it was fun. Then I decided I would listen to nothing but Christain rap and music. I did this for about a month or so, then i decided to get back into secular rap. my first song(which I used to love) was "Get low." Words started to stick on me. All the f-bombs and grotesque words stuck on me. I realized that my month of no secular music really changed my thoughts. I didn't laugh at all those dirty jokes my friends said, and i started to live out Ephesians 5(I suggest looking it up for this topic). So, I would say this, listening to secular music(of any kind) is not bad. But it will control your thoughts even when you try to stop it. I suggest doing the no secular music thing for a month, then come back on here and tell us what has happened. If there is no change, then go ahead, it probably doesn't affect you. I would maybe even go for two months. I still have some secular stuff on my itunes, mostly Styx, Don mclean, and those old, great groups. But I've gotten rid of all my secular rap. And if you need any help with music choice for any genre, i can help. 14 gigs of pure Christian music.

 

[Catherine4Christ]

If you like the beat, and that is why you like rap, I think you should check out some Christian rap artists. I like Lecrae and Tedashii.

 

[Not a fan]

I say as long as they are cussing for something and not doing it just to make money then it is fine. Lecrae is a great rapper Christian or not. Listen to the deep stuff like 2pac.

 

[hudechek]

ok i realize this thread might be considered "dead" now by forum standards but i cant help but say a few word being that I am a music junky ........... but back to my point, I see arguments from alot of different view i see the point of "lyrics matter" to the point of "lyrics don't matter, it is how you hold your self"

[disclaimer, i am about to put up some music some might find offence or controversial if you don't like it so be it skip my post please, thanks ]

ok as for lyrics don't matter:
A]I believe this statement is slightly nieve of some people to say the fact is that lyric do matter....... listening to satanic music [not that most would do that ] is a means of willingly putting edification of Satan in your life. and that crap just isn't right.
B] idk about you but i don't what to listen to music that talks about drugs and sex constantly that stuff is just degrading to ladys and make the singer look fickle and weak cuz they have no control over them self.

for lyrics do matter:
A] there are a lot of artists out there that make dang good music and not all of it is christian i don't believe your music library need to consist of only jesus culture, lecrae, casting crown, ect. there is perfectly legitimate stuff to listen to that is secular here are some examples:

God and Satan
Biffy clyro:
this is a song about a the singer trying to figure out what he believes in his live because of what is physically put in front of him, and he has no faith so he is torn to both sides. Is there a god or not is what he is asking.

Save Yourself
Aesop rock:
Aesop rock's rap is what i would describe best as proverbs or parables his songs touch alot of different topics that range from politics to love to God. and he writes his music in a way that make you have to really chew on it like jesus did with his parables and i love that kind of lyricism. this dude is by far my favorite artist of all time he isnt christian by any means but he sees the world for what it is.

Like Lions Do
Rigth away, great captain:
this song is about how this guy kills his daughter in a accident and his wife blames him for it and how she turns on him, and portrays the love se has for her daughter through violence and how he has to swallow his pride and take responsibility for what happened

mys list can go on I suppose, but all this music has moral, day to day living, and life questions built right in the music is real not ridiculous as in music from lil whyne and who ever else, I think the issue at hand isn't what is the music say but what is the music putting forth is it putting forth something constructive and worth listening to wether angry or not or is it just plain garbage that knowingly justify's and excepts sin Katy perry is a prime example she used to be a worship leader believe it or not look up katie hudison now she is singing about sex and bi sexuality she is willingly accepting sin in her life and putting it out into the world for children to see............ now that is just straight up wrong.