Advice about a secular musician

Lady Bug

Thankful For My Confirmation
Supporter
Aug 23, 2007
22,174
10,518
✟775,611.00
Country
United States
Faith
Catholic
Marital Status
Private
I'm wondering, if there is a music artist out there who can have wonderful talent but have some songs here and there that are not of God, do you quit listening to the artist (i.e. throw the baby out with the bathwater) or do you cherry-pick the songs that are spiritually neutral?

I have several secular artists whose music I would not miss if I ditched all their CDs (I've already done a lot already). But this one artist left among my CDs, I'm having a hard time letting go of. His name is Gordon Lightfoot. Some of his songs do revolve around drunkenness, and a couple songs about affairs and one-night stands are interspersed among them, but I always skip over them. It bums me because he is an extraordinary artist otherwise, IMHO. This is one hurdle I haven't quite overcome.

With other artists, I have little to no problem quitting listening to them period, if some of their songs are not of God. I just wish I didn't wrestle with this one so much.
 
  • Prayers
Reactions: Jeshu

pdudgeon

Traditional Catholic
Supporter
In Memory Of
Aug 4, 2005
37,777
12,353
South East Virginia, US
✟493,233.00
Country
United States
Faith
Catholic
Marital Status
Widowed
Politics
US-Republican
I'm wondering, if there is a music artist out there who can have wonderful talent but have some songs here and there that are not of God, do you quit listening to the artist (i.e. throw the baby out with the bathwater) or do you cherry-pick the songs that are spiritually neutral?

I have several secular artists whose music I would not miss if I ditched all their CDs (I've already done a lot already). But this one artist left among my CDs, I'm having a hard time letting go of. His name is Gordon Lightfoot. Some of his songs do revolve around drunkenness, and a couple songs about affairs and one-night stands are interspersed among them, but I always skip over them. It bums me because he is an extraordinary artist otherwise, IMHO. This is one hurdle I haven't quite overcome.

With other artists, I have little to no problem quitting listening to them period, if some of their songs are not of God. I just wish I didn't wrestle with this one so much.

better to be brave and throw out the CD's that aren't of God, than to let them lodge in your brain, waiting to "come back to life" and distract you.
 
Upvote 0

Jeshu

Bought by His Blood
Supporter
Mar 25, 2005
15,422
7,571
63
One of the Greatest Places on Earth.
✟600,188.00
Country
Australia
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
i have only ever ditched secular songs when they sang about things that were wrong or not true, otherwise i have always held on to the music and listen to it when i'm in the mood.

The freedom we find in Christ has no problem with secular songs when the contents is truthful, many gospels songs and so called Christian songs He would have more problems with because they contain untruths in them and/or are designed to make people feel all warm and fuzzy, making serving God all about feeling good instead of repenting of sins.

Use you own digression as to what is good or bad and thank Him for it if you enjoy the music Christian or secular.

Peace.

i like this song and find it contains a lot of truth - non Christian.


Here we have one of those songs that is theologically very unsound but loved by many Christians.

 
  • Like
Reactions: Lady Bug
Upvote 0

Sketcher

Born Imperishable
Feb 23, 2004
38,978
9,399
✟378,031.00
Faith
Non-Denom
Marital Status
Single
Politics
US-Republican
I'm wondering, if there is a music artist out there who can have wonderful talent but have some songs here and there that are not of God, do you quit listening to the artist (i.e. throw the baby out with the bathwater) or do you cherry-pick the songs that are spiritually neutral?
I cherry-pick the songs that are spiritually neutral, and even beneficial.

Case in point, the Dropkick Murphys covered Amazing Grace, and it's great. They have some other songs that are not godly at all. The ungodliness of some of these other songs does not taint their studio cover of Amazing Grace. If it does not taint their studio cover of Amazing Grace, then I don't see why it would taint their other songs that are neither especially godly nor ungodly. Which means at minimum they have one song which is good to listen to, and at maximum, many more, though not 100%.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lady Bug
Upvote 0

Lady Bug

Thankful For My Confirmation
Supporter
Aug 23, 2007
22,174
10,518
✟775,611.00
Country
United States
Faith
Catholic
Marital Status
Private
The odd thing is that I don't necessarily "enjoy" listening to the music anymore. It doesn't make sense. I think the only thing I don't want to let go is the fact that his songs are very good (my opinion) and I have fond memories of when I first became a fan, but I don't feel happiness or peace per se when I listen to it. I feel nothing. This has happened with most music I listen to anymore. Music used to be something I loved listening to, now it's a struggle. I tend to feel more depressed after it. I don't necessarily feel more depressed after listening to GL but I don't find comfort in it like I used to. I don't feel like playing it in the car anymore, except for a couple albums maybe. I have always associated the problem with myself, telling myself that there's something wrong with me, not the music, but I have no idea anymore.
 
Upvote 0

Kenny'sID

Well-Known Member
Supporter
Feb 28, 2016
18,185
7,001
69
USA
✟585,304.00
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Single
GL is a great poet. "If you could read my mind" is dead proof of that and always impressed me as a great romantic song.

Go ahead and listen, at least that's what I do, and eventually my heart will tell me what to do. I find that I no longer want to bother listening to some music, and I just blame it on the Holy Spirit, but at the same time, if I choose to listen to it anyway, I don't feel particularly bad about it.

I think it eventually just becomes unimportant.

Sometimes bad is bad and we know right off, other than those songs, don't worry too much about it.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: Lady Bug
Upvote 0

.Mikha'el.

7x13=28
Christian Forums Staff
Supervisor
Supporter
May 22, 2004
33,059
6,418
39
British Columbia
✟997,851.00
Country
Canada
Faith
Messianic
Marital Status
Single
Just because there are lyrics in these songs that you don't agree with doesn't mean you automatically endorse or promote those behaviors by listening to them. However, if they really make you uncomfortable, then it's best to find some other songs.
 
Upvote 0

Jeshu

Bought by His Blood
Supporter
Mar 25, 2005
15,422
7,571
63
One of the Greatest Places on Earth.
✟600,188.00
Country
Australia
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Married
The odd thing is that I don't necessarily "enjoy" listening to the music anymore. It doesn't make sense. I think the only thing I don't want to let go is the fact that his songs are very good (my opinion) and I have fond memories of when I first became a fan, but I don't feel happiness or peace per se when I listen to it. I feel nothing. This has happened with most music I listen to anymore. Music used to be something I loved listening to, now it's a struggle. I tend to feel more depressed after it. I don't necessarily feel more depressed after listening to GL but I don't find comfort in it like I used to. I don't feel like playing it in the car anymore, except for a couple albums maybe. I have always associated the problem with myself, telling myself that there's something wrong with me, not the music, but I have no idea anymore.

No i think our music taste becomes more fuzzy as we grow more mature. At least 2/3 of secular and 9/10 of Christian music i have turned away from.

PressOn introduced me into a really cool group call Apologetixs they turn good secular music into nice Christian songs.

See what you think.:oldthumbsup:
 
Upvote 0
This site stays free and accessible to all because of donations from people like you.
Consider making a one-time or monthly donation. We appreciate your support!
- Dan Doughty and Team Christian Forums

Miles

Student of Life
Mar 6, 2005
17,085
4,464
USA
✟379,881.00
Country
United States
Faith
Christian
Marital Status
Private
Politics
US-Others
I cherry-pick what I listen to. Almost every artist has a song or two that rub me the wrong way, and I just listen to what I like.

It's worth noting that songs don't necessarily reflect the writer's personal beliefs. Lyrics can be about characters and common things that folks experience in life. Entertainers like to keep the audience entertained, after all, so there's an element of wanting to appeal to the masses. What they create doesn't have to be a reflection of their own mindset. I suspect this is especially true with Gordon Lightfoot, as his songs often tell stories. Some will be more appealing than others, depending on what the listener gets out of them.

Even the Bible contains sordid tales and misadventures. Taken out of context, they might come across as worldly, but that doesn't make them wrong to read.

That said, if his music leaves you feeling discouraged I wouldn't hesitate to get rid of it. Even if you simply don't listen to it anymore. There's a school of thought that we should get rid of things that we don't use. It cuts down on physical and mental clutter. If you know a GL fan who might appreciate his music, however and they're comfortable with cherry-picking the songs they like, you might consider giving the albums to them. That way, it will be gone from your life, and might make somebody else's day.
 
  • Useful
Reactions: Lady Bug
Upvote 0

Lady Bug

Thankful For My Confirmation
Supporter
Aug 23, 2007
22,174
10,518
✟775,611.00
Country
United States
Faith
Catholic
Marital Status
Private
It's worth noting that songs don't necessarily reflect the writer's personal beliefs. Lyrics can be about characters and common things that folks experience in life. Entertainers like to keep the audience entertained, after all, so there's an element of wanting to appeal to the masses. What they create doesn't have to be a reflection of their own mindset. I suspect this is especially true with Gordon Lightfoot, as his songs often tell stories. Some will be more appealing than others, depending on what the listener gets out of them.
I didn't think of this. It's something for me to ponder.

That said, if his music leaves you feeling discouraged I wouldn't hesitate to get rid of it. Even if you simply don't listen to it anymore. There's a school of thought that we should get rid of things that we don't use.
I feel weird about some of the latest CDs I got rid of. I have not listened to them for years, maybe, and when I do, I kind of feel depressed after it for no apparent reason, but now that they're gone, I ask myself if I should have. Odd thing is, is that if they were here I still would not listen to them.
 
Upvote 0

fashionista1

Newbie
Supporter
Sep 20, 2007
32
10
✟404,965.00
Faith
Eastern Orthodox
Marital Status
Married
Personally, I see nothing wrong with Gordon Lightfoot. He's one of my all time favorites. An interesting note: for the past several years, a song has been running through my head. It is called The Last Time I Saw Her Face, but I could not find it on the web. Your post brought Gordon Lightfoot back to my memory, and I searched him on youtube. Right there was the song I'd been listening to in my mind for so long! In addition, I found a whole playlist of favorites that he sang "back in the day". So, thank you so much!

Being a music lover, I listen to both Christian and secular music. As to the secular, I try to be selective; i.e., no violence, cursing or overtly sexual. Being that I'm over 65, that is not a problem as I never was into any of that type of music.

Just my viewpoint. I hope it helps and, again, thank you for the Gordon reminder!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lady Bug
Upvote 0