Do you believe Christians should listen to secular music?

ok...so everyone here who listens to secular music does so with only one intention- to save the lost??? i dont believe that.

if God gave me a ministry to go to dance clubs and try to witness to people i would do it-no questions asked. BUT i wouldnt live that lifestyle for any other reason.


Jim B-its not a matter of "projecting the proper image..." its a matter of doing what God commands us to in the verse i quoted from Phil 4:8.

rainbowprism said:

I'm probably the only non drug user that loves loves loves Pink Floyd and I'm never gonna give 'em up!

Click to expand...

what if God asked you to?

No offence meant here...but to be honest, when i saw a post of yours in another thread i thought-"wow, look at that avatar. that is a pinkfloyd album-maybe i should PM her and tell her." i didnt even think that a Christian would intentionally listen to pinkfloyd. i thought you had that avatar by mistake-maybe just thinking it was a rainbow and you wanted to match your name. i only listened to pinkfloyd before i was a Christian and that was only to get a better trip on the lsd i was taking....

again, please dont take offence, just wanted to put my 2 cents in here...

Godschosengirl said:

what if God asked you to?

No offence meant here...but to be honest, when i saw a post of yours in another thread i thought-"wow, look at that avatar. that is a pinkfloyd album-maybe i should PM her and tell her." i didnt even think that a Christian would intentionally listen to pinkfloyd. i thought you had that avatar by mistake-maybe just thinking it was a rainbow and you wanted to match your name. i only listened to pinkfloyd before i was a Christian and that was only to get a better trip on the lsd i was taking....

again, please dont take offence, just wanted to put my 2 cents in here...

Click to expand...

Personally, I think that a part of our problem in effectively reaching our culture is the fact that we forget we are “in the world” and concentrate only on being “not of the world.” IOW, we tend to create our own “Christian” subculture and insulate (alienate) ourselves from those we are trying to reach, insisting that they conform to our values before we will associate with them.

Even Christ became a part of the culture (Israel) He was trying to reach, “made under the law to redeem them that were under the Law.”

My brother is a missionary in Africa. Before taking the field, he had to go a long period of training in the culture, values, etc. of those to whom he was to bring the gospel. This is only wise. It did not mean that he had to abandon his culture, but that he had to adapt to theirs.

In America, we are a nation of subcultures. There is no such thing as an “American” culture. If we are trying to reach Goths, for example, we do not have to become a Goth, we simply need to understand them and even, if I understand Peter correctly, treat them with understanding, gentleness, and respect.


We have to earn the right to speak to them. We will never do it by beating them over the head with our Bible or treating them condescendingly. We will certainly never do it by alienating ourselves from them.

Can we reach people we refuse to touch? Jesus touched lepers even though it was against the letter of the Law. He treated them with gentleness and respect.

Can’t we do the same for the people (lepers) in our world, whether they be Goths, liberals, New Agers, abortionists, drug abusers, liberals, Muslims, racial supremacists, even criminals – and no matter what music they prefer?

I support Christians, like P.O.D. and Lifehouse (incidentally, Lifehouse is a Vineyard worship band who has entered the secular pop/rock subculture), who are willing to earn the ear of that spiritually-needy by becoming “all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some” (see 1 Cor. 9.19-23, post#39 above). Is it risky? Sure, but that’s how you spell faith.

Before your criticize them, I have to ask if you are trying to reach that culture?

If you don’t, who will?

What are your thoughts?

\o/

Godschosengirl said:

ok...so everyone here who listens to secular music does so with only one intention- to save the lost??? i dont believe that.

Click to expand...

I listen to "secular" music (which I'll address in a second) for two reasons. First, the age group I teach and minister to listens to mostly secular music. So in order to be relevant, and "talk the talk" with them and better minister to them I am familiar with the music they listen to. Paul did this in Acts 17 when he was in Athens. He quoted pagan poets to make an argument for God. So how did Paul know about these poets?????? He had to have read their works, and those works were "secular" and even went as far to deny that there is One True God. And yet, probably the greatest missionary and church planter in Christian history reads pagan, "secular" writings..................interesting.................do you realize our Bible contains the words of pagan prophets and poets? Do you realize those words (those pagan words) are being used to minister to and show people what God is like, keep in mind these are the writings of pagan poets and prophets. So if this is true, why couldn't or wouldn't a "secular" song be used by God to speak to someone?

Second, I listen to some secular music because I like it. Read Romans 14, the same goes for music. You may not be able to "handle" music that is not Christian. There is nothing wrong with that, but the problem becomes when something you can't "handle" your brother does, and yet you insist your brother not do it (this applys to things not clearly outlined in Scriptures as being "no-no"'s, unlike being drunk, sexual immorality, etc which are clearly "no-no"'s). Imposing an arbitary and un-Scriptural "rule" (that you have in place for yourself) on others is what some call legalism or being Pharisaical(sp?).

1 Thessalonians 5:21 Paul says to "test everything". This means that we should not blindly consume anything that has a "Christian" label on it, but it also means that we should not reject things just because they have a "secular" label on them. What does Paul say, test what? EVERYTHING I think Andry posted something on here that you may be listening to a Christian song, but if your heart is not in it, then what's the point, it's just like listening to something with worldly lyrics. But if you hear a "secular" song and it stirs something in your heart then great.

Now back to this "secular" deal. Did you know that in the OT there is NO Hebrew word for the english word "Spiritual"? The deal is the Hebrew writers understood that EVERY part of our life was spiritual, because if you label one thing spiritual then that means something else is not. The idea that you would some how divide life, or divide the world into spiritual and non-spiritual was a totally foreign concept to the writers of the Scriptures. So when you are listening to "non-Christian" music, if EVERY part of your life is Spiritual, and whatever we do in word or deed is in the Name of Jesus (Col 3:17), then NOTHING you do is "non-Spiritual", and that secular music is now not secular. In a similar way, the same goes for your job, you may not think your in the "full time Chrisitan minsitry" but if you are a follower of Jesus your a minister and according to Col 3:17 you are in the full time ministry.

JimB

I relate to what your saying. I loved HipHop music and this music has it's own culture, dress, language etc... and because I stopped listening to it I knew that the people I was trying to reach around me still had a love for Hiphop. If I became so non-secular and insulated myself around only my believing friends then after a while I would have found it difficult to approach my friends and peers because it would have seemed like we are so different. Now of course we are different in that I am now born again Christian but I'm still me, I'm still a friend to old friends only now I'm a Christian friend. I no longer have to live the life I used to in order to relate to and identify with those that love Hiphop and live the lifestyle associated with it. My past experiences are an excellent tool for me to reach those that live the life I once lived.

Andyman_1970 said:

Now back to this "secular" deal. Did you know that in the OT there is NO Hebrew word for the english word "Spiritual"? The deal is the Hebrew writers understood that EVERY part of our life was spiritual, because if you label one thing spiritual then that means something else is not. The idea that you would some how divide life, or divide the world into spiritual and non-spiritual was a totally foreign concept to the writers of the Scriptures. So when you are listening to "non-Christian" music, if EVERY part of your life is Spiritual, and whatever we do in word or deed is in the Name of Jesus (Col 3:17), then NOTHING you do is "non-Spiritual", and that secular music is now not secular. In a similar way, the same goes for your job, you may not think your in the "full time Chrisitan minsitry" but if you are a follower of Jesus your a minister and according to Col 3:17 you are in the full time ministry.

Click to expand...

Wonderful! Just excellent and a big Amen!

Today I ate a 'secular' breakfast. No wait, it was a 'Christian' breakfast. Then I went to work in my 'secular' car, or was that my 'Christian' car??

So can we see how silly (read: false spirituality) we are oftentimes? All my breakfasts are 'spiritual' when I eat in faith (because everything that is not of faith is sin anyways). I drive a very spiritual Saab, because it allows me to take care of my family (going to work) and in fact does 'God's work' all the time.

andry said:

Wonderful! Just excellent and a big Amen!

Today I ate a 'secular' breakfast. No wait, it was a 'Christian' breakfast. Then I went to work in my 'secular' car, or was that my 'Christian' car??

So can we see how silly (read: false spirituality) we are oftentimes? All my breakfasts are 'spiritual' when I eat in faith (because everything that is not of faith is sin anyways). I drive a very spiritual Saab, because it allows me to take care of my family (going to work) and in fact does 'God's work' all the time.

Click to expand...

Great post.

One of my all time favorite songs is Steve Taylor’s 1982 “Guilty By Association.” The amazing thing is that Steve was only in his mid-20s when he wrote this, but he understood life pretty well … He may be a prophet!!


The sad thing is, more than twenty years later, nothing’s changed!!



\o/

JimB,

I remember buying that album (I WANT TO BE A CLONE i think). Great album. Remember the backwards masking thing around that same time too?

Suffolk Sean said:

JimB,

I remember buying that album (I WANT TO BE A CLONE i think). Great album. Remember the backwards masking thing around that same time too?

Click to expand...

Yes, I remember.

It was a giant conspiracy, right? The devil was under every rock (pun) in those days. Backmasking is now, thank God, is now in the Urban Legend category.

I wonder if anybody has backmasked the hymns? (Just wondering).

I did a Google search using the words “backmasking Christian” and came up with some pretty interesting links. Apparently, some ministries still buy into (and try to sell) the idea.

\o/

Jim B said:

I did a Google search using the words “backmasking Christian” and came up with some pretty interesting links. Apparently, some ministries still buy into (and try to sell) the idea.

Click to expand...

***sigh ***

I listen to secular and 'christian' music because I listen to what I enjoy. There are artists in all genres (except country, they're all bad ) that are good and bad.

Personally, I enjoy music with an aggressive edge to it. Therefore, I can't even stand contemporary 'christian' music. I can find issue or complements with any type of music and the people who perform it.

Music is music and unless it is an extreme exception (ie. Tool) I don't think much is carried along with it.

m.d.

rainbowprism said:

I'm probably the only non drug user that loves loves loves Pink Floyd and I'm never gonna give 'em up!

Click to expand...

Hey rainbowprism have you ever heard of "The Dogs of Peace" Christian group recorded an album called "Speak" in 1996 sounds just like Pink Floyd gone Christian.

Also if anyone likes Led Zeppelin check out John Cox - he rocks!
Definite Zeppelin flavor to his music but he glorifies Jesus.

http://www.coxrox.com/product.cfm?cat_id=5&

Jim B said:

Surely, if this were true (which it ain’t), God would have warned us about it. Book, chapter, and verse, please.

Back in the 80s, when Jimmy Swaggart (before the fall) was coming down on contemporary Christian music, Steve Taylor wrote a song called “Guilty By Association” that had a veiled reference to JS. Steve wrote …

Turn the radio on to a down-home drawl​

hear a brylcream prophet with a message for y'all
"I have found a new utensil in the devil's toolbox
and the heads are gonna roll if Jesus rocks
it's a worldly design! God's music should be divine!
try buying records like mine--avoid temptation"

That helped me see that their might have been a subtle marketing strategy behind Jimmy’s crusade against music other than his.

I have been through these MusicWars many times before … with Jimmy Swaggart, Bill Gothard, and others (all of whom had something of their own to sell). And sure enough, there’s a “products” and “resources” links on the Exministries site. Apparently, Mr. Lewis has him a growing little cottage industry in videos, DVDs, CDs, and cassettes. As Steve Taylor would say, “. . . try buying records like mine--avoid temptation.”



\o/

Click to expand...

You know if Christ forgives us and forgets it should not we do the same? Only one person brings our past up.

Jesus I am so in love with you...

1 John 1:9-10 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

Well as for music "Where your heart is there your treasure will be". It is whats in you that people will see. Some will understand some wont. The closer you get to Jesus the Great I AM things just change. That makes no one Holyer that thou. I love and can hear any kind of music well not punk lol but now it's just empty. You start to listen to christian music man even some of that real old time christian music there's something that starts to stir your spirit and it's like God steps in the room. Now this is just me.

Jesus I am so in love with you..

While i agree you need to watch what goes into you..as you are what you eat so to speak. Christians need to be in the secular music industry being used by God. I personally listen to very little secular music (bassically classical and jazz mostly) I think its so much more beneficial to fill my life with worship/praise/encouraging christian music. Then when heard times come i always have songs to sing to cry out to God with.

I personally only listen to christian music. I have not listened to secular music in over 2 years. To be totally honest I don't want my leaders to listen to secular music. But everyone must decide what is right or wrong for themselves.

My mum once bought a book about this that a Christian guy had written (it had Pan on the cover - someone might know the name) and in it he was listing the pitfulls of secular music...

MOST of his info was good (it was mainly hard rock bands like Black Sabbath/Led Zeppelin discussed - ok it was old), however I did get cranky when he started to lambast Steve Green and Michael W Smith...

His issue was the fact that they had songs that didn't witness about Christ - some of them were about keeping unwanted pregnancies, true romantic love between married couples, etc etc. I found it sad that someone judged a Christian singer just cos every song wasn't about converting the world to christ.

Personally I think it's up to an individual. If hearing a secular, romantic song causes you to stumble don't listen. I won't (for my own sanity) listen to Eminem, and most 'doof doof' music - mainly cos I can't hear the lyrics and the repeated beat just annoys the heck out of me.

However, I love Powderfinger, Jack Johnson, Alicia Keys, Evanescence and U2. I believe that some songs, although secular, do provide some interesting discussion points, and can often touch me more (and get me closer to God) than some Christian songs do.

Plus, I find them a good ministry tool sometimes - if I just sat here listening to ONLY Christian music, I would find a lot of my witnessing tools gone!

Sasch

I love folk rock/americana, blues, bluegrass, acoustic type music with a passion! It's the only thing I listen to. I listen to two music stations on Dishnetwork--969-Acoustic Crossroads and Sirius folk music 6038, Gillian Welch, Bob Dylan, John Prine, Eliza Gilkyson, the Kennedy's, and several others I can't remember right off, . Just the night before last, I was struggling with a current struggle I've been dealing with, and feeling angry. Well, right off, "We shall overcome" came on--sung by Bruce Springteen. I went thru deliverence right there! "We Shall Overcome" is an old Black spiritual and in the hymn books and was sung during the civil rights movement. Contemporary christian music doesn't make me feel anything--it's boring. It's not neccesarily how soft or hard the music is, it's the substance and the feeling I get in the music. Folk music is real and natural to me--I feel like much of christian music on the radio, along with mainstream secular rock, country, etc is just made to make a buck/and or sex appeal and flesh. Folk music is made by real musicians! What's interesting, is that real musicans feel the same way! (I should know, I live in Mountain View, AR, which is known as a folk music gathering place where musican gather to jam and play music! and mountain dulcimers are made here and crafts people live here--and intelligent people, too, not just dumb hillbillies Yes, there are very intelligent hillbilles! ) And unfortunately, many people don't know much about folk music. They just think it's one genre when it really is more than that. It's all kinds of genres.

[QUOTE I believe that some songs, although secular, do provide some interesting discussion points, and can often touch me more (and get me closer to God) than some Christian songs do
Sasch[/QUOTE]
I Agree, BIG TIME!!!! Lara

i used to listen to only secular when i discovered christian music and fell in love with it. now that's all i listen to. it has substance and makes me feel good. i love jesus!