Christians cant listen to secular music!? Why!

There's no way you can know that gospel music has more "feeling" and "upliftingness" and "joy" than secular music.

Christians can listen to secular music. Just pick through the songs and if you feel that it is offensive to God then don't listen to it. But don't listen to what others say. If YOU feel it's offensive to God. You be the judge. People have all sorts of ideas out there about secular music but you need a way to relate to people to reach out and save the lost. If you stay away from the secular world then you will never reach anybody.

The Illumanti crap again? Really? I swear some of you guys get your information from The Onion or some of you are just making new accounts to continue to spam ignorance.

Look, many of these artists that are so-called members of the Illumanti are people I've worked for. I can promise you that none of those people are evil or work for some secret satanic organization. Please come back to reality.

NiobiumTragedy said:

The Illumanti crap again? Really? I swear some of you guys get your information from The Onion or some of you are just making new accounts to continue to spam ignorance.

Look, many of these artists that are so-called members of the Illumanti are people I've worked for. I can promise you that none of those people are evil or work for some secret satanic organization. Please come back to reality.

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What exactly do you have that pretty mixer as an avatar for?

SnowCal said:

What exactly do you have that pretty mixer as an avatar for?

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Cause why not? Happens to be my favourite console to work on.

justicef said:

Hey guys im Justice and im hear to talk about Christians and the problem of listening to secular music or some secular artist. Now bare with me on this one, Im not saying Christians shouldn't listen to secular music but WHO are you listening to... let me explain ok. Now some of you may be aware of the secret organization called the Illumanti, yes, the ones who worship the evil one to have intant fame, fortune, and power. Now dont think that even I am not skeptical of this becuase i am but it can be true with the right amount of evidence and its accountability. Hey look! i admit i listen to secular music i mean who doesn't lets be real
BUT , yes BUT with enough research things seem clearer and easier to understand so do research on the Illumanti, secular artists, and the way the music industry works and then you will be able to make your own conclusions. Listening to secular music is fine but stay true to gospel music as it has more feeling, anointing, spiritualness, truth, love, upliftingness, and joy and who wouldn't want to sometimes get down, dance and shake with the family at the barbecue dancing to classic hits making wonderful memories. Comment down below on what you think about some chritians not being able to listen to secular music or just the general idea secular music and god bless everyone i love you

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There are some songs like The Youngbloods 'Get Together' that is clearly, to me, praise music though the group is considered, or 'was' considered an American folk music band.

And there are songs like Rebecca St. James' Breathe that has, to my ear and heart, a self-conscious almost sexualizing sound to it that really turns me off, and I mean I turn off the song.

More and more, I'm finding that modern female singers 'perform' wearing a ton of make-up, seductive clothing, drawing so much attention to themselves with the stage set-up, body movement, vocalization, eye-contact with 'the audience' and other band members, plus use songs with 'my God, my Jesus, my pain, me-me-me' kinds of lyrics that I can't bear to watch or listen.

So, to me 'secular music' is self-centered, regardless of other factors whereas praise music focuses my heart and mind on God's presence and his present in Jesus Christ, often makes me contemplate more than just my suffering or God's mercy (like, God's Infinite Wisdom vs. human limited knowledge), and always, no matter how it focuses on human suffering, returns 'our' attention, back to God as The Source or as I say, Origin (Father), Idea Made Word (Son, Jesus Christ) and Holy Spirit (Comforter).

So, though I'm sure there are a few exceptions with songs I listen to--and I almost always avoid videos because 1) They are distracting (can't help but be a 'performance' in some way or hey, why video tape it?, and 2) If I watch the singers my attention is drawn away from worshipping God, no matter how well-intended the 'performer' is in his (almost, sadly, always 'his' singing)--I listen to mostly male singers (praise) and no secular (not today,not recently, but I admit Steve Earle's Copperhead Road is probably gonna grab my attention eventually, for another happy few minutes, because my maternal grandfather (Pappaw) was, among other things, a bootlegger.

I have a CD sleeve with typed songs and singers in front of me so I'll share it, no editing: If I have broken my own general rule as stated above, someone feel free to point it out, 'gentle reproof' always gratefully accepted.

Southern Gospel (burned after buying songs via iTune but first listening to them on YouTube):

1) Me and God Josh Turner
2) I Know Who Holds Tomorrow Cox Family with Alison Krauss
3) How Great Thou Art Alan Jackson
4) Pray For the Fish Randy Travis
5) The Old Rugged Cross Brad Paisley
6) Have a LIttle Talk w/Jesus Willie Nelson
7) Why Me, Lord? Travis Tritt (written by K. Kristofferon)
8) Rise Up Lazarus Patty Loveless
9) Three Wooden Crosses Randy Travis
10) I'll Fly Away Vern Gosdin
11) Down By the Riverside Blaire Reinhard Band
12) In the Garden Alan Jackson
13) Long Black Train Josh Turner (prefer it on youtube w/Randy Travis)
14) Daniel Prayed Patty Loveless w/Ricky Skaggs
15) Where No One Stands Alone Cox Family
16) I Know Who Holds Tomorrow Doyle Lawson (bluegrass as it gets!)
17) Standing on the Promises Alan Jackson
18) Will the Circle Be Unbroken Willie Nelson
19) Leaning on the Everlasting Arms Carman and Chet Atkins

I'd be grateful for any recommendations of praise music shared here or sent to me via a message: I am always on the look out for music 'as' worship to add to my daily devotion. <3 <3 <3 (Three hearts, for me, are always for the Trinity) ~ Carolyn

Listening to secular music does not mean you are not a Christian. Being a Christian is not defined by media. It is defined by what's inside your heart. And God knows what's in your heart. So, basically, if it doesn't offend you, feel free to listen to it. Of course, if it does offend you, or you feel it's causing you to fall away, then don't listen to it. But here's the thing. Most Christians have been taught since the beginning that secular music will corrupt you. Because if that, the placebo effect takes place. They believe it will corrupt them, so they let it corrupt them. But it doesn't have to. It is your choice. So if you want to call me evil or tell me I'm not a Christian because I listen to bands like Five Finger Death Punch, Limp Bizkit, Slayer, Pantera, Slipknot, My Darkest Days, Opeth, Otep, etc., then go ahead. At the end the day, my soul is still in God's hands, and His judgement is the only one that matters. Sure, I'm a sinner. But so are you. You might want to take care of the beam in your own eye before you worry about the speck in mine.

justicef said:

Look I was skeptical at first when I heard about the illuminati but when I did research things became more obvious. Oh and by the way search "Katy Perry admits to selling her soul" on YouTube and tell me if that has no significance or isn't compelling enough. Mostly its the famous ones.... I mean how else do you get so much fame and money so instantly.

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So fast? It took her 7 years to break into mainstream. You obviously don't know she was also a Christian artist before she became Katy Perry and are ignorant enough to take a silly statement like seriously.

Really, find something better to do with your time if you want to be a good little Christian and stop helping to spread rumours and lies about people you know nothing about.

GodsGirl said:

More and more, I'm finding that modern female singers 'perform' wearing a ton of make-up, seductive clothing, drawing so much attention to themselves with the stage set-up, body movement, vocalization, eye-contact with 'the audience' and other band members, plus use songs with 'my God, my Jesus, my pain, me-me-me' kinds of lyrics that I can't bear to watch or listen.

So, to me 'secular music' is self-centered, regardless of other factors whereas praise music focuses my heart and mind on God's presence and his present in Jesus Christ, often makes me contemplate more than just my suffering or God's mercy (like, God's Infinite Wisdom vs. human limited knowledge), and always, no matter how it focuses on human suffering, returns 'our' attention, back to God as The Source or as I say, Origin (Father), Idea Made Word (Son, Jesus Christ) and Holy Spirit (Comforter).

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There's much, much, much more to secular music than vain pop artists.

The Philippian Prescription:

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. -- Philippians 4

Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial; everything is permissible, but not everything is edifying -- 1 Corinthians 10

The word "whatever" creates a broad opening and requires "mind of Christ" judgment of whether listening to the music is beneficial and edifying.

This has always required judgment, but think of the lyrics of this secular song:

The road is long
With many a winding turn
That leads us to who knows where
Who knows where

But I'm strong
Strong enough to carry him
He ain't heavy, he's my brother

So on we go
His welfare is my concern
No burden is he to bear
We'll get there

For I know
He will not encumber me
He ain't heavy, he's my brother

If I'm laden at all
I'm laden with sadness
That everyone's heart
Isn't filled with the gladness
Of love for one another

It's a long, long road
From which there is no return
While we're on the way to there
Why not share

And the load
Doesn't weigh me down at all
He ain't heavy he's my brother

MomOf2nApril said:

Listening to secular music does not mean you are not a Christian. Being a Christian is not defined by media. It is defined by what's inside your heart. And God knows what's in your heart. So, basically, if it doesn't offend you, feel free to listen to it. Of course, if it does offend you, or you feel it's causing you to fall away, then don't listen to it. But here's the thing. Most Christians have been taught since the beginning that secular music will corrupt you. Because if that, the placebo effect takes place. They believe it will corrupt them, so they let it corrupt them. But it doesn't have to. It is your choice. So if you want to call me evil or tell me I'm not a Christian because I listen to bands like Five Finger Death Punch, Limp Bizkit, Slayer, Pantera, Slipknot, My Darkest Days, Opeth, Otep, etc., then go ahead. At the end the day, my soul is still in God's hands, and His judgement is the only one that matters. Sure, I'm a sinner. But so are you. You might want to take care of the beam in your own eye before you worry about the speck in mine.

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That's good...The stereotype in my mind for years is that Christians isolate themselves from the world (not saying that its bad)....I'm not a Christian (yet) but going here at least helps me realize that there can be a secular and religious partnership (limited secular let's not go crazy here)

It's too bad many followers of Christ feel the need to label themselves and music. If the music is good, not vulgar or crass and the subject matter is true and from the heart it should be acceptable.

The way I see it, I think of truly secular music as being that which contains lyrics that are clearly against the Bible. With this in mind, I have found that there is quite a number of non-Christian mainstream songs that wouldn't be wrong for a Christian to listen to. After all, books, movies, and TV shows can be viewed in the same way. It is all a matter of picking and choosing carefully, and letting the Lord lead in issues such as this. The question to ask ourselves, when listening to any given song: would we feel comfortable playing it if we saw the Lord in person? If there is any doubt, then it is probably better not to listen to it. I realize that some are honestly convicted to listen strictly to Christian music, recorded only by Christian artists; it just doesn't feel right for such people to listen to anything else. Of course, I can respect that if it is seen as a personal conviction, and nothing more nor less. The problem is when someone who holds such convictions views himself/herself as holier than others just because they disagree.

Romans 14 talks about disputes over "doubtful things", and this could very well be one of those things.

I may post some links a little later.

Thanks...

I doubt the existence of the illuminati. The only organization in music that I would deem as evil is the christian music industry and this is why. They lie to you and tell you all music not on a christian label is evil, and that it will ruin your walk with god. Totally false. Then they promote cheap knockoffs of those bands and push those down your throat. These knockoff bands have very little conviction and originality in their writing, and their quality is really no better than the pirated asian DVDs you get at a flea market. A lot of "secular" music has way more conviction in their stuff and only a very small amount of it has lyrics that advocate anti-christian values.

So what is really evil? The artists that pour their hearts and souls into their music and make something great? Or an organization that instills fear into the hearts of christians in order to make a monopoly out of what they produce?

McMatt said:

I doubt the existence of the illuminati. The only organization in music that I would deem as evil is the christian music industry and this is why. They lie to you and tell you all music not on a christian label is evil, and that it will ruin your walk with god. Totally false. Then they promote cheap knockoffs of those bands and push those down your throat. These knockoff bands have very little conviction and originality in their writing, and their quality is really no better than the pirated asian DVDs you get at a flea market. A lot of "secular" music has way more conviction in their stuff and only a very small amount of it has lyrics that advocate anti-christian values.

So what is really evil? The artists that pour their hearts and souls into their music and make something great? Or an organization that instills fear into the hearts of christians in order to make a monopoly out of what they produce?

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I've never really heard of the Christian music industry being evil. In fact, most Christian labels are owned and operated by major labels like Atlantic Records.

What I've found to be the major issue in this topic are those people who put on or speak at Christian festivals. They are always the doom-and-gloom type who want to make you feel terrible about yourself and your decisions. Heck, I remember doing many events with Acquire the Fire and more recently, Winter Fest. It was exactly the same thing: some guy giving his sob story to get you all emotional, then drive a stake into you and make you feel like trash. It's insulting to say the least. These are the people that want to make you feel horrible for listening to other music.

loneburro said:

That's good...The stereotype in my mind for years is that Christians isolate themselves from the world (not saying that its bad)....I'm not a Christian (yet) but going here at least helps me realize that there can be a secular and religious partnership (limited secular let's not go crazy here)

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The way I see it, is if we isolate ourselves, what good are we doing anyone?