Gay Musicians?

[skinnymike1]

This is a topic that always made me wonder. I try to examine the music that I hear because it is such a powerful influence. Therefore, I also examine the artists I listen to as well to guard what comes in to me from their lifestyle.
I have been doing pretty well until I come and find out that a musician is homosexual. We know it's a sin, but does listening and supporting their music mean that we support their sin? If they are homosexual should we drop their music too and not be associated with them even though the music they make is "clean"?
I can go either way on this issue, but I have never seen discussion on this and I am interested to know how deep our relationship with the world can run. Thank you.

 

[tstor]

I avoid listening to music in general. However, when I do listen to music it is usually gospel music or very tame secular music (such as bluegrass). I tend to base my musical selections on the lyrics. So if an unrepentant homosexual is writing music, the lyrics are probably a reflection of their own attitude. If the lyrics are safe then you should be fine. My rule of thumb is this: if I would not let my grandmother listen to it, then I probably should not listen to it.

 

[SnowyMacie]

I don't see how listening to and being a fan of their music is supporting their actions in any way whatsoever. It's like if you stopped eating at your favorite restaurant because you found out the owner was gay.

 

[jimmyjimmy]

We know it's a sin, but does listening and supporting their music mean that we support their sin?

What is does is help to normalize it. Even using their term, "gay" helps to normalize homosexuality.

I don't imagine listening to this music will ruin your life, nor will them losing one listener have an effect on them, but be careful what you listen to, it does have an effect on your thinking.

 

[Mrs.PGL]

This is a topic that always made me wonder. I try to examine the music that I hear because it is such a powerful influence. Therefore, I also examine the artists I listen to as well to guard what comes in to me from their lifestyle.
I have been doing pretty well until I come and find out that a musician is homosexual. We know it's a sin, but does listening and supporting their music mean that we support their sin? If they are homosexual should we drop their music too and not be associated with them even though the music they make is "clean"?
I can go either way on this issue, but I have never seen discussion on this and I am interested to know how deep our relationship with the world can run. Thank you.

You wrote: "We know it's a sin, but does listening and supporting their music mean that we support their sin?" Good question. When I read it to my hubby, he said that isn't the question. The question is: Is it glorifying God?

 

[Mrs.PGL]

I don't see how listening to and being a fan of their music is supporting their actions in any way whatsoever. It's like if you stopped eating at your favorite restaurant because you found out the owner was gay.

How do you know you are getting quality Christian lyrics when the homosexuals have been turned over to a reprobate mind?

 

[Dave Watchman]

How do you know you are getting quality Christian lyrics when the homosexuals have been turned over to a reprobate mind?

I was listening to a John MacArthur sermon where he defined what it meant to have a "reprobate" mind. He said that basically, it meant that his mind was "worthless". He had a worthless mind. It sounded a little funny hearing him say it.

I agree with you. And you husband.

And I'm not going to bake them a cake either.

Reprobate

that which is rejected on account of its own worthlessness ( Jeremiah 6:30 ; Hebrews 6:8 ; Gr. adokimos, "rejected"). This word is also used with reference to persons cast away or rejected because they have failed to make use of opportunities offered them ( 1 Corinthians 9:27 ; 2 co 13:5-7 ).


These dictionary topics are from
M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition,
published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain, copy freely.

Reprobate Definition and Meaning - Bible Dictionary

 

[Strathos]

This is a topic that always made me wonder. I try to examine the music that I hear because it is such a powerful influence. Therefore, I also examine the artists I listen to as well to guard what comes in to me from their lifestyle.
I have been doing pretty well until I come and find out that a musician is homosexual. We know it's a sin, but does listening and supporting their music mean that we support their sin? If they are homosexual should we drop their music too and not be associated with them even though the music they make is "clean"?
I can go either way on this issue, but I have never seen discussion on this and I am interested to know how deep our relationship with the world can run. Thank you.

Let me ask you something: Would you also consider refusing to listen to the music of someone who had been divorced, or had committed adultery? What if they were a glutton or a member of another religion, who worshipped a different god? Or if they were a drunkard or drug abuser? Or is it only homosexuality that's a problem?

 

[Mrs.PGL]

I was listening to a John MacArthur sermon where he defined what it meant to have a "reprobate" mind. He said that basically, it meant that his mind was "worthless". He had a worthless mind. It sounded a little funny hearing him say it.

I agree with you. And you husband.

And I'm not going to bake them a cake either.

Reprobate

that which is rejected on account of its own worthlessness ( Jeremiah 6:30 ; Hebrews 6:8 ; Gr. adokimos, "rejected"). This word is also used with reference to persons cast away or rejected because they have failed to make use of opportunities offered them ( 1 Corinthians 9:27 ; 2 co 13:5-7 ).


These dictionary topics are from
M.G. Easton M.A., D.D., Illustrated Bible Dictionary, Third Edition,
published by Thomas Nelson, 1897. Public Domain, copy freely.

Reprobate Definition and Meaning - Bible Dictionary

hmmmmm.....I don't see homosexuals as "worthless", and I'm surprised MacArthur said such. They just are people who need Jesus and haven't realized it yet. He died for them also, so that and worthless, don't seem to meet; you know?

 

[SnowyMacie]

How do you know you are getting quality Christian lyrics when the homosexuals have been turned over to a reprobate mind?

I don't judge or pick my music based on how Christian it is so that's not a problem for me.

 

[JackRT]

William Booth, who founded the Salvation Army, was criticized because he took lively music hall drinking songs and rewrote them as Christian hymns. He simply laughed and said "Why should the devil have all the good music?"

 

[RaymondG]

To support, or not to support..... I dont have a problem with either one. so I say to do unto others as you would have them do unto you. We have all sinned.... In this case we would be deciding to not support someone because they are in a situation we consider sin. I say you should not support them and their music, if you want others to not support you in your endeavors if, in their minds, you are sinning in anyway.

 

[ub4me]

If you are a Christian, the moment you asked the Lord into your life, the Holy Spirit took residence inside of you. Nobody can answer except for themselves. If you feel a conviction in your spirit when you listen to certain music, that would be the Holy Spirit witnessing to your spirit that it is wrong or grieves Him.
Some can listen to what other's can't because there heart and mind is in a right place. Meaning that the music doesn't change them or their relationship with God.
Some are weak, and the music may take them away from God, or become something that's an idol to them.
So I believe it is an individual thing. That the Lord will let you know what is not pleasing to Him.
I can walk into certain stores and immediately my spirit changes, or I can feel darkness, and I have to walk out, because it makes me physically sick.
Now if a song is promoting actions that are not of God, then certainly you will know that is wrong and glorifies that sin.

 

[JackRT]

When it comes to any of the arts, including music, the question is "Is it good?" not "What are the beliefs of the artist?" When I got married in 1965 we asked for Felix Mendelssohn's "Wedding March". The priest refused because the composer was a Protestant. At the time I thought that to be unutterably stupid. All these years later I now regard it as well beyond unutterably stupid.

 

[skinnymike1]

I'm sorry for replying late to my own thread. I am grateful for everyone's replies and views. I have read through them all and it has helped me a lot.
I was just scared that choosing to shun certain music based on the artist being gay was a bigoted attitude for a Christian to have ("if not for God, there go I" kind of thing).
I know one sin is not more grave than the other such as being a glutton or slothful, but I just wanted to know how we are to treat the gays when it comes to them creating media that we may encounter in our daily life. Shall we treat them like any other being with their own sin like I mentioned above?

 

[Far Side Of the Moon]

Let me ask you something: Would you also consider refusing to listen to the music of someone who had been divorced, or had committed adultery? What if they were a glutton or a member of another religion, who worshipped a different god? Or if they were a drunkard or drug abuser? Or is it only homosexuality that's a problem?

We have a winner !

 

[Foxfyre]

This is a topic that always made me wonder. I try to examine the music that I hear because it is such a powerful influence. Therefore, I also examine the artists I listen to as well to guard what comes in to me from their lifestyle.
I have been doing pretty well until I come and find out that a musician is homosexual. We know it's a sin, but does listening and supporting their music mean that we support their sin? If they are homosexual should we drop their music too and not be associated with them even though the music they make is "clean"?
I can go either way on this issue, but I have never seen discussion on this and I am interested to know how deep our relationship with the world can run. Thank you.

I have a tough time thinking we have the right to judge one sin as any more sinful than another. And who among us has never sinned?

So unless we require anybody presenting the music to be pure as the driven snow, in which case there would be no music at all, I would judge the music on its own merits and not who is presenting it.

I have enjoyed Jewish music, Buddhist music, Hindu music, Muslim Music, etc. and as an old choir director and worship leader I have been multi blessed by all kinds of Christian music from bluegrass to gospel to country to old fasioned to classical to the new modern stuff. And it doesn't matter who is presenting the music. The music speaks for itself.

Frankly some of this is about as pleasant sounding to me as fingernails on a chalkboard, and some of it I can just lose myself in. So if you like it and the lyrics don't raise any spiritual red flags for you, I say enjoy.

 

[Kit Sigmon]

This is a topic that always made me wonder. I try to examine the music that I hear because it is such a powerful influence. Therefore, I also examine the artists I listen to as well to guard what comes in to me from their lifestyle.
I have been doing pretty well until I come and find out that a musician is homosexual. We know it's a sin, but does listening and supporting their music mean that we support their sin? If they are homosexual should we drop their music too and not be associated with them even though the music they make is "clean"?
I can go either way on this issue, but I have never seen discussion on this and I am interested to know how deep our relationship with the world can run. Thank you.

Content matters...if the music is against God/biblical standards, don't buy it/don't listen to it... doesn't matter if the artist claims to be a Christian, homosexual, gangsta' or whatever...it's sad enough that christian artists have taken up singing very secular songs such as: Do Ya Think I'm Sexy, That's The Way I Like It,
Sympathy For The Devil etc... and this is being passed off to our young people
at christian Youth rallies/concerts.

 

[Sir Robbins]

I'm not in support of a homosexual lifestyle but I love me some Judas Priest!

 

[skinnymike1]

Thank you all for the replies, I have come to a decision that works for me. Foxfyre you wrapped it up in a neat package!

it's sad enough that christian artists have taken up singing very secular songs such as: Do Ya Think I'm Sexy, That's The Way I Like It,
Sympathy For The Devil etc... and this is being passed off to our young people
at christian Youth rallies/concerts.

No way!!!! You don't say! I really can't believe this (I am saying this unsarcastically).