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Is it wrong for a Christian to listen to secular music?

AndrewCS

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Christian bands make music for wealth too. They are musicians thats they how they make their money.

Hi,

YES, you are so very right.

Unfortuantely this SHOULD NOT be the motivation for Christian bands.

If it JESUS / GOD / HOLY SPIRIT focused then it has to be the way that God tell us to be, Christlike.

I also understand what you are saying that pro musicians make money from their job.

God teaches us to live by faith and that He will provide a way.

Blessings
 
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sanctifiedband

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This is exactly the point I have made in previous posts of mine. Obviously you feel no conviction listening to secular music, so I say go for it. But once again, that is between you and God. If He does, all of a sudden, put the conviction on your heart bout the music you listen to, then it is probably best that you stop listening to that music. But until you feel that conviction, then it is not anyone's place to tell you that what you are doing is "wrong" or "bad". We can all have our own opinions on this topic, but what it boils down to is what connection you have with God and what He is telliing you to do.
 
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sanctifiedband

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Christian bands make music for wealth too. They are musicians thats they how they make their money.

Yes, but we hope and believe that they aren't doing it for the money but rather for God. I do, however, question sometimes whether they are doing it for God or for fame and wealth. But for the most part, I feel that Christian bands are doing it for God.. The fame and wealth just come as a part of that.

Like for me and my friends.. I have a friend that writes and raps secular music.. He has told me that he hopes to someday be famous and rich because of it..

Me and my band (and we are a christian band) have made it quite clear that we do our performances for the glory of God, not for money or fame. Right now we are going on tour around the country but we are charging absolutely nothing because our focus is not to become rich but rather to spread the good news about Jesus.

But I do realize that some christian bands are probably in it for the money and fame only. However, there is a pretty big separation between christian and non christian bands
 
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sanctifiedband

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That's like when the rich prince went to Jesus and wanted to know how he could have eternal life and Jesus told him go and sell all your possessions and give it to the poor.. The prince liked the things he had and did not want to give up all his riches and money..

If Jesus told you to sell them, if he put a conviction on your heart, would you be willing to get rid of all those CDs despite the amount of money you spent on them? Or would you be like the rich young ruler and just walk away?

I believe that having Jesus is much better than a collection of CDs (even if i spent $300 on them) that are causing convictions in my heart. I may love the music and i may have spent tons of money, but having Jesus is better than having anything else. Because through Him, we have all things.
 
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Shiversblood

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Only if God truely wanted me to throw them away would I. But thats not the case.
 
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sanctifiedband

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just remember to keep your heart open to hear if God does change His mind.. He can do that.. And He does it a lot.. You can keep your CDs and enjoy listening to them but remember that God is listening too and He might just decide that He doesn't want to hear it anymore and therefore decides that He doesn't want you to listen to them either.. Just keep your heart open for what He wants rather than what YOU want

God Bless
 
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Meshavrischika

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There are some secular (Amy Grant's secular music for example - I realize she's a christian artist too) that I WOULD listen to in a car with Christ.... 50 cent is not one of them *not my style anyway*
Songs about relationship, and heartbreak and happiness, and success, should be fine (barring objectionable content like sex, drugs, etc). Example (as I think of them...) Martina McBride - Happy Girl... what's wrong with this one? (Lyrics: I used to live in a darkened room
Had a face of stone
And a heart of gloom
Lost my hope, I was so far gone
Cryin all my tears
With the curtains drawn
I didn't know until my soul broke free
I've got these angels watching over me, yeah

Oh watch me go
I'm a happy girl
Everybody knows
That the sweetest thing that you'll ever see
In the whole wide world
Is a happy girl

I used to hide in a party crowd
Bottled up inside
Feeling so left out
Standing in a corner wearing concrete shoes
With my frozen smile
And my lighted fuse
Now everytime i start to feel like that
I roll my heart out like a welcome mat

Oh watch me go
I'm a happy girl
Everybody knows
That the sweetest thing that you'll ever see
In the whole wide world
Is a happy girl

Laugh when i feel like it
Cry when i feel like it
That's just how my life is
That's how it goes

Oh watch me go
I'm a happy girl
And i've come to know
That the world won't change
Just 'cause I complain
Let the axis twirl
I'm a happy girl

Oh watch me go
I'm a happy girl
Everybody knows
That the sweetest thing that you'll ever see
In the whole wide world
Is a happy girl

Oh,yeah oh,yeah
I'm a happy girl)

I realize it talks about being at parties, etc... but it's nothing objectionable. Anyway, that's my 2 cents.
 
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ILove2Worship

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Amen!!!
 
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iREP.CHRiST

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Yeah it is. And for a while I thought that listening to "influential music", was alright. As long as it didn't have any profanity, promoting sex outside of marriage, drugs, etc. But then i realized that it wasn't glorifying Jesus. So one day I came across this video, it is a poem titled "A Letter To Satan" youtube.com/watch?v=1Vvx8mdSXno
Take some time to listen to it! She points out things that are VERY true. You'll enjoy it I hope! And listen to the parts about MUSIC.
 
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justacook

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I listen to secular and Christian music. My son is 12 yars old and when he is with my wife all he hears is Christian music, thats great. When he is with me he might hear either. He has asked about songs and in the past that he has heard in the car with me. The explenation is just like when we watch tv or movies. ENTERTAINMENT.
I want him to understand that what we watch or hear is not our life, just entertainment. I have always let him know the value of entertainment has no true value as an example how to go through day to day life. Clint Eastwood movies are great, but I dont walk around with a six gun straped to my side. There are a lot of talented musicians out there but I dont go to my job with a set of drum sticks in my pocket, I have a spatula.
 
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shailferns

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I'm not too sure if you have heard about backward masking....its a technique(mostly used in rock music) which when played normally sounds good.....but when you start playing it backwards thats when you realise that it has satanic inscriptions or chants in it......

You might be wondering who's going to listen to it backwards and does it really matter ?

Yes it does, it has an effect over your sub-conscious mind and there have been cases where devil plays his dirty tricks.....it has been proven by psychologists that our brain is distributed into 3 parts conscious,sub-conscious and unconscious mind....conscious is when we are aware what is happening around us......unconscious is when we are asleep or when we are put to sleep using medicinal drugs,etc and the most dangerous one is sub-conscious......dangerous because this is one part which does not let you realize that it is recording and storing images of something......you wont even be aware that its recording memories of something......
So my verdict would be
BEWARE and be on your guard as to which kind of music you listen to......most of the secular music though is harmless, avoid parental advice music,specially the rock music because most of the backward masking is done on rock music.........just a little bit of research should help you in this case......
 
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T

TanteBelle

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Thanks for that; that was really interesting! It is something that has been a struggling topic for myself. I am a singer and musician and love to hear various types of music. My Pa use to have his own band. He still writes songs and he listens to a lot of the old classics because he gets inspiration from the music styles. I do the same thing; occasionally listen to worldly music simply for the sake of the music. I'm not into rap, rock, pop, heavy metal and all that, so I haven't heard songs about drugs and all that sort of thing, but they are worldly bands nonetheless. So I do feel kinda stuck in a rut, coz nearly all christian artists are very plain and boring with no real thought in their music, so worldly music - unfortunately - is where my Pa and I get our inspirations for style.
 
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wildlily

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As long as it isn't promoting the things God hates, it's ok by me. Such as music without lyrics... But it's not that simple I suppose. Music that promotes sin seems to be poisioning everyone around us, mostly the young..


I agree with you Ishida,as long as it isn't to the point you lose all you believe in. It's not simple.
 
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I had written a paper on this my senior year of high school. I had looked up all this research done on how music effects the brain. Basically, my conclusion came down to that any music you listen to needs to be scripturally sound. It doesn't matter what content is in it as long as it lines up with what the Bible has to say. If it has relationships in it, do those relationships line up with what God says about them.
 
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Windlord

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Hmm. There is one thing about Christian music I think is worth noting. It has it's uses, but a lot of it written today is theologically empty really. Rich Mullins was a Christian Musician, and he said something I think is very relevant.

"
And the rest of it, it's so funny being a Christian musician. It always scares me when I talk to you guys and you guys think so highly of Christian music, contemporary Christian music especially. Because I kinda go, I know a lot of us, and we don't know jack about anything. Not that I don't want you to buy our records and come to our concerts. I sure do. But you should come for entertainment. If you really want spiritual nourishment, you should go to church.


Those people care about you, and you don't have to buy a ticket. If you really want spiritual nourishment, you should read the Scriptures. It'll confuse you to death practically, but you're gonna die anyway, so why not go out doing something good?"
 
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TanteBelle

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What do you mean by 'theologically empty'?

I don't quite get what he was saying, sorry. Could you paraphrase a bit? I find American talk a little too theological to understand! LOL!
 
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Windlord

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What do you mean by 'theologically empty'?

I don't quite get what he was saying, sorry. Could you paraphrase a bit? I find American talk a little too theological to understand! LOL!

What I mean is that there is usually very little theological depth to the songs. While most Christian Music isn't theologically wrong, there isn't much theology in it. Instead I find that a lot of Christian Music focuses on emotion, and generally does a much worse job at that than a lot of secular music does.


What Rich Mullins meant is that it bothered him how highly Christian Musicians are regarded; because as a Christian Musician himself he knew plenty of other Musicians. And he knew that most Christian Musicians don't really know that much about theology or truth, so it scared him that people thought so highly of their songs.

He suggested people go to church or read the scriptures to find the truth instead. Go to Christian Music when you want entertainment, but that's all it is; entertainment.
 
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sjwilliams1111

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i believe that its ok to listen to what ever music you want to... but you also need to realize what is getting fed, your spiritual or fleshly being, and also realize that god moves through the spirit, and if the flesh gets fed the most, then the flesh will over power and the spirit will become weak...if you are feeding negative messages to yourself, via gangsta rap, hardcore rock, or anything that talks about killing or disrespecting women (you guys know whats out there).. but anything of that nature, you are feeding the wrong man... its a war between spirit and flesh... leave no room for the enemy to influence.. but there is some music thats good and positive out there, dont get me wrong, but you just have to be careful. you could think that something means one thing, but the artist could be stating another.. thats how confusing stuff is now and days... i personally listen to jazz. i feel that you cant get any kind of influence to kill a person, or disrespect my fellow brother/sister by listening to a couple of harmonic notes.. but thats just me. there is some music thats great, i know that sometimes i would like to take a break from gospel music and throw in some john legend or somthing of that nature.. but just be careful of what vibe and what message that these artist are putting out there now... i will be praying for you..god bless
 
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