I was on vacation in the smokey mountains when I bought an Alice In Chains tshirt with the cover art for their album "Dirt". Alice In Chains is one of favorite bands. I come home and my mother told me that the shirt was horrible and satanic and "Anti God".
Is my shirt satanic? And what should I do. All advice is appreciated.
Im 18 by the way.
Hey Josh. Love and greetings.
What I am about to say is not easy for me, because while I want to help, I don't want to sound like I am making the decision for you. I want that decision to be yours, which you make, with knowledge, and facts.
First of all, did you ask your mom why she felt it is Satanic?
I think that is the first step in the right direction. In fact, it is good for both parent and child to communicate - that is listen to each other, before responding.
One who gives an answer before he hears, It is foolishness and shame to him. Proverbs 18:13
Second, something that anyone thinking about having a relationship with God, should consider, is "how does God feel about my choice?" That is prime.
It is very good - excellent

- you asked the question, because it shows you are concerned about not offending God.
Third, I love you Josh. God loves you. Your mom loves you.

I hope you love scriptures.
James 4:4 -Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
Friendship with the world? What is friendship with the world? What is the world really?
1 john 2:15-17
Do not love the world nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world.
The world is passing away and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God continues to live forever.
1 John 5:19 - We know that we are of God, and that the whole world lies in
the power of the evil one.
Evil one? The world is in his power? Who would that be? What do you think Josh?
Would it be this person, do you think?
Revelation 12:9 - So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan,
who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
Perhaps that isn't enough for some.
John 12:31 -Now judgment is
upon this world; now the ruler of this world will be cast out.
John 16:11 - ...the ruler of this world has been judged.
John 14:30 - I will not speak much more with you, for the ruler of the world is coming, and he has nothing in
regard to Me,
No doubt in our minds now.
No wonder Jesus repeatedly emphasized this regarding his followers.
John 17:15, 16 -
I am not asking You to take them out of the world, but to keep them away from the evil one.
They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.
John 15:19 -If you were of the world, the world would love
you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.
Since we learned the world refers to this system - under the power of God's enemy, and ours - Satan, and is made up of people who are alien to (alienated from) God - See John 3:16, it means the scriptures are helping us appreciate that we cannot be a friend of God, and at the same time be involved with the world alienated from God, which involves the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life.
So we do well to ask ourselves some serious questions about our choice of music, movies, entertainment on a whole - considering what we know about God's view. AS a reminder - If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him; friendship with the world is enmity with God. Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
In fact, our choices regarding this world, are an outward manifestation of the company we keep.
What do we really know about what really goes on behind the scenes, as Satan uses this world?
Who really produces the music that we find so very appealing, being sung from those "beautiful" people? What do we know about those "beautiful" people, and those "beautiful" songs we listen to?
Oftentimes we don't pay attention to the lyrics. We just like the sound of the base, the guitar, the drums. We just love the tunes.
If you are a person who pays close attention to what you are listening to, good for you.

If not, it would be good to do so, since it will help you gauge how close you are to God.
Ask yourself too; Do the lyrics make sense to me? Do I really know what they mean? Could it be, they are not supposed to make sense to me?
I'll share this with you, in conclusion.
I had a favorite music genre, when I decided to serve God. I gave it up. Why? Much of it was laced with profanity, violence, sexual immorality, etc.
Perhaps that's not the case with you. However, consider if the genre for the most part, is known to promote godliness.
One of the things that aided my choice, is the fact that even though I tried to only listen to those songs that were free of profanity, violence, sexual immorality, etc., it was not easy to not be drawn to those that contained those things. Not toward the lyrics, but the tunes - the beats.
I learned something else about the behind-the-scenes aspect, but I won't share that with you.
You are young and as you gain experience, I am sure as you listen to God, and you consider your moms advice, you will make the right decisions.
PS. Sorry to be so lengthy.