Is "secular" music ok to listen to?

KBD · Aug 23, 2011

The are Rock groups I like who have some good songs, and some songs with stupid lyrics. I try to listen to the best music, Christian and otherwise. But to answer the question, no. Not in a general sense is secular music bad. There are bad songs, some bad singers and musicians, but every song and musician/group ought to be judged by the quality of their lyrics and music not just because they are not particularly Christian.
My two cents.
KBD

Save_Me_From_Myself · Aug 25, 2011

I was never a fan of the term "secular" for some reason, it never sat well with me. It almost makes it sound like everything that doesnt talk about Jesus is a bad thing. I dunno, I just don't like that term.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with listening to anything that's not a christian-esque song. I mean, just think about it...why would God frown upon it? He blessed people with musical gifts and he realizes that music actually is a catalyst for the human soul (christian or otherwise). Music is a beautiful thing honestly, I think God SMILES upon *secular* music, because he knows that it helps many people out in a lot of ways.

Esther Ruth · Aug 26, 2011

I would say it is not sinful to listen to secular music as long as it does not influence you, there is no cussing, and it is not against God. It is okay as long as it has these guidelines. We cannot avoid the world. I have tried for a long time, and it made me sicker. It is okay to listen to secular music and watch secular TV shows as long as you are careful with what you watch and listen to.

mariettedavina · Aug 29, 2011

nothing wrong with it!

Matariki · Aug 29, 2011

I would avoid music with profound, explicit or anti-christian or anti-racial lyrics etc. Otherwise besides I don't personally see anything wrong with it. I enjoy listening to Tool, Rage against the Machine, System of a Down, Alice in Chains etc. I just go through them and filter out the ones that I don't find morally acceptable as according to the lyrics.

Instrumental music though is the best by far because you don't need to worry about that sort of stuff.

pitseleh · Aug 29, 2011

Yes. It's alright to listen to. But, There's some songs that I listened to in the past though (before my faith grew) that I completely can't stand now. Not because of horrible messages. But, because of too much cursing and messages that don't suit the Christian lifestyle.

Core90 · Sep 8, 2011

To answer your question, Yes, I think it's ok to listen to secular music, though I do believe it's best to examine the lyrics, and not listen to things that conflict our beliefs.
When I went to private school (2004-2008) I mostly listened to secular metal (mostly the new stuff and such.) I won't name names when it comes to bands, but I'm sure you can imagine. l graduated in 2008 and began realizing how anti-God alot of those bands were, and not too long after began listening almost exclusivly to Christian Rock. Bands like Disciple, Project 86, Brian 'Head' Welch, Skillet.
Now I listen to Christian Rock with some secular music, that I don't beleive carries messages against Christianity. I enjoy bands like the Foo Fighters and Shinedown.
Also, there's seems to be more and more secular musicians turning to Christ imo. Just look at the shock rock scene for an example. Alice Cooper, and Blackie Lawless from the band W.A.S.P. have recently turned to Christ, and I'm not positive how true it is but I think I heard that Ozzy Osbourne is a Christian as well. I've definitly been giving W.A.S.P. a listen lately, with their newest album being mostly about Revelation and against idol worship. And, yes, this is the same band who was infamous with the Parents Music Resource Center for their song Animal (I won't post the rest of the name here), a song they have renounced since turning to Christ. Plus, there's a good amount of pop artists that claim Christianity.

Agent Goff · Sep 9, 2011

Of course there's nothing wrong with it, like there's nothing wrong with reading secular books or watching secular tv

Jerome jnr · Sep 10, 2011

It depends on the lyrical cotent.

Thinkpure7 · Sep 19, 2011

Wow seriously guys okay look either pray about it or say to yourself does this glorify god?

Thinkpure7 · Sep 19, 2011

Agent Goff said:
Of course there's nothing wrong with it, like there's nothing wrong with reading secular books or watching secular tv

Lol wow.......

cafefan374 · Sep 19, 2011

There are a lot of things that we can do that do not glorify God nor the devil. I mean, if you are going to be against secularism, why limit it to just secular music? Why not secular tv shows? Secular T-shirts? Secular athletic attire. I'm just sayin.

TheApostleJohn · Sep 20, 2011

cafefan374 said:
There are a lot of things that we can do that do not glorify God nor the devil. I mean, if you are going to be against secularism, why limit it to just secular music? Why not secular tv shows? Secular T-shirts? Secular athletic attire. I'm just sayin.

I just used a secular toilet, and I'm sitting in a secular chair. Am I sinning? I mean, I thought to myself "Does sitting in this particular chair glorify God?" and I just don't know. Should I buy all my chairs and appliances from "Child of God Interior Decor" from here on out? I hope this doesn't mean I'm not a Christian.

MasterpieceMesias · Sep 20, 2011

TheApostleJohn said:
I just used a secular toilet, and I'm sitting in a secular chair. Am I sinning? I mean, I thought to myself "Does sitting in this particular chair glorify God?" and I just don't know. Should I buy all my chairs and appliances from "Child of God Interior Decor" from here on out? I hope this doesn't mean I'm not a Christian.

I'm taking a secular dump. . . .
okay that was probably a bit inappropriate. . .

JordanDaniel · Sep 20, 2011

I personally do not take joy in seculer music, it does not kindle the Holy Spirit that dwells within all of Gods Children.

Fenny the Fox · Sep 21, 2011

JordanDaniel said:
I personally do not take joy in seculer music, it does not kindle the Holy Spirit that dwells within all of Gods Children.

I feel that is bit of a broad brush. Can secular music never be spiritually uplifting? Can you never find God (Holy Spirit, etc.) in secular music?

I don't think that that is the case at all times. I can listen to some secular music that can be clearly taken for spiritual content.
Take Cat Stevens' "On The Road to Find Out":

Well I left my happy home to see what I could find out
I left my folk and friends with the aim to clear my mind out
Well I hit the rowdy road and many kinds I met there
Many stories told me of the way to get there

So on and on I go, the seconds tick the time out
There's so much left to know, and I'm on the road to find out

Well in the end I'll know, but on the way I wonder
Through descending snow, and through the frost and thunder

Well, I listen to the wind come howl, telling me I have to hurry
I listen to the robin's song saying not to worry

So on and on I go, the seconds tick the time out
There's so much left to know, and I'm on the road to findout

Then I found myself alone, hopin' someone would miss me
Thinking about my home, and the last woman to kiss me, kiss me

But sometimes you have to moan when nothing seems to suit yer
But nevertheless you know you're locked towards the future

So on and on you go, the seconds tick the time out
There's so much left to know, and I'm on the road to findout

Then I found my head one day when I wasn't even trying
And here I have to say, 'cause there is no use in lying, lying

Yes the answer lies within, so why not take a look now?
Kick out the devil's sin, pick up, pick up the good book now

A secular musician, with a secular contract, doing a secular album, but singing about finding God (in his case, he considers that Allah - as he accepted the Islamic religion) and overcoming the devil.

And that is just one example (and you can find a lot more in Stevens'/ Yusuf Islam's work), with many more out there.

"Secular music" can be far from glorifying God, sure. But it is not all bad, it is not all negative, it is not all without God.

Saving Hawaii · Sep 21, 2011

xumeng12 said:
so i was wondering what you guys thought of listening to secular music. i am talking about music with no cussing nothing like that, just songs about life and this world. if somebody listen to is like Coldplay, U2, The Beatles, The Who, and Led Zeppelin. is this guy sinning?

Bono pretty famously dropped the f-bomb during Rattle and Hum.

and I don't think God frowned when he did so

Saving Hawaii · Sep 21, 2011

RachelAnnOU · Oct 22, 2011

TobyMoore said:
As others have already made great points in defense of secular music, I'll only add one thing: I think that if God wanted us to listen to music that had spiritual themes exclusively, he would have made Christian music a lot better.

Amen!

The majority of Christian music is pretty terrible. I write 'secular' music, and that's one of the most intimate forms of worship I've experienced. Even songs with negative messages have worth - they connect with someone at some level...or maybe they're just plain good music. You can appreciate great musicians without agreeing with their message.

TWB141 · Oct 22, 2011

xumeng12 said:
so i was wondering what you guys thought of listening to secular music. i am talking about music with no cussing nothing like that, just songs about life and this world. if somebody listen to is like Coldplay, U2, The Beatles, The Who, and Led Zeppelin. is this guy sinning?

This might have been answered in the past 4 pages, but I'm new and need to get to sleep and wanted to post this. U2's music is actually very Christian oriented with Bono and the Edge being pretty religious. One is Catholic and the other is Protestant. Sunday Bloody Sunday is about Easter Sunday (the Crucifixion being compared to the Irish religious wars) and about the separations of the faiths (the line about 'the battle has just begun, to claim the victory that Jesus won' deals with how every religion wants to be THE religion). There's more examples than that.

The rule I usually use in music is that if it's anti-God in anyway or just bad (talking of killing people or just wanting sex in relationships etc, I don't listen). If it doesn't have any of that, but isn't something I can take in a religious context, then it's fine. But most of the music I listen to, is usually something I can relate to God. For ie: Imprint by DoubleDrive probably isn't meant to be religious, but the lyrics to me seem to deal with 'The race' as Paul termed it and keeping your eyes on Christ. But don't let me exactly answer this, talk to God. What might be ok for me to listen to, might not be ok for you.

Edit: I just read the thing about secular TV, music, movies, etc and if they're OK. I also use the rule Paul mentioned of 'Everything is permissible, but not everything is beneficial. Everything is allowed, but I'll be ruled by nothing (paraphrased).' Under Christ, we have A LOT of freedom. I can go to the mall and hang with friends, I can read a book, I can work 5 jobs. However, the question to ask is 'is this interfering with the purpose God gave me?' and when you're doing it, can you glorify God doing it?

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