Music and Me: Intro
I am a quite gifted musician, a multi-instrumentalist and vocalist. I played in rock bands in bars before I came to know Christ. When I first came to know the Lord, He had me totally lay down my musicianship. I did not touch an instrument for over a year and Christian music, mostly Keith Green, was my standard fare.
When I did pick up an instrument again, music had become a whole new "world" to me! And it still is that to me. I still play and have written a good number of songs, mostly on the theme of disciplehsip.
For more than decade after I came to the Lord, I felt constrained to avoid nearly all non-Christian music. Today I have freedom to listen to any and all music,
but for different purposes.
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For spiritual edification
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For learning culture and history - to better become historically and culturally literate in a world I am called to influence for Christ
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For musicianship - listening to music
as a musician
For spiritual edification
I still love Keith Green's music. Also Twila Paris, Michael Card, Steve Camp, and Kelly Willard. And quite a few others. But I can appreciate and enjoy any Christian music, irrespective of style, in so far as it is such that God can use it as vehicle for He and I to meet together. Obviously not all meets that criteria! Also, I often tire of the modern worship music genre, since it is lyrically so often quite trite.
For learning culture
Marilyn Manson has helped educate me enormously about the culture of his audience. Plus, he does have some very valid points underneath all of his literal and symbolic "masks" (understanding that Manson communicates with "word masks" is key to interpreting him accurately, which almost no Christians do, lest even a lot of his "fans").
For learning history
It is very instructive to line 1960s rock songs with 1960s historical events. Similarly with classical, blues, and jazz music, for some examples.
For musicianship: Non-Christian Music
The rock band
Boston, specifically Tom Shultz, is an incredible example of a musician's musician in the non-Christian realm. Same with Phil Collins, who is incredible as a multi-instrumentalist. There are many others, as well. Irene Orleansky is an incredible
stickest, for example. Here is a video of one of her beautifully melodic instrumental pieces:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efa8rzp0GM0&mode=related&search=
For musicianship: Christian Music
I consider Will McFarlane to be an incredible muscian's musician. I wish there were more truly excellent Christian musicians. Phil Keaggy is excellent.
Music and Me: Conclusion
Today, my philosophy with music is that it is not what goes into a person that defiles him or her but what comes out. That gives me a lot of freedom if I balance it with repsonsibility over WHY I am listening to something.
At the same time, I certainly understand and respect it when other Christians do not feel this freedom. I actually think the amount of freedom God has given me in this area is pretty uncommon and do not at all think everyone should or is ready to be like me in this matter.
I think one reason I have the freedom I do is because I have been pretty faithful in traveling from unsaved rock musician, to laying down my music totally, to being re-birthed as a Christian musician, and finally to one who can use any and all music for his intelectual growth. It may blow some minds, but God really can trust me when I listen to Marilyn Manson
as a study, for example, and I do strongly think He gives me His wisdom as I do.
With all this said, I still for the life of me cannot see why some Christians feel they really are doing right when they avoid the use of musical instruments.
I also really appreciate folk.
opera..this went downhill fast
