Music?

[emilylauren]

you cannot combine the things of God with the things of the world and still call it godly. this pastor is taking a secular (WORDLY) style of music and calling it Christian. but the Bible says that you cannot mix the clean with the unclean. you cannot mix that which is holy with that which is not holy. you cannot mix that which is righteous with that which is not righteous. you cannot mix light with darkness. God is not accepting it.

Have you read Acts? God has removed the ritually "clean/unclean" guidelines that seperates Jews from their Gentile neighbors. One of the biggest mistakes the Church has made has been to associate "culture" with "God". When ministering to foreign nations, far too often the Church tries to create everything with close associations with the American version of "church". Similar building styles, similar styles of western dress, ect. But if we look back to the early church we would see that they lived in a completly different culture than we even do today! So by this standard we are all living an ungodly life unless we go back to the culture of Jesus' day, including adopting that style of dress, working, entertainment, ect.

As for me, I love Christian bands and secular bands. But the music I listen too isn't the modern "sex and drugs" type of music many teenagers listen too. I love music from the 80's and 90's, so I listen to a lot of Talking Heads, Dave Matthews, U2, ect. Some of their songs are about sex/drugs, but I generally avoid those ones. And the times when I do listen to them it is only because I love the melody/lyrics (Dave especially tends to use euphamisms) so I don't believe I'm promoting promsecuity/drug use by listening. But maybe I'm wrong? All I know is that even after years of listening to this music I'm still holding strong to my convictions of waiting until marriage for sex and not using drugs.

And, you can argue that secular music can glorify God. When Jesus was talking about taking oaths He was sure to mention to not take the oath by anything of this earth, because it was all created by God. Then, if you are listening to a secular song about world peace (a lot of U2) or a love song (God created sex and marriage-- look at Song of Solomon!) one could argue that such a song is about God in that these are things created by/sought after by Him.

Besides, if all music is only to be about God directly then clearly Relient K is wrong to produce their "sillier songs" and the Veggie Tales "silly songs with Larry" should be condemned, too. IMHO, I think songs that praise or promote activities that activly go against what Christians stand for can be considered wrong (although one could potentially argue songs on a case by case basis) I don't believe this means all secular music must be thought of as evil.

 

[Zivah]

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1 John 2:15

 

[Sketcher]

Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
1 John 2:15

Define "the world."

 

[seashale76]

I have been listening to Heavy Metal my whole life. My father brought me up on it.

My mother was always the very conservative one who never quite approved in my taste of music.

Recently after rededicating myself to God I have been left with a few questions digging away at me.

Is it bad to continue to listen to this music?

Granted it is not all bad, but some if it is very graphic.

Are we as Christians not supposed to be living a life that in this world but not of it?

By listening to this music and putting these word/lyrics into my body am I taking away from anything?

Any scriptures or comments you have on this would be greatly appreciated,

Thank you!

Horrible lyrics should concern you. I found myself ditching some music I loved (sure I still like it) because of anti-Christian lyrics. That type of stuff does have a negative effect on a person.

Find new bands. There are metal and industrial bands out there with clean and even Christian lyrics. I don't listen to them, but I know people who do.

 

[saved2008mark]

I have been listening to Heavy Metal my whole life. My father brought me up on it.

My mother was always the very conservative one who never quite approved in my taste of music.

Recently after rededicating myself to God I have been left with a few questions digging away at me.

Is it bad to continue to listen to this music?

Granted it is not all bad, but some if it is very graphic.

Are we as Christians not supposed to be living a life that in this world but not of it?

By listening to this music and putting these word/lyrics into my body am I taking away from anything?

Any scriptures or comments you have on this would be greatly appreciated,

Thank you!

As far as ive always been concerned music is musis...no more no less...the only time i connect music to Christianity is when in worship or praise form

 

[rob64]

I think the bible says it all: Everything is allowed, but not everything builds us up, everything is allowed, but we should not let anything get power over us.

The scripture you're refering to here is taken WAY out of context most of the time.
People think it means we can just do what ever we want...
Do you know what the CONTEXT of this passage really is?

 

[jazzypooh]

Have you read Acts? God has removed the ritually "clean/unclean" guidelines that seperates Jews from their Gentile neighbors.

that does not mean God has lowered His standards concerning holiness. He still requires that we live right by the power of HIS grace. also, you are misinterpreting what i'm saying. i'm not talking about food. i'm talking about LIFESTYLES. salvation is a lifestyle that God has called us to... it's a way of living and it is quite different from the lifestyle of the world

And, you can argue that secular music can glorify God.

look up the word 'secular' and you'll see it is quite the opposite of anything that has to do with God.... it's defined as WORLDLY. there are 2 kingdoms mentioned in the Bible. one is the kingdom of light. the other is the kingdom of darkness. one is of God. the other is of the WORLD. they are in CONTRAST to each other, they are not blended together

i look at it this way: you can try to justify what you do (some even go so far as using Scripture..) or you can lay all that you have in question before God and ask HIM to give you HIS feelings on the matter. far too many people approach God with their minds already made up about a matter. they ask God questions that they think they already have the answers to and that is why they can't receive HIS wisdom concerning the matter

whenever i had questions about anything in my walk of faith, i emptied my mind of everything i thought about it, and layed it before God and asked Him to give me HIS wisdom concerning the matter. if we truly love the Lord like we claim, we will deny self, and anything that He convicts us about we will be willing to let go of it. that is what you do if you are a true disciple.... you are constantly dying to the will of SELF and YOUR wants and YOUR desires. the Christian life is not about self

i also think that it speaks volumes about us when we go all out the way to justify behaviors that we have instead of simply going to God about it. the Bible tells us to make a DIFFERENCE between what is right and what is wrong. there can't be any gray areas in our faith. if we can't make some sanctified conclusions concerning a matter, then that means that God is neutral on the matter. and that's just not true. if that were true, then what else is He neutral about? stealing? lying? fornication? adultery? salvation itself? God has an opinion about everything that relates to our lives. i think we'll find it amazingly true how much God is concerned with EVERY aspect of our lives including this one.... if we would just stop thinking that we already have the answers. clearly we don't. that's why this thread is here....

Love,
~jazzy

 

[Mr.Cheese]

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[angiekay0027]

I have been listening to Heavy Metal my whole life. My father brought me up on it.

My mother was always the very conservative one who never quite approved in my taste of music.

Recently after rededicating myself to God I have been left with a few questions digging away at me.

Is it bad to continue to listen to this music?

Granted it is not all bad, but some if it is very graphic.

Are we as Christians not supposed to be living a life that in this world but not of it?

By listening to this music and putting these word/lyrics into my body am I taking away from anything?

Any scriptures or comments you have on this would be greatly appreciated,

Thank you!

Pray and ask the Lord to search your heart. If you feel bad about don't do it. Put Him first in your life and He will led you.

 

[Sketcher]

i also think that it speaks volumes about us when we go all out the way to justify behaviors that we have instead of simply going to God about it. the Bible tells us to make a DIFFERENCE between what is right and what is wrong. there can't be any gray areas in our faith. if we can't make some sanctified conclusions concerning a matter, then that means that God is neutral on the matter. and that's just not true. if that were true, then what else is He neutral about? stealing? lying? fornication? adultery? salvation itself? God has an opinion about everything that relates to our lives. i think we'll find it amazingly true how much God is concerned with EVERY aspect of our lives including this one.... if we would just stop thinking that we already have the answers. clearly we don't. that's why this thread is here....

But don't you see what you are doing here . . . you're comparing an issue where the Bible is relatively silent with issues that the Bible is very vocal about. It's foolish to do that. The Bible just doesn't say anything about how holy or unholy a certain style of music is. Nor does it call songs about things other than God sin.

 

[Nilla]

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This is just a friendly reminder:
Only post back to the OP.


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[jazzypooh]

like i said God has an opinion about everything. HE is not 'silent' about anything. it is up to us to go to Him with our questions so that we can get answers. He told us to make RIGHTEOUS judgments. if we go to Him we'll see He is very concerned about our lives and has an opinion about everything that relates to our lives, because He's the One that created us. if i were to create something very special to me with my very own hands, i would be very concerned with the details of it. if i loved it, no aspect of it would be unimportant to me to the point where i wouldn't at least have an opinion on it. if i truly cherished it, i would be concerned with EVERY aspect of it and every detail connected to it. that is how God looks at us. He has an opinion on every aspect of our lives, because He created our lives. if we go to Him, He will give us His opinion on every matter that relates to our lives

Love,
~jazzy