Negative Effects of Secular Music

[Timahani]

Hey Christian people,

So growing up in the Pentecostal church, I always used to hear people (even from other denominations) state that listening to secular music is a sin. Now , I am a musically inclined individual I am well aware that classical, piano music, and other genres of music are not harmful. It is also clear to me that gangsta rap music, and explicit music is probably not on Gods list, but how about other forms of music . Love music, R&B, Spanish love music, (that has not explicit lyrics). Honestly when I was younger I did NOT mind.

Today, now that I am older. I physically become sick or like depressed if I listen to more than 2 or 3 songs in my car on the radio. Literally! I don't know what this is. Or when I am at a social function and someone plays it, in the beginning I am fine but after like 15 minutes I feel tired and depressed. So I really don't listen to it much!

Has anyone felt the same way? Can anyone explain to me what is happening to me when I listen to this music?

 

[SkyWriting]

Hey Christian people,

So growing up in the Pentecostal church, I always used to hear people (even from other denominations) state that listening to secular music is a sin. Now , I am a musically inclined individual I am well aware that classical, piano music, and other genres of music are not harmful. It is also clear to me that gangsta rap music, and explicit music is probably not on Gods list, but how about other forms of music . Love music, R&B, Spanish love music, (that has not explicit lyrics). Honestly when I was younger I did NOT mind.

Today, now that I am older. I physically become sick or like depressed if I listen to more than 2 or 3 songs in my car on the radio. Literally! I don't know what this is. Or when I am at a social function and someone plays it, in the beginning I am fine but after like 15 minutes I feel tired and depressed. So I really don't listen to it much!

Has anyone felt the same way? Can anyone explain to me what is happening to me when I listen to this music?

It's likely a phase. I listened to an amazing group, the haven of rest quartet, for quite a while though I only clicked with 1 out of 20 of their songs. I made my own mix tape, and really miss it. You might be listening to pop chart music, or one of it's similar lists. Switch to Pandora and create your own station.

 

[tampasteve]

When I was younger I was taught a similar philosophy, though not quite as far as it was a "sin" to listen to it, just that it was bad and "Christian" music was better to listen to. Now that i am older though, I can tell that there is not necessarily anything "wrong" with secular music, and honestly, if we cut it out we are really going to miss a ton of incredibly talented musicians. Now, there is "bad" music that is not uplifting or edifying....but to just listen to "Christian" music is to miss out on music that can really speak to our mood, speak to our soul in the melody or lyrics on an emotional level, speak to the human condition. Most "Christian" music is more or less praise and worship, which is GREAT, but it is not all there is to music, even Christian music.

Just because a band makes secular music does not mean they are not Christians too. For example, the band Skillet makes "secular" music, but they are all devout Christians and have also made P&W albums. Also, let us not forget bands where the lead singer and/or song writer are Christian and it shows through, such as Mumford and Sons and The Avett Brothers, Sufjan Stevens, or VAST.

Finally, many/most "Christian music" labels are really just a branch of a secular music label...so it is just a marketing term coined to market a specific genre of music. The important thing in the end is to just look at the music, lyrics and see if it is godly, neutral, or otherwise.

 

[Timahani]

Yes, I agree..I was just wondering why they preach that in the church...not to listen to secular music? I mean I have alot of friends who ONLY listen to gospel music period! So thats why I wanted to discuss it. Thank u for your replies.

 

[OrthodoxLady1994]

I don't limit my music by type so much as by content. For example, excessive swearing, objectifying women, talking about any person or group in a less than Christ-like way, or sacrilege are things that I don't expose myself to once I know that they are there. I listen to a little bit of just about everything, I'm just careful about the content of the specific songs I listen to.

Genuinely curious here, why would you avoid an entire genre?

 

[Symph]

I think... I don't even know what to do with it when I see those people who are so convinced there's "voodoo in the music.... Oooooooooo" Like... sometimes I think we religion ourselves out of common sense. You KNOW when something is bringing your soul down, making you feel arrogant, has a message that is corruptive. You can FEEL it when something is wrong. But to act like harmless sounding pop songs are evil because they were made by people who do evil things I think is just...

Paul said we could eat meat that had been sacrificed to idols if it didn't harm our conscience. There's something there, I get the feeling that what he said wouldn't apply to the less spiritual christians, their consciences would probably be hurt, something happens when we believe so whole heartedly something is evil, we almost make it evil for us in my opinion.

But I do NOT, in ANY way, think God intended us to be constantly evaluating everything that comes in contact with us, because "it might be bad and I don't know it..." I just feel like, if you're feeling God, if you're feeling light and love, and a secular song comes on and it's working with that feeling and you're still praising God and you haven't been sucked into a lesser state? Is God really like... up there going "STOP PRAISING ME WHILE THAT DEVIL MUSIC PLAYS!!!" I just... I can't see it.

 

[tryintogrow]

There is a difference between secular and wicked. Not everything secular is inherently bad. But, some secular things are downright wicked.

Every form of art can become an avenue for wickedness. Music is no different. If a particular radio station or style of music makes you uncomfortable, listen to yourself.

Remember 1 Corinthians 8.

 

[Symph]

There is a difference between secular and wicked. Not everything secular is inherently bad. But, some secular things are downright wicked.

Every form of art can become an avenue for wickedness. Music is no different. If a particular radio station or style of music makes you uncomfortable, listen to yourself.

Remember 1 Corinthians 8.

And I feel like if your spiritual walk is much of anything at all I mean, you can tell when something is messing with your spirit, you can tell when you need to get away. I mean I can, and I dont think I'm unique in this, I think we tend to not trust our senses cause "deception".

On the flip side I know christians who think they can just listen to anything, but I don't really consider them real christians. They kinda, keep jesus in their back pocket for a rainy day. Seems like if you're seeking your heart's gonna start convicting you itself.