Non-Christian Music?

[oldrooster]

Exactly....plus most of the musicians are not that good. If somebody sings about jumping off a building, not gonna do it.

 

[KristianJ]

Yes, as long as you are wise and discerning in what you listen to.

 

[oldrooster]

Or wise and discerning in how it affects me......

 

[chaelsworld0o]

Like some above have said... If it is encouraging you in anyway to do the things it is saying that goes against what you believe then that is something then stray away from it. Most of the time why I like secular music is because it has a good beat to it... regardless of what it is saying.

 

[wgjones3]

Man, this debate is old as the hills. Seems to me the whole "Christian music isn't good" argument boils down to 1) the person making the statement hasn't heard good Christian music or 2) the person making the statement doesn't want to listen to Christian music. I know people who will listen to the music playing in my car, think it's great, then ask who it is--when they find out it's Christian, it goes from good to okay, but [insert popular secular group here] is better.

Switchfoot, Kutless, Tourniquet, ZOEgirl, Rebecca St. James, Toby Mac, CeCe Winans--they're all as good as at least 75% of what's on top 100 radio, and in most cases, people who've never heard them wouldn't know they were Chrsitian if it weren't for the lyrical message. Good or bad is so qualitative anyway, who's to say one band's music is better than another's? It's all a matter of opinion and conjecture.

Is it okay to listen to secular music? Why not? I guess it really depends on what you're listening to. If it's a steady diet of f-bombs, sexual degredation, and violence, then you probably ought to be asking yourself why you're listening to it in the first place. If it's something that doesn't conflict with God's word--and there's a lot of secular music out there that doesn't, despite what some of the CCM zealots would have you believe--then why deprive yourself of it?

Don't think that the music you listen to doesn't affect you. It does. Human psychology is so fragile. Almost everything you read, watch, and listen to has an affect on you. Ever read the scripture, faith comes by hearing? God programmed us, He knows what we need and that's why He gives us guidelines. It's also another reason for daily Bible reading. Somebody once said that reading the Bible is like giving your spirit a bath--at the very least, recentering your thoughts on God. To me, that's what true Chrsitian music does. It centers your thoughts on God. It creates and attitude of worship and spiritual reflection.

 

[Marth]

There are a lot of Christian bands/singers that are good these days. Switchfoot, 12 stones, Kutless, Skillet, Kutless, Pillar, Jeremy Camp, Jonah 33, Mortification..The list goes on.. I dont think that Christians should listen to most non christian music because a lot of it isnt good.. (take Eminem, Korn, Limp Biskit as examples) What we listen to affects the way we act most of the time. When we are listening to bad music we have bad things filling our minds, when we should be filling our minds with Godly things. We should fill our minds with the things of Christ, not of the world.. We really shouldn't listen to *RANDOM EDIT OF QUOTE* anything that includes images of sex,drugs, suicide or includes swearing, because it, as I said, fills our heads with things that aren't of God. If its going to take up time with the Lord, then there's another thing you have to think of when you are listening to it. Is it going to glorify God? (Remember what the bible says-whoever isnt for God is against him.. That means that you are listening to people who are against God..hmmm
Im not saying that all non christian bands are evil or anything, but next time you put on a secular CD, rethink over the musics content.. WWJD?
Take care and..
†Keep living for the Lord†

Ya know if you substitute anything for music right there, I can swear I've seen that arguement before.

 

[DMBfanLongliveStrongBad!]

Man, this debate is old as the hills. Seems to me the whole "Christian music isn't good" argument boils down to 1) the person making the statement hasn't heard good Christian music or 2) the person making the statement doesn't want to listen to Christian music. I know people who will listen to the music playing in my car, think it's great, then ask who it is--when they find out it's Christian, it goes from good to okay, but [insert popular secular group here] is better.

Switchfoot, Kutless, Tourniquet, ZOEgirl, Rebecca St. James, Toby Mac, CeCe Winans--they're all as good as at least 75% of what's on top 100 radio, and in most cases, people who've never heard them wouldn't know they were Chrsitian if it weren't for the lyrical message. Good or bad is so qualitative anyway, who's to say one band's music is better than another's? It's all a matter of opinion and conjecture.

Is it okay to listen to secular music? Why not? I guess it really depends on what you're listening to. If it's a steady diet of f-bombs, sexual degredation, and violence, then you probably ought to be asking yourself why you're listening to it in the first place. If it's something that doesn't conflict with God's word--and there's a lot of secular music out there that doesn't, despite what some of the CCM zealots would have you believe--then why deprive yourself of it?

Don't think that the music you listen to doesn't affect you. It does. Human psychology is so fragile. Almost everything you read, watch, and listen to has an affect on you. Ever read the scripture, faith comes by hearing? God programmed us, He knows what we need and that's why He gives us guidelines. It's also another reason for daily Bible reading. Somebody once said that reading the Bible is like giving your spirit a bath--at the very least, recentering your thoughts on God. To me, that's what true Chrsitian music does. It centers your thoughts on God. It creates and attitude of worship and spiritual reflection.

how can we be in touch with our society if we listen to christian music EXCLUSIVELY.
i think christian music is great for worship. but it's absurd to put all secular music in one catagory and label it as sin. that's rediculous.

 

[ps139]

I view this as I view all forms of art.
Literature: Is it ok for Christians to read non-Christian books, like Tom Sawyer or Frankenstein?
Art: Is it ok for Christians to view Picasso, instead of Michelangelo?

Of course in each category, including music, there is stuff a Christian should stay away from (unless of course for purely academic purposes) - like I wouldnt recommend the Satanic Bible to anyone, or some anti-Christian art, or anti-Christian music. Some is obvious, some is more subtle - go with your conscience.

 

[oldrooster]

However, secular music is much more listenable.

 

[faithfulwarrior]

Ya know if you substitute anything for music right there, I can swear I've seen that arguement before.

What do you mean by that?
I must agree with a few of you, some Christian music is boring and not original. Some being the operative word. There are SO many great artists out there that are Christian and cater for all ages and people. The type of Christian music ranges from RnB, rap, pop, heavy metal, rock, punk..The list is endless and is as broad as the secular world.
As someone said earlier, most people wouldn't even know it was Christian music if they didn't listen carefully and notice the lyrical content. Remember, what you listen to does affect what you do or say. As was said before, its up to you what you listen to and how discerning you are about it. Not all Christian music is meant purely for worshipping God. Whilst the songs are glorifying Him, a lot of them are talking about struggles one has and how God has helped them through. There are many issues that Christian songs bring up and they aren't all boring, providing you know what bands to listen to..

†Keep living for Him†

 

[oldrooster]

Musicianship is a God given talent, whatever route you take in music you are glorifying him if you use it. You can bring a lot more people to God if your music is good. U2 for an example, they have probably led more people to Christ than all the Christian bands combined.

 

[Axver]

So true, Oldrooster. U2 deserves a lot more credit than they get for their work advancing Christianity.

 

[oldrooster]

True and they dont beat you over the head with the message, which I hate. Christian movies do that too. Why cant they be subtle about it.

 

[Axver]

As Bono said, "our music is our fish in the sand - there for those who want to see it, not for those who don't." I wish more people would have an attitude like that. If people are interested in what you do enough, they'll fish your fish in the sand and ask questions of their own free will, rather than run away from being slapped around the head by a Bible or ten.

 

[oldrooster]

Exactly, I would listen to any U2 album before I would Christian bands. Not only that, Bono is one of the few who puts his money where his mouth is. The only other one that I can think of with that much activisim is Elton John.

 

[Roo6339]

True and they dont beat you over the head with the message, which I hate. Christian movies do that too. Why cant they be subtle about it.

hangman's curse

this could pass as a secular movie if it didn't have prayer in it...

 

[oldrooster]

No, you can put Christian activities in a movie without being obtuse. Just dont bash your audience over the head with the message.

 

[Eusebios]

What I've yet to see in any of these "debates" is someone defining what makes music either "Christian" or secular" Anyone, anyone?
* intones Eusebios in his best Ben Stein voice*

 

[Marth]

What do you mean by that?

I was talking about how you said most of the music has sex, drugs, etc. in it. Saying that this was bad was just like saying everything else like T.V. books etc. was bad also. Saying we should only do stuff that praises God is so cliche and often times the people contradict themselves when they say it.

Woot, my 500th post.

 

[nadroj1985]

What I've yet to see in any of these "debates" is someone defining what makes music either "Christian" or secular" Anyone, anyone?
* intones Eusebios in his best Ben Stein voice*

Nice point, Eusebios. That's the point I usually make in these debates. The designation between "Christian" and "secular" is sketchy at best.