Secular music limit?

[seeingstars]

This is for Christians only. Many Christians have personal restrictions on how much non-Christian music they take in. What is your limit?

There are three categories of music I will not listen to:
1) Music that is obviously profane. I will not listen to anything with profanity or "musical pornography" as my former youth pastor calls it.
Examples: Anything with an explicit sticker on it.
2) Music that is not obviously profane, but promotes sinful behavior.
Examples: Walk this Way (Aerosmith); Last Resort (Papa Roach); Breaking the Law (Judas Priest)
3) Music that promotes a philosophical or political position I disagree with.
Example: Freewill (Rush) [because I'm a Calvinist]

This would leave me at option 3.

 

[JamesAH]

Music with anti Christian/blasphemes lyrics.

 

[Fenny the Fox]

I guess I am fairly liberal in my listening habits. I listen to most any form of music, and tend to not mind somewhat of explicit and/or sin promoting and such in my music. It certainly isn't a make or break for me in music.

I tend to be drawn more towards meaningful music, in either way. Whether it provide a secular message or not. I like to have to think about the music and what is meant.

Might also be that in my preferred form of music, it is had to find that which does not contain rather anti-Biblical messages, so to speak (I prefer hard rock/metal/punk/etc). So, when I find a worthy, talented group that hold to and provide a good, Christian message (few as this may be), it is just that much more reason to like them. I suppose.

 

[Qyöt27]

Everything. To a point. There are some anti-religious lyrics that I just cannot handle. Typically if a song could be construed as that way, and I don't have a problem with it, then it's because I see it not as truly anti-religious, but as a venting of disillusionment (this is where "Blasphemous Rumours" and "Tomorrow Wendy" fall, for example). But I don't really have a taste for extreme metal, so this generally isn't a concern. I typically don't come across music with even disillusionment-type sentiment in them.

There might be a certain 'ick' factor for some artists that have scandals attached to them, but generally I don't look at the artists, I judge the songs based on themselves. It is a tad hard to listen to "Rock and Roll Part 2" these days, though.

 

[NiobiumTragedy]

I listen to pretty much everything. Music doesn't effect me negatively and a lot of the music I like unfortunately comes with lyrics that are not so kosher. However, I find that a lot of music is also misunderstood as well when you have an artist who is actually trying to say something.

 

[indigo tree]

I can take heaps of it. Most of the stuff I listen to would be considered secular, I guess.

 

[Followers4christ]

To answer your question I do not listen to any secular music, even though I do visit this Sub-forum. I mostly listen to (christian) Metal/rock music.

 

[Followers4christ]

Romans 12:9 Love must be sincere. Hate what is evil; cling to what is good.

If we apply this to the music we listen too then It should be clear that bands like Metallica, Marilyn manson,Black Sabbath,Otep,Kiss among many others, are stuff Christians should not listen too. How can a christian support a band that promotes sex,violence,drug use and anti-christian lyrics?

As the bible says in Phil 4:8 " Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things".

Questions to ask yourself when listening to certain secular music: Are the lyrics of the song true? Does it have a pure message? Is it praiseworthy? The answer is between yourself and God. God wants us to be wise with what we put in our mind. If the songs you are listening to promotes and encourages any sinful actions, you know beyond a doubt, that the song does not praise God, but the devil. We should be very careful with what we listen to. I would encourage you to not listen to music that has swearing or a false message about life. Don't fill your mind with garbage that can hinder your progress to God's kingdom.

Col 3:2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Much of today's music industry is perverted and is filled with violence. So if you do listen to secular music you will have to be really careful to not fall in to compromise that will lead to more compromises and before you know it your filling your head with garbage instead of the things of God.

Anyway there is a wide selection of christian music today like Metal (Demon Hunter, War Of ages, Haste the day, Inhale Exhale,Living Sacrifice ), Hard Rock (Skillet,Thousand Foot Krutch,Flyleaf,Pillar,The Showdown), Rap (Lecrae, Manafest,T-Bone,Group 1 Crew,Cross Movement ), Pop (Stellar Kart, Krystal Meyers, Jump5,pureNRG),TobyMac) Punk (Hawk Nelson,Everyday Sunday,Relient K,Alter Boys,Children 18:3). Also if any of you love 80's-90"s Rock check out Stryper,Whitecross,Bride,Guardian,Deliverance.. Also if anyone likes Reggae music then check out Christafari.

Anyway just food for thought. God Bless

 

[IreneAdler]

I'll listen to almost anything given it doesn't make me feel "not right". I use my internal guide to make these decisions, not a general category. If I don't feel right, I'll change the channel. Most of the time though, I find that music is just a representation of everyday life, God created it (everyday life and music) and it's beautiful. I love music.

 

[MacFall]

You didn't have the option that I would have chosen, which is "I listen to anything whose sound I like, and which is not openly hostile to Christ."

Although I do have a "limit" to the amount of profanity I can stomach, and I don't listen to anything pornographic. (So there goes 90% of popular music, but I don't like pop for artistic reasons anyway).

 

[Peripatetic]

Oddly enough, I often don't even know the lyrical content of many of the songs I listen to. For me, the human voice is more like an instrument, and I always process the music first. Of course I hear phrases, but I couldn't tell you what most songs are about... and I like abstract lyrics best anyway. Generally, I just use my discernment. Most profane songs don't appeal to me musically anyway, and when a lyrical theme causes discomfort, I just don't listen to it anymore.

 

[MacFall]

For me, the human voice is more like an instrument, and I always process the music first. Of course I hear phrases, but I couldn't tell you what most songs are about... and I like abstract lyrics best anyway.

Hey, me too! Although for me it's further justified by the fact that I tend to listen to music in languages that I do not understand nor plan to learn. Much of the folk metal I have been consuming lately takes poetry from dead languages as its lyrical source, for example.

 

[Peripatetic]

Hey, me too! Although for me it's further justified by the fact that I tend to listen to music in languages that I do not understand nor plan to learn. Much of the folk metal I have been consuming lately takes poetry from dead languages as its lyrical source, for example.

Heh... I hear you. Korpiklaani?

 

[MacFall]

Korpiklaani?

Never heard of them.

Until now.

And now I am enthralled.

 

[seeingstars]

Phil 4:8 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things"

Col 3:2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.

Neither of the above has anything to do with music. The first simply means that we are to be positive; not depressed, angry, or cynical. The second means that Christ, not pleasure, is who we are to live for.


I suppose you haven't heard Black Sabbath's After Forever.

Perhaps you'll think before you say that God is dead and gone
Open your eyes, just realize that he's the one
The only one who can save you now from all this sin and hate
Or will you still jeer at all you hear? Yes! I think it's too late.

There are five other stanzas to the song as well, all of which are very good.

 

[christian78]

no music written by artists with known sin issues

I voted that way despite how inconclusive a reason that is...as don't we all struggle with sin [issues] in our lives?

 

[MacFall]

Okay, time for logic 101.

All people have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.
Therefore, all people have "known sin issues".
Musicians are necessarily people.
Therefore, all musicians have "known sin issues".

So, do you not listen to any music, by anybody at all?

 

[Skilletdude]

You didn't have the option that I would have chosen, which is "I listen to anything whose sound I like, and which is not openly hostile to Christ."

Although I do have a "limit" to the amount of profanity I can stomach, and I don't listen to anything pornographic. (So there goes 90% of popular music, but I don't like pop for artistic reasons anyway).

This ^

I do pay attention to the lyrics a lot though. Lyrics are a big deal for me. Ya need good music to complement the lyrics. Need good lyrics to complement the music. If I just wanted just good music... I'd listen to instrumentals. If I wanted good lyrics, I'd read poetry. But I like songs to have both. Most of the stuff I own doesn't have much offensive content. There are some though I think I need to throw out even if I do like a couple songs.

 

[Peripatetic]

There are some though I think I need to throw out even if I do like a couple songs.

Good idea... The way I look at it is that 99.9% of the music that I want to listen to doesn't set off a red flag with my conscience. The few times that it has happened, I think it's a fair trade-off toss it (CD) or delete it (mp3).

 

[marshallII]

Everything. I like it all.