secular music sinful?

[guitarstar47]

re there certain types of music that sinful to listen to?
Please respond! I would like to hear both sides (yes and no)
It would be greatly appreciated!
THANK YOU!

 

[smile]

Well, I don't think listening to secular music is sinful, but if the song has a million cuss words and just talks about sex and junk like that, then don't listen to it. It does you no good to have that fill your head, but if its fairly clean, then go for it.Some secular music has good meanings to them, and some are just plain rockin cool. But I think nothing is wrong with listening to secular. Well thats my two cents

Later-Kemper

 

[faithfulone7]

nah..i dont think its sinful...unless its talking about bad things such such as smile mentioned. i love secular music. :0))))

 

[Hands&Feet]

If secular music is honest then it would be less sinful than insincere Christian music...there is a bunch of that floating around the airwaves.

I've seen some profoundly prophetic music coming form secular artists. In fact, I sometimes think it is easier for God to speak through people like that than it is for Him to speak through believers who are in the industry because too many limits are placed on the Christian arists by their record labels.
I've been a musician for 36 years and I would have missed out on a lot of inspiration if I never listened to secular music. There is a lot of junk out there to be sure, but there are some great thinkers and wonderful composers out there who do not fall under a Christian label.

 

[guitarstar47]

okay thank you so much! Especially hands and feet.. its great hearing from a musicians view!

 

[Axver]

Honestly, in my opinion, saying that listening secular music is sinful is simply stupid. Some secular music may discuss sinful themes, but it's not sinful unless you let it influence you towards sin or let it drag you away from God. Some Christians like to say that we are not to be "of this world", but the problem is that they totally miss the point of what "not being of the world" means. Being "of the world" does not mean liking anything the world likes and being "not of the world" does not mean not liking anything the world likes. We need to remember that sin and following the desires of the flesh are described as worldly and "of the world", therefore it extends that being "of the world" is partaking in the sins the world partakes in and following the sinful, fleshy desires. This does not extend to listening to secular music.

On the whole, secular music is perfectly fine. I'm not sure exactly what to think about stuff that blatantly promotes sinful activity or Satanic themes or whatever. On the one hand, it's merely music and if you let it influence you to sin, it's your own stupid fault, but on the other, music is designed to influence and it could plant sinful thoughts or desires in your head. So as you can see, I'm caught in a bit of a spot there.

But secular music in general is perfectly fine.

 

[ps139]

Classical music is a good example. Is it secular, or Christian? Well, there are no lyrics, but some song titles like "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" show an obvious religious influence. Bach felt that he was inspired by God when writing music. I believe he was...it is beautiful. Songs such as Canon in D were played at Mass hundreds of years ago. I didn't know that until I was told a few days ago. When I judge whether music is good or bad to listen to, I follow some of the Lord's advice: Judge a tree by its fruit. If the music stirs up good feelings, listen to it. If it makes you angry, hateful, depressed, etc., then I can't see how it can be good to listen to. Music is a powerful tool, it can really enchance your emotions in various directions. Select what you know to be good.

 

[silent water]

I think one just has to use good judgement when choosing secular music, like with any other form of entertainment.

Whether it was sinful or not was something I struggled with for a long time. I came to a point where I could find no argument to argue against secular music, as long as the lyrics were not profane or anti-Christian. Before I came back to Christ, I was very much into metal, and still am. A lot of the bands I listened to then I no longer care for.

 

[doglover64]

I agree! Just because it's secular, doesn't mean it's sinful!
I'm a teen (well, close enough) and I listen to Avril Lavigne and I used to listen to Backstreet boys and N*sync. I don't listen to Backstreet boys and N*sync any more, because of the words they use and that there is also Christian groups (like Plus One) that have the same beat and type of music I like, but a better message and a point to get across.
That's my view!

 

[vibrant]

i find that a lot of secular music glorifies and promotes sinful behaviour/lifestyle, albeit sometimes subtly. just listen careful to what it's promoting, and judge while it's still fresh in your mind whether it edifies you or not, because you'll end up internalizing it's ideas.

 

[Axver]

vibrant - 'i find that a lot of secular music glorifies and promotes sinful behaviour/lifestyle'

Don't judge by some of the trash you hear on the radio. And it must be noted, a lot of Christian music thoroughly misses the point of faith.

doglover64 - 'I listen to Avril Lavigne and I used to listen to Backstreet boys and N*sync'

You do NOT want to hear my opinion of those 'artists'. Also, Avril can't perform live. Stage is what matters, not studio, and if you can't do it live, I don't think you should be making music.

 

[oneiric]

If secular music is a sin, then viewing secular artwork and reading secular books is too. Where do you draw the line?

No, I don't think it is a sin. Just watch what you listen to. Obviously listening to songs about drugs and sex and all that is not a good thing...

 

[indigo tree]

If secular music is a sin, then viewing secular artwork and reading secular books is too. Where do you draw the line?

No, I don't think it is a sin. Just watch what you listen to. Obviously listening to songs about drugs and sex and all that is not a good thing...

Now heres an interesting question I'd like to pose: Is there perhaps, a time and place you can talk about sex and drugs in songs? As Axver has mentioned in one thread,( and to give an exmaple) there are a few U2 songs about drugs, and some about sex as well. With or Without You, Bad, and Running to Stand Still are all about drug addiction. But that does not mean it is being glorified.
Then there are songs like Your Blue Room and Ultraviolet (Light my Way)
in which the singer speaks about sex. So, where do you draw the line?

I think touchy subjects like drugs and sex could and should be talked about, as long as they arent being glorified, (drugs) or are handled in a respectful way (sex).

 

[Axver]

WOWY about sex? I'd never thought of it that way. I actually subscribe to two theories, one which fits the whole song, one which fits part of it;

1. The song is about the contradictions and difficulties in love.
2. The song is God's view on the world.

The three U2 songs that I know are about drugs are Wire, Running To Stand Still, and Bad. They are a slight condemnation of drug addiction and other forms of addiction, but they are also an understanding of how someone could be addicted. They aren't just "drugs are bad", they go deeper than that.

I think all different subjects should be talked about, it's just the manner that they're done in that makes it 'good' or 'bad'. A song with a chorus of "Take speed and sleep with a harlot" is obviously bad, but "She'll suffer the needle chill/She's running to stand still" (U2, RTSS) is good; it's understanding, and yet it makes a statement - although it feels like drugs are taking you somewhere, they really get you absolutely nowhere. It can really depend. Most every subject should be discussed - we shouldn't hide issues and push them away - but they should be discussed in a correct and appropriate manner.

 

[oneiric]

Now heres an interesting question I'd like to pose: Is there perhaps, a time and place you can talk about sex and drugs in songs? As Axver has mentioned in one thread,( and to give an exmaple) there are a few U2 songs about drugs, and some about sex as well. With or Without You, Bad, and Running to Stand Still are all about drug addiction. But that does not mean it is being glorified.
Then there are songs like Your Blue Room and Ultraviolet (Light my Way)
in which the singer speaks about sex. So, where do you draw the line?

I think touchy subjects like drugs and sex could and should be talked about, as long as they arent being glorified, (drugs) or are handled in a respectful way (sex).

If the song glorifies sinful things then it's not wise to listen to it.

 

[indigo tree]

Is sex really sinful? Maybe the way most artists choose to sing about it these days is what makes it sinful.

Axver- Yes, thats what they're about. Though its so subtle you would even know it. Thats the beauty of U2. When I first heard Your blue room I would have never guessed it was about that. And Ultravilolet could easily pass as a spiritual song.
But they choose to portray it in all its beauty, rather than in the raunchy ,demaening way l most artists do. Thats what I'm saying.

 

[oneiric]

Sex isn't sinful when it is used as God intends it to be- within marriage.

They speak of sex as casual and all lust.

 

[Axver]

Er, woops. Only just notced a typo in my last post. It shouldn't have been "WOWY about sex?" but "WOWY about drugs?" Stupid, stupid Axver ...

Oneiric, when you say "they speak of sex as casual and all lust", who do you mean? If you mean U2, then you're completely wrong. U2 deals with it in a respectful manner very few other bands deal with it in.

Before anyone starts quoting Even Better Than The Real Thing at me, that's actually about commercialisation and how the media is trying to create an alternate reality that appears to be even better than the real thing (reality). Ultra Violet I've thought to be a bit questionable at times, but no, I don't think so.

And Indigo Tree, yes, that's what I love about U2, that some of their meanings are so subtle. I never would've guessed that was the subject matter of Your Blue Room, and I never knew Until The End Of The World was a song from Judas to Jesus until someone told me. Bono is such a genius lyricist.

 

[indigo tree]

Wow, never knew that about Even Better Than the Real Thing. And I was lost about Until the End of the World until you mentioned the mesning in a nother thread. That surprised me as well.

 

[Axver]

Yeah, some of the song meanings are quite hard to spot ... although I've found that once I've been told them/figured them out, I've been kicking myself, thinking "I should've figured that one out earlier!" EBTTRT is a bit of a debated one - some people think it's about God, which I disagree with, some people say it is about sex and that could be a legitimate translation, but I think the best is the one I stated before. Remember the context it's in: U2 released it during the ZooTV tour, which was a big anti-media, anti-commercialisation spectacle. The meaning suits the context and thoughts of the band at the time.

UTEOTW, once you actually know what it's about, has a fairly obvious meaning. I never would've guessed it before I was told, but when I read it and listened to it, I couldn't believe I'd missed it. The imagery is definitely there. Before some concerts, Bono would yell "Jesus, this is Judas!" or simply "Judaaasss!"

Heh, I could probably talk for hours about the meaning of U2 songs ... ever spotted the neat little trivia with One? It's the third song on Achtung Baby: three is One and One is three. U2 always does stuff for a reason, and that's a lovely hint at the Trinity there.