Secular Music with Christian Connotations

[MaryHM]

I am a Sunday School teacher for 10-12 year olds. They are really sick and tired of attending the "opening" with all of the little kids (3 years old +). The music is really kiddy and cheesy and they hate it. I thought I would let them skip the opener, come directly to class, and we would listen to a popular secular song. I would hand out the lyrics and then we could discuss how this song relates to Christ/Christianity. I know that the vast majority of my kids will listen to secular music and I'd like to plant the seed of paying attention to the lyrics in them. Does anyone have any good suggestions for songs? Obviously I don't want something with inappropriate language/topics (suicide, etc...).

 

[pieman3141]

U2

Sarah McLachlan

Some punk band, minus swearing (Bad Religion does some of this, and they're not retarded anti-everything-s)

Umm... you could also try some hardcore Christian worship music, like Keith Green, Jason Upton, and them (do a search to select songs you think they'll enjoy).

Live (a band). Very spiritual, but their Christianity is questionable. Could be a source for discussion.

Pink Floyd

I think that will keep your hands full. Also, might want to ask someone else about rap or whatever else. I'm clueless.

 

[absolutely_lost_86]

POD

 

[twosteppin]

The Reason~ by Hoobastank

]

I'm not a perfect person
There's many things I wish I didn't do
But I continue learning
I never meant to do those things to you
And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know

I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is you

I'm sorry that I hurt you
It's something I must live with everyday
And all the pain I put you through
I wish that I could take it all away
And be the one who catches all your tears
Thats why i need you to hear

I've found a resaon for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is You [x4]

I'm not a perfect person
I never meant to do those things to you
And so I have to say before I go
That I just want you to know

I've found a reason for me
To change who I used to be
A reason to start over new
and the reason is you

I've found a reason to show
A side of me you didn't know
A reason for all that I do
And the reason is you

 

[Axver]

U2, absolutely. Notabe songs: Gloria, most of the October CD, Surrender, 40, One Tree Hill, I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For, Until The End Of The World, Gone, Beautiful Day, Grace, and I'd suggest Wake Up Dead Man if it weren't for the swearing. Also, many people miss it, but while Pride (In The Name Of Love) is about Martin Luther King Junior, there's also a lot in there about Christ.

If you want lyrics and interpretations (some of U2's music has multiple meanings or shouldn't be taken on face value), PM me. The official lyrics often prove to be wildly inaccurate.

 

[MaryHM]

Thank you for all of the suggestions so far! Big thanks to DMB233- that's exactly the kind of stuff I'm looking for. Do you have any information on Hoobastank? I've heard of them but don't really know anything about them.

I need specific songs because I don't have the time (or inclination!) to search through every song a particular artist sings to find which ones fit. I figure you guys already know so I'll just sponge the info off of you!

Thanks for the recommendations and the offer to help, Axver. I really respect U2 and am a fan- husband is a HUGE fan- we saw them in the ZooTV tour (I'm aging myself!).

 

[MaryHM]

WOW!! I just listened to "The Reason"- AWESOME!!! I've decided to use that song for my first go at this new idea for tomorrow's class. I'll let you know how it goes. I was here just to get some suggestions for my class and I might just go away finding more artists to add to my collection!!

 

[twosteppin]

I know absolutly nothing about Hoobastank. I just like that song. Glad you liked it! I thought it would be a good one to use cause that song could be about Christ for a listener. The lyrics are simple and nice.

 

[Mr.Pious]

Live (a band). Very spiritual, but their Christianity is questionable. Could be a source for discussion

I am about 95% sure they are anti-christina, hince the quote in my signature. A Christian guise but if you listen to them it sounds mocking.

 

[Bowser]

Creed and Kutless are very good; Kutless is a Christian band while all of Creed's members are struggling believers.

They're a relatively hard rock that I'm sure your kids will like.

Listen to Creed's Human Clay cd - it is their most Christian influenced album.
Kutless' Sea of Faces is their best sounding album. Listen to some of their samples at their website (kutless.com).

Look up Creed's "Faceless Man" and "Higher" - all on their Human Clay cd.
Look up Kutless' "Not What You See", "Sea of Faces", "Perspectives", "All the Words", and "It's Like Me". All are very good songs and can be found on their Sea of Faces cd.

 

[Axver]

Thanks for the recommendations and the offer to help, Axver. I really respect U2 and am a fan- husband is a HUGE fan- we saw them in the ZooTV tour (I'm aging myself!).

Wow, that's awesome. I would've loved to have been at ZooTV ... which show did you make it to?

 

[Subtotal]

Live is definitely a good choice. They have always written very spiritual songs such as "Heaven."

Creed is as well. Along with the others mentioned, I would look at "My Own Prison." Tons of Christian imagry there.

Another personal favorite "Secular, But Could Be Taken As Christian" song of mine is "Hole Hearted" by Extreme. He very well could be talking about Christ in that song, so I definitely recommend that one. It's a bit older than these others mentioned, but it still works great.

 

[MaryHM]

More excellent suggestions! Thanks- and I'm going to check into all of them. However, the head of the children's ministry is being very vague about whether or not she's going to allow me to do this. If Christians would just think outside of the box sometimes and give their children tools to function in the real world, I think we'd all (Christian and non) be better off.

Concerning ZooTV- we were at the Houston show. It was really, really awesome!

 

[Mr.Pious]

They have always written very spiritual songs such as "Heaven."

"Don't need no one to tell me about heaven I will believe it when I see it"?

 

[Axver]

More excellent suggestions! Thanks- and I'm going to check into all of them. However, the head of the children's ministry is being very vague about whether or not she's going to allow me to do this. If Christians would just think outside of the box sometimes and give their children tools to function in the real world, I think we'd all (Christian and non) be better off.

Got to agree with you there. But some people rather like to hide in their safe 'bubbles'.

Concerning ZooTV- we were at the Houston show. It was really, really awesome!

Serious?! I'm listening to that right now! (Or at least the Outside Broadcast bootleg, which is said to 'most likely' be the Houston show) Incredible performance of Until The End Of The World.

 

[oldrooster]

U2 albums, some of the most spiritual music ever made.

 

[Bowser]

lol Mary, I think you're going to find more songs than you can put in one lesson.

 

[oldrooster]

May have to split it into several lessons.

 

[blackwasp]

like Keith Green.

Wow, someone else knows who Keith Green is??? Rock on!!!

Live (a band). Very spiritual, but their Christianity is questionable. Could be a source for discussion.

Yeah, don't use Live. Live is admittedly and adamantly anti-Jesus. Although some of their lyrics seem ambiguous, and christian themes are often mentioned, they are very against christianity.

 

[peanutbutter12]

Any Evanescence song. LOL!