Secular Music

[antiarte]

I always talk about secular Gangstar rap and secular heavy metal and you always take my posts and compare it to music like Celine Dion or a classical symphony.

..maybe it's because Celine Dion and some classical music are, um, secular?

If you don't think Celine Dion is evil then you have a problem, dude. Did you hear her cover of AC/Dc's "Shook You All Night Long"? Evil.

 

[philN]

Josh -
I have already said that I have boundaries too. There are some people that can listen to much more than I can. I recognize where God has given me convictions and I do not try and push the boundaries of those convictions.

When I listen to music I know that God is sovereign and far more powerful than Satan; I also know that because I am His he will give me convictions so that I know what my boundaries are. There are certain things that I do not listen to because they put my mind in the wrong place. I use wisdom (i.e. the fear of the Lord and at the same time, my faith in His spirit) to know what I should and shouldn't listen to.

I am sorry if this comes off as prideful. I actually say this with complete humility in my heart: I don't expect everyone else to have the same convictions as I do. Some people can handle more, some less. That's not good or bad, it's just God telling us what we can and cannot handle. People need to be discerning no matter what they listen to. If they listen to secular music, then they should filter that message through scripture, test the different ideas that it presents and then get rid of the bad and cling to the good. If people listen to Christian music, they should constantly, consciously, and rigorously be ensuring that the ideas presented are biblically and theologically sound. (I'm sure some of the music that I like that is by christian artists would probably offend you. Thus, you don't see me recommending these bands or artists to you, do you?) If a Christian is content to listen to music ignorantly without using any discernment at all, taking in everything, and accepting it as truth, then they should not be listening to music at all. And that is not just music; that goes for everything. Christians need to be discerning in everything.

I always talk about secular Gangstar rap and secular heavy metal and you always take my posts and compare it to music like Celine Dion or a classical symphony.

The only reason I bring other genres up is because music is music. Unless you have a special Bible that says that rap and metal are wrong, you are trying to enforce an extrabiblical conviction on other people who may not have that conviction. I don't think it's the genre that matters, so much as it is the message. If I took the words to one of the rappers that you are against and sang them with a symphony playing in the background, would that make it morally better or worse? No. Blanket statements and generalizations don't help your argument.

Tell me how God is glorified through Slayer and Eminem?

I don't listen to either of them, so I don't know enough to say. Although I will say this, if Christians understood art better, then this whole arguement would be a moot point. But as it is right now, Christian music is nothing to be proud of (with very few exceptions). I think that it is much more important for us to find Christian artists who have some integrity and authentic musicianship, rather than complaining because some band doesn't say words that we like or sings about this or that. If christian's music (that is Christian's [possesive] music and not Christian music) was checked more rigorously for originality and creativity, then I could understand why people would rather listen to some artists over other christian artists. But for now, why would people want to listen to Christian music, when it is just derivative parody acts of the secular bands that they preach against?

 

[philN]

If you don't think Celine Dion is evil then you have a problem, dude. Did you hear her cover of AC/Dc's "Shook You All Night Long"? Evil.

Hahaha. So true.

 

[Amongst the Flock]

(I'm sure some of the music that I like that is by christian artists would probably offend you. Thus, you don't see me recommending these bands or artists to you, do you?)

Its not that it offends me but the spirit is who it grieves.


But as it is right now, Christian music is nothing to be proud of (with very few exceptions).

Christian music glorifies Jesus and his soviergnty.

Why would we not be proud of music that glorifies our Lord and Savior and brings us closer to him?

As usual you continue to defend the music of Pagans as acceptible.


I am just concerned for the well being of others whose faith is obviously weak and you continue to justify everything as being tolerable in the Christian walk.

 

[KristianJ]

If listening to secular music could be wrong

What if:-

one has secular friends
Secular jobs
reads secular books, newpapers, watches secular TV and movies, DVD's etc
Lives in a secular house (as against Temple, monastry etc)
plays secular games - electronic and whatecer

Etc, etc, etc.

If ONE is wrong, i.e. secular music, then also isn't the rest of these wrong also?
If being secular is evil in itself than ALL MUST therefore be the same! Otherwise it is just picking what you want.

Very good point, Mark...

And on that note, I'm going to close this thread. As I stated previously, there are forum specific rules in place that encourage discussions like these to be taken to the Christian Philosophy and Ethics forum. We're not trying to eradicate any sort of Biblical discussion, but to cater for the request of the vast majority of members that the talk stay on the artists and not whether Christians should be listening to them. Thanks for your understanding.

 

[KristianJ]

In accordance with our Secular Music rules that Biblical discussion of secular music is encouraged to be disussed in our Christian Philosophy and Ethics forum.