Secular Music?

[Sketcher]

You've got to take it song by song.

 

[HISservant21]

I got an IPod touch for christmas but I dont know what songs to out on. I like songs like hip hop, rock, pop. Is it sinfull to listen to secular music?

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friend,

Music (and all other activities) that praise and exalt The LORD GOD, and that edifies others, and ourselves is expedient and the way to go, by the grace of GOD.

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made" - John 1:1-4

"In whom also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestinated according to the purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will: That we should be to the praise of his glory, who first trusted in Christ. In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise," - Ephesians 1:11-13

So then...

"Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;" - Ephesians 5:19

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord." - Colossians 3:16

Psalm 150
1"Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
2Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
3Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
4Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
5Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
6Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD."

"But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear:" - 1 Peter 1:15-17

"And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." - 2 Corinthians 6:16-18

"Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world." - James 1:27

"Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever." - 1 John 2:15-17

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." - Philippians 4:8

May The LORD bless you all (Remember May 21, 2011 - judgment day begins)
Isaiah 55:6
"Seek ye the LORD while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near."

Psalm 34:18
"The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit."

 

[Luis67]

Just look for quality music, it's usually not problematic spiritually. I mean why would you listen to get-myself-a-gun-and-I-will-kill-all-insertfavouriteexpletive crap.

Basically, you're free to listen to all music, watch all kinds of movies, play all kinds of video games, but don't switch off your sense and reason. For example, I love video games but there are games which just don't work for a christian. I mean, there is a game where you play a devil fighting against angels in a very immersive way, that's just not good. I don't mean to refer to rules because Apostle Paul says everything is lawful for a christian, but why would you want to fight angels or play as a scumbag like these devils? As christians we don't simply follow a rulebook because we have been made free of the law, but still we're supposed to think and not do evil and instead do the good things.

It's kind of a responsibility we have been given - we're not caged in a set of rules but we shall use our mind and seek godly guidance.

For an example, consider fantasy role playing video games, which I normally really like. Now in such a game, you often have magic. Real magic in real life is occult stuff which originates with the devil and is contrary to God's truth and vision for us. It's always uncanny stuff even when it masks itself as white magic. But magic in such fantasy games is just fun stuff, it's part human imagination and part fairytale. It bears no semblance to real magic. At least this used to be like that. But lately game developers aim for maximum realism, and them being atheists they don't believe there is any real magic out there and they don't believe there is a devil. So they experiment because they think it's harmless. That's where my alarm bells start ringing because the magic in computer games moves away from fun and entertainment stuff to come closer to what real, dark, occult magic is like. For example, there is a very popular computer game called Dragon Age where a little child is demon possessed and you can kill it to fulfill your quest. That's out of decency for me and though I bought that game once when I didn't know it was so bad, I don't play it anymore. But there are still harmless games, like Drakensang, it also has magic but it's funny and completely like in fairy tales and I don't think it's a problem at all.

It's the same with songs. Much secular music is still music about life. For example, Chris Rea in "Looking for the summer" sings about romantic love in youth which is something anyone can relate to and which we christians shouldn't label evil simply because it's not coming from within christianity. "Forbidding" such music serves no purpose and only makes the other people think we christians are fundie nuts. When the bible says we are called to be different than other people what is meant is that we live with God every day and don't share in the unbelief and in the sin of other people. But still there are commonalities between unbelieving people and christians. We can still relate to each other and we live with each other in daily life. And so we sometimes listen to the same music. Not everything an unbeliever does is sinful. They are also loved by God.

So bottom line is, don't turn christianity into a rulebook religion like the pharisees did, this doesn't please God. But use your mind with biblical guidance and always talk about everything with other christians and open your eyes to the truth. Rise out of the fleshly stuff and follow the Spirit where there is life and peace. Enjoy everything with thanksgiving and don't forget reason and wisdom! Jesus wants us to be free, but there are things that diminish this new freedom we have in our Christ and then we must be watchful and careful. YOU are a christian, YOU have the Holy Spirit, YOU know the truth in Christ!

I have to admit, that is the most balanced answer I have ever heard about anything. I should write it down, because it is so true. Walking around with a rule book of scriptures instead of learning and growing=maturity, made me so bitter, guilty, depressed and eventually led to rebellion numerous of times. It's about the spirit and insight with truth. Great answer broman!!