The Music We Listen To

[msjones21]

It wasn't that long ago that I rededicated my life. I have been wearing out the WOW! CD's while in the car LOL The other day I was going somewhere and I turned on a radion station instead of popping in the CD. I scanned over the Christian radio stations...commercials. So I switced it to one of the secular hip-hop radio stations I always listened to and I was honestly appalled with the music. I'm not sure if it's just me being overly sensitive, or if it's God's way of safeguarding my mind. Don't get me wrong, I don't have a problem with all secular bands. I happen to be quite fond of Linkin Park, Maroon5, etc. It's alot of the rap and hip-hop music we hear today. Combined with scantily clad performers, sexually charged lyrics can be damaging to the Christian's mind.

I don't know about you guys, but I have a very vivid imagination. I can read a book and mentally picture the scenes and put myself there in my mind. Same thing happens to me with music. I don't need to watch music videos. I tend to conjure them up in my mind as I'm listening to the song on the radio. So, yesterday, I was scanning the stations and I heard a song by J.C. Chasez (former 'N Sync member) called "Some Girls Dance With Women". If you have never heard the song, I'll spare you the lyrical details but the song pretty much talk about drinking, dancing seductively, and women who dance with other women in the clubs to get guy's attention. I changed it to another station and Lil Kim's "Magic Stick" was playing. Needless to say the song is about nothing more than using the term "magic stick" as a euphamism for the male genitalia (pardon my frankness). What sort of images do songs like that create in your mind? I doubt it causes you to think about worshipping and serving Christ. The Bible tells us we have to be careful as to what we see and hear. We can't always avoid images or songs that cause us to have thoughts we shouldn't have, whether it be lust, anger, greed, whatever, but we do have the choice not to stop on a particular radio station or watch certain movies. Nowadays, it's not just music or movies. Look at some of the video games on the market today. Games that encourage you to steal cars and murder prostitutes. Games that require a rating system so that minors cannot purchase them. These are difficult times we're living in. It's so hard to guard our eyes, ears, and minds in a society that teaches "more skin=better looking, sex=the way to go".

These days it seems the media doesn't exercise any discretion when it comes to who could be watching certain commercials or programs or who could be hearing some of these filthy lyrics. As Christians we are called to be set apart from the world. Would we be riding down the road with Jesus in our passenger seat rapping along to Lil Kim? Would we sing "Some Girls Dance With Women" during a church worship service? Why not? If it's okay to listen to in private why not share it? Could it be that you'd feel embarassed? That's a great indication what you're watching or listening to wouldn't be edifying to Christ.

 

[Sunbeam]

that kind of music ruins the Spirit of peace

 

[hamster_head]

You asked at the top of your post if you were over sensitive, and I think it's safe to say you probably are. I'm not going to suggest you should support the theme of the songs or even make listening to them a daily activity (but that would go for most radio music, merely because it tends to be a bunch of no talent-media created-garbage). However, if you're going to be appalled with these songs you must also be appalled at the world in general. They are talking about reality, or at least reality for certain individuals. To me, knowing about what the world is really like is not a sinful thing, and depending on your own mindset, such knowledge and embracement of popular culture could help in being able to communicate and understand other people better...people who need to be told about God.

Basically, your argument boils down to "I'm offended that such music/movies/video games exist because the content talks about something immoral". Roots, a classic, depicts horrible acts of violence to African slaves...obviously this is immoral, but you are not appalled by the fact that this was made into a movie, you would be appalled because these images mirror what society was once like. In the same matter, you cannot blame popular media for talking about immoral activities, but you have to see that it is sad these issues are real and prevalent in society.

Too many times Christians take the cliche' saying of "set apart" to give them an excuse to look down at the rest of the world. Instead of being offended by the world, Christians need to have sympathy for the world and not be afraid to exist within part of the culture that needs their love.

 

[Stanfi]

msjones,

I agree. Music is very powerful, and it can effect you in very negative ways. Doesn't that seductive type music bring up a lot of sexual thoughts? or how about hard negative anger driven rock, doesn't it seem to fuel any anger you may have inside? It does me anyway.

However, doesn't Christian music remind you of the goodness of God, and fill your heart with His love, and not lued sexual thoughts, bitterness and anger.

It does me anyway, I don't know about you.

Granted I listen to alot of secular music. Probably more than I should, but I have noticed if I listen to the wrong songs it does have negative effects on me.

I started a thread in here a while back called "Secular Music". I was referring it to relationships. I think many times it causes us more pain, because it talks about "Winning love at all odds" or "They'll come back". When in the real world it just doesn't happen.

I am getting worried you and I are starting to agree.

Oh BTW, I am a Southern Gospel Fan, The Crabb Family, The Isaacs, The Jody Brown Indian Family and The Talley Trio/ or Lauren Talley are some good groups to give a listen if you hever have the opourtunity.

 

[msjones21]

They are talking about reality, or at least reality for certain individuals. To me, knowing about what the world is really like is not a sinful thing, and depending on your own mindset, such knowledge and embracement of popular culture could help in being able to communicate and understand other people better...people who need to be told about God.

Knowing what the world is like and living in the world are two very separate issues, Hamster. We are called to be mindful of what is going on in the world but to not allow ourselves to succomb to wordly standards. When Christians become complacent and think "well, I know these lyrics depict promisuous sex, drugs, drinking, and other immoral acts but I have to listen to it because I can't escape te world" is when we start to lose sight of what Christ wants us to be. Jesus wants us to be set apart, not to be in the world.

Basically, your argument boils down to "I'm offended that such music/movies/video games exist because the content talks about something immoral".

No offense, but you missed my post altogether. Not once did I state I was offended they exist. I realize that the media caters to the secular realm and that's okay, for the non-believer. As for me, I have been charged by God to maintain a higher standard and the only way to do that is to guard my eyes, ears, and mind from wordly images and songs. The point of my post was not to vent about secular pop-culture, rather I was challenging fellow Christians to be careful what they watch and listen to.

Too many times Christians take the cliche' saying of "set apart" to give them an excuse to look down at the rest of the world.

By set apart we don't mean isolated from the world. Set apart means if it came up into conversation that you are a Christian no one could scoff and ask "you're a Christian?!" Granted, some people use this as an excuse to be haughty, but God speaks very clearly about that in His Word as well. One can be set-apart without being sactimonious.

Christians need to have sympathy for the world and not be afraid to exist within part of the culture that needs their love.

Here again, let us not confuse compassion with complacency.

It does me anyway, I don't know about you.

Indeed it does, Mrstace. No matter what mood I'm in I can listen to my Christian music and be uplifted. A prime example of how music *does* affect your attitude...when I was in high school I had broken up with a guy whom I was so certain was "the one". I was listening to a Korn CD and the lyrics made me become enraged. I began to scream, sob, and break things. Avalon or Point of Grace have never made me want to break things.

I am getting worried you and I are starting to agree

Hehehe be afraid....be *very* afraid.

Oh BTW, I am a Southern Gospel Fan, The Crabb Family, The Isaacs, The Jody Brown Indian Family and The Talley Trio/ or Lauren Talley are some good groups to give a listen if you hever have the opourtunity.

Oh I've had alot of exposure to Southern Gospel music. I don't listen to it as a general rule, but when my father was in a Southern Gospel quartet I would practice his parts with him. I went to alot of their concerts. One time they opened for Hovie Lister and the Statesmen Quartet. Of course, Hovie has passed on since then, but it was a wonderful time we all had.

 

[Wide-eyedWithWonder]

msjones, your experience sounds very similar to mine. What you're talking about specifically is the fact that songs with negative content seem much worse if you've abstained from them for some time. I've experienced the same thing too; hearing rock music this summer when I hadn't listened to it for a while had the same effect. I was appalled at what I was hearing ( granted, the song was very negative, but I have listened to it since then without that response to it).
Hamster_head, comparing the content of Roots to the content of pop music is really not the same thing. Roots was not condoning violence; it was accurately portraying history. Pop music is now often meant to stir up sexual desire, and there's nothing wrong with avoiding that. Turning your back to the atrocities that occurred in Roots, however, would be wrong. Not everyone will respond as msjones, because they have been desensitized to the content of pop music and/or don't respond as strongly to the lyrics.