'Un-Christian Music?'

[StormInside]

Hi, I don't know where exactly you're at but I just felt like I should clarify that it's not up to us to clean up our lives before we come to Christ. It's him who saves us and changes us. He changes our hearts so that we want to remove sin from our lives. I don't say this to debate theology but to try and encourage you.

I don't understand what you mean. I got rid of my CDs because I wanted to as I felt they were a bad influence and were dragging me down.

 

[oi_antz]

I've heard here and there that some Christians don't listen to certain bands or songs because they are 'un-Christian' for various reasons which I am not totally aware of. I assume it is something like anti-Christian lyrics or something, but what I am quite astounded by is the fact that Christians avoid these artists because of this fact!

It seems childish why someone would completely avoid a song, artists or (no pun intended) god forbid an entire genre because of potentially 'harmful' lyrics.

What I am asking is why you (or Christians in general) avoid this music and what difference it makes in your Christianity. For example, I am an atheist (obviously) but still have several Christian Rock bands in iTunes and listen to them regularly. Jesus is mentioned in several songs, but that doesn't bother me, because I'm not so stubborn as to avoid a song or artist because of one lyric when I LIKE THE MUSIC

Yeah well I'm a qualified sound engineer, I tend to listen to more than just lyrics, there's a lot of texture and rhythm in secular music that is inspired by the emotional states of the artists, as are the lyrics for that matter. I think it is true that the company you keep can rub off, especially if the company is involved in spirituality, which is why Christians I have noticed tend to have an impact on the people around them even when not involved in theological discussion, while likewise those who speak to demons have an impact on the people around them, even through the slightest communication such as looking at someone. So yes, you become a product of your environment. Now, if you are taking energy from people who hate God (and some secular musicians really do hate God), then you have to be responsible about it: does this music impact my attitude toward God, and is that a good thing? I guess I'm fortunate in that I don't often listen to lyrics as Joe Bloggs does, but yes there is occasionally a song that comes on my playlist that is just ripping on God or Jesus so I remove it from my library. So in a nutshell, I can tolerate the state of mind these artists wish to share with others, I can tolerate their beliefs while understanding that they have a right to believe something that is wrong, but when it gets to the point of actually offending me such as making derogatory remarks about Jesus, God that failed I can understand and accept as typical belief of the misinformed, but Jesus stealing hubcaps from cars? - I guess that is the equivalent of a Christian band singing about homosexuals burning in hell. You'd probably want to remove that song from your library if you were gay, and since I'm Christian I chose to remove that particular song from my library. Still have other Bloodhound Gang songs though, obviously inspired by the same muse that lyricist uses, but overall not really as offensive as that song is meant to be.

 

[razeontherock]

Word from Antz! Happy new year, how've you been?

 

[StarryEyes]

Hello! This is a blind post.. but I don't know that I'd call it "un Christian". However this verse may be of some help..
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

We really need to watch what we feed our minds with, because what we think about effects how we act. Hope this helps!

 

[CryptoLutheran]

I've heard here and there that some Christians don't listen to certain bands or songs because they are 'un-Christian' for various reasons which I am not totally aware of. I assume it is something like anti-Christian lyrics or something, but what I am quite astounded by is the fact that Christians avoid these artists because of this fact!

It seems childish why someone would completely avoid a song, artists or (no pun intended) god forbid an entire genre because of potentially 'harmful' lyrics.

What I am asking is why you (or Christians in general) avoid this music and what difference it makes in your Christianity. For example, I am an atheist (obviously) but still have several Christian Rock bands in iTunes and listen to them regularly. Jesus is mentioned in several songs, but that doesn't bother me, because I'm not so stubborn as to avoid a song or artist because of one lyric when I LIKE THE MUSIC

I used to be this way to an extent. Though in the last few years I've actually become more concerned with the Christian music industry. Christian music is intrinsically theological, especially the music used explicitly for worship. Such music does shape and inform theology, and sadly a lot of music coming out of the Christian music industry is theological trash. Not all of it of course, but it can often be very theologically shallow or theologically atrocious.

I've become less bothered by "secular" music, and have found much to value in many musicians even if I may have certain ideological conflicts. In some cases I've found those conflicts--or just the musical content in general--to offer a healthy challenge to my faith. An excellent example of just that would be Bad Religion's American Jesus.

Sometimes I like to listen to music just for the sake of silliness' sake. If I hear Ke$ha or Katy Perry come on the radio I'll blare it loud, sing along, and then laugh at the whole picture of this 6'1 guy in his small car singing along to California Gurls. But then, I'm a very silly person.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[NewAgeChristian]

The content of art and communication impacts people. I feel the energy of words and visuals, just like I can feel the energy of people I interact with. That energy can make me uncomfortable or joyful.

My guy friends have discussed this recently. We all used to listen to lots of hard rock, but independently we began to listen to more uplifting music as we focused more intently on our relationships with Jesus. As we felt the presence of God in our lives every day, certain music just didn't feel right any more.

A bigger issue is the challenge of Christians to immerse themselves in the secular world. We are not supposed to put up a fortress around us, but instead we are to engage the world. We are to be the salt of the earth, rubbed into it in order to preserve it. But that oftentimes requires the implementation of spiritual disciplines that keep us from straying into dangerous personal territory.

 

[All Englands Skies]

I haven't actually entirely become Christian yet, but I feel like I'm really getting there. Last week I took a load of Cds down to the charity shop, because I felt drawn to do so. My whole life, I've always been a big heavy metal fan. I was listening to stuff and hanging out with music fans who were influencing me in a bad way. I was listening to alot of extreme Norwegian black metal, stuff that encourages depression, suicide, violence, cruelty and just downright misery. I was also listening to alot of 80's glam metal that encourages promiscuity and treats women like objects. I was friends with people who devoted their whole lives to this stuff and it led to me doing many things I regret - casual sex, tattoos, self-mutilation, drugs, a suicide attempt, Satanism. It led to me being raped and imprisoned against my will by my rapist. It led to me allowing myself to be used by different men. I have scars, tattoos and piercing holes that I want rid of. Somewhere out there someone has photos of me posing in lingerie and I hate the thought of that. All of this happened because I was living the lifestyle of the music that I was involved in. My whole life was devoted to heavy metal and me and all my friends wanted to emulate that lifestyle. I have cut out of my life people who are still into that lifestyle, and I got rid of alot of my CDs, posters and music videos. I got rid of the worst ones, the ones that promote suicide, depression, self-mutilation and casual sex.

I haven't gotten rid of all of them though. I still enjoy the sound of rock and metal, and there are some bands out there, not just Christian bands but others too, who create beautiful metal and rock music without that negativity.

To be honest, I dont think the music itself is to blame, You could have followed a diffrent path but still fallen in with "wrong 'uns".

But music is more than just a sound, it does influence Wether we like it or not. I was a Skinhead, heavily Nationalist, listened to bands like Skrewdriver, No Remorse other racist hard rock/ hard punk Music, the music conjured up emotions, it could get you "psyched up" to cause trouble and violence, its words could inspire you to think about things (the wrong things), it was only part of things of course, but it still was a big part along with everything else.

 

[98cwitr]

Smashing Pumkpins - Bullet with Butterfly Wings can almost sum up my stance on theology at this point in my life.