Why are some Christians against rock music?

[PuzzledBread]

I was browsing yahoo and came across this article

Ohio Christian school tells student to skip prom

FINDLAY, Ohio – A student at a fundamentalist Baptist school that forbids dancing, rock music, hand-holding and kissing will be suspended if he takes his girlfriend to her public high school prom, his principal said.
Despite the warning, 17-year-old Tyler Frost, who has never been to a dance before, said he plans to attend Findlay High School's prom Saturday.
Frost, a senior at Heritage Christian School in northwest Ohio, agreed to the school's rules when he signed a statement of cooperation at the beginning of the year, principal Tim England said.
The teen, who is scheduled to receive his diploma May 24, would be suspended from classes and receive an "incomplete" on remaining assignments, England said. Frost also would not be permitted to attend graduation but would get a diploma once he completes final exams. If Frost is involved with alcohol or sex at the prom, he will be expelled, England said.
Frost's stepfather Stephan Johnson said the school's rules should not apply outside the classroom.
"He deserves to wear that cap and gown," Johnson said.
Frost said he thought he had handled the situation properly. Findlay requires students from other schools attending the prom to get a signature from their principal, which Frost did.
"I expected a short lecture about making the right decisions and not doing something stupid," Frost said. "I thought I would get his signature and that would be the end."
England acknowledged signing the form but warned Frost there would be consequences if he attended the dance. England then took the issue to a school committee made up of church members, who decided to threaten Frost with suspension.
"In life, we constantly make decisions whether we are going to please self or please God. (Frost) chose one path, and the school committee chose the other," England said.
The handbook for the 84-student Christian school says rock music "is part of the counterculture which seeks to implant seeds of rebellion in young people's hearts and minds."
England said Frost's family should not be surprised by the school's position.
"For the parents to claim any injustice regarding this issue is at best forgetful and at worst disingenuous," he said. "It is our hope that the student and his parents will abide by the policies they have already agreed to."
The principal at Findlay High School, whose graduates include Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, said he respects, but does not agree with, Heritage Christian School's view of prom.
"I don't see (dancing and rock music) as immoral acts," Craig Kupferberg said.

I'm sure not many here are radical enough to try taking away someone's freewill because of the chance of sin. Most of the comments on the page are from Christians stating how the principle in this case was not following the teachings of Christ, and most of them seemed offended by calling rock music sinful.

My question is simple, is rock music considered a sin? If it is, why? After a quick search of google (emphasis on quick) I even found links stating Christian Rock is "satanic". This only brings me to the conclusion that the lyrics and message do not play a big part in classifying rock as sinful. Which doesn't make much sense to me. I'd understand if Christians refused to listen to a band like slayer, since the lyrics actually are anti-Christian. But those who are so extremely radical they'd call Creed satanic . Or those who don't go far enough to call Christian Rock evil, but go far enough to judge Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, or Def Leppard for instance.

Hopefully this isn't breaking any rules, just extremely curious on this idea and couldn't find any great discussions online, just small interesting bites of information.

Thanks for your help

 

[Sketcher]

Well, I'm a Christian who likes rock music, and have been over the issue many times. I think I can tell you the arguments these people use.

Many of them think that it's linked to witchcraft. Many of them think that the devil used to be in charge of the music in Heaven, before he rebelled and became the devil, and he's linked to rock music because of all this. Many of them look at the drug use, and the promiscuity, and the wild stories from the road, and the lyrics and see this as justification for it. They also look at the rhythms, and claim that they are evil magic demon summoning rhythms.

Of course, none of these objections are truly rooted in Scripture to begin with. I've read much of the Bible and I have not found one passage that claims any genre of music has the possibility of being inherently evil, or by itself having the ability to conjure magic or summon demons. Nor have I found any Biblical passages referring to Satan's musical history - though satanists use this tradition (one heck of a reliable source there

). Many secular bands are hedonistic, and that is a problem, but that's not evidence of the music itself being evil. Same with trashy lyrics, though we should avoid those songs. To disprove this, one only needs to look at the many Christian bands out there who practice a Godly lifestyle, yet play this kind of music. Heck, there are even secular bands that live clean lifestyles (sXe comes to mind) and even some with clean lyrics. So you have a whole spat of rock bands who aren't any worse than the country bands or jazz bands, or a capella groups that a lot of these people listen to. The only difference is the music, and if you go by the Bible, as I do, there's nothing wrong with the music.

Oh, these people will throw Bible verses around, but they're only really used for rhetoric. Not one of them applies to the subject of music being good or evil or not.

Now, there are some bands who are anti-Christian who nobody should listen to. But these bad apples don't speak for all of rock music.

 

[arunma]

Congratulations, you've found another group of stupid people. Sorry to give such a blunt response, but the honest truth is that people can be idiots, and even Christians are people. I'm not trying to judge the Christians you referred to in any way. But their understanding of Scripture is slightly flawed.

At my church we have worship events twice a year which consist mostly of rock music. And we are in no sense a "liberal" church, since we believe all parts of the Bible (including the parts which state that faith in Christ is necessary for salvation). It would be a good idea to base your understanding of Jesus on what the Bible says rather than on what weird, fringe churches do.

 

[PuzzledBread]

Well, I'm a Christian who likes rock music, and have been over the issue many times. I think I can tell you the arguments these people use.

Many of them think that it's linked to witchcraft. Many of them think that the devil used to be in charge of the music in Heaven, before he rebelled and became the devil, and he's linked to rock music because of all this. Many of them look at the drug use, and the promiscuity, and the wild stories from the road, and the lyrics and see this as justification for it. They also look at the rhythms, and claim that they are evil magic demon summoning rhythms.

Of course, none of these objections are truly rooted in Scripture to begin with. I've read much of the Bible and I have not found one passage that claims any genre of music has the possibility of being inherently evil, or by itself having the ability to conjure magic or summon demons. Nor have I found any Biblical passages referring to Satan's musical history - though satanists use this tradition (one heck of a reliable source there

). Many secular bands are hedonistic, and that is a problem, but that's not evidence of the music itself being evil. Same with trashy lyrics, though we should avoid those songs. To disprove this, one only needs to look at the many Christian bands out there who practice a Godly lifestyle, yet play this kind of music. Heck, there are even secular bands that live clean lifestyles (sXe comes to mind) and even some with clean lyrics. So you have a whole spat of rock bands who aren't any worse than the country bands or jazz bands, or a capella groups that a lot of these people listen to. The only difference is the music, and if you go by the Bible, as I do, there's nothing wrong with the music.

Oh, these people will throw Bible verses around, but they're only really used for rhetoric. Not one of them applies to the subject of music being good or evil or not.

Now, there are some bands who are anti-Christian who nobody should listen to. But these bad apples don't speak for all of rock music.

Thanks for your reply, I think it is extremely strange to consider rhythms sinful though, I'd really like to know when this idea started, and what type of rhythm is considered sinful. The whole demonic aspect of rock is a big joke really, the devil horns came about when Dio decided to use an evil eye gesture on stage that he learned from his grandmother and eventually it came to be a symbol of metal.

And honestly, I agree with your last statement, these overtly anti-christian songs even bother me a bit. I love Slayer's early albums and music, but as soon as they started going aggressive towards religion with their lyrics, it just bugged me a bit.

Congratulations, you've found another group of stupid people. Sorry to give such a blunt response, but the honest truth is that people can be idiots, and even Christians are people. I'm not trying to judge the Christians you referred to in any way. But their understanding of Scripture is slightly flawed.

At my church we have worship events twice a year which consist mostly of rock music. And we are in no sense a "liberal" church, since we believe all parts of the Bible (including the parts which state that faith in Christ is necessary for salvation). It would be a good idea to base your understanding of Jesus on what the Bible says rather than on what weird, fringe churches do.

I had a feeling it was a very conservative and small sect that believe that certain genres should be abhorred, and that most Christians would find it upsetting, seeing as how my best friend is a creationist and he listens almost strictly to heavy metal. Thanks for your reply, and I do only base my ideas on Christianity on the bible, and some secular histories of that period, not on traditional ideas.

 

[secondtimearound]

I love Slayer's early albums and music, but as soon as they started going aggressive towards religion with their lyrics, it just bugged me a bit.

I don't listen to Slayer, a little bit when I was a teenager but I never heard thier anti-religious songs. Not that I'm saying they don't exist because you obviously have heard them and I don't think you have that confused. To my understanding the lead singer is a devout Catholic however. Makes one wonder how devout he really is

 

[Dasein]

I don't listen to Slayer, a little bit when I was a teenager but I never heard thier anti-religious songs. Not that I'm saying they don't exist because you obviously have heard them and I don't think you have that confused. To my understanding the lead singer is a devout Catholic however. Makes one wonder how devout he really is

Tom Araya is (supposedly) a Catholic, yes. However, the OP is correct, from the late 90s onwards they've got more openly critical of Christianity. "God Hates us All" and "Christ Illusion", for example (their last two albums) have tons of openly anti-Christian songs on there.

In response to the OP, I think that there are a lot of bands which Christians need to be wary about - Slayer being at the lower end of the spectrum, actually - but strangely they don't seem to. There are whole genres such as black metal which primarily centre around anti-Christian lyrics and themes, but the Conservative Christians tend to go for the soft rock and mainstream metal bands, even if they aren't anti-Christian, which always perplexes me.
I can see why they would dislike bands such as Black Sabbath, Maiden and so on (because many of these bands have lyrics about the devil and things like that - check out Iron Maiden's "Holy Smoke" if you want to see why many American Christians would dislike them), but as you said it is slightly ridiculous when people claim that certain tempos and rhythms are 'evil'.

 

[Sketcher]

In response to the OP, I think that there are a lot of bands which Christians need to be wary about - Slayer being at the lower end of the spectrum, actually - but strangely they don't seem to. There are whole genres such as black metal which primarily centre around anti-Christian lyrics and themes, but the Conservative Christians tend to go for the soft rock and mainstream metal bands, even if they aren't anti-Christian, which always perplexes me.

In their defense, I don't think they've even heard of stuff like Gorgoroth. They just go for what they heard about, and pop music does have a much wider audience.

 

[PuzzledBread]

Tom Araya is (supposedly) a Catholic, yes. However, the OP is correct, from the late 90s onwards they've got more openly critical of Christianity. "God Hates us All" and "Christ Illusion", for example (their last two albums) have tons of openly anti-Christian songs on there.

In response to the OP, I think that there are a lot of bands which Christians need to be wary about - Slayer being at the lower end of the spectrum, actually - but strangely they don't seem to. There are whole genres such as black metal which primarily centre around anti-Christian lyrics and themes, but the Conservative Christians tend to go for the soft rock and mainstream metal bands, even if they aren't anti-Christian, which always perplexes me.
I can see why they would dislike bands such as Black Sabbath, Maiden and so on (because many of these bands have lyrics about the devil and things like that - check out Iron Maiden's "Holy Smoke" if you want to see why many American Christians would dislike them), but as you said it is slightly ridiculous when people claim that certain tempos and rhythms are 'evil'.

Actually, Christians should approve of Black Sabbath, shocking I know, but Ozzy is actually a devout Christian, and some of the lyrics to sabbath songs show deep rooted Christian influence. The songs mention the devil, but they us it as a tool of fear (They started playing proto-metal because after they saw a bunch of people going to see a scary movie, they realized people wanted to be scared, originally, they played a style of heavy blues more prominent in later albums, but with more conventional lyrics), they don't promote the devil, they instead use the stigma that is already attached to him. Their lyrics often involve motifs of the evil sections of society suffering in hell. Listen to After Forever, or at least look up the lyrics, its an open advertisement for joining the religion.

Iron Maiden, the lyrics are more about the devil as a force, not as an ally. They delve in lore more than approval of the devil. Holy Smoke is actually a song about Christianity being misconstrued for selfish purposes. Preachers who live in affluence, people who find the OT verses to use against certain groups of people or progressive ideas, picking and choosing ideas, when Christ in reality came with a message of peace. Love those around you, turn the other cheek, help the poor, stand up for what is right and true. And these ideas, while supposedly the primary message of Christianity, are put aside to promote faith, creationism, and discrimination. The holy smoke is a metaphor for a fog put in front of our eyes, which is supposed to appear holy, however, in reality it only distracts you from what lies behind the smoke, and what really is holy. Unfortunately I see the song as right, the focus in America seems to be far away from being Christ-like, and more towards fearing hell, and trying for the reward of heaven.

A lot of these bands actually use demonic lyrics because they find them interesting, or fun, not because they actually praise the devil. Would you believe Dave Mustaine of Megadeth is a born again Christian? A lot of these rock stars have made mistakes in their lives, but they truly are great people in reality. But some are just idiots, and write idiotic lyrics, like Slayer's Christ Illusion, which is just plain immature (I believe one of their songs has the line "Jesus Sucks" which is plain childish, if you want to give a message about Christianity, articulate it, don't just slander.)

 

[Sketcher]

Actually, Christians should approve of Black Sabbath, shocking I know, but Ozzy is actually a devout Christian, and some of the lyrics to sabbath songs show deep rooted Christian influence.

I like some Sabbath songs, but I wouldn't take it that far.

Alice Cooper converted. Rock on.

 

[kotwebck]

Gorgoroth, Dumir, Scandenavian Black Metal, Slayer ... lol ... yeah I know it, used to make a living from music like that.

God created music, rhythm etc. It's just that the satan will use everything to corrupt and destroy all we humans enjoy and appreciate ... but no musical sound, like the flatend 5th in the Blues scale that Metal Bands use ("evil sounding ... lol") is evil, nothing on earth is evil or that matter ... it is just that the humans that use/abuse everything we have is weak willed and will be pulled into the satans trick. This would then corrupt the music (or watever) and the natural response from Christains would be to condenm it, and can you blame them when God or Jesus is the target?

I agree with staying away from anything that might make you sin, so if the music leads you to places and or people that might make you sin - stay away.

It's a personal desition - I don't believe in taking peoples rights, to listern or experience music like that, away - that I believe is also wrong.

 

[Celticflower]

I like some Sabbath songs, but I wouldn't take it that far.

Alice Cooper converted. Rock on.

More like returned to his roots - Alice's dad was a preacher.

 

[Adoniram]

Don't quote me on this, but I believe the Christian aversion to rock music started with missionaries returning from abroad, mainly Africa, in the fifties and sixties. While in the field, they frequently encountered tribes whose rhythmical music was associated with pagan rituals. Returning home, and hearing the same kinds of rhythms, drums, and such in music here at home alarmed them. Their fear became widespread.

While I don't consider most rock music to be pagan/Satanic necessarily (secular definitely), it is true that it's rhythms have their origins in the African culture. Elvis gave it a big jump-start in the fifties.

 

[PuzzledBread]

Don't quote me on this, but I believe the Christian aversion to rock music started with missionaries returning from abroad, mainly Africa, in the fifties and sixties. While in the field, they frequently encountered tribes whose rhythmical music was associated with pagan rituals. Returning home, and hearing the same kinds of rhythms, drums, and such in music here at home alarmed them. Their fear became widespread.

While I don't consider most rock music to be pagan/Satanic necessarily (secular definitely), it is true that it's rhythms have their origins in the African culture. Elvis gave it a big jump-start in the fifties.

It's because rock is blues based, and blues is actually based on a combination of those rhythms, and ironically enough, african american church music.

So, rock music's origin is even tied into Christianity.

 

[Suggestion Box]

rock music is only a sin if it's nickelback. it's because God loves your ears and he doesn't want to see them wither in pain.

 

[PuzzledBread]

rock music is only a sin if it's nickelback. it's because God loves your ears and he doesn't want to see them wither in pain.

qft, I'd actually become born again if that were the case.

 

[Chesterton]

<staff edit>

"Sing a boop boop aboopa lopa lum bam boom"

"Now I wanna be your dog."

At its best and at its worst, rock and roll is frivolous stupidity. Lester Bangs, one of the most important rock critics ever, said "In the final analysis, rock and roll is, at its core, a raving ball of sh__." Christianity is naturally averse to such stuff.

 

[PuzzledBread]

"Sing a boop boop aboopa lopa lum bam boom"

"Now I wanna be your dog."

At its best and at its worst, rock and roll is frivolous stupidity. Lester Bangs, one of the most important rock critics ever, said "In the final analysis, rock and roll is, at its core, a raving ball of sh__." Christianity is naturally averse to such stuff.

I would agree to stupidity to a degree, hell I play in a band and 90% of all we do is goof off, but frivolous? Not at all, its a means of art, and no art is frivolous.

 

[aiki]

I'm sure not many here are radical enough to try taking away someone's freewill because of the chance of sin. Most of the comments on the page are from Christians stating how the principle in this case was not following the teachings of Christ, and most of them seemed offended by calling rock music sinful.

God places a great many restrictions on a believer's behaviour. In this respect, at least. the school was not acting any differently.

I think most secular (and some Christian) rock music fails the Philippians 4:8 standard:

"Finally, my brethren, whatsoever things are true...honest...just...pure...lovely...of a good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

Then, too, no secular rock music achieves the apostle Paul's mandate:

"Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." (1Cor. 10:31)

My question is simple, is rock music considered a sin? If it is, why?

Anything that one engages in knowing it is corrosive to one's relationship with God is, I believe, sin. Certainly music that promotes immorality, antagonism towards God's authority, and glorifies the creature rather than the Creator is spiritually corrosive.

After a quick search of google (emphasis on quick) I even found links stating Christian Rock is "satanic".

I think there is a great deal of rock music of which this is true.

This only brings me to the conclusion that the lyrics and message do not play a big part in classifying rock as sinful. Which doesn't make much sense to me.

There are specific sounds that do provoke certain kinds of feelings and responses in people. The sound of a scream produces a different response in the hearer than the sound of a softly sung lullabye. Movies in particular use this knowledge to good effect. Action scenes have one kind of music, romantic scenes another. Moments of horror in a movie don't typically sound the same as moments of comedy. The raw sound of a song can carry a message just as clearly as, and perhaps more powerfully than, the lyrics do. Musical sound can induce feelings and foster attitudes just as well as the spoken word. Inasmuch as this is true, it seems to me that a wise child of God should take into account what a song sounds like, as well as the lyrical content of it, when deciding if the song should be listened to.

I'd understand if Christians refused to listen to a band like slayer, since the lyrics actually are anti-Christian. But those who are so extremely radical they'd call Creed satanic . Or those who don't go far enough to call Christian Rock evil, but go far enough to judge Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, or Def Leppard for instance.

"He who is not with me is against me..." (Matt. 12:30)

Do any of the bands you mention above promote Christ? Since it is Christ himself who says such people are against him, ought the followers of Christ to give a regular audience to them?

Peace to you.

​

 

[Sketcher]

God places a great many restrictions on a believer's behaviour. In this respect, at least. the school was not acting any differently.

I think most secular (and some Christian) rock music fails the Philippians 4:8 standard:

"Finally, my brethren, whatsoever things are true...honest...just...pure...lovely...of a good report, if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things."

Well, at least you acknowledge exceptions.

Then, too, no secular rock music achieves the apostle Paul's mandate:

"Whether therefore you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." (1Cor. 10:31)

Well, there are a few songs which have done that on accident. But one has to ask why is rock getting picked on here. Secular music, by definition, won't be made with the intent of only glorifying God if it glorifies God at all. This would be true of country, rap, jazz, classical, folk, and every other genre of music that exists. One would also have to ask then, if you hear a few chords of any sort of music which isn't Christian and enjoy it, would that be sin? I think it's a bit of a reach to say that it is. After all, if it's not a song with filthy lyrics, it would pass the Philippians 4:8 test.

Anything that one engages in knowing it is corrosive to one's relationship with God is, I believe, sin. Certainly music that promotes immorality, antagonism towards God's authority, and glorifies the creature rather than the Creator is spiritually corrosive.

Right, but not all rock music or music of any genre is inherently like this. Music is just a tool, no matter what its style.

There are specific sounds that do provoke certain kinds of feelings and responses in people. The sound of a scream produces a different response in the hearer than the sound of a softly sung lullabye. Movies in particular use this knowledge to good effect. Action scenes have one kind of music, romantic scenes another. Moments of horror in a movie don't typically sound the same as moments of comedy. The raw sound of a song can carry a message just as clearly as, and perhaps more powerfully than, the lyrics do. Musical sound can induce feelings and foster attitudes just as well as the spoken word. Inasmuch as this is true, it seems to me that a wise child of God should take into account what a song sounds like, as well as the lyrical content of it, when deciding if the song should be listened to.

Agreed. I don't have any problem with the more extreme kinds of music either.

"He who is not with me is against me..." (Matt. 12:30)

Do any of the bands you mention above promote Christ? Since it is Christ himself who says such people are against him, ought the followers of Christ to give a regular audience to them?

Depends on what they have to say.

 

[JohnDeereFan]

Double post