Why do Christians hate swearing in music?

I disagree with drinking beer - the stuff tastes terrible. I don't know how you guys do it. Give me vodka any day.

Oh, and swearing is cool if used well (i.e. to emphasize, to show extreme feeling). If not (i.e. describing every noun with "F"), it just sounds stupid.

philN said:

Are you serious?

I thought this was common knowledge. Have you listened to the stuff?

Today if you walk into a music store there is a "christian" section. This is where people who think that Satan controls secular music buy their music. Not only that, but there are websites and magazines devoted to telling you what the christian alternatives to secular bands are. This is about as derivative and contrived as you can get. Feeding off of the success of mainstream musicians by creating bland and mediocre Christian alternatives that have a forced gospel message (that's the shallow part) in the lyrics. It is why people don't take christians seriously, we have trivialized the gospel and God's gift of art.

God created one world. He didn't create a christian world and a secular world. If a christian has a gift in music they should use their gift by being creative and original (after all they are representing THE creator). But most Christians don't create art for arts sake. They are too busy worrying about how they can "win souls" by mimicking whatever bands people are listening to at the time.

There are a few exceptions. But for the most part, Christian music (and the same goes for literature and art too) is weak. I think the fact that we represent God and don't understand his gift of art is a greater turn-off to non-christians than people who throw around "inappropriate language" on occasion.

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You are right...God didn't create us to be secualr and Christian. We did that part on our own. We sinned...but those of us who have repented and claimed Jesus as our Savior are called by God to be different. God tells us that we are to be different that the non-Christians (the Gentiles) in Ephesians 4. So for us to create our own music to praise God with is following God's command. Also, people who sing songs preaching the Gospel are to save the lost. The point in making the music like the secular music in style is so that non-Christians don't think that Christians are boring and only sing hymns. It is to get them to at least try to listen to Christian music and then they hear the message of the Gospel in the lyrics. It is a method to reach the lost, because Jesus told us to be fishers of men. Honestly, I don't care what you think, but I do care what God thinks. And I know that all I said just now was not about what I think or what you think, but all about what God thinks.

~Erica~

nadroj1985 said:

I disagree with drinking beer - the stuff tastes terrible. I don't know how you guys do it. Give me vodka any day.

Oh, and swearing is cool if used well (i.e. to emphasize, to show extreme feeling). If not (i.e. describing every noun with "F"), it just sounds stupid.

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Ugh, vodka reminds me of organic chemistry labs. And cursing is particularly cool when placed within multi-syllabled adjectives and adverbs.

ladyerica said:

You are right...God didn't create us to be secualr and Christian. We did that part on our own. We sinned...but those of us who have repented and claimed Jesus as our Savior are called by God to be different. God tells us that we are to be different that the non-Christians (the Gentiles) in Ephesians 4. So for us to create our own music to praise God with is following God's command. Also, people who sing songs preaching the Gospel are to save the lost. The point in making the music like the secular music in style is so that non-Christians don't think that Christians are boring and only sing hymns. It is to get them to at least try to listen to Christian music and then they hear the message of the Gospel in the lyrics. It is a method to reach the lost, because Jesus told us to be fishers of men. Honestly, I don't care what you think, but I do care what God thinks. And I know that all I said just now was not about what I think or what you think, but all about what God thinks.

~Erica~

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Hymns are great, particularly because many are very strong lyrically/theologically. MOST contemporary christian bands water down "a meaning" or "a philosophy" rather than presenting scripture. It seems kinda sly to me, but not in an overly cool way.

blackwasp said:

Hymns are great, particularly because many are very strong lyrically/theologically. MOST contemporary christian bands water down "a meaning" or "a philosophy" rather than presenting scripture. It seems kinda sly to me, but not in an overly cool way.

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I never said anything was wrong with hymns and if I implied it, I didn't mean to. I like hyms but it seems that most teenagers like louder music, though, so they don't want to listen to hymns. (just wanted to clarify my purpose in saying that)

~Erica~

ladyerica said:

You are right...God didn't create us to be secualr and Christian. We did that part on our own. We sinned...but those of us who have repented and claimed Jesus as our Savior are called by God to be different. God tells us that we are to be different that the non-Christians (the Gentiles) in Ephesians 4. So for us to create our own music to praise God with is following God's command. Also, people who sing songs preaching the Gospel are to save the lost. The point in making the music like the secular music in style is so that non-Christians don't think that Christians are boring and only sing hymns. It is to get them to at least try to listen to Christian music and then they hear the message of the Gospel in the lyrics. It is a method to reach the lost, because Jesus told us to be fishers of men. Honestly, I don't care what you think, but I do care what God thinks. And I know that all I said just now was not about what I think or what you think, but all about what God thinks.

~Erica~

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I'm more apt to listen to Christian music that I believed took some true song-writing talent. I know I've said this tons of times, but we need more Christian artists that don't have to just rip off and water down secular styles, but really make something of their own, and be influential; not just in music, but lyrics also. I don't mean that there shouldn't be Christian rock bands, or Christian jazz bands - bands that play music of established styles - but that these Christian bands should try to be creative within whatever genre they choose. Then, more people are likely to listen.

Original Christian lyrics can be hard to come by - and writing songs isn't easy - but when they are found, they can be immensely edifying. As someone who has been around and playing music for the majority of my life, it annoys me whenever I hear artists that do little to nothing that is creative and get called a talented artist. (BTW, my own fave "Christian band" is Cool Hand Luke. They have some rock, some jazz, some indie...very nice. Also, some of the most genuine and original Christian lyrics I've heard in quite awhile.)

I understand your message and agree with what you're saying, really (I don't think I'd be a Christian in the first place otherwise), but "honestly, I don't care what you think?" Then why even read, or for that matter, post, and think people should care what you're saying? We shouldn't think as the world thinks, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't listen to what other people have to say. I read and post so that I can give and take in different viewpoints; it's very educational. Caring about what other people say can be a big advantage for say, witnessing. Just a thought.

Middlemoor said:

i don't "hate" swearing in music so much as i don't prefer it. i don't really wanna swear myself, but it's habitual. on the scope of rap, it gets used alot, but it's not how respected artists get thier flow, but sure a good emcee can put swearing into a verse, but they don't need it. is it deep? i don't think it's deep. it ain't hard to swear, my 8 eight old sister can swear. as for "who cares what the bible says" - well that might be the crux of the issue. christians should care what the bible says...you know, alot of people say it's the swearing but then alot of people hate rap and don't wanna explore it or come up with a real reason not to listen to it. but we don't need to swear or be exposed to swearing to live a full life. it's not cool, or deep, or neccessary.

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I totally agree with you!

WhenFinallySetFree777 said:

I understand your message and agree with what you're saying, really (I don't think I'd be a Christian in the first place otherwise), but "honestly, I don't care what you think?" Then why even read, or for that matter, post, and think people should care what you're saying? We shouldn't think as the world thinks, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't listen to what other people have to say. I read and post so that I can give and take in different viewpoints; it's very educational. Caring about what other people say can be a big advantage for say, witnessing. Just a thought.

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I read and post because I want to. I don't need to care about what other people think to know what I think and to try to show people where they are wrong in accordance to God's word. Just because I don't care about what they think doesn't mean that I don't listen to what they have to say.

~Erica~

P.S. What I meant by not caring what they think is that their opinion is not going to affect me.

There is no commandment in the Bible that forbids "swearing" (ie. f-word, b-word, etc.). It's a Christian myth. It's just slang, sort of like the word "cuss"

Romans 12:14 Bless those who persecute you. Bless and Do not Curse. Do not curse means do not curse. If the bible doesn't forbid swearing then maybe next time were at church will tell the pastor that he delivered a nice [edited] sermon. If we can't curse in church then how can we curse anywhere else. I still don't get it. We are forgiven of cursing if we repent but if we do it willfully wouldn't that be grieving the spirit of God?

Do you honestly believe that as a result of the fall God is pleased that we segregate ourselves into ignorant little bubbles?

Also, you said that Christians write music to appeal to non-christians so that they can hear the message of the gospel. Here's the problem: Christians who make music should focus on making music that is good art or good theology (and some people can write music that falls into both categories). Today, most christian artists have so watered down the message (as blackwasp mentioned) and have trivialized art by using it as a tool for propaghanda rather than art for arts sake. Thus, christian music has become a gray area: it's not good art and it's not good theology. So why should anyone care what we have to say, we're not even doing our job right.

Also, if you are going to say that Christians who write Christian music are glorifying God more than Christian who write music that is not marketed toward Christians, you should be aware of the implications of such a position. This would mean that a carpenter who works hard to glorify God with the gifts that he has been given cannot glorify God as much as a missionary who does the same. You seem to be implying that religious music, literature, occupations, et cetera always outweigh common music, literature, occupations, et cetera. I don't really see any biblical basis for this, which is what you said was what you used to show that your opinions were right and others were wrong. I'd be interested in how you justify creating a seperate culture biblically.

WhenFinallySetFree777 said:

I'm more apt to listen to Christian music that I believed took some true song-writing talent. I know I've said this tons of times, but we need more Christian artists that don't have to just rip off and water down secular styles, but really make something of their own, and be influential; not just in music, but lyrics also. I don't mean that there shouldn't be Christian rock bands, or Christian jazz bands - bands that play music of established styles - but that these Christian bands should try to be creative within whatever genre they choose. Then, more people are likely to listen.

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My personal take on this position is that the artist should be a [insert genre here] artist first, and a Christian artist second. This isn't to somehow put their message on a less important level, but to make sure they are actually doing the best they can with the musicianship half of their art. The problem I see is that the all-important aspect of 'Christian' music is the message (which as others have said, is often watered down - in my experiences, it's usually little more than 'feel good' music; if I wanted that, I could turn on half a billion 'secular' artists that don't have offensive lyrics), and then any musicianship comes as a far second, when it should be equally important (I honestly don't know if most of the CCM artists simply aren't as well-trained, or if they just don't apply themselves, but in either case, the musical part of their material could do for some much-needed improvement).

If I'm going to listen to music for a spiritual message or experience, it had better edify and challenge my faith; get me to think. Feel-good CCM music just doesn't cut it, and most of the 'deep' CCM I've come across is as deep as a puddle in comparison to 'secular' acts that address the same issues in the same light.

Christian music should not be used as some 'safer alternative'. The artists should be legitimate Post-Grunge, Industrial, Electronic, Folk, Country, Rap/Hip-Hop, etc. artists who just happen to have edifying, theologically sound lyrics. Not 'Christian' artists (since 'Christian' is not a genre of music; even CCM is a misnomer) that sound like Bush, Orgy, Kraftwerk, John Denver, etc.

Those that argue that Christian music is made to mimic 'secular' music in order to save people are deluding themselves, to be blunt. The reason for this is simply that non-Christians almost never actively go looking for Christian music. They only come into contact with it when they're in the company of Christian friends that listen to CCM or if those Christian artists decided to make a move for the mainstream, in which case their status as a 'Christian music artist' is called into question, so it's really a moot point.

Well put.

What I also think is scary is this:

The point in making the music like the secular music in style is so that non-Christians don't think that Christians are boring and only sing hymns

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This is a dangerous and wrongheaded thought regardless of whether you are talking about praise and worship music (i.e. music in churches) or music that Christians make and market toward Christians.

In music in churches, music has been progressively watered down and altered to become more appealing. This is disturbing in and of itself. The world must not be allowed to tell us how to sing or speak in the presence of God. It is God, not the unchurched, who must give us our pattern for worship. Similarly, Christians who promote "alternatives to secular artists" don't seem to note the logical fallacy of their arguement. If their music is an alternative or a derivative of secular music, then without the aid of secular music, Christian music itself would cease to exist. Ironic, the genre that wishes to rid the influence of secular music, is in fact reliant on it. It is parastic in nature, as it feeds off of others ideas and tweaks them as to make them look somewhat original.

We need better writers, painters, and artists for church liturgy, theology, architectre, and music. We also need better apologists who can interact intelligently with cultural and religious critics of orthodox Christianity. But then we also need better artists on the other side of the line altogether, working side by side daily with unbelievers and experiencing failure and succes right along with them. But we will not have these artists, I fear, if we simply collapse all these categories into one lump of mediocrity that takes its cue from the world in teh form of mass popular culture.

Much of Christian music gives the impression that the lyrics and musical composition are incidental to the religious enthusiasm or moral exhortation. Thus, the level of actual Christian expression is often as shallow and poorly conceived as the music itself.

I'm going off on a tangent right now, which isn't really relevant to the topic, so I'll stop. But I think that an idea that has slipped into Christian thought is not one that is really biblical.

SlimShadyJB said:

........ I don't think there is anything wrong with it..........

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exactly. You don't, they do. get over it. They want their lives to glorify God, and they don't want to listen to filth
My outlook on this issue is changing I believe.

Romans 12:14 Bless those who persecute you. Bless and Do not Curse. Do not curse means do not curse. If the bible doesn't forbid swearing then maybe next time were at church will tell the pastor that he delivered a nice f**king sermon. If we can't curse in church then how can we curse anywhere else. I still don't get it. We are forgiven of cursing if we repent but if we do it willfully wouldn't that be grieving the spirit of God?

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That passage cannot be used for your arguement. It is talking about not cursing your enemys.Its not saying dont listen to a singer cuss, or saying yourself "oh F*ck" its showing what you ought not to do, the opposite of what Christ taught us "turning the other cheek", "love your enemy" "pray for those who prosecute you": that sort of thing.
THere are lots of passages about not having a filthy mouth, those would help your argument better.

I don't like swearing period, so why would music be the exception

Curse words are socially taboo. Even if a person is not religious, it would not be acceptable to go into a store screaming sh** at the top of your lungs. Otherwise, you would get dirty looks from those who are Christian and those who aren't. Being socially taboo, it has entered into Christianity as a way to be morally upright. Then it morphed into a full blown sin. I personally do not believe that cursing is a sin but that curse words should be used sparingly and not in front of my children since it would be socially unacceptable for my four year old to yell F*** in school.

That passage cannot be used for your arguement. It is talking about not cursing your enemys.Its not saying dont listen to a singer cuss, or saying yourself "oh F" its showing what you ought not to do, the opposite of what Christ taught us "turning the other cheek", "love your enemy" "pray for those who prosecute you": that sort of thing.
THere are lots of passages about not having a filthy mouth, those would help your argument better.

If we listen to a singer that curses then it is obvious that he is cursing someone. If a rapper says F the government then he is cursing the government or that he going to kill someone then what is he saying. A curse word explains itself. Cursing other people and condemning yourself.


I have got my official warning to leave. One parting question is this whole site is not about relaxing but to discuss our beautiful Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. What Does Christian Forums mean to everyone. I don't know how Sin ties in with the word Christian?

If anyone is on the defensive then what does that say? People have been asking for scripture and I have been posting it. I have been posting the truth so the truth can set us free. If people are getting defensive over the truth then what does that say?

I don't remember Jesus ever being defensive so why can we be defensive?

Jesus was on the offensive and to bring attention people's sin so that they could realize what they were doing was sin and that they could grow from it.

I am just a vessel for the spirit of Jesus to operate through to post the TRUTH of the scriptures.

It isn't about being high and mighty because I am no better then anyone of you.

Romans 12:14 Bless those who persecute you. Bless and do not curse.

You have been Blessed and Forgiven

Nice cut and paste. VEEEEEEEERY original.

And for the record, 'cuss' words are, as was stated above, 'socially' taboo. Paul, nor Jesus, were talking about saying the words used today when they spoke about 'filthy language'. It meant an entirely different thing back then. Words are just words. While I try myself not to cuss, it is not because I think those words are wrong, but rather how society perceives them, and me as a Christian saying them. Using the Lord's name in vain is a TOTALLY different thing, that I think NO person, saved or not, should do. That's specific. But I also have non-Christian friends who would not be offended in the least if I dropped an f-bomb, because they know me well enough to know my heart. Therein lies the fruit. It is what is on the inside that matters.

If we are going to condemn people for words, then let's also condemn them for eating whoppers and being overweight, or for having an occasionaly beer, or smoking a cigarette. In the end, it is an issue that GOD, and NO ONE ELSE, must deal with an individual on.

MoreInSorrow said:

Nice cut and paste. VEEEEEEEERY original.

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You gave a me a good chuckle. Many thanks.

Well said, Jeff.

Also, I think the argument that if we can't say something in church we shouldn't say it anywhere is flawed. You don't get up, run around, and scream in church. Does that mean that these things are sins? Context is appropriate. Not everything is meant to be said or done everywhere. Context is important.

Jarshwoo- No offense. I mean this in the nicest way possible, but I (and I am sure many other people) are getting tired of arguing about this with you. You have invaded plenty of threads, spouting off the same out-of-context verses, acted as if your shoddy arguement was completely sound, and talked down to people saying that their "sins of listening to secular music" can be forgiven, all the while you seem to ignore all of the rational defenses for music to be considered music and not some dualistic force seeking to devour the souls of the righteous.

Do you even think about what you are saying:

I don't remember Jesus ever being defensive so why can we be defensive?

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Now it wrong to defend something too? Every day when I come in contact with people who are not christians, I focus on living my life and using the gifts that God has given me to bring Him glory. This has sparked many conversations reagarding my faith with those I come in contact with. They often ask me questions or try to attack Christian thought. I generally will then make a logical case (or DEFENSE, if you will) for Christianity. Is this wrong? Jesus didn't defend things so why should we? Do you really Christians are going to be able to make a difference in the world if they are not only unoriginal and mediocre artists (as we have already discussed in many threads), but also ignorant, in that they cannot even make a defense for the faith.

Please, tell me I am misunderstanding you.

I believe I said that earlier in this thread.

But it is a good point and worth repeating.