Grover143 said:
I'm not sure what you're getting at here, but it seems to me that by saying "sacrifice" you have elevated the decision to a right/wrong situation.
Hardly - a sacrifice isn't a right/wrong thing. A sacrifice is when you give up something that is valuable to yourself. I really enjoyed listening to secular music. The BIG industry was on the forefront. There is music in the secular sector I will be missing out on. A lot my friends listen to secular music. Now we have to talk about other things rather than "what's hot on the radio". Granted, I now steer them towards Christian music, which they wind up enjoying just as much as the secular counterpart.
I appreciate your desire to be pure, and I encourage you to abstain from ANYTHING that would cause you to stumble, but "secular" music DOES NOT cause ALL christians to do so. This needs to be understood and aknowledged.
Oh - I totally understand
And I was there at one point -- not being affected by secular music.... for 21 years! Or so I thought. I still can't put together a direct correlation between my listening habits and lifestyle, but when I rid myself of my secular music habits, and made that sacrifice - to only listen to music that glorified God - my happiness in life was raised to a new level. I honestlly believe music is a glass ceiling for everyone - whether they realize it or not. It's not sinning, but I believe it holds one back from the blessings God truly has in store for you.
I'm sorry, but I really don't buy into this way of looking at music. Music is powerful, but not some overpowering hypnotic force that has control over all who hear it.
With regard to music affecting the mind and the subconcious, I can point you to well-documented scientific studies that prove a direct correlation between the music we listen to and the actions of individuals. Of course, you could find them just as easily as I could, so Google it
When you were a kid, did your teachers ever use songs to get you to remember something? When we add music to anything, it instantly becomes more learnable, and hence, attachable.
I agree with the fact that if you immerse yourself with music that is openly putting forth ideas and values that go contrary to God's decrees then obviously these things can rub off, but we're talking about christians here. Christians should be able to discern the right from the wrong we have the Holy Spirit to help us. ... and the notion that music has more power over people then people have over their own minds, especially when these minds are supposed to guided by the Holy Spirit.
As I will touch on again soon, the Holy Spirit will only assist and counsel when we ask to be counselled and allow for a restorative work. Just because we are Christians, we don't have an instinctive "Right-Wrong gun" to shoot at anything. If we could all discern the right from the wrong as easily as you describe, why would there be any reason for disgreement on issues such as homosexuality, secular music, or unequally-yoked relationships (to name a few). The point is, our ability to discern right from wrong is entirely dependent on our maturity as a Christian, not the fact we have accepted the gift of salvation through God's grace
I refuse to believe that if I listen to a band that isn't in the "christian" music industry that somehow I'll fall victim to some sort of OVERWHELMING temptation, and march like a zombie through the streets looking for drugs and sex and as much of the bling-bling as I can get.
I'm glad you realize the over-exaggeration
Also, I didn't state that music outside the Christian music industry is bad. In fact, I even said some isn't bad. There is even some Christian music being released by the secular music industry. My distinction regarding the industries was that I would prefer to support the industry that is not only in it for the profit. And I said, also, the Christian music industry is there to make money, too. Come on - this is America. But the Christian music industry is also there to spread the good news.
As for exploiting a market sector... You know better than that!! The Christian music listening base is miniscule compared to the listening base of secular music. "Exploiting" that market would reap benefits hardly comparable to branching into the secular segment. If any Christian label went mainstream, their profits would increase big time.
I don't pay any different prices for my Christian CDs than a regular CD costs. It's all 12.98 or whatever at Amazon or Wal-Mart. In fact, some labels even sell to distributors at little-to-no profit. By setting themselves apart as a Christian label, as I stated before, there is an automatic penalty.
However, this whole "clouded" line sounds to me like a veiled insult or judgement. Perhaps, you didn't mean it that way, and I'm reading more into it than was originally intended. If that's the case, then I apologise.
I was considering re-wording that line, as I knew it was going to be taken as you thought. I don't judge anyone who listens to secular music. All I was suggesting was that music COULD cloud your communication line with God. The Holy Spirit will only help us discern when we ask. If we go into our prayer closets already believing secular music is fine and there is nothing wrong with it, we shut ourselves off from the discerning power of the Spirit.
I am not expecting anyone to change their views on this matter based on my. I have heard the exact stuff I speak of tons of times - at every Acquire the Fire, countless retreats, etc. It doesn't make a difference unless the Holy Spirit makes a move and we are willing to listen and accept such a movement.