I used to be a big fan of bands such as Green Day, Fall Out Boy, Cartel, Metallica, New Found Glory, Three Days Grace, Queen, Aerosmith, Foreigner, AC/DC, Linkin Park, etc, but then I felt bad and switched to a “Christian and clean secular music only” diet, so as not to affiliate my music with sex, drugs, cussing, etc. However, one thing I’ve noticed is that so much Christian music itself promotes theological doctrine that is problematic in nature, and then it seemed as if I was being a hypocrite when still enjoying films like the Marvel flicks, The Dark Knight Trilogy, etc because they often featured some level or another of violent, sexual, or profane content, and that I might as well have stuck with Green Day, Metallica, Fall Out Boy, etc. I still continue to have this dilemma even now, because no matter what, I almost feel damned if I do, damned if I don’t. Also, I can’t help but feel as if, even though I do like a lot of Christian music and still try to stick to a largely Christian music “diet”, a lot of secular artists simply have got the Christian music side beat in talent and catchiness in songs. I feel like few, if any, Christian bands that I like are able to really stand against the sheer talent of bands like Queen and Fun (both of whom have very impressive gang vocals and instrumental experimentation and composition). Is there a lot of good Christian music out there? Yes, but I do feel as if, even though I like it, like I’m sometimes being cheated or settling for less, or even listening to music that is just as lyrically problematic as a lot of secular music. And what’s frustrating is that this covers virtually all the genres of Christian music that I’ve sampled.
Anyways, I don’t wish to come across as being petty or stupid, but this is a genuine question that I would like to ask fellow Christians on here.
Categorized | Featured Articles
Christians: Do You Have Dilemmas Like This?
Posted on June 8, 2013.
Yes, it is a challenge, to define exactly what obedience is pleasing to YHVH. YAHUSHUA kept Torah, and His followers will also. No, there is very little good music, of any sort.
Humans are like animals, your mind can be prograammed by music and it can in return effect how you live your life with the things you do, say, and how you think. This is why Jesus said guard. Your heart ( mind) above all things. If your mind is strong enouugh do what you please but just know that its being exposed to subliminal programming.
There is a whole world of great music to listen to. Everything from Bach to rock and country. There are decent songs in every genre. If you want beautiful theocratic music, ask Jehovah’s witnesses for their new CD.
Look for old records from the 40’s and 50’s. They are plentiful at flea markets.That was when people kept their ugly side behind closed doors instead of bragging about it in public.
Have you considered instrumentals instead of vocals?
While some of the best music in the world is religious, from my perspective, that was a while ago. JS Bach was basically a church organist and music director – but, his amazing works, written for church, have stood the test of time. Handel’s Messiah is another masterpiece.
But, for modern music, I’m with you. The “Christian” bands generally just don’t have the same quality overall as people who just play music and, who may well be Christian anyway.
I listen to what I like – well, Bach is my favourite! But, I will not reject something because it is not overtly Christian, and nor will I listen to crap just because they put Christian on their album cover.
God gives people musical talent. One could consider all music is for the glory of God. The same holds true for art – we can admire a landscape painting, even if there isn’t a picture of the a church in the painting.
What about ABBA and BONEY M and other terrific songwriters and performers???
To be perfectly honest with you, I am very unimpressed by the standard of Christian music today.
The quality of vocals, instrumentation, composition and lyrics is frankly very poor.
If I were called to a so-called music ministry, I wouldn’t be satisfied with producing anything other than a superb recording that would tand head and shoulders above anything that the world is producing.
We work for an EXCELLENT God.
So what we produce with our gifts, talents and calling MUST be exceptional…
In proverbs it tells us that with much knowlege comes grief! As you continue to grow spiritual with the Lord you should expect to become more sensitive to things that are sinful. Praise God for that, otherwise you wouldn’t even have noticed there is something wrong with it all. Garbage in equals garbage out, and our God never has us put away something with out giving us something even better to put in its place. Keep growing…Keep searching… and you will find what God is trying to teach you in all this. It may be that your being to legalistic with your self or it may be that your mind needs to be occupied by a higher form of philosophy than radio music.
I have loads of music at my home since the first day I started to work and now it has been decades. I also have the Gregorian Chant which I grew up with this music as well as other classic music. I like pop; rocks and so on all music and I do a lot of follow up. Music is reality and every song tells a story. As for the church music which is the epitome of the bible or the epitome of the religion that it blinded you from knowing; experiencing and learning of the actual reality. For instance; even a street artist performance is about reality. As for your dilemma it is not dilemma but it is the you can see the somewhere some how logic cannot be applied. Anything that logic has no place then it is not real. One of the reasons I don’t like church music because it numbs people but not helps people to release. It is just like religious teaching that make people turn away from reality. In the actual reality can human escape into praying; singing hymn or church service. No one can. It is best to face it.
Yeah, I just can’t watch or listen to most things anymore. Even christian music can be corrupt, just as some churches can be corrupt.
The problem is the subliminal messages, If you don’t know how to spot them they are very likely to affect you, if you do know how to spot them, you don’t really want to subject your self to it, either way you should be very careful what you watch/listen to. It is much more of a risk then most people realize. Knowing is protection.
Pretty much every movie and show contains subliminal messages / programing, I’m not really into music I mostly listen to instrumental when I do.
Give it a chance and hear him out then decide for yourself
The subliminal messaging of the dark night rises- http://youtu.be/K7B-larkwZg?t=19s
Here is a site exposing subliminal messaging in media- http://vigilantcitizen.com/vigilantrepor…
Once you know the techniques you’ll be better able to sort out what music is ok and whats not. pay attention to the lyrics, what are they trying to say. is there backward masking?http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ws2QI-c7…