Secular Music

[OBEY]

It's been awhile since I've been on these boards but I have a question... is it okay to listen to any form of secular music? My pastor always bashes secular music and says that it messes you up no matter what it is. I love rock music (both secular and Christian) but I rarely listen to anything that has cussing in it. My pastor still says some of the lyrics could be about looking for answers and lonliness which still makes them bad to listen to (regardless if they have cursing or not). I'm giving up secular music for lent to prove it doesn't have a stronghold over me but I was wondering what the ppl here thought about the subject... if it's okay or not to listen to secular music.

-Joel

[jesussaves]

As a general rule to follow...if you have to ask if it is O.K. , it isn't.

[Guest Getting_Real]

It's been awhile since I've been on these boards but I have a question... is it okay to listen to any form of secular music? My pastor always bashes secular music and says that it messes you up no matter what it is. I love rock music (both secular and Christian) but I rarely listen to anything that has cussing in it. My pastor still says some of the lyrics could be about looking for answers and lonliness which still makes them bad to listen to (regardless if they have cursing or not). I'm giving up secular music for lent to prove it doesn't have a stronghold over me but I was wondering what the ppl here thought about the subject... if it's okay or not to listen to secular music.

-Joel

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I don't think the logic is completely water-tight, myself.

Should we ignore Shakespeare because it talks about the human condition, but doesn't offer God as an answer? I don't think so.

I think we can take things of value from all sorts of art (within reason - I'm not advocating applauding art that denigrates Jesus).

I think your pastor's reason for them being bad to listen to is actually a good reason to listen to them. Are people asking questions? Good. So they should.

We have the answers. Why not listen to the questions?

At the same time, remember where your firm foundations are. Time in God and his word, not in other things that will never fulfill.

[nebula]

I have chosen not to listen to secular music a long time ago. My reason is because I have a sensativity to worship in music, and if the worship isn't there in the music it just feels dead to me (not sure how to explain this, just that I literally feel this in my spirit/soul).

There's actually been some "Christian" songs I didn't care for because this "feel" of worship wasn't in there.

As for you, ask the Lord to reveal something to you about what would please Him, OK?

[Nicks Girl]

I think any type of music is ok to listen to, (secular or not) as long as the words aren't offensive, cussing, against what we believe as Christians, etc. There are many good secular artists out there.

I don't agree with your pastor, or those that said if you have to ask, it probably isn't ok. You're asking because your pastor has told you this, or said it at some point. The church I grew up in had a pastor that said similiar things, it isn't scriptural and IS a form of legalism. It made alot of people go there, not even question what the pastor was saying about it, their logic was "The pastor said it, so it MUST be true"

What his own personal opinions are on music isn't what the Bible says about it. Even if he personally feels convicted to not listen to secular music because it stumbles him that is fine, but it isn't fine to tell other people they should never listen to secular music.

There is certain music I feel convicted not to listen to, that other Christians feel it's fine to listen to. I believe this falls within the category of what stumbles each of us personally.

[Big Steve]

I'd agree also with you Nicks Girl. If you feel convicted you should not listen to it, then don't.

[Constant]

As a general rule to follow...if you have to ask if it is O.K. , it isn't.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That is the truth in so many ways!

[tillmother]

I agree with Nicks Girl too.

[Keith]

It is a fact that whatever a person allows to occupy his mind will sooner or later determine his speech and his action. This is the premise behind Philippians 4:8 and Colossians 3:2,5: establishing wholesome thought patterns.

2 Corinthians 10:5 says we "take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ." This is how we allow Jesus to be "the Lord of our lives". That gives us a pretty clear picture of the kind of music we SHOULDN'T listen to.

Obviously, the best kind of music we can listen to is that which praises and glorifies God. There are a lot of Christian musicians and singers out there in nearly every genre available to the secular market. From there, it's a matter of taste. There is nothing inherently wrong with any particular style of music. But if secular music leads you to think about, or get involved in something that does not glorify God