Rock Music

[Phostenix]

Here's a post I did last year on a Christian musicians site:

Well, here's my 2 cents. When my wife & I became Christians in January of 1999, we were in our mid-30's. God took us to a church that was known for their worship (unknown to us at the time). We were introduced to a genre of music that I didn't even know existed. The first CD I bought was Darrell Evans' Freedom and it went from there. We took to this new music instantly and never really looked back. For the last 7 years, we have listened almost exclusively to "Christian" music. I was an on-again, off-again guitar player (mostly off - :-)). I still own probably 200 CD's & maybe 75 vinyl LP's of what we now jokingly call "the Devil's music". I grew up listening to all kinds of music, but mostly what we call classic rock today. Much of my worldview was probably shaped by the lyrics of Neil Peart of Rush & Ann Wilson of Heart! My wife's favorite band was Aerosmith. It was probably more gradual than I think, but eventually we just stopped listening to our old music.

We've gotten to the point where we just aren't interested in the world's music (or television or movies, etc.). So, I understand what you are saying. It's not an "us vs. them" thing for me, I've just gotten to where I have a hard time listening to it. I've gotten back into guitar effects & circuit design, so I occasionally listen to something just to hear the guitar sounds. The other day I pulled out the old Heart CD's to see if Roger Fisher was using flangers or phasers to get the sound I remember. Keeping in mind that this was the first band I saw live when I was probably about 12 and I would come home from school every day (not an exaggeration) and listen to Dreamboat Annie all the way through, I had a hard time sitting through these songs now. See, now I "get" it. I understand that these people are pouring their thoughts & feelings into these words and I hear the hopelessness and the searching and the longing for something better and something real. It saddens me. It wears me out. It USED to express what I was feeling & thinking, but now it just represents what I left BEHIND. God took that heart away and gave me a new one that sees thing VERY differently now - and I thank Him & praise Him for that!

I read some John Mayer lyrics the other day & saw the same thing there. I think John is so popular because people really ARE connecting and relating to what he is saying. "At the end of this verdictless life...", as I recall was one of the lines.

As I walk with God, I'm beginning to understand better every day what Paul was trying to say to us with these verses:

...but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.

Roman 16:19b

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

Phil 4:8

I spend all day in the world at my job trying to be an ambassador & a light. (I have good days & bad days at that :-)) I'm involved in other forums where I see myself as a missionary, so I don't live a "be ye separated" kind of life. Music has become a place for me where I can hear the people of God expressing THEIR worldview. It's a place of refreshing for me. I don't need more of the world, I need more of God. I get enough of the world to stay "relevant", I don't need to roll around in it. When I pick up the guitar, I want to use the gifts God has given me to worship Him. I was immediately struck by this line in 3rd Day's Offering when I first heard it:

The only thing that I can give You is the life You gave to me. This is my offering...

I think this comes down to what a lot of things come down to for us as Followers of Jesus: As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. I can't get hung up on what other people are listening to or watching, I have to focus on my relationship and my family and do what I believe God is speaking to my heart.

Grace and peace,

Steve

[georgesbluegirl]

May I ask what type of music y'all like to listen to?

i like Amy Winehouse, The Cure and groups like Portishead.

in the rock area im more into old school like Nirvana and maybe stuff like Bad Religion.

Why, oh WHY does Amy Winehouse have to make it so hard for me to like her? She's insane. But she does have a great sound. When I first heard "Rehab" I downloaded it ASAP and listened to it about fifty times in a row.

[Guest LadyC]

I have a question in regard to rock music. Is all non-christian music bad? I mean, is it really OK for us to listen to Country or Rock music? I'm a big fan of the rock group KISS, and in Christian chat rooms I've been to, it seems that it's split down the middle on what music is acceptable. I love gospel music, but must that be the only type of music we can listen to without sinning?

not all rock or country music is bad. listen to the lyrics... is the song glorifying something that is ungodly? if it is, then it's not a good song from a christian perspective. but much of rock music, particularly classic rock, had a really good message to it.

country music.... you have your good and your bad. but a LOT of country music is actually quite edifying to God, and to the listener.

[exrockstar]

May I ask what type of music y'all like to listen to?

i like Amy Winehouse, The Cure and groups like Portishead.

in the rock area im more into old school like Nirvana and maybe stuff like Bad Religion.

Why, oh WHY does Amy Winehouse have to make it so hard for me to like her? She's insane. But she does have a great sound. When I first heard "Rehab" I downloaded it ASAP and listened to it about fifty times in a row.

ha ha she is a little out there.

im not into artists and their lifestyles. but you gotta admit that the 60's feel with modern elements is very good.

[EricH]

No genre of mucis is "bad" simply because of its genre

[TheoMike]

Wow. I have no idea who you people are talking about! Amy Winehouse?? Where's my rocking chair? Where's my ToTo LP??

[georgesbluegirl]

Wow. I have no idea who you people are talking about! Amy Winehouse?? Where's my rocking chair? Where's my ToTo LP??

If it makes you feel any better, I'm 20 and I still listen to LPs. There's really nothing like putting "Rubber Soul" on a turntable...

(By the way, "Africa" is a great song.)

[PreciousRubi]

With a five year old, I know I can safely have our local Christian radion station on any time of the day and not be concerned about what is infiltrating into his thirsty mind.

It's nice to hear him singing lyrics that praise God...rather than lyrics with blatant sexual referrences.

That said.....Phostenix, I love Rush too. They would have to have been my all time favourite secular band.

It's just Christian for me these days though. Jars of Clay, The Afters, Delirious?, David Crowder Band, Building 429...etc

Mark Schultz's He's My Son is playing on radio right now.....Like his songs too. Tear jerkers.

[EricH]

Wow. I have no idea who you people are talking about! Amy Winehouse?? Where's my rocking chair? Where's my ToTo LP??

I was in a CD store the other day, and a teen was looking at a Paul McCartney disc. I heard her say to her friend, "Did you know Paul Mc Cartney used to be in another band before Wings?"

[TM75]

Music can be such a thing where the offence therin is impossible to see, unless you look at what is shown and spoken in the music. Have you read Daniel 3, this is important to note with revelation. I will give you time to read this, but why do we let the rich not appear rusty and cankered?

Mark 10:

24 His disciples were astonied at his words. Iesus answered again, and said unto them: children, how hard is it for them, that trust in their riches, to enter into the kingdom of God?

25 It is easier for a camel to go thorow the eye of an needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

26 And they were astonied out of measure, saying between themselves: who then can be saved?

27 Iesus looked upon them, and said: with men it is unpossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.

1526 W.Tyndale New Testament with modern abridging,

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