Christian Music?

[PictCry]

On going debate in my family-The older people-my dad and my brothers think that Christian rap, Christian rock is bad because to them it sounds too worldly, but other younger people in my family--my sister-in-law, my cousins, and me think that it is no big deal as long as it has a good message to the song. I have known some pretty heavy Christian music that portrayed the emotions of the situations and the words perfectly for what I was dealing with at the time, where as my dad and brother more like the slow harmonious music or the peppy gospel music better. My dad has a problem with the beats of the drum, he says that some witch doctors can use it to call demons, but I am sure that the Christian bands would do no such thing with their beats. He says we are supposed to be different than the world and our music should not sound similar to secular bands, but then if that is the case why not do everything different than the world than just music?

I like most music genres but I would like to see what you guys think.

[Ayala]

The Bible does not condemn any form of musical instrument or style of music...anywhere. Your family member's opinions are not founded in scripture therefore there is no basis for them outside their own feelings. Anytime this subject comes up, I challenge the person against Christian rock, metal, rap, etc to find scriptural basis for their stance and they never can. All they have is their own words.

The Lord is pleased when we sing praises to Him. His desire is for us to lift His name up and return the love that He holds for us. I can show song after spirit-filled song praising the Lord's name with burning passion. Songs from genres that people despise just because some label them as evil from their own perceptions. So I say, as long as the music is glorifying God, rock on.

"Oh Lord my God
When I in awesome wonder
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder
Thy power throughout the universe displayed
And when I think that God his Son not sparing
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in
That on that cross my burden gladly bearing
He bled and died to take away my sin
When Christ shall come with shout of acclamation
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart
Then I shall bow in humble adoration
And there proclaim my God how great Thou art
(Then sings my soul)
How great thou art!
My God how grear thou art!"

Brownie points to the person who can name that band...unless a certain someone gets here first.

[matthew7and1]

Hi!
I agree with JerAyala. I have thought that maybe "worldly sounding" music was not great - even though I liked it. Ultimately though I couldn't find any scriptures that say it's bad. As far as what your father is saying about drums, there are drums in even traditional gospel... there is some sort of percussion in a large percentage music, so I'm confused as to why he draws that conclusion. However, if a particular person avoids drums because of what it evokes to THEM, then that's great--- for THEM.
As for me, I love gospel- traditional (Clark Sisters, Mahalia Jackson) as well as the r&b type (Kirk Franklin, Mary Mary, Smikey Norful, Yolanda Adams) as well as christian "pop" and a bit of the chritian rap as well. IMHO if the music brings you closer to God and Christ, if it helps you praise our God, go for it! It's all about making a joyful noise for the Lord!!

[notuptome]

we are told to abstain from all appearance of evil. We are told that Christ hath no concorde with Belial. The worlds music be it rock or cw or ccm is aimed at the flesh. It makes to toe tap long before it gets to the heart. A church should not sound like a honkey tonk. The tenor of the music program reflects the tenor of the preaching. Modern rock music will get a crowd but they will leave the same way they came in. Unchanged and no closer to knowing the Savoir. Christ lived pure, holy and separated unto God. Christ never gave quarter to the devil. How can men be convicted of sin if they fail to see the righteousness of God in us? Come out and be separate unto Me. There are a lot of verses on the separation from worldliness unto godliness.

For the cause of Christ.
Roger

[Ayala]

So you're trying to say that the Lord frowns upon certain kinds of music, even when they glorify and lift up His name? I'm sorry but I disagree greatly. Living apart from world doesn't mean only partaking in certain (decided by man) genres of music. It means using your music to praise the Lord and lift Him up instead of what the world praises and lifts up.

[notuptome]

So you're trying to say that the Lord frowns upon certain kinds of music, even when they glorify and lift up His name? I'm sorry but I disagree greatly. Living apart from world doesn't mean only partaking in certain (decided by man) genres of music. It means using your music to praise the Lord and lift Him up instead of what the world praises and lifts up.

The Lord has said don't go in for all the filth of the world. Know ye not that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1 Cor 3:16 ...as He who has called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of life. 1 Pet 1:15 Adding Jesus' name to rock and roll does not make it holy nor does it glorify God's name. The so called Christian rockers are making big bucks polluting God's holy things. Those who partake of things that pollute and profane God's temple can never know the spiritual scarifices acceptable to God. They may be saved but they never grow, never maturing past milk, saved as it were pulling them out of the fire hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Jude23
I offer not an opinion of my own but I offer what the word has to say on the subject.

For the cause of Christ.
Roger

[PictCry]

can't any music be secular if the world uses it so? what if the world decided to use gospel sounding music and put different words to it? Would we then abandon it?

[Reynolds357]

On going debate in my family-The older people-my dad and my brothers think that Christian rap, Christian rock is bad because to them it sounds too worldly, but other younger people in my family--my sister-in-law, my cousins, and me think that it is no big deal as long as it has a good message to the song. I have known some pretty heavy Christian music that portrayed the emotions of the situations and the words perfectly for what I was dealing with at the time, where as my dad and brother more like the slow harmonious music or the peppy gospel music better. My dad has a problem with the beats of the drum, he says that some witch doctors can use it to call demons, but I am sure that the Christian bands would do no such thing with their beats. He says we are supposed to be different than the world and our music should not sound similar to secular bands, but then if that is the case why not do everything different than the world than just music?

I like most music genres but I would like to see what you guys think.

All Christian music is comparable to a genre of secular music.

[Ayala]

The Lord has said don't go in for all the filth of the world. Know ye not that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
1 Cor 3:16 ...as He who has called you is holy so be ye holy in all manner of life. 1 Pet 1:15 Adding Jesus' name to rock and roll does not make it holy nor does it glorify God's name. The so called Christian rockers are making big bucks polluting God's holy things. Those who partake of things that pollute and profane God's temple can never know the spiritual scarifices acceptable to God. They may be saved but they never grow, never maturing past milk, saved as it were pulling them out of the fire hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Jude23
I offer not an opinion of my own but I offer what the word has to say on the subject.

For the cause of Christ.
Roger

No, you offer your own twist of the Word. All you have here is your own conceptions. You think rock, rap, metal to be evil and yet nothing in Scripture lines up with this. Christ tells us, "true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship Him." Is not the Lord's concern the condition of the heart? Unless one can show me through Scripture that my music is evil and unacceptable before God or the Lord Himself convicts my heart which I pray for earnestly every day...there is not a single thing that can shift my stance. I will continue to praise the Lord with as much passion as I can offer.

Peace be with you.

[notuptome]

No, you offer your own twist of the Word. All you have here is your own conceptions.

If you position had merit you would not resort to so base a response. I will not strive with you on this subject. Scripture is clear on separation and holiness. God alone can direct your heart in this matter. Gal 5:16-26 compares the fruit of the Spirit with the flesh. Chapter 6 vs 14-16 ...God forbid that I should glory except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ...for in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth anything nor uncircumcision but a new creature...as many as walk according to this rule peace be upon them...

For the cause of Christ.
Roger

[Ayala]

You can claim my position is without merit all you want. None of the evils spoken of in Galatians 5 line up with this.

[coldfire136]

Originally posted by PictCry

He says we are supposed to be different than the world and our music should not sound similar to secular bands, but then if that is the case why not do everything different than the world than just music?

Your statement here is, in my opinion, the central question to any debate within Christianity. During the time of Christ, there were several different views of the world that scholars can extract from the evidence.

1. Sadducees: People who made deals with the Romans to keep their way of life and their status in society.
2. Zealots: People who were willing to go to war with Rome to keep their way of life.
3. Pharisees: People who tried to keep their way of life by following the Torah and making lines between true followers of God and those who were not true followers of God.
4. Qumran: These people broke off from the world to live in their own communities in caves (where we later get the dead sea scrolls).

Your father appears, from what I've read, to take the pharisaic view of the world. There is one "moral" music (Christian music) and a "worldly" music (secular music). There must be lines drawn that separates those who follow God and from those who don't follow God. The lines are what John Ortberg calls "boundary markers" (in his book "The life You've Always Wanted"). Boundary markers are when things like not listening to certain types of music, certain societal practices (like not smoking, not drinking, etc.) and not participating in other societal norms as the definition of Christianity. Usually, Ortberg argues, these boundary markers are superficial.

Not only are these boundary markers superficial, but they must be decided from within the community. The community must decide what defines "Christian music" and what is "secular music." How does one do this? Does the song have to use the word God or Jesus to be considered Christian? Anyone venture out to define what Christian music actually is? I have never heard any good arguments for how to separate the two.

[PictCry]

that is a very interesting point of thought. thank you for your objective view ColdFire136!!

[spinningisfun9]

" Praise the LORD.
Praise God in his sanctuary;
praise him in his mighty heavens.

Praise him for his acts of power;
praise him for his surpassing greatness.

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
praise him with the harp and lyre,

praise him with tambourine and dancing,
praise him with the strings and flute,

praise him with the clash of cymbals,
praise him with resounding cymbals.

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD."
-Psalm 150

God is the Creator of the Universe, the Beginning and the End, he created music and its every aspect; we should use it all to praise Him!

[GiL]

If our heart's are in the right place when we sing this music, there is nothing to fuss about. To suggest that God would want us to stop worshiping him because the music sounds like that of the world is very close-minded. It is not the guitar or the drum that matters, it is the voices raising up God's holy name. If the voices praise God, why does it matter about what music is playing accompany that?