Heavy Metal Music

[Firekitty]

I have to right an essay for a music class I'm taking at Northwestern college. I have to write about wether certain music styles are wrong or not for Christians to listen to.
I decided I was going to write about why I think heavy metal is wrong. I thought I would get some opinions from other people.

What do you guys think about heavy metal? Okay or not okay?

[tango]

I have to right an essay for a music class I'm taking at Northwestern college. I have to write about wether certain music styles are wrong or not for Christians to listen to.
I decided I was going to write about why I think heavy metal is wrong. I thought I would get some opinions from other people.

What do you guys think about heavy metal? Okay or not okay?

Before attempting to argue whether any style of music is right or wrong in and of itself you need to consider just what music is.

Sound is vibration of air. An E-flat chord isn't good or evil in and of itself, and if it is followed by an A chord then the sequence doesn't become evil if the gap between them drops below a certain level. A chord doesn't transition from good to evil if it is put through an overdrive box before hitting the speaker, nor does it become evil because the guitar used to play it was a flying V rather than a traditional guitar shape.

A lot of people associate heavy metal with the quasi-satanic antics of a few high profile bands in the 80s but conveniently overlook the Christian metal bands of the same era. So while there are certainly some metal bands I'd encourage any Christian to avoid there are many others that I would positively encourage people to listen to.

[tango]

Quick example, would a song with the following lyrics be considered good or bad?

So many different paths to follow / are you stumbling in the night / it's not worth the cost to be eternally lost
Satan is the father of lies / follow him, you'll surely die / you need to be told, come out of the cold
There'll be no-one to blame if you play his game / Jesus is king, he's why we sing

Who will you follow, Satan or the author of life / Jesus paid the price / God made the sacrifice, for you


Now you can listen to it...

[tango]

What the heck, let's have another example... what about these lyrics:

The chief priests required the tomb to be secured
The Pharisees were with them, Pilate was assure
There would be no rising, as He had said
On the third day, from the dead

Now after the Sabbath, first day of the week
Mary went down to the tomb, there was a great quake
And an angel descended to roll back the stone
To serve almighty Jesus who sits now on the throne

His countenance like lightning, His clothing white as snow
The guards shook in fear of Him, as dead men they did know
He had risen as it is to this day, all false religions this they will not say
Once Lucifer, now Satan, shaking in his boots, was totally defeated right to the roots

Not a great video of a live performance but you get the feel of it.

[HisLeast]

I have to right an essay for a music class I'm taking at Northwestern college. I have to write about wether certain music styles are wrong or not for Christians to listen to.
I decided I was going to write about why I think heavy metal is wrong. I thought I would get some opinions from other people.

What do you guys think about heavy metal? Okay or not okay?

I think its the wrong question to ask. "Metal" is simply a sound aesthetic. I find it interesting that in all the extremely specific laws given in the Old and New Testaments, not a single one tells us which rhythms, cadences, harmonies, and instruments are wrong. The best we can do from scripture is learn to assess the message of whatever we listen to. Therefore, one metal song can be wicked, and another can be worthy praise.

Furthermore, when one gets to the point of condemning a musical style, void of its message, one MUST simultaneously condemn all musical styles. "Worldliness" is the only case one could possibly make for condemnation of a musical style. However, those that will do so ignore the fact that every single musical aesthetic in existance has been used secularly. But I don't see anyone walking into churches and condemning those old and dear saws and the drinking tunes they are sung to.

If you're going to argue for condemnation, then I hope your case is air tight. I'd be too afraid of adding to the law to make such a case.

[IMINXTC]

I'm a seasoned rocker (at 58), and got to say I just love the metal genre when it's good. I totally reject the dark lyrics and mindset of most secular metal, admitting some of it is anything but dark.

My personal view is that Christian metal can be very good for the individual believer who listens in his own space (so to speak), and is used to that style.

I'm a bit hesitant, however, where it concerns a form of public worship etc. But then, I feel that way about a lot of things, from Rap to CW to anything that might
appear to promote the world or exalt the flesh.

I don't even like the traditional or moderate styles when the focus is on the musicians or the genre (or the beat) - and, to me that's the key thing. Give me a plain old group of believers
singing plain old (or new) hymns, and best of all, everybody joins in.

And that's the way it is...

[Clavicula_Nox]

I think its the wrong question to ask. "Metal" is simply a sound aesthetic. I find it interesting that in all the extremely specific laws given in the Old and New Testaments, not a single one tells us which rhythms, cadences, harmonies, and instruments are wrong. The best we can do from scripture is learn to assess the message of whatever we listen to. Therefore, one metal song can be wicked, and another can be worthy praise.

Furthermore, when one gets to the point of condemning a musical style, void of its message, one MUST simultaneously condemn all musical styles. "Worldliness" is the only case one could possibly make for condemnation of a musical style. However, those that will do so ignore the fact that every single musical aesthetic in existance has been used secularly. But I don't see anyone walking into churches and condemning those old and dear saws and the drinking tunes they are sung to.

If you're going to argue for condemnation, then I hope your case is air tight. I'd be too afraid of adding to the law to make such a case.

This.

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[Hunter121]

It's not the music that is wrong, it's just the message you can make a christain heavy metal song.

[TrustGzus]

Nothing really new here. That being said, there are 340 verses in the Old Testament referencing music in some way & 40 in the New Testament. None of those condemn a style of music. And as you can see from a couple of video posts, some of the best lyrical content has been done by Christian metal bands. The band Tango posted produced song after song after song of what I think are the best lyrics by any Christian music group of any and every style available.

As for listening to secular heavy metal, I think that falls under a Romans 14 category. For some people, it is not a problem. They can appreciate the music and ignore the lyrics or they can properly analyze the lyrics. For others it's a bad connection with their past sins and they feel the need to avoid it. To each his/her own, don't condemn your brother/sister on either side for his position and don't make your own position a universally binding law.

[Athanasius]

It isn't a problem for me, either secular or "Christian" (I don't recall there being any specific biblical prohibition against either. Only such things as Romans 14, as pointed out above). Which reminds me, Dream Theater has announced their new drummer - awesome.

[nebula_omega]

They play Skillet on our local radio station. And not just during the Sunday morning segment. I'd love to see them in concert sometime!

[ProDeo]

What do you guys think about heavy metal? Okay or not okay?

I would say, judge the atmosphere it breathes.

Good luck with your essay.

[KATMAN]

I don't think any music is evil,but the lyrics that are put to music is another story. Guitar scales have been used many ways through out the years. I love the song Amazing Grace,and it can be played in a number of ways. Personally,I like blues and see nothing wrong with the style. You have to ask yourself,"Would Jesus want me to listen this music?"

[TrustGzus]

Why should the devil have all the good music?

[the sound]

Metal is good stuff.