Okay, so I have been asking around a lot about this one subject in particular, and I have gotten many different answers. I have been agreeing with people because they are right. This subject? You guessed it: Secular music. What's wrong with it? What's right with it? Should Christians listen to secular music? Lots of people have given their opinions, and from what I have gathered. I have come to this conclusion: If it has meaningful lyrics, and it is uplifting, and it doesn't use profane words, then it is okay. There is a "line" that needs to be drawn between good secular music and bad secular music. Where is this "line" stop though? I agree with that facct, but you see, I have a dilemma. I used to listen to secular music all the time (good and bad) for the longest time about two years ago. Well two years ago, I committed my life to Christ. Ever since that day, I have avoided the whole secular music industry.
Well then about a month ago, my one sister Harmony let me listen to this song called "The Criminal" by the After Midnight Project. Now I usually don't listen to any of my sister's music, because I know what they listen to, and it's not good. Harmony listens to a lot of screamo music (I can handle some screamo, but not the kind that has pigs being embarrassed because they can't squeal as good.) and Karamie listens to pop, and rap, and whatever genre out there. Nonetheless, I heard this song, and it was really interesting, I liked the music, but not the lyrics, but I still felt weird listening to it. I liked it, but I didn't want my sister to know, because then she would convict me because I'm a Christian and I am listening to her kind of music.
The thing is, I want to be a leader to people. I want people to look up to me, and the ones who know that I'm a Christian, who live by the world, watch my every move. If I am listening to that kind of music, I know that they will convict me for it. For example, there is this song I heard called "Bowlin'" and Chris Tomlin is featured in it and it is hilarious! It is about these guys who get picked on all the time and they get pranked and then they get a bowl cut, and then they become popular, and then Chris Tomlin sings the chorus's and it is so funny. Then today Karamie came home and then I played that song for mom, and she laughed. Karamie listened from her room, and it was quiet. Well later on, Karamie wanted me to listen to this Kesha song (sp?) and it was called "My First Kiss"" I didn't even want to bother to listen to it, because I don't listen to that kind of music. Well I told Karamie that I didn't want to. She questioned me about why, and I answered "Well I just don't want to listen to it, because it really isn't what I listen to" She then told me that "Well, I listen to your music all of the time, and I have to put up with it" I told her that my music was good though, and it has meaningful lyrics, and it glorifies God. She then said something that hurt inside. She said "So that song you played earlier about the bowl cuts, was that meaningful? Does that have a glorifying message?" and I was just appauled. I didn't know what to say..
I mean, I want to be a good leader for my family, but secular music, or things of the world, I can't even parttake in, because I will be convicted and they will say that I'm not really a Christian. I think that secular music is okay, I mean with meaningful lyrics, but I don't want it to draw me away from Christ. I think it is different in people's lives, because they live in different environments, different families (who probably were raised Christians) I am glad for the people who were raised in a Christian home. I wish that I had that growing up. My sisters live way differently than me, and I think that I need to be a Godly influence to them, and I just think that secular music doesn't help me at all.
So in conclusion:
Secular music is okay, if it is uplifting. Bad secular is not okay, because it doesn't glorify God.
I'll listen to some, but not a lot, because of conviction, and I would just feel weird listening to a lot of it.
While I agree with much of what you are saying, there are certain areas where I think differently. One thing I've started to see better about the Christian life is that we are called not to fully separate ourselves from the world. We are called not to conform, but if we become entirely different than those we are trying to reach out to, then what is our purpose? "If salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again?" By saying this, I am not saying that we should listen to secular music, but I am not saying we should run the other way. As Christians, we need to challenge the state this world is in. If you are in a position to listen to secualr music, rely on your knowledge of the Word and use that knowledge to discern the right and the wrong in that particular song. That way, you can not only prevent yourself from being affected by the bad, while embracing the good. Just as well, the challenge approach makes you truly think about what your listening to, and it gives you something to discuss with others about what the song actually means and how they feel about that meaning and its significance. Let me know what you think. Have a good one bud! -3\/@(\)
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