Is it OK to like secular music if you're a Christian?

[rocklobster]

I've only recently started listening to Christian music.(Recently meaning I've been listening for two years) Even though I've been trying since college to be a more serious Christian, I find that I still enjoy listening to some secular music. Is it wrong to like bands like AC/DC, Aerosmith, and others that don't seem Christian?

[Fish and Chips]

No, it isn't. I actually don't think this should be much of an issue unless you're listening to something blatantly Anti-Christian (or perhaps Anti-Christ is a better term). Secular things in themselves are simply divorced from any intented religious significance that, say, a Gospel song written specifically for worship would carry.

Not to mention a lot of Christian music is pretty bad. Something I side with C.S. Lewis on.

Though I find it strange you'd be troubled by this when you post regularly on an Anime forum, which is a completely secular medium.

[LadyRushia]

I second Fish's post. I think it depends on the message of the song and how much it affects you.

[Radical Dreamer]

Honestly, the same concept applies here as what applies to the rest of our board. Romans 14: if it causes your brother to stumble, don't do it. That said, I listen to everything from Modest Mouse to The Format to Jimmy Eat World, then back to mewithoutYou and My Epic. I really see no problem with secular music unless it's directly offensive to me, and the same goes for TV shows, movies, books, etc. This will vary per person, so I'm gonna step in here and suggest we keep this as civil as possible and remember that--hey--we're on an anime board. LOL.

[chibiphonebooth]

Honestly, the same concept applies here as what applies to the rest of our board. Romans 14: if it causes your brother to stumble, don't do it. That said, I listen to everything from Modest Mouse to The Format to Jimmy Eat World, then back to mewithoutYou and My Epic. I really see no problem with secular music unless it's directly offensive to me, and the same goes for TV shows, movies, books, etc. This will vary per person, so I'm gonna step in here and suggest we keep this as civil as possible and remember that--hey--we're on an anime board. LOL.

this.

[ADXC]

Again as Fish has said it depends on the music you are listening to. I don't think listening to rock music will send you to hell! Sometimes I like to listen to Journey, Boston, and the Eagles(Yeah, I know they are old, but it's good music.)

However, if it is something that could injure your Christian testimony then don't listen to it. Im talking about songs with bad lyrics and language.

[Etoh*the*Greato]

I personally find a lot of religious music to be unfulfilling as worship music much less entertainment, so I naturally lean towards yes. That is, however, an issue of personal preference. And I think the secular music you see God in is just that much more meaningful because it is not a medium native to the concept.

[Midori]

I do believe I have heard something like God talking to me through secular music many times. It doesn't have to be intended by the artist for God to poke through. That said, there is some music I can't bring myself to listen to because it offends my Christian sensibilities.

[Etoh*the*Greato]

I would certainly say the rule applies that if you find it offensive, then no it isn't OK for you to listen to. I will not be listening to any Godsmack.

[Tommy]

Not to mention a lot of Christian music is pretty bad. Something I side with C.S. Lewis on.

I think outside of worship, "Christian music" is generally a term I choose not to throw around.
It also grinds my gears when people call bands "more Christian than others" because they are more blatantly obvious about their faith.

I think music is music.
Any genre can be used by Christians to uplift.

Obviously, one genre I couldn't understand anyone listening to if you're a Christian would be Black Metal.
Black Metal is music literally about Satanism amoung various other things.

There are Christian bands that have a Black Metal sound, but they are referred to as White Metal or Unblack Metal.

But labels are for soup cans anyways.

I just listen to music I like.
If it's not bothering me or hindering my walk, I listen.

[Kaligraphic]

The point of being Christian isn't that we shut out the world. We don't need to make "Christian" copies of what the rest of the world consumes as entertainment. It's not about slapping our sticker on things to make them okay. It's a relationship with God. It's being transformed into the image of God, who has made us his children.

If the Lord tells you, personally to listen to this, or not to listen to that, then obey his instruction to you. But unless He's given you, personally, specific instructions in that area, don't worry. The Lord isn't offended if you listen to Coldplay or Weird Al, or whoever. Well, maybe if you listen to Britney Spears... (j/k)

[Dr.Faust]

It all depends. I like System of a Down and Rise Agesent and I don't think there songs are too bad but outher artiest like Manson and Slayer(even thought everyone in Slayer are christen) I woulded lesten to them

[rocklobster]

Actually, there have only been 3 times I ever felt icky about music was when I first listened to Marilyn Manson. It was on the radio, so I had no control over who was being played of course. The second time was upon listening to Alice in Chains' "Man in the Box". I don't know why, but the line "Jesus Christ/Deny your maker" really turned me off. The third time was when I first listened to Godsmack.
I usually try to keep my music choices as optimistic as possible, which is probably why I got turned on to Christian rock in the first place.

[Mr. Hat'n'Clogs]

I mostly listen to Christian rock now, such as Relient K or A Rotterdam November, but it's okay in my opinion to listen to it. At the same time, I listen to My Chemical Romance and AFI.

[Hana Ryuuzaki]

[font="palatino Linotype"]I agree with everyone in this thread with saying that I personally think that listening to secular music is perfectly fine, as long as there isn't anything BLATANTLY perverse about it.

I mean, you can still get an amazing feeling from some secular music, too.
I've found that a few of Three Days Grace's music is particularly inspiring.

As long as you feel that it isn't putting a damper on your spiritual life, then it's perfectly okay.
Mix in some Lacuna Coil in with your Casting Crowns and Third Day!
XDD[/font]

[Lady Kenshin]

I think it's fine, as long as you pay attention to what is said and stop if it's bad...

[Mr. SmartyPants]

I think it's NOT fine... because everyone else says it's fine.








....

[Radical Dreamer]

I think it's NOT fine... because everyone else says it's fine.








....

I believe I speak for everyone when I say...





...Wait.

[Mr. Rogers]

Not all Christian music is good; not all secular music is bad.

[F.M Disciple]

I still listen to main stream secular music from time to time.

This is my two cents....

It really depends on the song. If the lyrics in the song are anti-christian or really offensive and the spirit is telling you to stop listenling. then you should stop listening and change the station, or stop buying the artists c.d.

Not all secular music good and not all secular music is bad either, so Just use good judgement.

There was plenty of times were i had to change the station because the song playing was going in a direction that i shouldn't be listening to. So dont' be afraid to change that dial if you know its going in a bad direction.

[The Liar XIII]

It's nothing wrong with it at all..

My secular music totally overrules my population of Christian music (Maybe one or 2 bands?)
I listen to bands like Alice Cooper, Pink Floyd, Quiet Riot, Stone Sour, Disturbed, Korn, Iron Maiden, Metallica, R.E.M., Staind, Hurt, Led Zeppelin, AC/DC, Alice in Chains, Nirvana, Black Sabbath, Bush, CCR, The Doors, Five Finger Death Punch, Boston, Grateful Dead, Loverboy, Nazareth, Pearl Jam, and many many more.. And there's nothing wrong with that.. It's fine and dandy.

The only Christian bands I really like are Skillet and The Statler Brothers.. So, it's a'ight.

And yeah, some of my music may contain some unchristian like lyrics and whatnot.. Big deal.. Does it mean I share the same opinion?

So, to answer your question.. It's perfectly okay.

[Scarecrow]

Lol.. I could not live with out my secular music. I have some decent Christian bands but nothing matches the secular stuff though. The messages though are generally positive though in everything I listen too... or cheesy, fun stuff that's not meant to be taken seriously. I do not listen to dark or vile lyrics though or anything blatantly anti Christian/God (Gamma Rays "Real World" is the only song from my entire collection of music I actually refuse to listen too. It's very catchy and I really don't need lyrics like that running through my head)

Theocracy and Rob Rock are the only two Christian bands I REALLY like. Harmony is pretty good too though. Rob Rock is awesome and theocracy has good music/lyrics but I wish the vocals were just a bit more... unique or something.

[Dr.Faust]

i need to know wather the j-rock band nightmar is good or bad

[Htom Sirveaux]

i need to know wather the j-rock band nightmar is good or bad

If you can't understand the lyrics, they can't offend you.

But really, there's just too much good music out there to just refuse to listen to it.
Besides, when you listen to your favorite Christian bands, you gotta ask yourself: What bands might have influenced them? Larry Norman himself (God rest his soul) had to get it from somewhere.

Oh, and Corrie . . .

[the_wolfs_howl]

There aren't many songs I refuse to listen to, actually (unless they're really poor quality, music-wise). I have the program Audacity, with which my brother and I edit any swears or inappropriate lines out of the songs we listen to. That way, we can even listen to something like Sean Paul's "We Be Burnin'" without dirtying our minds. There are a few songs that don't have enough to salvage, by being super profane or blaspheming or whatever, but they are few and far between. And as long as I think about the song the first one or two times I hear it, and analyze how the singer's perspective is flawed, I don't find it even that damaging.

I think refusing to listen to secular music is the same as refusing to read any books not written by a Christian author, or refusing to watch any movies other than VeggieTales or something

[Azier the Swordsman]

It all depends. I like System of a Down and Rise Agesent and I don't think there songs are too bad but outher artiest like Manson and Slayer(even thought everyone in Slayer are christen) I woulded lesten to them

Uh, nobody in Slayer is Christian. Kerry King is a very outspoken atheist.

[Dr.Faust]

Originally posted by Dr.Faust
It all depends. I like System of a Down and Rise Agesent and I don't think there songs are too bad but outher artiest like Manson and Slayer(even thought everyone in Slayer are christen) I woulded lesten to them

I got that info on the internet.The singer Tom beleaves in God and is Catholic.Even so the rest of th members are atheist and scenc most of there songs are written by King they normely God bash. Setting my religosh belevefs aside as a musiction myself I think Slayer sucks theres no soul in their "music". System of a Down,Common,Earth Wind and Fire, Stevie Wonder, Three Days Graces,Akeboshi,Ryuichi Sakamoto those are real musctions not Slayer and defently not Manson.

[KumaruRockz]

If you can't understand the lyrics, they can't offend you.

This is SO not true. You can listen to a song that's completely instrumental and it can make you cry, go crazy, or feel really bad spiritually. Trust me, it's true.

[Htom Sirveaux]

This is SO not true. You can listen to a song that's completely instrumental and it can make you cry, go crazy, or feel really bad spiritually. Trust me, it's true.

1. It was a joke. Or at least, spoken in a jovial, take-it-or-leave-it manner.
2. I wouldn't know from experience, but I'll trust you on that.

Now, before anybody goes steering this otherwise fascinating and intellectually stimulating conversation into a brick wall, let's just say Kumaru's opinion is rooted in a more conservative, strongly traditional perspective. Someone may seem a bit old-fashioned in their beliefs, but that doesn't make them all-out wrong in God's eyes.
In fact, for a conversation such as this, it's healthy to have as many different perspectives as possible, [SIZE="7"]provided we keep it calm and civilized.[/SIZE]
Like little Fonzies.

[Tsukuyomi]

Ah music, can't you just feel it in the air tonight 8D