Christians against Metal

Why do many Christians view Metal and other genres that use harsh vocals, like screaming and death growls, as anti-Christian?

Usually either because they are against the use of modern music because they feel it is too worldly, or because they don't feel that music where you can't understand the lyrics or where the vocals sound demonic can be Christian. And I know some Christians who are fine with modern music but are kinda iffy on metal for the last couple of reasons.
There's more to it than that, but since I used to believe that I think it works as a short summary. (I'm not against Christian rock anymore, though, and I'm even a fan of a couple of Christian metal bands. Although they aren't hardcore metal.) But you'd probably get an answer better representing the viewpoint you are asking about if someone who has a different opinion than me shows up.

I can understand when older Christians say it, but I've been told by people my own age that metal is the work of the devil (not quite as bluntly as that, but you get the idea). I was just curious to know if there's an actual reason, or if it's just the general misunderstanding of something unfamiliar.

Soul. said:

I can understand when older Christians say it, but I've been told by people my own age that metal is the work of the devil (not quite as bluntly as that, but you get the idea). I was just curious to know if there's an actual reason, or if it's just the general misunderstanding of something unfamiliar.

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any type of art can be used for the devil or god. I draw the line with tats as that will drew men to think one is lost. the current topic can be read on the forum and my op is given there.

It might depend on what church they were raised in. Some churches have some pretty strong opinions on music.

There is a theory that since Satan was once an angel and was head of music before he fell--and since it's believed that Satan makes an imitation of everything God made--that certain music styles, specifically rock music (and any music with a beat or that is particularly rythmic), are influenced by Satan. Those who follow this theory believe that the evidence for this is the messed up lifestyles of many rock musicians and the unGodly lyrics of many rock songs are influences of this. They likely also believe that Christian rock, even if the lyrics are pulled directly from the Bible, is very iffy if not just as bad.
They believe that some studies done in the 70s or so (from what I've read) prove that the beat in rock music is bad for health, too. One example is that they believe the beat appeals to people's aggressive side and can make them violent.

(From what I've read on those studies, they aren't really much proof on their own. They have to be able to be reproduced by peers with the same results each time. And from what I've read, the methods used don't really apply very well to actual rock songs...I read that one study cited by a Christian book against rock music consisted of seeing how mice reacted to a chaotic drum beat. And there was another study where they say plants died when rock music was played...but how loud was the music, exactly? And how much was it being played?)

Me personally, I feel that any type of music can be used for good or evil. And I have had some very wonderful worship experiences with Christian praise songs using several types of music, and I find that God sometimes speaks to me through them, so I don't think they're devil influenced.

Fair point, but the lifestyles and lyrics of many pop artists are just as bad as those in metal or rock, yet they seem to condone that /:

There are different reasons some have for being against it and it'd be hard to cover every single one of them, but from what I've seen many if not most of them are in relation to the idea that Satan influenced the music in a bad way.

But I agree with you. Even classical music. Some of the classical composers led less-than-ideal lifestyles.

Maybe because so much of the metal has to do with hate, revenge and self indulgence including wild sex and the whole party scene.

I'm an old metal head and still like a good riff and an occational growl. But I noticed many don't listen to the lyrics and simply get caught up in the rythem. Meanwhile all them words are getting fed into their minds and they cant figure out why they feel the things they feel. Garbage in, garbage out.

My son is 14 and I don't like all the music he does. Some of it is banned from our home. But because of content... ever heard of colossis? They are about as heavy as it gets. Personally, I don't like the sound, but I don't have a problem with their message

Soul. said:

Fair point, but the lifestyles and lyrics of many pop artists are just as bad as those in metal or rock, yet they seem to condone that /:

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oh that is a subject. I have had some saved and lost tell me that about rap and metal. I then point to lyrics from the 60s songs. I will pick and easy one. elvis. rap is more blunt and yes vulgar then him but one cant subtle and still make the music say bad things aerosmith was a master at that.

but I have heard a few rap songs that echo this.

"In The Ghetto"


As the snow flies
On a cold and gray Chicago mornin'
A poor little baby child is born
In the ghetto
And his mama cries
'cause if there's one thing that she don't need
it's another hungry mouth to feed
In the ghetto

People, don't you understand
the child needs a helping hand
or he'll grow to be an angry young man some day
Take a look at you and me,
are we too blind to see,
do we simply turn our heads
and look the other way

Well the world turns
and a hungry little boy with a runny nose
plays in the street as the cold wind blows
In the ghetto

And his hunger burns
so he starts to roam the streets at night
and he learns how to steal
and he learns how to fight
In the ghetto

Then one night in desperation
a young man breaks away
He buys a gun, steals a car,
tries to run, but he don't get far
And his mama cries

As a crowd gathers 'round an angry young man
face down on the street with a gun in his hand
In the ghetto

As her young man dies,
on a cold and gray Chicago mornin',
another little baby child is born
In the ghetto

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from elvis' song In the Ghetto in the album,"Elvis In Person At The International Hotel" (1969)

Lol, I just imagined Mozart drunk.

StoveBolts said:

Maybe because so much of the metal has to do with hate, revenge and self indulgence including wild sex and the whole party scene.

I'm an old metal head and still like a good riff and an occational growl. But I noticed many don't listen to the lyrics and simply get caught up in the rythem. Meanwhile all them words are getting fed into their minds and they cant figure out why they feel the things they feel. Garbage in, garbage out.

My son is 14 and I don't like all the music he does. Some of it is banned from our home. But because of content... ever heard of colossis? They are about as heavy as it gets. Personally, I don't like the sound, but I don't have a problem with their message

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It's kind of a misunderstanding that metal only deals with dark or destructive themes, I've heard some of the most amazing love songs by metal artists. Bit I understand that, a lot of teens today don't really pay attention to what they listen to, and I suppose that's also hey metal is misunderstood. If they listened to the reasoning behind the songs them it might not be so badly judged. Try out Run Free by Asking Alexandria. Beautiful song.

I follow a page on facebook called Christian Metal Kingdom. They share a lot of Christian metal songs. Most of it's too hardcore for my tastes, but it's neat to see what's out there.
A Christian metal band I'm a fan of is Disciple. They kinda have their own brand of metal, I guess. Their older songs tend to have more of the screaming lyrics than their more recent ones do.

jasoncran said:

oh that is a subject. I have had some saved and lost tell me that about rap and metal. I then point to lyrics from the 60s songs. I will pick and easy one. elvis. rap is more blunt and yes vulgar then him but one cant subtle and still make the music say bad things aerosmith was a master at that.

but I have heard a few rap songs that echo this.

from elvis' song In the Ghetto in the album,"Elvis In Person At The International Hotel" (1969)

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That's sort of what I'm getting at, is that you'll find dark lyrics in any genre

Soul. said:

That's sort of what I'm getting at, is that you'll find dark lyrics in any genre

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I don't listen to secular music, I choose not to as I am called by the lord not to do so. so I have been free to see what they all say. oh country music is dark, they just don't like to admit that.

I wouldn't be able to not listen to secular music. I love music as a whole far too much

I don't miss it. I know that you aren't saved but to some it brings death and it glorifies sin. not all songs are bad just a lot of it.

I'm not quite sure I understand how it brings death?

I like some secular music and a few secular bands, but I pay close attention to the lyrics. Some Christian bands are on both the secular and Christian front (Switchfoot, Skillet, etc), and some stick mainly to the secular front but it's no secret that they're Christian (Owl City). I like a few songs by Breaking Benjamin and Three Days Grace, but they're not Christian at all so I pay close attention to the lyrics.

I love music, and I listen to a little bit of almost everything. I'm a pianist, too.

Soul. said:

I'm not quite sure I understand how it brings death?

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songs that glorify drug use. come on. does that really make sense to someone(I am not) who used drugs to listen to and quit? it to him would be like well I don't like candy, but I will smell it. taste it but not swallow it. pinks' song., my wife has a ton of secular songs, are full of anger. I don't need to listen to rage, I have that issue already from ptsd in the past and other things broke in my life. I don't need to to listen to songs about broken marriages, I have one.or he or she cheated on me. been there too.

Fair enough, but different people react differently. I went through a bad breakup a while ago and listening to breakup songs helped me through it. Each unto his eon I suppose