Christian Music vs. Worldly Music

[Guest]

BY FAR, one of the hardest decisions I will ever have to make. Do I throw away my worldly album collection, or do I keep it. I'm 32. I started this collection when I was 16, so...it would be a pretty radical move on my behalf. What does God say, this is frustrating. I need to hear from my brothers and sisters..

 

[farouk]

BY FAR, one of the hardest decisions I will ever have to make. Do I throw away my worldly album collection, or do I keep it. I'm 32. I started this collection when I was 16, so...it would be a pretty radical move on my behalf. What does God say, this is frustrating. I need to hear from my brothers and sisters..

urk:

You are going to have to draw arbitrary lines. Assuming you want to draw them at all...

Blessings.

 

[Atonement]

BY FAR, one of the hardest decisions I will ever have to make. Do I throw away my worldly album collection, or do I keep it. I'm 32. I started this collection when I was 16, so...it would be a pretty radical move on my behalf. What does God say, this is frustrating. I need to hear from my brothers and sisters..

I remember throwing away my rock t-shirts, cassettes, tapestries, back patches (yes I'm talking late 80's early 90's era). And I had a huge collection. All of my shirts were either of Slayer, Metallica, Overkill, Nuclear Assault, Sodom, or Death. My back patch on my jean jacket was Venom. Oh how my friends were upset because I just didn't give it to them. But I know that God looked down and smiled farouk is right you will have to draw some lines.

 

[Guest]

What do you guys mean by drawing some lines, it's either all or nothing I think.

 

[Atonement]

What do you guys mean by drawing some lines, it's either all or nothing I think.

It is all or nothing .. Hot or cold and not lukewarm.

And it's a "line" that many are not willing to cross, many believe its okay to watch secular movies, or listen to secular music or go to secular places. And I'm not saying that we can't do these things, I'm not one to judge; but I do believe that our life should be one that glorifies God in what we do

 

[farouk]

What do you guys mean by drawing some lines, it's either all or nothing I think.

urk:

I think you are trying to crave objectivity and someone else's supposed authority for a cultural area which is essentially subjective. I think if you were to read and mediate on Romans 14 very carefully, it would, however, help you a lot.

Blessings.

 

[Guest]

@farouk What in the world are you talking about, I'm not judging anyone. I'm asking questions and needing advice.

 

[farouk]

@farouk What in the world are you talk about, I'm not judging anyone. I'm asking questions and needing advice.

urk:

I'm suggesting that you seem to want to look at an un-clear cut world of music in a clear cut way, and find some authorative definitions to follow, when really there aren't any. This is why I advised reading and meditating on Romans 14, which has a lot in it about following one's conscience rather than arbitrary rules not in the Bible. The Bible does indeed give moral and spiritual guidance and authority, but as far as music styles are concerned you will have to get to grips with what, in conscience, your tastes are.

Blessings.

 

[evenifigoalone]

For me, it'd depend on a lot of things. I'd throw songs with bad messages or images away, but wouldn't see any harm in keeping those with neutral or good messages. I listen to some secular music, although most of the songs I listen to in the first place are from Christian artists if not Christian in their message.

But God may lead you in a different direction.

 

[Guest]

[MENTION=41474]farouk[/MENTION] I'm sorry man, but Romans 14 doesn't have anything to do with this thread. We're talking about worldly music here so....what are you trying to say.

 

[farouk]

[MENTION=41474]farouk[/MENTION] I'm sorry man, but Romans 14 doesn't have anything to do with this thread. We're talking about worldly music here so....what are you trying to say.

Actually if you re-read Romans 14, nearly every verse of it is relevant. Really you are examining yourself, aren't you, rather than someone else; you could read it in that light.

Even the beginning of the chapter talks about doubtful disputations. And about the fact that Christians are likely to have different opinions and different choices about things. (Among them is music, I'm sure.)

Blessings.

 

[Atonement]

[MENTION=41474]farouk[/MENTION] I'm sorry man, but Romans 14 doesn't have anything to do with this thread. We're talking about worldly music here so....what are you trying to say.

Actually if you re-read Romans 14, nearly every verse of it is relevant. Really you are examining yourself, aren't you, rather than someone else; you could read it in that light.

Even the beginning of the chapter talks about doubtful disputations. And about the fact that Christians are likely to have different opinions and different choices about things. (Among them is music, I'm sure.)

Blessings.

 

[Guest]

[MENTION=41474]farouk[/MENTION] OH, I see where you're getting at. You think I would be judging you for keeping your worldly music when I in fact am deciding to let go of it, if that's what I decide to do. Romans 14:10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. Farouk, I would never judge Christians. We are all on different walks with Christ, but keep in mind that his main goal is to draw himself closer to you. I don't think he can do that when we draw ourselves closer to idols. I was just curious of what other Christians think, or what they've done with their own album collections, how easy or hard it was to make a choice. I love my brothers and sisters. I would never judge them brother. I would teach them.

 

[farouk]

[MENTION=41474]farouk[/MENTION] OH, I see where you're getting at. You think I would be judging you for keeping your worldly music when I in fact am deciding to let go of it, if that's what I decide to do. Romans 14:10 Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God. Farouk, I would never judge Christians. We are all on different walks with Christ, but keep in mind that his main goal is to draw himself closer to you. I don't think he can do that when we draw ourselves closer to idols. I was just curious of what other Christians think, or what they've done with their own album collections, how easy or hard it was to make a choice. I love my brothers and sisters. I would never judge them brother. I would teach them.

urk:

No, I wasn't exactly saying this, either.

What I was saying, however, was: let's read passages such as Romans 14 for ourselves, and, in keeping with the fact that it anticipates that Christians will have all sorts of different views on secondary matters (including music), let's train our consciences to get a sense of what is and is not appropriate for ourselves, each as individuals.

Blessings.

 

[Guest]

[MENTION=41474]farouk[/MENTION] I understand what you're saying, but what does the Bible say about idols. Does Jesus have different views on idolatry or was he straight forward. Does Jesus care if you're listening to an artist that's indwelled with the Holy Spirit or does it hurt our walk with him when we listen to artists who are not indwelled.

 

[farouk]

[MENTION=41474]farouk[/MENTION] I understand what you're saying, but what does the Bible say about idols. Does Jesus have different views on idolatry or was he straight forward. Does Jesus care if you're listening to an artist that's indwelled with the Holy Spirit or does it hurt our walk with him when we listen to artists who are not indwelled.

urk:

This is relevant in a sense, yes; but you can have jerks who sing beautifully and good ole' boys who can't. If we start drawing arbitrary lines, we will end up in a big muddle.

Now, separation from things that will affect us in a clearly unholy way is important, but so often it's not necessarily clear cut.

In the end, one person can't make up his or her mind about what is and isn't appropriate, for another.

Blessings.

 

[evenifigoalone]

Idolatry is excessive admiration or attachment to something besides God, and that hinders your relationship with Him. Simply listen to, or even rocking out, IMO--to music isn't idolatry.
But if you think you'd be inclined to become obsessed or that the music would open the gateway to an old lifestyle you don't want to return to, then you might decide it'd be best to get rid of it.

 

[Guest]

[MENTION=41474]farouk[/MENTION] Yes, but certain lyrics lead us down certain paths, as in the wrong path, away from God. We end up worshiping idols. I've been there farouk, I know what I'm talking about. For example, I'm 32 years old and I've seen artists come and go in my own heart. The way I see it, those artists never loved me through their lyrics like Jesus does through the lyrics of a Holy Spirit filled artist. So if I can teach a 19 year old that it would be better for your 'conscience' not to follow worldly writers and musicians, why would that be a bad thing. We can't make up their minds, but we can point them in the right direction when it comes to music. Besides, doesn't God the Father know what's best for our spirit/mind/souls.

 

[Angel]

Dear Urk,

I know exactly the situation you are dealing with. I was in it myself. I used to idolize music, in fact. One day, God showed me that when I listen to certain bands, they bring sinful thoughts into my mind and heart, thoughts that cause me to flirt with sin and/or right out sin. For instance, I would smoke marijuana and listen to Atreyu. I don't know if you can identify with that or not... I also find that when I listen to Christian radio stations, and I'm out in the world, it is very hard to sin because the message of the songs are keeping my heart towards God. I listen to only 2 secular artist's now, the rest of my CDs are Christian.

Whether you keep certain bands or not is between you and God. It is not a matter of listen this not that so much as it is how does this music affect my heart, my relationship with God, and my testimony to others.

 

[evenifigoalone]

Dear Urk,

I know exactly the situation you are dealing with. I was in it myself. I used to idolize music, in fact. One day, God showed me that when I listen to certain bands, they bring sinful thoughts into my mind and heart, thoughts that cause me to flirt with sin and/or right out sin. For instance, I would smoke marijuana and listen to Atreyu. I don't know if you can identify with that or not... I also find that when I listen to Christian radio stations, and I'm out in the world, it is very hard to sin because the message of the songs are keeping my heart towards God. I listen to only 2 secular artist's now, the rest of my CDs are Christian.

Whether you keep certain bands or not is between you and God. It is not a matter of listen this not that so much as it is how does this music affect my heart, my relationship with God, and my testimony to others.

Think you said in those last few sentences what I was trying to say.