Case in point; Take AC/DC's 'Highway to Hell'. I don't care WHAT lyrics you were to add to this MUSIC, there is NO way that you could POSSIBLY make the MUSIC Christian. Black Sabbath's 'War Pigs', NO WAY that one could simply add Christian lyrics to this song and have it HONOR God. IMPOSSIBLE.
Before you read what I have to say please take note that I am in no way defending AC/DC or any other secular music group, which could very well probably lead people on a 'highway to HELL" if they continue to listen to it and let it influence them:
Now, your particular example could just be a perception based on cultural understanding. You who would have heard the song before, and had the hellish blasphemous images now permanantly associated with that song's tune, would be uneasy around even a redemption of the lyrics. But say you let an African or Asian or someone who has never heard the original song and only let them listen to a redeemed version of a song which may praise God, say the lyrics were even direct quotes of Bible verses, then if it is a testimony to that person about God then in what sense is it evil?
And look at the churches and how they have 'learned' to promote these things in order to 'please' a congregation. Instead of 'warning' their followers of the dangers of worshiping those things of the world, they simply 'join in' and offer 'Superbowl Parties', 'Nascar nights', etc.......... Teaching their followers to 'take part' in such NONSENSE is nothing short of 'the falling away' that these same people are 'waiting to see'. Sorry folks, IT'S already here. Drums and electric guitars in the churches, yoga classes, exercise groups, Superbowl parties. These things have absolutely NOTHING to do with a 'true walk'. These are nothing but deversions designed to lead one 'away' rather than 'bring them closer' to God.
You are sort of going on a tangent here (from the topic of music), and I mostly agree with your rant, but what I find interesting is that you classify drums and electric guitars along with other things that are activites, rather than amoral instruments that can used for any purpose. Oh and while/since you've mentioned it, I'm surprised that you even list yoga. I hope churches don't do yoga! That's a whole 'nother topic though...
But back to drums and guitars. First of all drums are used in the Bible so no more need be said on that. Now as for electric guitars. Why is it singled out? Because it's "electric" and not a classical wooden guitar? Isn't it just the acoustics that are different? And if you think about it the elctric guitar propagates its acoustics through the speaker so the speaker would have to be an evil intrument as well, but since this is completely rediculous and a speaker is as amoral as a guitar then this arguement need not crop up again.
Please go back and read what you offered in your post concerning your feelings towards music. I don't know if you are even capable of discerning the 'truth' behind your post or not. But let me offer what it 'appears' you are saying. "Hey, I don't give a crap if what I am doing is wrong or not. I'm going to do it until Christ steps to me Himself and tells me not to". Kind of like ole Thomas here.
I'm not seeing it. Tell me where you read this into his post and I'll take a look at it.
It's one thing, my friend, to accept what one does on it's own level. But to make excuses is EXACTLY what any addict does to 'keep from facing the 'truth'.
Excuses for what?
All I can offer beyond what I have already stated is this. The Spirit HAS convinced me of what I have offered. I don't come on here and randomly offer 'nonsense' for the sake of 'being heard'. I offer what I have been offered in the hopes that it may open some eyes and hearts. But some eyes will remain 'blind' regardless, and some hearts WILL remain hardened regardless. And PLEASE, don't blame the short comings of man on the Holy Spirit. For when one does this, I must question whether they even KNOW, or have know the Spirit.
No offense but the Spirit can convict individuals of things which may be wrong for them to do but not wrong for others to do (Romans 14 - food, as the topic of that chapter though, is only just one example of many relative observances). And because of this (also talked about in Romans 14) not everything should be without dispute when the Bible says that one should not condemn the other because they are led to act differently (Romans 14:3).
And this is the true measure for relative observances in our Christian walk:
"
22So whatever you believe about these things keep between yourself and God. Blessed is the man who does not condemn himself by what he approves. 23But the man who has doubts is condemned if he eats, because his eating is not from faith; and everything that does not come from faith is sin." (Romans 14:22-23)
But if you will simply open your heart and ask, you will PLAINLY see why I have offered what I have offered. And MAYBE the reason that The Spirit has never offered conviction concerning music is that maybe you've never asked. And under the circumstances concerning your reply; would you even hear or listen if The Spirit DID offer an understanding of music?
The Lord personally delivered me from listening to bad music around my Junior High/Early High School years. By no initial action of my own, but only God's prompting on my conscience, the lyrics started to slowly turn more and more sour in my stomach, until I stopped listening to things such as DMX, Eminem, Puff Daddy, Nelly, Snoop Dog, etc... It was all about sex, drugs, money, and a bunch of other hateful garbage with no lack of curse words in them. I did the unthinkable: I even told my parents that I was listening to it (who under normal circumstances would have killed me for it) and I confessed my wrong doing before them and God. And God provided me with a substitue. I found out for the first time that there was such a thing as
Christian R&B/Hip Hop and it completely changed my life by edifying me rather than filling my life with garbage.
God even provided me with a
witnessing opportunity before my entire English class with one of my R&B songs which spoke of Jesus' crucifixion and what he gave for us. Our english teacher asked us to bring in our favorite CD and print out the lyrics to hand out to the class, and play the song then explain the lyrics. It was an amazing opportunity to declare Jesus as Lord, IN SCHOOL! Schools would give and arm and a leg (from a legal stand point - luckily our teachers respected freedom of expression though) to stop you from doing this exact same thing.
I must say the Lord provided this Christian R&B music as the substitute for that GARBAGE I used to listen to, and it has edified me and even been used as a witnessing tool. I can speak no evil against it.
God Bless,
Josh
I've got three of his CDs at home. I'll be darned if listening to that is wrong. I also have several Christian R&B cds at home. My favorite group is Cross Movement because their lyrics are more on target with the Christian life than most groups. Just my opinion. 
