Growing up Christian means growing up conflicted about popular music. Different families and churches handle it in various ways, but it’s generally true that all secular music (What Everyone Listens To) is seen as either potentially dangerous or completely taboo, and all Christian music is God-ordained, having been baptized and all that.
For many Christian adolescents and young adults, there’s a two-fold problem with this dynamic of their religious culture:
1. Christian music is usually not as good, and definitely not as hip, as secular music.
2. Some secular bands sing Christian messages, hail from Christian backgrounds, or occasionally sport Christian t-shirts. (“The record label says ‘EMI,’ but they sure do seem to be singing about Jesus. And I hear their drummer goes to church!”)
The issue of what’s Christian and what’s not is, therefore, complicated. It was easier when I was a kid, because secular labels were secular labels (with their Cure and their George Michael) and Christian labels were Christian labels (with their Amy Grant and their Michael W. Smith). But even then Stryper came along and confused things, and Amy Grant went all VH-1.
Today things are murkier, since most Christian labels are owned by major mainstream labels, and artists from Common to Arcade Fire have compelling religious undertones, and the Switchfoots and Carrie Underwoods of the world make any kind of doctrinal distinction in the pop landscape seem silly. Is it okay for a Christian band to create vague love songs that can apply to God as well as to human lovers? If a Christian band has a mainstream hit, has it sold out? What about all the sexy pop singers–Britney, Jessica, and virtually every American Idol contestant–who were raised in church? Are they somehow still sufficiently Christian?
In short, what’s a Christian to listen to?
Burn or Burn is here to help.
From time to time, we will review a new album or video by a musical act that falls into this precarious borderland between Christian and secular. We’ll ascertain the meaning of the band’s message, and render a verdict: Either “burn” the album in the virtual bonfire, never to be listened to again for want of clear religious value, or “burn” the album onto multiple CDs and MP3 players and share with all your friends. (We’ll have two writers weigh in for one side each when it’s a major band or very important album. That means you, R.E.M., so hurry it up.)
Next up: Yours truly takes on the curious case of Mute Math.
Followed by: Nicole Symmonds on Common‘s latest release.
posted July 26, 2007 at 2:26 pm
HI I AM OSIFO FROM MY VEW I TENK IT HIS ENSTREMILING GOD.
TO HAVE A CHRISTITAIV MUSIC THAT GOOS WIHET GODS MESSAGES.
IF NOT OS LET THE SINGA CALL IT NOT CHRISTIAIN MUSIC.
I AM NOT AGAST ANY SINGA BUT THAT WHICH IS OF GOD CHOWD BEEN FOR GOD
SO IT CAN BE FOR HIS GLORE AND TO HUMANLITIY.
CHRISTIAN MUSIC CAN ALSO BE AN ENSTRUMET OF CONMFORT AND COUREGE.AND
TO FIL GODS LOVE
posted July 28, 2007 at 5:01 pm
I’m glad this topic came up for comment. I have the Christian belief in God and Jesus Christ, just like many of you do.
I was raised by a father and step-mother who toted the line that music that was not religious was not good, that I should not listen to pop, rock, country, or disco, but for some reason symphony, jazz, and modern elevator music was OK. I went to a place called Trinity Christian Academy from 1979 to 1981 for my Freshman and Sophmore years in high school, and you receied detention or a letter sent home to your family if you had secular music on your personal or car radios.
It was told to me by multiple sources in the Christian Community that if you listed to secular music with secular lyrics that it would lead you down the path of drug use, alcoholism, violence, premarital sex, venerial disease, homosexuality, illness of the mind, crime, rape, the breakup of marrage, and other bad things. I was told if you listen to this kind of music God would frown upon you, and one Baptist minister said that “All music was the devil’s misic if it was not religious”.
I have to say, those kind of statements are wrong. I like Rock, Pop, and other kinds of music, and the lyrics did not make me used drugs, run out and have promisquous sex, lead me to mental illness, make me go up and kiss Steve on the mouth, rob liquor stores, commit crimes, or lead to violence of any kind. I have a career as a firefighter in San Francisco, I am married without children, and I listen to all kinds of music and talk radio.
When my father said “Why don’t you try Christian rock music, or Christian Pop or Country Music?” I did try it, and at the time (the late 1970s and early 1980s the Modern Christian Music at the time was not that good, and the message in the lyrics was all the same. I did not like what I heard, and listened to what I prefered. Christian music to me was like wanting Coca-Cola to drink, but being told all you can have was Diet RC Cola.
We live in the United States of America, where we have the freedom to doe what we want within the law, to watch what we want, and listen to what we want without Censorship.
In the early 1980s Amy Grant was a very successful music artist who beliefs were strongly Christian. She had a good sound, good lyrics, put on a good live show and people purchased here albums not just for Christian music but for the brand of music SHE produced. Grant’s music was heavily played on the Christian Music stations, but her music was good enough that it moved to the Top 40 Pop Charts on its own with several singles placing high on the secular charts.
In 1984 or 1985 Amy Grant’s single “Love Can Find Away”, a song with the Christian content and lighter message hit the #1 spot on the Top 40 Hit List and stayed there for several weeks. This was one of the first modern Christian songs to hit #1 on the Pop Music Charts.
Almost immediately the CHRISTIAN BROADCAST COMMUNITY PULLED ALL OF HER SONGS FROM THERE MUSIC LINEUP! One song was very successful outside the Christian Community and she was immediately condemmed for it. Her song “Love Can Find a Way” had a very positive message with a Christian value to it, but suddenly it was not good enough because it did not mention “Jesus Christ”, “God”, of “The Holy Spirit” by specific name. Her success as a secular musician suddenly caused her condemnation, yet the messages in the lyrics of most of her songs were from the teachings of the Bible.
The Christian Community was wrong to Censor this artist because of having success outside the Christian Community’s media views. There are many musical artists, actors, models, TV personalities who are Christians who do not wear thier religion on thier sleaves or force there theocratic views on others, but the moment they produce something secular the condemation begins. Rather than celebrate Amy Grant’s success, she was condemned for it. There is a word for something like this, and it is called Hipocracy.
What you get out of music and how you act from the music you listen to is an individual’s personal responsibility, and the responsibility of the parent. I know people I grew up with who used to listen to heavy metal music who were fine people, and I know those who were not fine people but not necessarily from the music they listened to. If a child is acting violent or anti-social as a result of a type of music, then it is the Parent’s responsibility to deal with it.
I believe in Jesus Christ as my personal savior, and you all know the rest after that. I believe God gave us all specific skills and abilities to do certain things for the greater good. God gave me the skills and abilities of a First Responder, Billy Graham the skills of a minister, and Robert Jarvic the skills of a cardiac surgeon. God also gave abilities to musicians of all kinds, including Anita Baker who sings secular music but is a strong Christian.
I disagree with the premiss of if you don’t listen to religious music only, then you are not a Christian and you will not go to be with God when you die. God gave us all free will, to decide for ourselves for better or worse. I’m going to Heaven when I die, because I believe in Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior, and I am not going to Hell because I listen to Mick Jaggar singing “Start Me Up”.
I like a good portion of the music coming from Christain Music today. In May I visited my father in Dallas, TX and attended church at Prestonwood Baptist Church. That morning singers from Dr. Jerry Falwell’s youth ministries were singing in place of the Chior, and the music and the message we both very good and very upbeat. 25 years ago that type of music and singing would have been considered sacreligious.
It is up to the individual to decide what they get from the music they listen to. Personally, I really enjoyed Metallica’s “S&M” Album where they played thier music with the Sna Francisco Symphone Orchestra Live. I did not like a lot of thier lyrics or four-letter words, so I discarded parts of what I did not like and did not listen to songs I did not enjoy.
A “BURN or BURN” program can give parent some helpful information on some of the music that is out there to listen to. But who is doing the evaluating, and who is objecting to certain music based on “what THEY believe” is unfit. I’ll be the first one to say ‘Ban Rap Music’ because almost all of what you hear now is killing cops, doing drug, bitches and ho’s, and nothing but negative. I’ll also be the first one to say “Apologize to Amy Grant for the way you condemned her music, CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY! Ask her for her forgiveness.” She will give it, but that will not erase what happened.
Be careful what you put on your “BURN or BURN” list. These comments are my own.
Paul Dahlen
Vacaville, CA
posted August 2, 2007 at 7:52 pm
The “Burn or Burn” title is very clever, kudos to whoever thought that up.
I’m hoping there will be the occasional review that concludes one should incinerate an album that’s Christian but is so musically bad it deserves a good campfire and round of s’mores.
Paul D, you are absolutely right–it’s sad how short-sighted and uninspired we Christians have been at times. The best thing we can do is continue to search out great spiritually-minded music, gain from it, and spread the word. So this series should be a good taste!
peace,
joshMshep
http://www.myspace.com/joshmshep
posted August 9, 2007 at 1:20 pm
Paul I appreciate your concern with the church cencorship, not everything is balck inb white. That true can be said of some christian albulms.
However there is a reason and unfortunatley many of the times our leaders dont tell us why or may give a false assumption of the reason. I am a young adult christian and I was raised in chruch as well, in a hispanic one, and what I found out is that secualr music affects you personally. YOu may not go do alcholoh, or be premiscuous but there soemthing else. As one that wants walk in rightousness soemtimes we hear secular music and then feel regretful. Its more than guilt, if you pay attention you can feel it your spirit.
Your spirit wants whats of God which means something that is inspired by God. If your tuned and able to discern you will tell. Sure some albulms may appear not have anything bad an yet they dont fill your spirit. Dont get me wrong I like music and Rock music specifilay Christian rock is my favorite but soemtimes I think to myself is this want the spirit wants and needs or what my flesh likes. Sadly many of times I yeld to the wants of my flesh rather then my spirits.
May God help us make our own discernment.
posted August 9, 2007 at 2:26 pm
I listened to a song by Switchfoot called Burn out Bright. And it seems to talk about being very disatfied with ones life. It sounded more like a sucide song than anything else. It was terrible.
There is alot of music out there that the kids like and to me it has nothing to do with God at all. Its more rock music.
I went to a Newsboys concert, and I could not understand one word that they were singing. They had flashing lights, and almost fireworks going off on stage, it was terrible. I walk out after the concert, I had gone with alot of other people not being able to hear for almost 10 mins and that is not joke. I do not think the kids got anything out of it at all. They were just dancing all over the place jumping up and down like in a rock concert.
Christian music can be up beat, but their is a line, between christian and non christian. Now people like, Gaithers, Mercy-Me, Steven Curtis Chapman, and others are christian music. Some of the music that is out now I would by no means call christian music, its more Rock.
posted August 9, 2007 at 4:15 pm
This is a long everdue topic and a very worthy one. It brings out a lot of hypocrosy and that is something the cristian community already has a bad reputation with.
Paul, who made the very articulate statement regarding the topic, addressed this and I just wanted to say well done.
What is christian music? Is that the bottom line question? Wouldn’t the answer be music that promotes the teachings of Christ? Which by definaition is what a christian is.
In that case “Love will find a way” is !Absolutely! a christian song, right? It is the artists preference wether they want to share there faith. I feel sorry for the person that walked out of the Newsboys concert. They will probably feel more comfortable with The Gaither Family. It’s music people! What moves you?
There is some great music by christian artists and labels. It just keeps getting better. So don’t shortcjange yourself by ruling it out.
Hoopgirl58
posted August 9, 2007 at 4:21 pm
my comment is that one should never burn CD’s and share with others, because this is in fact stealing. each person should purchase his/her own copy of the original CD.
what do you think? weigh-in on this.
posted August 10, 2007 at 8:01 am
I think it all comes down to how God uses a song. Regardless of the intention of the artist. An example “Spirit in the Sky” by Norman Greenbaum. He is not a Christian and did not write it for Christians and yet many have been blessed by it. What some may intend for evil, God may use for good.
Another question to add to the discussion: Is it OK or even possible for a song to be ‘spiritual’ but not specifically Christian?
posted August 10, 2007 at 3:13 pm
Hello I’m 35 year old man. I was saved 14 years ago and worked as a youth leader at my church for 2 years. I lost that position due to I was trying to keep the youth coming to church. So I played allot of Christian Rock music to help keep the involved. you may say that they sing songs about girlfriends, etc. but even thou we might not like it this is what these kids are going through. they go to school all day with other kids that don’t have faith or lords Jesus Christ in there heart. So are kids Have to deal with these thing every day. When I was save I was 21 years old. the first thing that was on my mind was I had to give up my normal life. I then heard a Band (Audio A) and thought wow Christian do have some fun. I then feel in love with band like ( Audio A, Switchfoot, MXPX, Supertones Jesus didn’t come to give us the ok to Take away. I came to give us power to give everything we are to show his love to everyone we meet. I will Pray that your Heavenly father will bless you and open your eyes to his truth. keep this in mind. If music can help you save a life how cn it be so bad or not blessing Jesus?
posted August 10, 2007 at 5:58 pm
Dear Hugh, I didn’t notice if anyne ackowledged your post re: burning the cd’s vs. purchasing them. I agree with you. There is no exception, right is right all the way. Kinda reminds me of people’s attitude toward paying their taxes.
I don’t particularly care for a great deal of the music being published today as entertainment. Acually I find it offensive. I just turn it off. On the other hand there is music I listen to I wonder if it is considered “Christian”. I prefer to make these decisions for myself, and choose just how much time I spend in worship.
Personnally I have dedicated my entire life to the Father.
He knows the intentions of the heart. Although I believe in helping the next guy, I don’t feel I should have to eliminate certain luxuries from my life because others have failed to find the Truth in their lives and are unable to practice balance.
Music is a gift from God. Some of us have been granted great talents for producing art that cannot be matched. If in fact this is not performed in a Christian perspective does not mean it should not be enjoyed.
posted August 10, 2007 at 9:02 pm
Justin Gray, Right on!
I am a youth Group Leader and I always have Christian Rock or Rap ( yes Rap or hip hop) playing when the kids come in. They don’t know it’s “Christian Music” they just know it’s music, and they are kids getting together with other kids. That’s what’s cool to them. But I KNOW what they are hearing ( even if they don’t realize it) is all positive messages about Love. About Asking for help when you need it, about the miracle of Grace.
What downside is there?
Hoopgirl58
posted October 28, 2007 at 3:57 am
DO YOU THINK ITS OKAY FOR CHRISTIANS TO LISTEN TO POP MUSIC?
posted January 8, 2008 at 11:30 am
Early 70′s, Christian record club, plunk it on the old stereo cabinet that usually played Chopin or Handle’s messiah – Dads way of getting me out of bed on Saturday morning – and He will shaaaaaake the heavens and the earth..(The first rock n roll?) Anyway I was so excited. I was going to have a record collection. The only one I remember right now, 2nd Chapter of Acts. I liked it, for the most part, but the quality was kinda sad. My career in record club subscriber didn’t last long.
Radio- I wanted to be in touch with what other kids were listening to, the pop culture, the popular stuff, and know what was going on. Maybe it would make me more popular. Sky Rockets in Flight….Home after school, set up my homework table, turn on the radio. And I started noticing something starting to die in me, my spirit started to hurt. The music wasn’t sad or maybe outright “bad”, but I noticed a difference in my spiritual well being. I didn’t go do bad things, but I decided that it wasn’t worth it. I had made a commitment that Jesus Christ was my Lord, so it must have something to do with that. You fill in the blanks as you wish, if you know what I mean.
I’m a music teacher now. I think about how I’m going to lead my students at a Christian school to make their choice. How will I challenge them ? Today I may even ask some of them to check out this sight and post their comments. What will they think about what all of you say?
Hey, check out Plato’s comments on the usefulness of the study of music – because it has such a great influence on the young mind.
I’m also the mom of 4 teenagers who are listening to lots of different kinds of music. I hear a lot of Relient K etc. I’m glad for my kids exposing me to what they think is interesting. And I’m glad they are making their choices, seemingly in a good way. My job now is to pray and keep open communication. I don’t get to say much.
I love Newboys and we’re going to incorporate their music into our Spring Program. I’m thinking how our band at school can learn to do more “edgy” stuff for the challenge, of their skill and their minds.
posted January 8, 2008 at 5:59 pm
hi, I am a christion listener and my dad plays christion music everyday!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
posted January 8, 2008 at 6:00 pm
So, it seems to me the main question here is: What is it okay for Christians to listen to? Should we only listen to Christian music? Or is it okay to listen to pop, rock ‘n roll, rap, etc., or anything?! My opinion is that yeah, listening to rock, pop, and rap is perfectly okay. (I myself hate rap and never listen to it, but that’s just me.)
My favorite band happens to be a Christian band, but some of my other favorites are definitely not Christian songmakers. My second favorite band is Pink Floyd, and I’m NOT gonna go play their stuff in class. I absolutely LOVE 70′s and 80′s rock n’ roll. I mean, my whole family are Beatles fans. (But then, I don’t know many people who aren’t.) And they are really a pop/rock band. Now, those are some artists I happen to like. But I know that there are a lot of pale, shallow artists out there who don’t even have the brains to make up a tune to their songs, so they’ll just keep thwacking those drums and TRYING to sing. And my advice is to avoid those and listen to good music of any sort. And definetely don’t listen to stuff whose lyrics you think will affect you. My overall answer is yes, it’s okay to not listen only to Christian music. Just be careful about what you listen to.
posted January 8, 2008 at 6:01 pm
So,what is okay for Christians to listen to? I say it is okay to listen to non Christian music, as long as it has no bad words and inopropreate things
posted January 8, 2008 at 6:02 pm
i think christians should listen to any music they like, unless it’s anti-christan because if it’s anti-christan that could hurt your opinion on God, an dyou could end up in a very bad place when you die, and i mean a really bad place, the music shouldn’t have swearing in it either
by iT
posted January 9, 2008 at 3:01 pm
I thought it was very complicated to understand it but I got it pretty well. I like secular music more than christian music. That is a bad habbit I am trying to get off it. Thanks for the article.
posted March 7, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Thank you for the article, I love secular music, and I am a christian. I am greatful to see that others are not intimidated by music just because we are christians.
posted July 2, 2008 at 1:23 pm
I am a christian hip-hop artist by the name of MELE MEL ‘The Poetic Prophet’ I think this is an issue of great significance. The fact is that the average person absolutely LOVES music and is not willing to let it go for reasons that are not visual. Meaning people don’t see how it effects the spirit and can’t always see their immediate change after listening to secular music. We think it is innocent and harmless and nothing more than mere entertainment. When the fact is that “the power of life and death is in the tongue.” When you hear a song who’s context consist mostly of pain and heartache does it not trigger certain emotions, when you hear uplifting and upbeat music does it not trigger inverse emotions. One thing that helped me and can hopefully help you is; just because something isn’t drastically wrong doesn’t make it right. Being less evil than than most doesnt make you good. A powerful quote by Rev Dr William H Curtis “Heaven is full of good people who didn’t know CHRIST!” We listen to secualr music because we simply love it and we don’t have enough discipline to let it go. Then what would we listen to you ask? Becuase christian artist may not be as gifted or artistic as your current secular artist, right? I BOLDY SAY AND BELIEVE THAT NO ARTIST ON THIS PLANET HAS A GIFT GREATER THAN THAT OF AN ANOINTED CHILD OF GOD CALLED TO SPREAD HIS WORD THROUGH MUSIC!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU!
http://www.myspace.com/melemelpoeticprophet