Take all your big plans and break em Now, PLEASE PAY CLOSE ATTENTION although there is no law concerning types of music, this doesn't mean that the Bible does not speak about some other things which might come as consequence of us listening to secular music. NICHOLS: We are spending a lot of time on this question, but I think its an important one. According to F. W. Grant, the soul is the seat of the affections, right or wrong, of love, hate, lusts and even the appetites of the body. I encourage you to swipe through your playlists before you go to bed tonight. Introducing the Video You Say This: Hey guys, I want to show you a great clip on the issue of secular music. Along those lines, and considering that there's no verse in the Bible stating "You shall not listen to secular music.", it is sort of hard to make a clear cut decision as to whether we should or should not listen to it. 13 stoodlemayer 4 yr. ago In high school, my family helped start an Adventist church that was heavily influenced by megachurches. Books and films that insist on showing deals with the Devil as acceptable or as the only way to defeat another demon can be scratched off a Christians list and replaced with something more appropriate. Fan Theories And Predictions The Old Testament, after all, is filled with battles, and the Song of Solomon is pretty darn steamy. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Jeremiah 9:23-24. God bless. Such lyrics and sexual preoccupation are supposedly "loving" behavior. What we can say with absolute certainty, YES - CERTAINTY, is that listening to secular music is NOT a sin. Are they thinking, Wow, these Christians really relate to me? Or are they thinking, Gee, I never knew Christians listen to the same kind of music I do. Should Christians listen to secular music. ASK A FEW FAMILY MEMBERS: Speaking of positive and negative, can music have positive or negative influences on us? The influence music has on us is really powerful so we need to make sure the songs we listen to do not negatively impact our relationships, worldview, or faith. Want help getting your teenager engaged in conversation? OPTIONAL (BUT STRONGLY RECOMMENDED): It was cutting edge, and this was in the 1960s. The Bible tells us to think on things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and worthy of praise (Philippians 4:8). It's notes, sounds, silences, r We all know that music can be very "sticky" as in you can randomly begin singing a song and repeating it in your mind just because this speaks to the fact that music can often times take over our thoughts. You are watching 1 of 1 - The Hidden Dangers of Secular Music & Media - Billy Crone on Godtube.com the largest video sharing platform offering online Christian videos with faith-based, family friendly content. First, the idea that we should make seekers feel more comfortable in church begs for further clarification. You can access the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLCQZPBgN_M&feature=youtu.be. Please reach out to us at: contact@neverfarenough.org. We'll email you as soon as possible confirming whether you are a 'winner' (we wish we could give out as many sets as possible but we're currently short on funds ). What are the psychological effects of indulging in negative worldly music on how you views yourself and the world around you? God is greater than any situation in your life, He has the power to take away your negative thoughts and fill that emptiness in your life with His presence. Because its those songs that will become the spiritual content in us the Holy Spirit will use to help us stay filled with Him. Why waste time listening to music that desensitizes us and makes us have un-pure thoughts and actions? Sin is the transgression of the law (1 John 3:4), since there's no specific law in regards to types of music we can or can't listen to listening to it can't be a sin. Check out the top ten songs on Billboards Hot 100 Chart. Listening or not to secular music is not a sin the thoughts and conducts that the music can incite in you can definitely be. Subscribe to the CompellingTruth.org Newsletter: Is it okay for Christians to listen to secular music? Thought To each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good (1 Cor. He gives a wonderfully fair and balanced approach to secular music in this video. I certainly have no idea why someone would sing John Mayers Your Body Is a Wonderland on a Sunday morning. Do we, as followers of Jesus, want to find ourselves singing or repeating songs in our minds that promote sexual misconduct, violence, drugs, terrible behaviors or even paganism? Movies Answer Unfortunately, there is no universal definition of what specific qualities a song must have to be considered a "Christian" song. A bloody battle or a single love scene is not necessarily reason for a Christian to walk out of a theater or put down a book. This is human. He had about five-hundred LPs. Music "rightly employed, . Music, an art form transmitted as sound organized in time making it pleasant to hear, has an imperative role in peoples way of life ranging from being a medium of worship in religious set-ups to social and cultural activities. So the next day I took them to the market and sold them all for like five dollars. Vital Info Before You Get Started:The following info should help you navigate the tricky topic of secular music so you can have a great discussion about it with your kids. Some of us like opera. Your email address will not be published. Works that romanticize the demonic or satanic ideals are not something that any Christian needs to be listening to, reading or watching. When I was a teenager, I remember asking some people in my church to give me an explanation as to why Christians shouldnt listen to secular music. A New Jersey megachurch's latest effort to better engage with culture by embracing some of pop culture's most popular songs reignites the debate over whether churches should utilize secular music to be relevant. I am guilty of listening to sad songs too. Is secular. After all, if good intentions meant that people could always get it right, Christ would not have needed to come in the first place, would He? Maybe you agree with everything he saidand maybe you disagree with everything he said. Though America is built on Judeo-Christian ideals, society has become very secular. Is playing songs by U2 or other popular artists the best way to do that? Im going to list each of them one by one and you tell me what each of them means. Some secular films and books have very strong Christian themes. So is it okay to listen to secular music? Christianity It instructs us to " take every thought captive to obey Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:5). Some use arguments like: "Yeah, it's cool. One isnt secular and the other one Christian. I think Im with you, from what you said this morning about not going to the movies. His brothers name was Jubal; he was the father of all who play stringed instruments and pipes. Genesis 4:19-21 NIV Emphasis added, Five generations after Cain, Lamech married two women. Instead, the question is, Does the songwriter glorify God in the music content he/she has produced? If many believers ask themselves questions like this, they would think twice before listening to secular music. Can you list the kinds of things he tells us to think about? ASK A FEW FAMILY MEMBERS: How difficult would it be for you to change your music selection to make sure it fits within the boundaries of Philippians 4:8? If you habitually watch movies* you will be corrupted." I was big into metal my whole christian walk. However, you cannot be filled with what youve not consumed. Samuel did what the Lord commanded and came to Bethlehem. Seems like it would be much better to simply reference the words and comment on them. Cute dog, huh? Ask us anything. One way or another, you will hear from us , QUESTIONS? Second, singing/playing popular secular songs on Sunday mornings can have a number of effects, some good, some not so good. Q: ASK A FEW: Can you name some secular songs that are fairly positive? Whether its what we listen to or read or watch, think of those categories, and maybe that can help us as Christians as we think about these things that we devote our time, energy, and leisure to. A: To get this discussion going, you may want to talk about how a certain song tempts you to drive a little faster than usual or reminds you of someone you know/love. Note that not every song that comes on the radio is 'bad'. Does the Bible distinguish between the secular and the sacred? 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:9; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-3; Daniel 9:27. A non-profit, 501(c)3 corporation. Now, if you study the descriptions of Lucifer in Ezekiel 28:13 carefully, youll notice two words spoken of his nature as a singer in heaven: tabrets and pipes. ByAndrews Baah Kwafo Articles April 9, 2022 5 min read When I was a teenager, I remember asking some people in my church to give me an explanation as to why Christians shouldn't listen to secular music. Keep engaging them. Contemporary Christian Music weakens the fundamentalist stance of a church. Ready, set, GO! For that reason alone, we need to make sure the songs we listen to do not negatively impact our relationships, worldview, or faith. This kind of emo knows no labeling. NO. To ask Ligonier a biblical or theological question, email ask@ligonier.org or message us on Facebook or Twitter. 2 Timothy 2:22 makes it clear that believers are to flee youthful lusts. If you were blessed by this article, click here to sign up for weekly newsletters from our team. God is being very specific, and His standard in this verse eliminates many things that are played on the radio, television, recorded on CDs, tapes, and other media. Man is a threefold being. Rick Warren wrote, "God loves all kinds of music because he invented it all - fast and slow, loud and soft, old and new. Here are some opinions: - The song lyrics must reflect biblical truth. The guy in this clip, Joe, does a great job making us think about the music we listen to. I came cross this article looking for insight in helping a brother in Christ. God has also given us another passage that eliminates many things our ears should not hear. It's a sin and inspires bad behaviors from within". He was the father (progenitor) of all who play stringed instruments and pipes (wind instruments.). . Go to our home page (www.neverfarenough.org), scroll to the very end and fill up the "Contact Us!" When you listen to secular music as a Christian, you grieve the Holy Spirit. Instead, they promote a life of sin and shame, justifying evil and laughing at what's good. And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. I wont get into who that might be, but those of us who might like opera would not think that we ought to have opera in the church service. The Bible teaches us Christians to be filled with the Spirit. Why dont they sing about something that has changed their lives, rather than something I already know? Hard to say. Should we seek to evangelize during our times of worshiping God through singing corporately? I treasured them. Neither of these is particularly compatible with the gratuitous sex and violence common to slasher flicks and aptly named torture porn movies such as Hostel. There is plenty of entertainment for Christians to enjoy without watching or reading about excessive sex, the violence the human body is capable of surviving or, worst of all, the intersection between the two. Honestly, I don't remember any of them giving me a good answer by using Biblical teachings to prove their points. THOMAS: Of course the lyrics arent any better, but theyre in German or Italian. There is a difference, however, between the portrayal of violence or sex that is necessary to the plot and the sort of blood-and-guts gore-fest that has become so central to horror movies. (. Christians know that sex is a gift, not a show. I'll appreciate your comments on this. THOMAS: What is secular? This is because of the excess alcohol he had drunk. Also understand that as a believer you have a role to play in the renewal of your mind. There will be no more fears in life, for God's perfect love casts away fear! In other words look for, reflect on, think about, and showcase attitudes and behaviors that help us get closer to God. It is important to note that the spirit of man receives impressions of the outward and material things through the soul. CONTEMPORARY CHRISTIAN MUSIC IS WORLDLY Thanks to YouTube, MTV.com, Spotify, and iTunes, the most popular music videos and songs are free to access only a click away. If were not careful, the means we use to draw others will hinder them from hearing the very message that could set them free. HAVE ALL YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS ANSWER: Lets all take a second to share our favorite song of all timeand why its your favorite. Ready? ASK A FEW FAMILY MEMBERS: In your opinion, is Philippians 4:8 a good standard for gauging the music we listen to? The choice is yours friend. 4. Your email address will not be published. And you shall anoint for me him whom I declare to you.". Seek and we find indeed. Here is the point: If we dont listen to Christian songs, they will not play in our hearts. ", it is, "Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things, "I have the right to do anything,' you saybut not everything is beneficial. Many secular musicians are immensely talented. Music is music. Swim in a deep sea of blankets This category of music promotes sensuality, drug use and reportedly recklessness. Not only music can inspire and elevate, but, after all, God is the creator of music. I dont know what happened to him, but he mentored me for six months, and he told me I needed to get rid of all my records. All This song doesnt accomplish those goals. Used by permission. Im saved when Im eighteen, and within probably a couple of months of being saved, I meet this guy. When I heard the top fifteen or twenty songs that are playing right now, and I heard some of the lyricsbecause it was an address to college students, and he was making a point about how every single lyric was about sex in some form or another. Transition Statement You Say This: Alright, so Joe gave us a lot to think about. Were not left without a guide. Learn to know the difference and choose music that upholds those things God desires in us. Interested in joining the Ligonier team? One that instantaneously brings your mood down? I like some secular rappers like Drake and Eminem. 'I have the right to do anythingbut not everything is constructive. Be reminded that we are not of this world to conform to its patterns and trends and it is good news that the grace of God teaches us to say No to ungodliness and worldly passions and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. (Titus 2:11-13). 71 Romans 12:2 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Absolutely beautifully written . But for him it was a question of This is secular and this is Christian, and you need to get rid of this secular part. I think thats why I respond fairly emotionally to it. Just because a song is secular doesnt mean that song is bad. (I was at an event recently and somebody read out the top twenty songs of today, and I had never heard of any of them or the singers. Secular music isnt just music. As curious as I wanted to know, I continued searching for a solution for myself in the Bible. Donations to this ministry aretax-deductible. I will respond after some post. So its not a matter of a song having reasonable or bad lyrics. I know I must seem pathetic to you. Dont do it.. In truth sexual activity does not require that the two participants love one another. Along those lines, and considering that there's no verse in the Bible stating "You shall not listen to secular music. If you decide to use this, do so by catering it to fit your familys needs. Christians should also be aware of what the artist, author or producers support. In the last decade, drill music has become ever more popular while inspiring debates over its links to violence. Main Point: Three Questions to Ask in the Car (with thoughts to dive deeper with your kids): Q: The video we just watched was about secular music. form. Well, I define secular music as any music that doesnt glorify God. In truth sexual activity does not require that the two participants love one another. It can be about hundreds of topics (some good and some bad), and be presented in different ways (healthy or unhealthy), and represent multiple genres of music (for example, pop, rock, hip hop, country, dance, etc). This can range from all types of music. Replace the old worldly junk of your former life with the Word of God and lock up all doorways to any worldly material that may derail you and eventually kill your spirited effort to renewing your mind. Firstly, I must urge you to rid yourself of the stereotypes you have associated with what is thought to be emo. Point is Jesus listened to and sang songs as well. So, Id like to issue you a challenge. If not, why not? Most Christians watch, read or listen to secular entertainment. If the answer the question is that it won't do either skip the song and move on. Regardless, we'll pray for you. (Yes, the first of many to come). But thats not a bad song, is it? This vice tolerates immoral values and deforms lifestyles. I have been listening to them since I was in the 3rd grade. "- 1 Corinthians 10:23, "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? I am impressed and encouraged. It tells us to "Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth" (Colossians 3:2). What defines secular music, and what does listening to secular music do to your mind? Lets be honest with ourselves; we use music in a variety of ways. It is a prerequisite step for a person to receive Christ Jesus as Lord and Saviour (or in other words, be born again) in order to escape the schemes of the devil through secular music because it is only until the spirit of man is regenerated that his soul (his affections and desires) will be directed Godward. The Bible says: [Brackets added for clarification] In the context of the text above, we're being asked to keep our minds, to preserve them. If you are like me I suggest you stop listening to secular music in general because 99% of them are blasphemous and can conjure bad spirits. or is it a sin?". And how much free play screen time should a child have on top of Remote Learning? Knowing that listening to secular music is not a sin then, does that mean that we're free to listen to whatever we want? For this particular case, once again and as ALWAYS, the Bible has the answers that we need so let's get ready to do some Bible research and answer the question about music once and for all ok? Also, prior associations people can have with the song make it even more problematic. Anybody who produces such songs is not filled with the Holy Spirit. The world of Hollywood does not know God and His grace, His forgiveness, and most importantly, His love. SECULAR MUSIC . P.S. Why Christians Shouldnt Listen to Secular Music, The Ministry of the Holy Spirit unto Believers. I mean, the national anthem is technically a secular song. The real danger is letting secular music take hold of you in negative situations and letting it tell you lies about who you are, about your true worth. Evangelism involves proclaiming the Gospelthe good news that Christ died in our place for our sins to reconcile us to God. that might technically be secular but also contain a wonderfully true and positive message. Instead of teaching right and wrong, good triumphing over evil, as is so often claimed, movies are the very hotbed of sin and breaking God's law. Likewise, your schools dont use opera music at pep rallies! GODFREY: The first opera I went to was when I was an eighth grader. 12:7). We think of music as a particular way maybe to get at our entertainment or what we hear or listen to. That's why the blood of Jesus is so cleansing and refreshing! 25904 Churches must be careful that something sensual is not mistaken for something spiritual. Can we discuss each of those eight qualities in more detail? In Him, you will be set free from impurity, you will be cleansed from darkness, washed in His light! Often times these "normal" conducts in our minds are standards created there by external sources, such as music. Moreover, he/she is being used by the enemy to corrupt the hearts and minds of people. There are tons of studies done that directly correlate a decline in society morals (as a whole) with the evolution and exposure to media content. May you exercise discernment as a Christian to listen to secular music or not if you truly want to follow Jesus on the narrow path, amen! ( ! And because all the generations of Cain dwelt outside the presence of God, inventing any music that wont glorify God was possible. Contemporary Christian Music is worldly music. . All Rights Reserved. Why help increase the popularity, fame and wealth of an 'artist' that's filling with trash the minds of society and our kids and families? Wrap Up You Say This: Conversely, other secular music delivers inappropriate messages about violence, sexual immorality, and lack of morals. Ephesians 5:3-4(NASB). Dr. Graham has commented: "Some modern music does, beyond question, include lyrics that are blatantly and openly anti-religious. Should I then hear it? Your body is a wonderland Much of rock music and music videos suggest sexual activity, partial or complete nudity, and filthy language. Listening to such music or watching such material day after day will desensitize you to sin and you will find it easier to sin. But when I say dangers I mean dangers of living unmoral lives, darkness in sin, or sex drugs and rock and roll. Music is always contagious so I can totally visualize Jesus singing from time to time in His mind. Im really interested to hear your thoughts about doing songs like these. Some of the Christian music out there is just as bad as some of the secular music out there. ):https://www.youtube.com/c/kingdomwarriors?sub_confirmation=1 : https://www.facebook.com/groups/kwjesus Emmanuel's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/emkjc7 KW Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/kingdomwarriorscom/ :https://eepurl.com/hhKeNr !https://www.tiktok.com/@emmanuel.mk7 :https://www.kingdomwarriors.com Now the words issue, I think Im with you. I played them on an old gramophone record player that you had to lift up the lid. At the same time, we would never hope to introduce teens to a negative influence that they havent already encountered. He died at home; he died of cancer, and he was ill for a year or so. Then you dont just have sounds, but you have meanings. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features NFL Sunday Ticket Press Copyright . The Exorcist, for example, is all about the effects of the demonic, but it in no way romanticizes those effects. Sovereign Grace Ministries. ASK A FEW FAMILY MEMBERS: Do you agree with the following statement? Lets look at how secular music got invented in Genesis 4:19-21. Songs speak not only through their lyrics but also through the associations . I haven't found the evidence of this anywhere in the Bible. Either way, its hard to ignore the obvious fact that music influences us on deeper levels than we usually think about. TheSource4Parents.com is now building momentum, helping one parent at a time with a regular dose of articles, resources, and a Facebook page where parents can interact, 1999-2019 The Source for Youth Ministries |, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLCQZPBgN_M&feature=youtu.be, Trailer for Netflix documentary The Social Dilemma. . #1 I want to know from everyone if they think there are any dangers in secular music. Run every music through the sieves of Philippians 4:8 to ascertain its suitability for your consumption In addition to discussing what qualifies a song as secular, he raises some great questions to challenge our thinking. Unlike gospel music that is inspired by the Holy Spirit and glorifies God, secular music is that of the world and is not inspired by the Holy Spirit. I want to grow closer to Jesus and know him. HAVE ALL YOUR FAMILY MEMBERS ANSWER: What immediate changes will you make to your playlists because of the instructions found in Philippians 4:8. Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Not sure if this comment section is still active. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise. I encourage you to keep an open mind to what he has to say regardless of your musical preferences. In a nutshell, a re-visit to the nature of man will help a great deal in opening up this matter. Feel free to see the set yourself in the link below: Link: https://beltoftruthministries.org/media-on-the-brain. A: There are plenty of examples for both, but your kids will probably be thinking of songs currently in the Top Ten on Billboards Hot 100 Chart. There is a definite spirit invoked in rock music, secular or Christian and it's NOT the Holy Spirit! ASK A FEW FAMILY MEMBERS: How much of todays secular music meets the standards Paul outlines in Philippians 4:8? Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled (Heb. If you happen to know someone looking for someone willing to adopt a beautiful Golden Retriever puppy please refer them to me . The week before he diedIm five years oldhe brings me into his bedroom. Lamech married two women, one named Adah and the other Zillah. While the body gives man contact with the physical and material world, the soul, which is composed of the will, the mind and the emotions, is the seat of passions, the feelings and the desires of man and the spirit of man is the sphere where the work of regeneration occurs. A while back I went to a conference in which the ministry "Belt of Truth" (listed in our 'Resources' tab on this site) presented the topic "Media and the Brain". Such lyrics and sexual preoccupation are supposedly loving behavior. Let me know what you think. While Liquid Church is using songs like Adele's "Rolling in the Deep" and Bruno Mars . This is bound to be awhile Following that verse, everything that happened in the generations of Cain was purely evil because every invention made did not occur in the Lords presence. Watch popular content from the following creators: Joy(@joy.olufemi), THG Ministry(@thgministry), Joshua (@sicology), Helen(@helenstok), Elijah Stenberg(@elijahstenberg), KaylaNChrist(@kaylanchrist), Kiara Haley(@kiarahaley_), Abednego Lufile(@prophetabednegolufile), Bible Decoded(@bibledecoded), LION F JUDAH . He writes Knowing God Devotional and enjoys creating and sharing Christ-centered digital resources online. Heres a portion: Social Media This is on a 'first come, first served' basis. 1. About Press Copyright Contact us Creators Advertise Developers Terms Privacy Policy & Safety How YouTube works Test new features Press Copyright Contact us Creators . Along those lines, and considering that there's no verse in the Bible stating "You shall not listen to secular music. Now the rap sound is flourishing in many continents, writes Sam Davies. Many of them told me, Andy, its just not good. We have to be very careful and wisely selective of the songs we listen to because it's what we feed our thoughts with. They are also aware that they are called to love their fellow man. Bible Gateway 54 Ephesians 5:19 All glory to God . Unfortunately, rather than choose a narrative shock, many authors and directors choose to use sex, violence or a mix of the two to shock their audience. That doesn't mean we can never use secular music in church to make a specific point in a meeting. Music is math. January 25, 2020 The Impact of Secular Music Main Point: The influence music has on us is really powerful so we need to make sure the songs we listen to do not negatively impact our relationships, worldview, or faith. The last passage is simply a warning. What they forget it follows by saying that NOT all things are beneficial for us! Cool? It should be known to us that our ignorance of what we are participating in does not make us immune to the repercussions. Our primary goal is to make sure that unbelievers have the opportunity to encounter in some way the grace and truth of God revealed in Jesus Christ, expressed through his church. We are giving out two (2) complete sets of DVDs containing the "Media on the Brain" complete series of lectures; 6 DVDs. TV Shows, Life advice and pieces of my mind in crumb-sized bits. We tend to do that pretty well. But here is something I think is especially true of us as Americans: we tend to think about these kinds of decisions in ethical categories only without thinking in terms of aesthetic categories. He was very discerning and he only bought the best. We could even ask "are both parties partly right?". Therefore, listen to music that does not dwell on sin.