Music for Christians, What is ok and what is not?

[Hobie]

Music can have a strong influence and effect, even the words in the music. It can be called 'Christian Rock', but if it excites the wrong kind of feelings or leads Christians to other forms of expressions that have nothing to do with singing for the glory of God, as has been the case of many former singers in the church choir, then you have to look at it as what it is. A temptation, a first step to further sin, a direction to living in the world and its lustful pleasures. It may look innocent at first, but the flow of its pull soon shows itself, and next thing you know you find yourself in the world and out of the church. So what is ok for Christians, and what is not...

 

[David]

Music can have a strong influence and effect, even the words in the music. It can be called 'Christian Rock', but if it excites the wrong kind of feelings or leads Christians to other forms of expressions that have nothing to do with singing for the glory of God, as has been the case of many former singers in the church choir, then you have to look at it as what it is. A temptation, a first step to further sin, a direction to living in the world and its lustful pleasures. It may look innocent at first, but the flow of its pull soon shows itself, and next thing you know you find yourself in the world and out of the church. So what is ok for Christians, and what is not...

Wow, now that is a good question. I know for myself music sure has a lot of influence in someone’s life and the way they act. Music is a spiritual conduit. It transports a message straight into your heart. That’s why Paul instructed us in Ephesians 5: 19 to sing “psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with all your heart and giving thanks to God the Father”

Okay, here’s the bottom line: the issue isn’t beat or groove, it’s direction. David danced before the Lord with all his strength (2 Samuel 6:14). If the beat is leading you closer to Christ, that’s worship. If the beat tempts you to lust, rebellion, or pride, that’s not worship, that’s pollution. Romans 12: 2 says, “Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”

Here’s the litmus test: Can you press play in Jesus’ name? Colossians 3: 17 says “whatever you do, do all in the name of Jesus.” If the song exalts Christ, declares truth, and lifts your heart in thanksgiving, turn it up. But if it reflects the world and leaves you more energized for sin than the Savior, you better hit pause.

Think of it this way: what you fill up your car with will determine how it runs. If you put good fuel in it, you can drive all over town. But if you pour sugar in the gas tank, you won’t make it down the street. The same is true for the songs you pour into your heart. It will either power your worship, or clog your engine with junk.

Worship is about giving God glory with all your heart and strength, even your playlist.

 

[bobinfaith]

Good morning, Hobie;

I agree. You post a very good question. Whether one person or more, everytime we listen, sing or worship a song or hymn, God inhabits our praises.

When a praise team or choir leads in song, it requires accountability from each vocalist, musician and personality toward the music ministry.

For the serious believer worshiping in song requires discernment to what and who they are listening to.

Many contemporary musicians are not saved. They are professionals and many regard Christian music good business. One mega Church produced beautiful and popular worship music, but was deep in scandal for years and affected their produced music cds and videos. In the last few years this Church dwindled. Since then my wife and I don't listen to their label.

I'll leave it at that so as to not get off track and stay on subject of Music for Christians.

We enjoy many other Christian contemporary music and hymns, some are timeless and go back as far as 1923, 1972 and 1986. We still listen to them and worshiping the Lord whether in Church, in the car or at home.

God bless you, Hobie.

bobinfaith

 

[Hobie]

Well, I checked though what was considered the best to see if they had any 'redeeming' music/content/words in their songs, and put a comment beside each. As you can see, there wasnt much to find:

1) Beatles - Cant think of any (My Sweet Lord was to Lord Vishnu so doesnt count)
2) The Rolling Stones -Definitely Not
3) Jimi Hendrix - No
4) Led Zeppelin - (Stairway just doesnt cut it)
5) Bob Dylan - Maybe, didnt understand much of the words
6) James Brown - No
7) David Bowie -- No
8) Elvis Presley -- Yes, His gospel songs set the standard in my book.....
9) The Who -- No
10) The Police -- Beautiful Music but the words are focused on man.
11) Stevie Wonder -- Stevie has a lot of love and it comes through
12) Ray Charles -- Hmmm, I know he did some Gospel
13) The Beach Boys -- No
14) Marvin Gaye -- No
15) Eric Clapton -- No
16) John Lennon -- See Beetles
17) Elton John -- No
18) The Artist (Formerly Known as Prince) -- I heard he was SDA, but never picked up nothing in his songs.
19) Pink Floyd -- NO
20) The Doors -- No
21) Aretha Franklin -- Not quiet sure
22) Fleetwood Mac -- No
23) The Eagles -- See Fleetwood Mac.
24) Bob Marley -- The greatest Reggae singer ever... but still no.
25) Van Morrison -- ?
26) Chuck Berry -- No
27) Bruce Springsteen -- No
28) Sly & The Family Stone -- Didnt he start in a choir?
29) U2 -- No
30) Neil Young -- I dont know all of his music..
31) The Clash -- ?
32) Joni Mitchell -- ?
33) Queen -- No, (I've searched all their songs, nothing.)
34) Buddy Holly -- Who
35) Otis Redding -- Maybe
36) Little Richard -- See Prince
37) Al Green -- No
38) Elvis Costello -- ?
39) Miles Davis -- The greatest jazz man ever, but does just music count?
40) Michael Jackson -- Think sleeping with kids, NO!
41) Janis Joplin -- NO
42) Nirvana -- Kurt lived his songs..
43) Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers --?
44) The Jackson Five -- Jehovah Witnesses, but I dont know if they ever sang in the choir.
45) Crosby, Stills & Nash -- Have to check
46) The Sex Pistols -- The name says it all
47) Creedence Clearwater Revival -- John Fogerty who?
48) Van Halen -- David Lee Roth is a poster child for people your mother told you to keep away.
49) Roy Orbison -- Maybe
50) R.E.M -- No
51) B.B. King -- See Miles Davis
52) Cream -- See Miles Davis
53) Peter Gabriel -- No
54) The Grateful Dead -- The name gives a hint.
55) The Byrds -- Cant remeber any of their songs.
56) The Kinks -- No
57) Steely Dan -- See Miles Davis
58) Sam Cooke -- Maybe
59) Bo Diddley -- See Miles Davis
60) Earth, Wind & Fire -- No
61) Smokey Robinson -- Did he sing in the choir?
62) Paul McCartney -- See Beetles
63) Sting -- See the Police
64) Frank Zappa -- I never got him...
65) James Taylor -- Didnt like his songs.
66) Talking Heads -- ?
67) Kiss -- Definitely not
68) The Allman Brothers -- Cant remember their songs
69) Pretenders -- No
70) Stevie Ray Vaughan -- See Miles Davis
71) Rod Stewart -- No
72) Simon & Garfunkel -- "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" is Gospel if I remember right.
73) Muddy Waters -- See Miles Davis
74) The Velvet Underground -- ?
75) Curtis Mayfield -- ?
76) The Bee Gees -- Not a chance
77) John Coltrane -- ?
78) Billy Joel -- Dont think so
79) Aerosmith -- No
80) Tina Turner -- Good singer in the choir..
81) The Band -- ?
82) Devo -- No
83) Iggy Pop -- See Devo.
84) T-Rex -- Who
85) Carole King -- Didnt hear much of hers.
86) Madonna -- Ask the Catholics on this one..
87) Santana -- Carlos the man, the legend, but still No.
88) Ramones -- ?
89) Johnny Cash -- The only real country artist on here... and I got to believe he did some gospel.
90) Tom Waits -- ?
91) Gladys Knight & the Pips -- She must have sung in a church choir somewhere.
92) The Tempations -- Need help on these...
93) The Four Tops -- Need help on these...
94) Diana Ross & The Supremes -- ...and another one.
95) Robert Johnson -- See Miles Davis
96) Lynyrd Skynyrd -- No
97) Fats Domino -- Didnt hear him
98) Traffic -- Music is good, but the words...
99) Parliament-Funkadelic -- Who
100) Paul Simon -- Any Simon and Garfunkel fans know of any song...?

 

[bobinfaith]

Well, I checked though what was considered the best to see if they had any 'redeeming' music/content/words in their songs, and put a comment beside each. As you can see, there wasnt much to find:

1) Beatles - Cant think of any (My Sweet Lord was to Lord Vishnu so doesnt count)
2) The Rolling Stones -Definitely Not
3) Jimi Hendrix - No
4) Led Zeppelin - (Stairway just doesnt cut it)
5) Bob Dylan - Maybe, didnt understand much of the words
6) James Brown - No
7) David Bowie -- No
8) Elvis Presley -- Yes, His gospel songs set the standard in my book.....
9) The Who -- No
10) The Police -- Beautiful Music but the words are focused on man.
11) Stevie Wonder -- Stevie has a lot of love and it comes through
12) Ray Charles -- Hmmm, I know he did some Gospel
13) The Beach Boys -- No
14) Marvin Gaye -- No
15) Eric Clapton -- No
16) John Lennon -- See Beetles
17) Elton John -- No
18) The Artist (Formerly Known as Prince) -- I heard he was SDA, but never picked up nothing in his songs.
19) Pink Floyd -- NO
20) The Doors -- No
21) Aretha Franklin -- Not quiet sure
22) Fleetwood Mac -- No
23) The Eagles -- See Fleetwood Mac.
24) Bob Marley -- The greatest Reggae singer ever... but still no.
25) Van Morrison -- ?
26) Chuck Berry -- No
27) Bruce Springsteen -- No
28) Sly & The Family Stone -- Didnt he start in a choir?
29) U2 -- No
30) Neil Young -- I dont know all of his music..
31) The Clash -- ?
32) Joni Mitchell -- ?
33) Queen -- No, (I've searched all their songs, nothing.)
34) Buddy Holly -- Who
35) Otis Redding -- Maybe
36) Little Richard -- See Prince
37) Al Green -- No
38) Elvis Costello -- ?
39) Miles Davis -- The greatest jazz man ever, but does just music count?
40) Michael Jackson -- Think sleeping with kids, NO!
41) Janis Joplin -- NO
42) Nirvana -- Kurt lived his songs..
43) Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers --?
44) The Jackson Five -- Jehovah Witnesses, but I dont know if they ever sang in the choir.
45) Crosby, Stills & Nash -- Have to check
46) The Sex Pistols -- The name says it all
47) Creedence Clearwater Revival -- John Fogerty who?
48) Van Halen -- David Lee Roth is a poster child for people your mother told you to keep away.
49) Roy Orbison -- Maybe
50) R.E.M -- No
51) B.B. King -- See Miles Davis
52) Cream -- See Miles Davis
53) Peter Gabriel -- No
54) The Grateful Dead -- The name gives a hint.
55) The Byrds -- Cant remeber any of their songs.
56) The Kinks -- No
57) Steely Dan -- See Miles Davis
58) Sam Cooke -- Maybe
59) Bo Diddley -- See Miles Davis
60) Earth, Wind & Fire -- No
61) Smokey Robinson -- Did he sing in the choir?
62) Paul McCartney -- See Beetles
63) Sting -- See the Police
64) Frank Zappa -- I never got him...
65) James Taylor -- Didnt like his songs.
66) Talking Heads -- ?
67) Kiss -- Definitely not
68) The Allman Brothers -- Cant remember their songs
69) Pretenders -- No
70) Stevie Ray Vaughan -- See Miles Davis
71) Rod Stewart -- No
72) Simon & Garfunkel -- "Bridge Over Troubled Waters" is Gospel if I remember right.
73) Muddy Waters -- See Miles Davis
74) The Velvet Underground -- ?
75) Curtis Mayfield -- ?
76) The Bee Gees -- Not a chance
77) John Coltrane -- ?
78) Billy Joel -- Dont think so
79) Aerosmith -- No
80) Tina Turner -- Good singer in the choir..
81) The Band -- ?
82) Devo -- No
83) Iggy Pop -- See Devo.
84) T-Rex -- Who
85) Carole King -- Didnt hear much of hers.
86) Madonna -- Ask the Catholics on this one..
87) Santana -- Carlos the man, the legend, but still No.
88) Ramones -- ?
89) Johnny Cash -- The only real country artist on here... and I got to believe he did some gospel.
90) Tom Waits -- ?
91) Gladys Knight & the Pips -- She must have sung in a church choir somewhere.
92) The Tempations -- Need help on these...
93) The Four Tops -- Need help on these...
94) Diana Ross & The Supremes -- ...and another one.
95) Robert Johnson -- See Miles Davis
96) Lynyrd Skynyrd -- No
97) Fats Domino -- Didnt hear him
98) Traffic -- Music is good, but the words...
99) Parliament-Funkadelic -- Who
100) Paul Simon -- Any Simon and Garfunkel fans know of any song...?

Good morning, Hobie;

Wow! That's quite a list! I remember ALL of these musicians. My parents listened to top 30 radio back in the early 60s and when I was a teen in the 70s.

Did you know Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad (from Flint, Michigan) gave his life to Christ in 1985? He even recorded on a Christian label called Frontline Records.

I started listening to Christian music as early as the 70s, Maranatha praise and worship, Jesus Christ Superstar, Godspell (if you want to count the last two) and then Integrity Music in the 80s, 90s and on.

God bless you, Hobie, and thank you for sharing.

Bob

 

[David]

Did you know Mark Farner of Grand Funk Railroad (from Flint, Michigan) gave his life to Christ in 1985? He even recorded on a Christian label called Frontline Records.

Wow, I did not know that. Thanks for the information.

 

[David]

Paul Simon -- Any Simon and Garfunkel fans know of any song...?

I know a lot of those songs unfortunately, as I was mostly a wild child before I was saved.

I know I liked this one by Simon & Garfunkel

Simon and Garfunkel - The Sound of Silence (1966)
​

 

[Hobie]

The lyrics (think sympathy for the devil) that were harmful were easy to see, the thing is, no one could explain why the hard rock beat and loud music or Progressive groups (bands such as Pink Floyd and Yes come to mind) were detrimental spiritually to say nothing of the long term effects.

 

[Yesua888]

Yes, I relate to "wild" in youth : ) : ) : )

Actually before "my wild" My Big Sis loved Elvis and I adored Cliff Richards ...

Cat Stevens became my favourite in the early 70's ... here is one of his Top Songs of his time:

Yusuf / Cat Stevens - Father & Son​

No, it was not about the Father & Son that we share : )

This is one I liked a lot (actually I do not think there are any that I did not like):

Yusuf / Cat Stevens – Morning Has Broken (Official Lyric Video)​

 

[Hobie]

Ah, I sing 'Morning has broken' and thoughts of 'Cat Stevens' distract me...

 

[bobinfaith]

Yes, I relate to "wild" in youth : ) : ) : )

Actually before "my wild" My Big Sis loved Elvis and I adored Cliff Richards ...

Cat Stevens became my favourite in the early 70's ... here is one of his Top Songs of his time:

Yusuf / Cat Stevens - Father & Son​

No, it was not about the Father & Son that we share : )

This is one I liked a lot (actually I do not think there are any that I did not like):

Yusuf / Cat Stevens – Morning Has Broken (Official Lyric Video)​

Good morning, Yesua888;

This song was a Christian poem by Eleanor Farjeon back in the early 1930s. Cat Stevens released his version in 1971.

Morning Has Broken, Peace Train and Moonshadow were from his album Teaser and the Firecat. Someone in our family bought his album.

God bless you.

Bob

 

[David]

The lyrics (think sympathy for the devil) that were harmful were easy to see, the thing is, no one could explain why the hard rock beat and loud music or Progressive groups (bands such as Pink Floyd and Yes come to mind) were detrimental spiritually to say nothing of the long term effects.

Wicked lyrics are easy to spot. If a song glorifies the devil, sin, rebellion, lust, or darkness, the Christian should not need a committee meeting to figure that out. “Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good” ~Romans 12:9.

But when we start talking about beat, volume, instruments, or style, we need to stay where Scripture stands. The Bible does not give us a list of forbidden rhythms or genres.

That does not mean music has no effect. It does. The question is this: what is it feeding? Does it stir the flesh, pull the mind toward darkness, awaken old sins, or make rebellion feel comfortable? Then leave it alone.

“Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life” ~Proverbs 4:23.

So yes, test the lyrics. But also test the fruit. If it pulls your heart away from Christ, it is not harmless. But let Scripture draw the line, not personal taste.

 

[Yesua888]

Ah, I sing 'Morning has broken' and thoughts of 'Cat Stevens' distract me...

I's very catchy, and hard not to remember : )

 

[Yesua888]

Good morning, Yesua888;

This song was a Christian poem by Eleanor Farjeon back in the early 1930s. Cat Stevens released his version in 1971.

Morning Has Broken, Peace Train and Moonshadow were from his album Teaser and the Firecat. Someone in our family bought his album.

God bless you.

Bob

Amazing : )

 

[Yesua888]

Just curious:

What were your thoughts when you first heard madonna, pink,bever, taylor swift ... ?

 

[David]

What were your thoughts when you first heard madonna, pink,bever, taylor swift ... ?

My first concern would be the message, the fruit, and whether what they promote draws people toward Christ or away from Him.

With artists like Madonna, Pink, Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, and others, the question is not, “Are they talented?” Many are. The question is, “What are they teaching people to love?” Are they normalizing rebellion, sensuality, pride, confusion, bitterness, self-worship, or ungodliness? If so, Scripture gives us the standard: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world” ~1 John 2:15.

 

[by grace]

My first concern would be the message, the fruit, and whether what they promote draws people toward Christ or away from Him.

With artists like Madonna, Pink, Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, and others, the question is not, “Are they talented?” Many are. The question is, “What are they teaching people to love?” Are they normalizing rebellion, sensuality, pride, confusion, bitterness, self-worship, or ungodliness? If so, Scripture gives us the standard: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world” ~1 John 2:15.

many are all the above // lets not forget the good old boy country music ya know the songs of getting drunk cheating on your spouse .. i listen to a variety music..at times i like some of the older classic rock . some country not real big on it.. we are huge southern gospel music fans many like the contemporary music . its all in taste in secular music do you allow the message to influence you

 

[bobinfaith]

Ah, I sing 'Morning has broken' and thoughts of 'Cat Stevens' distract me...

Just curious:

What were your thoughts when you first heard madonna, pink,bever, taylor swift ... ?

My first concern would be the message, the fruit, and whether what they promote draws people toward Christ or away from Him. With artists like Madonna, Pink, Justin Bieber, Taylor Swift, and others, the question is not, “Are they talented?” Many are. The question is, “What are they teaching people to love?” Are they normalizing rebellion, sensuality, pride, confusion, bitterness, self-worship, or ungodliness? If so, Scripture gives us the standard: “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world” ~1 John 2:15.

many are all the above // lets not forget the good old boy country music ya know the songs of getting drunk cheating on your spouse .. i listen to a variety music..at times i like some of the older classic rock . some country not real big on it.. we are huge southern gospel music fans many like the contemporary music . its all in taste in secular music do you allow the message to influence you

Hey Hobie, Yesua888, David and by grace;

From the time I was 7 years old there is a famous rock group that was considered the "bad boys" of rock in the 60s. For decades their image, music and suggestive lyrics made an impression throughout the world, their music was on top and can still sell out concerts today. Had they approached me then I would have frozen without being able to speak except to say hi.

I feel the more I grew as a child of God the more they seem far, far away. In my elder years I would have no qualm confronting them today if they crossed my path. Honestly, leaving no disrespect, their music and lyrics left no impact in my life.

Bob