What is your opinion on Christians listening to Non-Christian music?  If the non-Christian music has a good message to it, do you think that Christians should listen to it?  What are your thoughts?

i think that it depends on the type of music whether it be rap or pop or whatever. 99.8% of rap has a totally negative message and most if not all pop music is about love and missing your boyfriend or girlfriend. i think that christian music is best for any christian wanting to grow in their faith because music is the key to opening up the heart. well there are my thoughts for ya...

I have always been a big music fan, and when I became a Christian it really worried me that I might have to 'give up' my music. Well, as I have grown spiritually, I have noticed that I would rather listen to Christian music than secular music. My Christian CD collection is slowly growing and I just don't want to listen to the others so much. God takes care of things like this for us, without us really doing anything except loving and trusting God.

I listen to that sort of music, but in this year I have thought about that and I think I should stop.  I like the tunes, but the lyrics are inappropriate most of the time.

Adria

Adria if it is just the tune that you like and ignore the words then i don't think it shouldn't realy matter.

A lot of song lyrics are dependant on what is in your mind at the time too.  As Christians, we can see the message in Amy Grant's top 40 hits, but others see them as merely love songs.
 Back in the 1970's a song written by Christian writer, Keith Green, was recorded by pop star Marcia Hinds, and made it to number one - without anyone realising that it was all about God.  The song was called, "Until Your Love Broke Through".
 There are songs like "Affirmation" by Savage Garden, and some of the Alan Parson's project, which can give a very strong message of hope, if you put them in a Christian context.
 The love songs often reflect what the world is looking for - it's up to us to show them where and how to find it.

Good point, mum. At church, the music team will often open a service with a 'radio' song that relates to the message that morning. We've had Creed, the Beatles, Jerry Lee Lewis, etc. Now I find myself listening more closely to the words to see if a certain song would be suitable at church. We are church totally oriented toward the person who has never been to church before, so a song that they recognize might put them more at ease.

Well, here's my opinon : Listen to it all you want, enjoy the music, the tunes, and *try* to ignore the odd swearword or whatever.

If we listen only to christian music then we are starting to live in a christan bubble and seperating ourselves from the world (Something Jesus tried not to do, he spent time with people in the world)

In the UK (where I live!) there isn't a christian/non-christian music scene - most people listen to both. Personally, I love listening to Sarah Mclachan. She has the most fantastic voice, and I thank I love listening to her sing as I pray / worship / read the bible /chill.

.... What do ppl think ??

Rig.

I think u have the right idea rig. u have the Princess's approval, cuz i totally agree with u

I listen to both Christian and Secular stuff...but I am very choosy in who I listen to out there in the world.

I don't think it's okay to just listen to the music and ignore the words....because the words still get into yr soul.....you mightn't think they do...but believe me they do.

I have one tape that is secular.....it was made for me and there is one song on that tape that is risque....guess which song stayed with me alllllllllllll day & well into the night???? Yep that one song.......

You REALLY, REALLY do have to be careful what you listen to....listen to Christian Music a majority of the time and your soul and your spirit will be well fed and nourished.

:cheesy:

(Edited by Sparky at 11:21 pm on June 7, 2001)

I agree with Sparky here only a little stronger.
Why do you think the world buys all those subliminal tapes for relaxation and stuff. Because there is a certain amount of effectiveness in them. You dont think you are listening to the lyrics but they are getting in!
 Plus there is so much good and diverse Christian music out there, why waste your time with secular music?
It's not just whether it is bad-is it good? Does it edify Christ?
Paul Said "for me , to live is Christ"
WWJD-would he listen to questionable songs and ignore the lyrics?
He wouldn't turn a blind eye to it either or cover His ears, but he certainly wouldn't have wasted his time with stuff that didn't edify the Father!
 I'll repeat something I said in a different post. It depends on whether you want to be a warrior for Christ or a sideline observer who sometimes joins the spiritual battle.
A warrior doesn't give an inch of ground to the Enemy!
Woohooo!!!!!
One seemingly insignificant compromise leads to another and I for one don't think that we adults should be telling our kids that is just "OK" to listen to secular music!
Sorry if anyone disagrees but I feel very strongly about this. Music has an incredible influence over us and you are what you eat both physically and spiritually.
OK ill shut up now. Im Ranting.
:)

(Edited by Postie at 1:17 pm on June 9, 2001)

*singing very loudly*
"OOPS! I DID IT AGAIN! I PLAYED WITH YOUR HEART.."

"COME ON OVER BABY...."

"I'M A SURVIVOR, I'M NOT GONNA GIVE UP"

"RIDE, JUST ENJOY THE RIDE, DON'T NEED A REASON Y, EVERYTHINGS ALLRIGHT!"

Well, personally I like southern gospel music. I also like piano and classical music too. I like the music of Yanni. I used to listen to rap, hard rock, and country, but found it a joy to give up for other music that I enjoy just as much, if not more. :o}

*singing loudly again*
HE'S IRRESISTIBLE, UP CLOSE & PERSONAL

ISN'T SHE LOVLEY, THIS HOLLYWOOD GIRL

*singin' too*

"And I can’t believe how lonely it is here on K Street
There’s no-one like me here on K Street
How lonely it is here on K Street today"

thanx 4 singing with me shadow!

this is something i've never really thought about before, and i'm not entirely sure what to think now, at the moment, i listen t a mix of both christian and non christian music, but after reading all of the posts, i guess i will be a little bit more selective with what i listnn to .

Good for you, Beth! You gotta follow where the Spirit leads you!

Consider the following lyrics, as popularised by George Strait in the 1980's...

Am I Blue
(David Chamberlain)

Am I blue, yes I'm blue.
It started the day I lost you.
Nobody ever missed somebody like I do.
Am I blue, am I blue.

Just this morning over coffee
I set to crying 'cause you're gone, long gone.
I didn't know just how much I was gonna miss you,
Till I spent my first night alone.

Am I blue, yes I'm blue.
How could I have been such a fool?
Now look at all the misery I'm going through.
Am I blue, am I blue.

Tried to call and say I'm sorry -
I couldn't get you on the line.
You'll never know just how much I'm wishing
You would show up and say you've changed your mind.

Am I blue, yes I'm blue.
It started the day I lost you.
Nobody ever missed somebody like I do.
Am I blue, am I blue.

   My thought is based on the fact that everyone is born with a 'God shaped hole' deep within them.  Christians have it easy, they just put God back in it.  The rest of the world, however, has been trying to stuff whatever it can into the hole ever since the garden gates slammed shut back in Genesis.  
   Awhile ago, I started thinking about that, and as a result I started listening to music in a whole different way.  Now, whenever I hear secular music like the drug/sex riddled rap music, the forlorned and twangy country music, or even the halfhearted musings of pop music it all seems like the sad outcry of a broken world, longing desparately to fill that terrible void each of them has deep within.
    Wether the people in songs (or in real life for that matter) try to fill their emptiness with drugs, sex, or even with a loving relationship, it just won't fill the gap.  That's the the truth of what Satan does.  He offers you a promise like "If you get into this next relationship you'll be happy" and then, not only does it lead you away from God, but the devil never makes good on his promise, and you wind up just like the song above.

   {JRC steps down from the pulpit}

   While we're on the subject, though.  I'd just like to make a statement about the song I included.  That statement would be that I like highlighting all the colors!!!
woohoo!  :)

*singing again*
Do u wanna be a polyester bride? DO u wanna hang your head & die? Princess do u wanna flap your wings & fly away from here. I"M NOT LISTENING!!!!

I think it all depends on which band you're listening to! Bands like Collective Soul and Creed, do indeed lift me up in a way that many christian bands fail to (talking about hardcore christian stuff). I think if the secular band is positive and you feel happy an great after you listen to it... go for it! So yeah thats what I think!

I just want to start out by say hello sblenderous. I is so nice to meet you. It is so much fun when new people come to the board. It is exciting to get to know that person and have them join in on the fun. I hope that you enjoy yourself and get to know us. We are a fun bunch to hang around.

there are several bands that I like. Not because of the words because half the time I dont understatd a word that they are saying or screaming. But the songs are great because of the music or beat. I like def leapard, zz top, van halen. these are most of them. Now I dont go to concerts and listen to them because I dont like all there music just some. Mostly I listen to country or contimpary christian.

(Edited by djahorne at 1:55 pm on Oct. 12, 2001)

now you all know that if you listen to country music backward that:

your wife come back
your dog comes back
and your mother come back.

ha ha I know it is dumb, but if you like country music like me, it was a little funny.

I honestly don't think there's anything wrong for Christians to listen to non-Christian music except for music bands/singers that sing songs that is insulting God. For me it's just another song that you're listening to.... the point I'm trying to make here is that each of us are old enough to make or own decisions and if we know a certain song is talking about sex/one night stand or etc (which is not good) then it's up to us to whether to continue listening to it or not.

Besides, the praise and worship that we have now are equivalent to the kind of music that non-Christians are listening to. They have rock music, so do we (group like Petra). They like sentimental love songs, we got that too!

Ya know i do like Ronan Keeting only one song tho really it is "If tomorrow never comes", tis a good song, he redid that song and the film clip is good too

Wowsers.........talk about dragging this one up out of the 'archives' Alex.......it's a great subject.......

hehe....this thread was started before either Alter Ego or I were on the board...funny

Ooh. Ronan Keating is soooo luvverly!!!!

I agree.

The great thing now days is that there are Christian lyrics for every type of music- classical, rap, punk, hip-hop, etc. We can listen to the types of music we love, but we don't have to listen to nerotic words

in a lot of cases the christian bands are BETTER....specifically in metalcore...i have still yet to hear a secular band that is better than Zao.

Hmmm..... What I really think is if we have christian music that is the style we like, whats the piont in listening to secular? But I think you can make an exception for "Clean" secular music. And also someone commented that if you aren't listening to the words, just the tune its all right, I don't agree with that the words are still going to be in your head.
Good bands that are on the line of Christian/ secular- superchick, Relient k

Even though this topic was started a loooong time ago, I am going to add to it!
It has been interesting reading a lot of the comments.
I think that music definitely is not ONLY a tune. When you've got girls going around singing 'I'm a genie in a bottle, you gotta rub me the right way', it's not only the tune in their heads. Even if they aren't MEANING the words when they say them, the words still have influence. (I think.)
Music can tell stories. Music expresses opinions. Those opinions aren't always good, right? although it WOULD be unnecessary to live in a 'christian bubble', we need to pick and choose what we surround ourselves with.
And by the way, there is SO much great Christian music ... you all probably know that, hehe.

Yeah, yeah what she said