The Freethinker

Christian Vs. Secular Music Pt. I

"Let me ask you this, back during the classical period there were Christian musicians like Johan Sebastian Bach and others. Then there were non-christian artists like Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Both created beautiful classical music, but would you not listen to Motzart?" --Question quoted from Bigdog

This may seem like a legible question, but it's got alot of holes in the possible argument you're placing here. We need to first define the stylistic differences between classical music and how it communicated and modern music of today and how it communicates.

We can first examine the characteristics of classical music. The most popular form of classical music is instrumental, meaning it holds no lyrical value, and it is not communicating a message that one can perceive at face value. The instruments used in the peices are usually portraying an emotion, but no percieveable message. Most of the reason that classical music and their composers are popular is because of the ability and excellence they displayed while performing and composing. These men were creative geniuses, and it is unfortunate in some cases that God wasn't the focus of their affection, but that doesn't mean we can't allow their music to enter our minds for enjoyment, mostly from the fact that is not communicating a message to alter our thinking.

Modern music, on the other hand, is rarely just instrumental. The composers often portray the position of a role model in society, influencing the thought processes those who listen to their music. Their music portrays lyrics, good or bad, and they go into the mind of the listener and communicate a message pertaining to the agenda to the artist. These lyrics then enter our thoughts for the day and we then react to these lyrics based upon our past experiences, biases, religious beliefs and so on and so forth. We will either fall prey to their ill agendas and take our thoughts off of God (Secular music), or be uplifted by an encouraging message for a Christian, and be encouraged to think upon the things of God (Christian music).

Lets also define that instruments do not relay messages, people do. People who are singing, people who are saying, people who are doing, people who are worshipping. Either the world and the things in it, or they are worshipping God, there are no two ways about it.

Now what I had just said about classical music could have been taken as contradiction, but in modern society, classical music does not take on a religious theme, there are no two ways about it. The composer does not relay a message such as a poetic and rhetoric speech as one does in a song of today.

Don't get me wrong, if there is a member in a Christian band who isn't neccessarily the lead singer, but still isn't living a God-honoring lifestyle, then that will show me that the memebers' agenda isn't fixed on God and that his agenda could influence the other members and lead the band into the wrong direction and influence the thousands of fans who listen to their thought altering message in their music, be it good or bad.

If I were one living in the times of the great composers, I honestly would prefer to listen to Bach and support whatever endeavors he would pursue and I would be least apt to associate my mind with Mozart's music, but still, communication of that day isn't different from current communication. No matter which way you look at it, Bach wasn't promoting a vocal agenda in his popular music for God, and Mozart wasn't promoting a vocal agenda in his popular music for Satan either. This all pertains to their instrumental music. Whatever lyrical voice they had, I do not know, but I'm sure neither of them had an agenda pertaining to changing the culture or the society as 99.9 % of secular and christian artists of modern times do.

So there is your answer.

I'm also curious as to what those "perfectly good" secular songs are that you didn't refer to.

My answer

8:50 AM, Feb. 24, 2006

Posted by

Here are five. (When I said "perfectly good" I meant they had no bad agendas as you put it.) I believe God bestows a 'common grace' on everyone, that does not save them. But allows the secular artists to create God-honoring things for people to enjoy.

(Lyrics removed by Annette)

Next time you want some songs and you think that I won't find any. Remember that I am a professional Disk Jockey. My life is music.

P.S. I'm liking this debate.



Edited by AnnetteNagle on Feb. 24, 2006 at 8:11 AM

My answer to your answer.

11:20 AM, Feb. 24, 2006

Posted by AnnetteNagle

I don't have the time to return your post in regards to the lyrics posted. But I will tell you that I removed the lyrics because I don't want those songs on my blog for people to read.

As to your qualifications, I have no doubt that you have knowledge about music, but I will tell you right now you are not debating with an individual (Me) who doesn't know anything about music. My parents are proffessional musicians and have been so for twenty five years and they have passed their knowledge onto me, so with every argument you present, I will always have an answer to it.

Your Answer

8:50 PM, Feb. 24, 2006

Posted by bigdog

So are you thinking? um... That last post was not much of an answer. By the way, Your blog, Your rules. I'm perfectly cool with you taking the lyrics down. But what is your answer. I did not know your parents are musicians. Cool.

ttyl

Untitled Comment

11:29 PM, Feb. 24, 2006

Posted by Futurewriterandvet

I don't know if you "do" taggs or not...but it's hard for me to find five of my firends to tagg who haven't already been tagged.
btw. You believe what you want to believe. But not ALL "secular" music is bad. some is perfectly fine.
Your questions are: (drummroll pleez)
Places you have visited-
Fav cheese flavor-
Pet(s) names-
10 people you talk to almost every day-
What you are wearing right now-
What you will wear tomorrow-
Middle name-
Fav cd-
Least fav movie-
Lucky number-
Least fav shoes(that you own)-

You must now tag at least 5 other people. Have fun!

<i>Untitled Comment</i>

11:52 PM, Feb. 24, 2006

Posted by

(Directed to Bigdog) Excuse me, but I said I was too busy to reply at the moment, and I am also too busy now. I had a busy day today, and I'm going to be busy tomorrow so you'll have to be patient. Thanks.

I'd also like to add your post in regards to the lyrics wasn't much of an answer to my blog post, either. Yes, I did ask for those songs, but I was also expecting a rebuttal...

And yes, futurewriterandvet, I will believe what I want, and I want to believe what the Bible says. :)

Edited by AnnetteNagle on Feb. 24, 2006 at 9:00 PM

Untitled Comment

1:58 PM, Jun. 20, 2006

Posted by DeepBlueSkittle

I just don't get why we have to close our minds completely to everything around us. God put us on this earth to love him and to love people. Part of loving people is respecting them, and part of respecting them is listening and understanding them, and not everything we say and do and feel is biblical; even as Christians. I'm not saying secular artists are Godly people or we have to follow their examples. But not all of them are complete evil. Maybe if we can show them that, even though we don't agree with them, we're still open to hear what they have to say, then we can start to show them that not all religious people are hypocrites. I personally think that's why people do turn their backs on God, it's because of people like us who call ourselves christians and yet we show hatred toward their ways and complete lack of understanding toward their feelings. "They're not biblical, or Godly." The world isn't all Godly. People are not Godly. We're here on a mission, a mission to show the world God's love and his ways. We can't do that without putting ourselves in the middle of it all. Some of us should stay away from worldly things at certain times, because sometimes we aren't strong enough to keep God in mind. But I wouldn't say we always need to keep pushing the world away. We have to understand the world in order to change it, and God gives us the strength to be in the middle of it all and maintain a Godly view.
If you're not strong enough, back up and gain that strength through meditation and reading and avoiding worldly things. But when your strength is full in God, it's time to go back out on the battlefield. And sometimes that means exposing yourself to things you never could have handled before.
i probably make no sense...which is not new...so imma go now.
buh bye!