As a reply, BigDog posted lyrics to
a few supposedly "perfectly fine" secular songs (That I did ask of). I
will proceed to dissect and diffuse the argument that there are
"perfectly good" secular songs. Let me also add there was no response
as to my rebuttal to the argument about classical music and their
composers.
I have examined the lyrics you posted to those
songs. Now, a lot of those songs didn't exactly promote good thoughts
in my mind. (Shake it like that, Feel the vibrations, I want to see the
ladies moving, etc.)
Now, you're going to say it's "just
music". I'm here to tell you it's not "just music". There have been
numerous studies that deal with the subconscious and subliminal
communication of music. It has been proven, certain sort of beats
promote the multiplication of endorphins in the brain. So even if you
say the lyrics aren't bad, the beat could be promoting something beyond
the surface. Satan knows how to draw us into things and deceive us,
even for a Christian. Satan can appear as an angel of light to anyone
(I Corinthians 11:14).
And let me also interject an analogy. Say
I have a box of rat poison. This poison is lethal to both rats, and
humans. Say this poison represents heavy metal, satanists metal,
screamo, emo, etc. If I were to leave a bowl of this poison in the
middle of a child daycare's center room on a table, none of them would
touch it (Although some are so depressed that they will turn to such
heavy forms of metal to ease their mind).
Now, say, I put a
little bit of rat poison into a sugar coated candy such as M&Ms. I
put the bowl onto the table, and the kids will swarm to the candy for
sure, but the same death will result, inevitably.
That's how it
is with music. Even though the music just may sound "Okay", or
"Harmless", but the main message in secular music is "I'll do it my
way" (Rebellion) or "Trust your heart" or "Do what thou wilt", a key
principle to satanic worship. And honestly, when you're not a Christian
and you become "true to your heart", to whom are you serving? You're
serving Satan, and yourself. This music is geared towards the crowd
that says, "Forget you, God, I want to do what I want.", even though
its not blatantly stated. Why not look at the other songs these artists
such as Sheryl Crow and Smashmouth write, hm? Why not see what real
agenda they are promoting?
...Nevermind, I'll do it for you.
I've
looked up some of the songs on their album that sold the song that you
posted the lyrics to. I would like you to see the agenda they are
promoting.
"I'm gettin' stoned and what's wrong with that The president seems to be just fine Come on up and see me Come on up just know that I'm gettin' stoned I'm gettin' stoned I'm gettin' stoned I'm gettin' stoned" Lyrics from the song, "Stoned", from the album "Astrolounge".
Boy, thats something nice to be promoting.
Here's some lyrics from Sheryl Crow's CD which contained the song "Soak Up The Sun";
"You'll never catch me tonite o I ain't takin' [expletive] off no one Baby that was yesterday I'm an all American rebel Making my big getaway Yeah you know it's time I gotta fly"
Lyrics from the song, "Steve McQueen" from the album "C'Mon, C'Mon".
Yeah,
thats nice too, huh? Everything else is pretty much filled with her
heart getting broken and whining about it, a waste of time mostly, as
such other artists. But what does it really give you in the end? God
says to number our days diligently and to apply our hearts to wisdom,
not waste our minds on things that have absolutely no meaning to a
Christian (Psalm 90).
The Bible also says to think upon good
and pure things, as it says in Philippians 4:8; "Finally, brothers,
whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is
pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is
excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
"Now, you're going to say it's "just music". I'm here to tell you it's not "just music". There have been numerous studies that deal with the subconscious and subliminal communication of music. It has been proven, certain sort of beats promote the multiplication of endorphins in the brain. So even if you say the lyrics aren't bad, the beat could be promoting something beyond the surface. Satan knows how to draw us into things and deceive us, even for a Christian. Satan can appear as an angel of light to anyone"
Yes he can. However, The 'the multiplication of endorphins in the brain' is called adrenaline. People can get addicted to adrenaline. Normally by taking drugs. Or getting addicted to a sport that gives you a rush. That is not good. God needs to be the center of your world no matter what.
But, God gave adrenaline for many reasons. And one is for having fun. God gave us this world with an obligation to rule it. But, 1 Timothy 6:17 says, (Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy;)
All things! All things! Work for God. See everything through the eyes of the Bible. That is what God wants us to do.
You looked up lyrics to songs that I would never listen to. Even though not all of Smashmouth or Sheryl Crow's music is good, That does not mean you throw out all of the other good songs that they have done. God knew that there was one good man in Soddom. Lot and his family. He saved Lot and destroyed the evil city. Just as I do when I discard what I see (through the eyes of the bible) as bad.
Hey, the song about stoners? Isn't that good? I mean there ARE stoners out there. You can ignore it and not listen to songs about them all you want...but they'll still be there. The stoner song was probubly not a song that christian people should be listening too, but that does not mean all music that is like that is about the same thing. You can listen to rock or whatever, and then change the station when a song like that comes on. It's true there is a lot of nasty language out there, but your gona hear it no matter WHERE you go! Also, The song about getting stoned? The person who wrote that, probubly WAS stoned he was probubly trying to express the way he feels. And it could be good for you to listen to how he feels. Because most music has a deeper meaning, and that songs deeper meaning probubly had something to o with the fact, that doing drugs was messing him up.
Also, music itself is not bad. Have you ever listend to christian, rock, or rap or something? They're music is EXACTLY the same, it just has differn't words. Well, it's not EXACTLY the same because all music is defern't, but you get my drift. Music comes from the soul. Every soul is unique and beautiful. The music is like the song of a soul. That's why most proffesional musicians are good at expressing thier souls. I appreciate music, and I feel I'm good at expressing my soul, so even though I have like NO musical talent, I feel I make music in some way, whatever way I express my soul. And that would be poetry for me. We all make music. In some form. And whatever way we make it, it shows that wordless music, is hardly ever bad, because we are expressing ourselves. Sorry, I may have problems actually SAYING what I'm trying to say, it's morining. I don't function well in the mornings.
Thanks
11:16 PM, May. 31, 2007
Posted by Anon.
I just wanted to say thank you...this blog you wrote gave me a little further insight on secular music. It helped me in preparing a lesson for the Christian Club at my school. (I liked the analogy you used).
Another thing I'd add is that when you listen to music that has ungodly messages and you start to sing along, etc, it's kind of like you're meditating on it. And by doing that you're feeding your mind trash that will eventually start to manifest in your lifestyle.
Thanks again!
I applaude you
2:55 AM, Mar. 4, 2008
Posted by Kristal
Very good article. Thanks for the insight since I had a few concerns about music myself. I am better equipped now to make the right choices concerning music. All young people especially Christian youth need to read this. Continue to lift up the name of Jesus and to serve Him and only Him in Spirit and in truth with absolutely no regrets!
Thanks again! It's strictly gospel for me now.
thanx:)
12:39 PM, Jan. 19, 2009
Posted by Anonymous
my bible teacher at school is making us do a debate between christian and secular music.i'm arguing against secular music so this article that you wrote made my job a whole lot easier!i wasn't expecting to find something like this sooooo easily.it was really nice.thanx:)
Christian vs. Secular music
1:11 AM, Mar. 15, 2009
Posted by Italian Irish Jew
You wrote:
The Bible also says to think upon good and pure things, as it says in Philippians 4:8; "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."
I am a Christian recording artist.
Rather, I am a Christian and I am a recording artist-
And I was convicted recently when I read in James that fresh and salty water cannot come from the same spring. Some of my favorite songs that I've made could definitely be described as "salty." I revised the song selection on the current album I'm recording after reading this scripture- but i had been wrestling with throwing out some of my most interesting songs that are the most well-liked by people, in favor of religious songs. So I thought to myself, maybe I could just add a positive twist to my salty songs- but i don't know, because according to Philippians 4:8 I shouldn't even make a point of sinful lifestyle even to condone it or make fun of it, because I would even then still be focusing on it and praising it in a way by bringing attention to it, not to mention that Christians would probably be alienated by those songs- So I guess it is true, I can either be salty for the salty or fresh for the fresh, because people looking for fresh water to drink don't need salt water for anything and people looking to drink saltwater are deceived and I should give them fresh water also because giving them saltwater will not quench their thirst, but only make it worse. Thanks for your blog, it really helped me reach a firm decision in the direction I am going with the music, tonight the struggle and indecision came to a climax- that's when I went on google and searched Christian vs. Secular music to see what scriptures other Christians may have to share regarding this.
James 3:10-12
From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers,these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.
Annette Margaret is an Italian, French, Jewish, Christian girl. She has been equated to Josephine from Little Women, Zipporah from the Bible, and apparently, she's told she looks like women from The Godfather, The Sopranos and women from Sicily and Italy in general. She's a jack of all trades, and hopes to master a few.
(All avatars by me unless linked. Feel free to use any by me, just link back please.)
The Freethinker?
Did you start to wonder what Annette's blog title means? Well, she's often been called a freethinker, because she's a little different from everyone else.
"Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." John 8:32
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