Music!

I'm not usually the one to start a topic in a debate page, but I really want to see what everyone's view on this is.

Two questions at hand:
1) What is "Christian" music?
2) What is "good" music?

Some other things you may want to consider as well are; does Christan music have to mention the word 'Jesus', 'God', 'Christ', etc.? Or are they considered Christian as long as they don't talk about drugs and relationships all the time? Where should we draw the line? Does it depend on how we interpret the music, or does it rely more on who wrote it?

The reason I ask about this, is because I know most (if not all) of you here listen to music, and I do as well, to a certain extent. I am in no way obsessed with it, and I often go a few days without listening to it, so I don't know all the bands out there. Which is why I am curious as to what you have to say. I am sure your parents tell you that you can't listen to certain music because it isn't "Christian". But. What is "Christian" music? I'm not saying that I have no idea what it is, I have my own ideas, but I think it's an interesting topic for discussion. I got this idea from my Theology class today, and decided right then that I was going to post about it. So go ahead and discuss!

Some people would say that Christian music is that which does not contain any vulgar or bad language or message. Others would say it contains a good message.

Wikipedia gives the definition:

Christian music is music that is written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life. Common themes of Christian music include praise, worship, penitence and lament.

It says in Romans 2: 15:

"since they show that the requirements of the law are written on their hearts, their consciences also bearing witness, and their thoughts now accusing, now even defending them.)"

I am inclined to say that music that you should listen to you is based on your conscience, however the Bible also says that God judges our actions as well as our thoughts. We are subject to God on what we listen to.

So now if I were to try to come up with a definition for "Christian Music" I would have to say, it is music that honors God.

The same would go for good music, it does not have to even have the words of God in it. I personally love to listen and play piano music from people like Brahms and Chopin. They use their musical talents for God. By listening to things like this I am witnessing the creativity and order of a perfect God.

Good, good. You brought up the case of music that is instrumental and that doesn't have lyrics. Is this considered "good" music? What if it makes someone think of something that is bad?

I like your answers so far, that is basically what was said in my class, and I completely agree.

Peanut wrote:Good, good. You brought up the case of music that is instrumental and that doesn't have lyrics. Is this considered "good" music? What if it makes someone think of something that is bad?

I don't know, what if "Amazing Grace" makes someone think of something that is bad? What someone else thinks of (insert musical style/genre/piece here) doesn't necessarily make it bad or good.

Ah, there we are. What if a song or beat makes someone think of something bad?
Well, you can't call that song non-Christian just because it makes one person (or even a few people) think of something bad. Amazing Grace is what we would all consider a Christian song, but if it makes someone think of something bad, does that make it any less Christian than it is?

See, that's the problem. You can make a song that to you, is Christian, but you can most likely never get everyone else on earth to agree that it is Christian. There will most likely be someone out there who says it isn't because it reminds them of something bad.

Point is, at what time are we allowed to call a song 'Christian'?

I would say that we stop calling a song christian when it clearly violates christian principles. I don't think a beat would do that in any way though.

As my mom says, music is a VERY powerful tool! In my opinion, if you listen to garbage in music all day long, pretty soon you'll act like garbage.

I don't really listen to any kind of music myself, though.

Jellyfish11 wrote:
I don't really listen to any kind of music myself, though.

*cough gag ack* WHA?

I love music!

SivartM wrote:

Jellyfish11 wrote:
I don't really listen to any kind of music myself, though.

*cough gag ack* WHA?

I love music!

I know, I'm just weird.

I was just at a conference and the speaker for my sessions was Jeff Smith from Salt and Light Ministries. He uses rap to help kids memorize Bible verses and to tell Bible stories to kids.

31899