Back in 1997, the first year I had become a Christian, I was leaving the church building after a morning service and had offered a fellow church goer a lift home.
My choice of music in the car at the time? I can still recall. Sound garden, the album - BadMotorFinger.
Still one of my all-time favorites.
It was on a very low volume but this did not sway my ride from questioning me and giving his opinions. 'What is this awful music? You should be listening to Christian music.'
He continued to explain that these ‘rock-and-roll’ type groups get their musical inspiration from taking drugs and worshiping the devil, which opens themselves up to demonic influence in their lyrics - which will then have an influence on the listeners, such as me.
I didn’t think it was that bad! I thought, well, it’s the style I like, and this particular album did not even contain lewd lyrics. None the less, I tried to reduce how often I listened to music I liked.
He continued to list a few Christian bands, which I listened to but honestly, not really personally enjoying it, but making myself listen to it out of guilt.
I mean, don’t get me wrong, some of it was what I would consider good praise and worship music, good for a place and time but as far as personal preferences go, it was not really my style.
The same I guess how some people prefer the hills over the beach, or certain art styles over others.
Considerations
As far as the drug taking influence goes by some of these groups, I guess that is true to a degree, so it made me wonder...
What is music for? Is it exclusively for worship or can we also enjoy our own preferences?
I know I enjoyed and continue to enjoy certain music types, so is it really that wrong?
I started by looking at parallels in the world... Music is considered an art. So drawings, painting and sculpture could be considered in the same category as music, yet unless it is 'dark', i.e. not pleasant, immoral or sinful, it would be considered ok.
People enjoy art, Christians included, both creating and admiring others handiwork.
I have previously stated that I believe we should strive for good in all we do, and to glorify God in some way.
And as such, I conclude certain music styles, provided they are not immoral or sin provoking, as with any other interest, cannot really be considered wrong to listen to and enjoy.
Alice Cooper
I read the biography of Alice Cooper. While I am not a huge fan of his music, I found his, and a few others in the rock scene, testimonies interesting.
Both Alice’s Father and Grandfather were evangelists, his wife’s father is a Baptist Pastor and as such, he was brought up Christian. His band kept becoming more and more popular and before they knew it, they had made it successfully into the music charts.
He also stated that all throughout his lyrics, he has embedded the message of good and evil – and not to pick evil, it’s a bad idea.
He claims the media always labelled them as 'bad' or ‘evil’ because of how they presented, which he claims was just to be different, even though the media had never listened to their lyrics.
The lyrics
I realized after looking at the testimonies of Alice and a few others that I actually without realizing it, choose music based on lyrical content – there have been some groups that even though I liked their music style, I didn't agree with the lyrical content, and so, stopped listening to them altogether.
I never felt the lyrical content would influence me, but as with talking to people with a filthy tongue, I just tended to gravitate away from it.
In conclusion, I believe, yes – music was created to worship God. But so was everything else on which is good on this planet, including everything we do, including what we do with our God given skills.
I know God is a God of variety, and I believe this extends to music.
And besides, why wouldn’t God like the best music type there is!
Colossians chapter 3, verse 17 says, “And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.”
Michael Dahlenburg is an electronics technician currently working in the Commercial transaction IT industry. He is non-denominational and has previously been involved in church plants and assisting those in ministry. His interests include; enjoying family, home DIY, gardening, and most things tech-related and driving his wife crazy with a constant stream of inventions! He lives with his wife Michelle and three children in God’s own land of Southern Adelaide, Australia.
Michael Dahlenburg’s previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/michael-dahlenburg.html
Michael Dahlenburg is an electronics technician. He is non-denominational and has previously been involved in church plants and assisting those in ministry. His interests include; enjoying family, home DIY, gardening, most things tech-related and driving his wife crazy with a constant stream of inventions! He lives with his wife Michelle and three children in God’s own land of Southern Adelaide, Australia.Michael Dahlenburg’s previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/michael-dahlenburg.html