There'll always be talk about whether or not Christians should listen to secular music. Some might argue, "Well God created music, so why would He be mad?" or "it's just music. It ain't that serious." Well...it kinda is that serious. And here's why:
I remember driving home from work one day and I turned on my radio as I was pulling out of the parking lot. A popular secular song was on with that fire beat, so you know I had to turn it up! Driving down the highway, fresh off of work, you know, I'm feeling pretty good! But as I began to listen to the lyrics of the song, God quickly convicted me. He said to me, "Chile, why do you have this on? You know this doesn't align with any of your morals and values as my daughter." In other words, turn that mess off!
Now I'll be honest: I really didn't want to turn it off. It was one of my favorites! But I knew I had to. Let me give you some bible real quick to help you understand.
Finally, brothers and sisters, 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. (Philippians 4:8 NIV)
I love how The Message Bible words it:
"Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies." (Philippians 4:8 MSG)
Although this passage isn't specifically referring to music, it helps us to evaluate what we should and should not be listening to. The particular song I was listening to was talking about sex. And we all know God only honors sex within the marriage bed. If you know me, then you know ya girl is a whole single woman out here in these streets. This ring finger is still bare, but that's okay! My point is that music lyrics that talk excessively about sex should not be in my ear gates. Why? Because sex should not be my focus right now. And it would be displeasing to God if I continue to allow the message of that song (and songs alike) to enter into my spirit. Like most secular songs, there was also a lot of foul language within the lyrics as well. The bible tells us, "Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift." (Ephesians 4:29 MSG) Now I ain't gone hold y'all up, I've said some bad words before. Am I proud of it? No. Did I learn and grow from doing so? YES! I've come to a point in my life that I don't even desire to use curse words anymore. It's like, what's the point, really? Anything I want to say can be expressed without using foul language. And reducing the amount of secular songs on my playlists helps me stay on that track. I believe that what we continue to allow to enter into our ear gates will eventually enter into our spirits (whether we realize it or not). Overall, when it comes to music in general, I think it all comes down to personal conviction. ('cause there are some "Christians" songs out there that are questionable as well) In addition to following the instructions of the Holy Spirit, it's a great idea to put each song to the test of what most called The Philippians 4:8 Test.
Here are some things to consider:
Are the lyrics honorable and worthy of respect (from God our Father)?
Are the lyrics pure?
Are they holy?
Are they admirable?
Are they uplifting?
Is there excessive foul language?
What is it that makes the song enjoyable for you?
I say the last question is an important one to consider because it really makes you think about why you're listening to a particular song. If you're anything like me, half the time, you may only find yourself listening to a secular song because of the beat or how catchy it seems. Makes you bob ya head a little bit, makes you do a little dance...you know what a secular song will make you wanna do, okay?! But if the beat is the only reason you find the song attractive, is it really worth listening to?
And even if you do enjoy the lyrics, have you taken the time to really sit and listen to what the song(s) is saying? What's the overall message or take-away from the song? How does it leave you feeling? Most importantly, how do you think God feels about it?
I'll be the first to tell you that I am a Christian, a proud daughter of the King, and I do in fact listen to secular music. But when I put secular songs to The Philippians 4:8 Test, most of them don't make the cut. I think it says a lot that we even have to ask the question, "Should or can Christians listen to secular music?" Just asking the question kind of draws us to the conclusion that there may be an issue with Christians listening to things of the secular world. I know it can be disappointing to have to part ways with songs you really, really love, but at the end of the day, we should want God to be pleased and for our spirits to be fed with things that are holy, pure, admirable, lovely, and honorable.
Does your music library need more Christian bops you can really vibe with? Be sure to check out My Christian Music Playlists here.
Peace & Blessings,
Comments