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I happen to like some bands like slipknot, devil driver, and some other metal bands (particularly from www.RoadRunnerRecords.com (http://www.RoadRunnerRecords.com)). Of my favorite bands, the music is typically violent and contain profanity. The lyrics are usually incomprehensible but I know it is refering to the devil, demons, and violence.

Initially, I avoided these bands because of their content; but somehow later I realized that I actually like the music.

I do not believe this music adversely affects me in a significant way. But I am questioning whether it is right or wrong for me to listen to this.

What do you think?

I Also have been thinking about this I myself listen to some not so christian bands like Disturbed, System of a Down, Korn, and so on. I could get rid of the music stop listening to it but I usualy just conivince myself otherwise. Which reminds my of a young man that showed up at my door step when I was ohhh 10ish who yourself and I should probaly listen to.

Any ways this guy probaly about 19 came to my house one day no clue who this person was. He told us his truck broke down and needed to call his dad for a ride. So we invited him in he called his dad and said it would be a little while. So him and my mother were talking and some how came to the subject about music. He said that he used to listen to very satinist heavy metal bands. Then one day (I don't remember all the details) his father told him he had to choose between his music and God. So this kid was moved by his dads words and threw away all of his music.

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."

Philippians 4:8

 :)

Personally, (and I share all of this with nothing but love, and want to strongly interject that  this is ONLY  my own humble opinion stemming from personal experience), I could not listen to music that contained profainity or even remotely gives anykind of time or mention of satan.  Music is a tool, no matter who uses it, for whatever purpose, it is a tool.

Music evokes emotion in us,  it can be stimulating, make you cry, it can MOVE you in all kinds of directions.  Regardless if you understand the words or not,  YOU KNOW  what this music contains.

 Now,  does  that make it okay to listen to????
Hummm,  It is my feeling that we are responsible for what we listen to, and what we participate in...  I feel this way because  I have been involved with music all my life, made my living playing and singing all kinds  of music.... but when I invited Christ to live in and through me, WOW,  things  changed.  It  was NOT  a immediate change...  Just something that I noticed over time, like  I could not enjoy the same music  I once  enjoyed,  or  certain programs  on the telly  that used  to be my favorites, became something I avoided like it was a BUG  scooting  across the carpet.  Christ  was changing ME  as I read the bible  and absorbed the Word, I remember marveling at how I was changing...  and I remember some verses  that made me go  "hummmm".

Mt 13:43
Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!

Lu 8:8
But others fell on good ground, sprang up, and yielded a crop a hundredfold." When He had said these things He cried, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear!"

Ro 11:8 -
Just as it is written: "God has given them a spirit of stupor, Eyes that they should not see And ears that they should not hear, To this very day."

Ac 28:27
For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them."


There is lots of study in these verses, and so many more to share, but I strongly believe that what we listen to, what we "hear" can influence us, even unawares.  SO, for me, no more "bad" music,  no more "bad tv"...  and like I said, this is just me, and only my opinion.

In HIs Love
Acorn

The question I would pose is this. What would Jesus say if He heard this music. Would He like it? Would He listen to it? I certainly doubt not. because it is in no way giving Him the Glory He deserves. We are to worship Him in SPirit and in Truth. I do not see truth in secular music. So i don't listen to it anymore. I listen to that music which gives my Lord glory. We're also called to be seperate from the world. and to have our focus on that which is above. How can we do this if we are listning to music that gives glory to satan. Personally, i don't listen to any other music rather than music that gives God the glory..i.e. music who's lyrics give God the glory and the praise. Occasionally i'll happen across country music, but only that that has God or Jesus mentioned in it. Some may say that i'm a little extreme, but that's what God's Word wants us to do. He calls us to be seperate from the world. Also, i believe some studies have shown that those who listen to something or see something over and over will come to be more tempted to do that which he/she has been taught not to do. Take the ameoba for example:

when an ameoboa is prodded by a foreign substance or is exposed to a foreign substance, it immediately reacts...however over time, it becomes accustomed to the prodding and eventually accepts the prodding and when it accepts it, if the foreign substance is destructive, it will destroy the ameoba that was once resilient and resistant against prodding. The same thing happens in this day and time. While i'm sure those who 'innocently' listen to secular music have good intentions, in the end, unless they get away from it, they will become more and more suseptible to giving into it. The same thing with temptation. satan sends tempations on us daily, and history has shown that man gives into his tempations...and will continue to do so until he has been born again and learns to trust on God's strength. So the issue that I won't be affected by listening to that music...is kind of wrong.

And what you wrote acorn...i can sympathize with. When i became a Christian, i realized that all i wanted to listen to was Christian music and i noticed that my speech was being changed, my likings, and my desires were being changed. Now i'm not saying i'm perfect, but i am saying that Christ is changing me and molding me into His work. As James Chapter 1:7 says, we're tested and He knows that when we trust Him that we'll pass the test. Notice, when we're born again, we're changd...we'll want to please God...so the question I pose is this?

Is the music you listen to pleasing unto God?
Is the shows on television you are watching pleasing to God?

Just a few thoughts. God Bless

In His Services,
Joshua (17)

Brothers, thank you all for sharing!

Down to the crux of it all, I think the problem I'm having is choosing to change my old desire into God's desire; conforming to Jesus. Acorn, I think your opinions are quite true. Music is a tool and it can profoundly evoke emotion in us. That's why it is an important form of worship to God.

Maybe the music is affecting me regardless of whether I think it is or not. I did say it wasnt 'significantly' affecting me, but over time the 'little' that it does affect me will add up. Like Josh said, things can largely affect you if you are constantly exposed to it.

However, I think it is ok to listen to secular music. It just depends on its content. For the most part, music is something for our enjoyment.

Felix: I've written my views on metal music in the music section of this forum, on a few threads now. Take a look if you're interested.

Thanks for pointing that out bern. I noticed that most of threads were relevant to my question. I probably should have looked there first!

Thanks for pointing that out! I've seemed to miss how this verse applies to things such as bad media and speech. Things like pornography and profanity contaminate the body and spirit.

 :-[
I am one who can say that music has influenced me.  When I was in high school and an art major I listened to all sorts of music.  Non of the music I listened to was christian and my artwork reflected it.  I did paintings of demons, faries. possesed animals and so on.  As I got older I realized that this work was not God inspired so I burned it.  Some may say I was crazy to destroy this artwork, but it was a dark time in my life and I wanted it to be gone like the sin that put there.  
If you begin swearing or having more than usual inpure thoughts I suggest you give up the music.  Jesus sacraficed himself for us, how about you?

spud

I truly believe music does influence us especially our youth. Most rolemodels for teens are musicians and actors. I like all kinds of music although I find that much of today's secular pop and rock music seems to irk me more and more becuase of the lyrics. I don't know if it's cause I'm getting older or because everyone's mind is in the gutter or both!  :D
Whenever I have a bad day, I do find Christian music to be the most relaxing. You never hear a bad lyric!