Music ... can it be Christian?

[MoreCoffee]

I like to listen to Handel's Messiah and many Mozart compositions. Some people like Hillsong songs. Many enjoy hymns. Do you think that music can be specifically Christian and if so why? What do you like to listen to?

 

[psalms 91]

like you I span a broad spectrum, the only so called music I cant stand is rap

 

[Josiah]

I like to listen to Handel's Messiah and many Mozart compositions. Some people like Hillsong songs. Many enjoy hymns. Do you think that music can be specifically Christian and if so why? What do you like to listen to?

I'd be more comfortable saying the LYRICS can be Christian. But I would not in an absolute sense argue that music alone cannot be.

 

[tango]

I like to listen to Handel's Messiah and many Mozart compositions. Some people like Hillsong songs. Many enjoy hymns. Do you think that music can be specifically Christian and if so why? What do you like to listen to?

The idea of music that is Christian is an interesting one, as it seems very closely related to the notion put forward by some people that rock music (or rap, or opera, or whatever else they happen to dislike) is evil.

Ultimately music is little more than the air vibrating so it's hard to see how it can be inherently good or evil. But, like so many other things, it can be used for a range of different purposes.

I like some traditional hymns, in church I prefer more contemporary songs as long as they are still lyrically useful and theologically sound (if they aren't theologically sound I'd personally like to see them removed from church completely, even if they are catchy).

What I listen to recreationally isn't a whole lot any more but as a rule I like anything that has a bit of passion in it. I like classical, I like thrash metal, I like some opera, some jazz etc. I find the modern bands that are little more than identikit managed groups intensely annoying.

 

[tango]

Another thought on "Christian music". The way the words "worship" and "music" are so widely seen as almost synonymous within the church is worrying. When the person at the front says "And now we're going to come into a time of worship" what they almost invariably mean is "we're going to sing some songs". It's as if the mindset holds that if you are singing you are worshiping and therefore if you are not singing you are not worshiping. But there's no reason why you can't be singing a song that happens to mention God without actually worshiping God at all.

One of my major concerns within "Christian movements", especially where young people are concerned, is the tendency to give them something that's essentially a music concert but present it in a way that the emotional response that's part and parcel of a gig is mistaken for a spiritual response.

 

[MoreCoffee]

like you I span a broad spectrum, the only so called music I cant stand is rap

I admit to being not very fond of rap

 

[MoreCoffee]

I'd be more comfortable saying the LYRICS can be Christian. But I would not in an absolute sense argue that music alone cannot be.

Do you think that there is music in heaven?

 

[MoreCoffee]

The idea of music that is Christian is an interesting one, as it seems very closely related to the notion put forward by some people that rock music (or rap, or opera, or whatever else they happen to dislike) is evil.

Ultimately music is little more than the air vibrating so it's hard to see how it can be inherently good or evil. But, like so many other things, it can be used for a range of different purposes.

I like some traditional hymns, in church I prefer more contemporary songs as long as they are still lyrically useful and theologically sound (if they aren't theologically sound I'd personally like to see them removed from church completely, even if they are catchy).

What I listen to recreationally isn't a whole lot any more but as a rule I like anything that has a bit of passion in it. I like classical, I like thrash metal, I like some opera, some jazz etc. I find the modern bands that are little more than identikit managed groups intensely annoying.

Does music have any sort of meaning or is it reducible to nothing but vibrations in air?

 

[MoreCoffee]

Another thought on "Christian music". The way the words "worship" and "music" are so widely seen as almost synonymous within the church is worrying. When the person at the front says "And now we're going to come into a time of worship" what they almost invariably mean is "we're going to sing some songs". It's as if the mindset holds that if you are singing you are worshiping and therefore if you are not singing you are not worshiping. But there's no reason why you can't be singing a song that happens to mention God without actually worshiping God at all.

One of my major concerns within "Christian movements", especially where young people are concerned, is the tendency to give them something that's essentially a music concert but present it in a way that the emotional response that's part and parcel of a gig is mistaken for a spiritual response.

In heaven there is worship, it appears to involve words (Isaiah chapter 6, for example and the psalms). I wonder, do you think that heavenly worship involves song? The psalms appear to suggest that it does.

 

[psalms 91]

In heaven there is worship, it appears to involve words (Isaiah chapter 6, for example and the psalms). I wonder, do you think that heavenly worship involves song? The psalms appear to suggest that it does.

Did the angels not sing?

 

[MoreCoffee]

Did the angels not sing?

I believe that they did. Song in heaven may be quite different from sound on earth. Earthly sound depends on air for its transmission (as far as human being are concerned) yet in heaven 'air' may not exist. Yet heavenly beings do appear to speak, shout for joy, and so forth.

 

[tango]

I'm not saying that singing is not worship. I'm saying that singing is not necessarily worship.

It's perfectly possible to worship God without singing, and it's perfectly possible to stand in church singing along with everybody else but not worshiping.

 

[popsthebuilder]

I think much music that never seemed intentionally religion based or Christian based can still be heard as such. I listen to an exceedingly wide array of musical. styles and more often than not can get spiritual meaning out of it. It ranges from 60's songs, to heavy metal, to instrumentals.

Music is the expression of the soul. As such, much of it has significance and can be seen as eye opening or ear cleaning in this case. Would I condone say Black Sabboth in "church"? Well technichally Ozzie was trying to explain the hell and torment of damnation and the deception of Satan and man, but I still wouldn't play it in "church" for the masses. But some 60's, blues, bluegrass, and even newer inspiring stuff though not traditionally played in "church", is devinely inspired.

Don't bash me, it's just an opinion.

Peace

Faith in selfless Unity for Good.

 

[tango]

I think much music that never seemed intentionally religion based or Christian based can still be heard as such. I listen to an exceedingly wide array of musical. styles and more often than not can get spiritual meaning out of it. It ranges from 60's songs, to heavy metal, to instrumentals.

Music is the expression of the soul. As such, much of it has significance and can be seen as eye opening or ear cleaning in this case. Would I condone say Black Sabboth in "church"? Well technichally Ozzie was trying to explain the hell and torment of damnation and the deception of Satan and man, but I still wouldn't play it in "church" for the masses. But some 60's, blues, bluegrass, and even newer inspiring stuff though not traditionally played in "church", is devinely inspired.

Don't bash me, it's just an opinion.

Peace

Faith in selfless Unity for Good.

Sure, I can see how Black Sabbath might not work too well in church. Some bands have drawn a lot of ire, some of it at least partly justified, thanks to their imagery. But sometimes if you look past the shock value and listen to what a band is trying to say there can be something worth listening to in there. The examples I often think of are Slayer's "Behind The Crooked Cross" and "Angel Of Death". Slayer are fairly well known for using a lot of satanic imagery (typically featuring partial pentagrams and the god Baphemot), as well as lyrics and song titles of questionable merit (e.g. "Hell Awaits" and "The Antichrist"), but their song "Angel Of Death" is about Josef Mengele and "Behind The Crooked Cross" is essentially a rant against the TV prosperity preachers who encourage people to send them money.

A few people criticized Ozzy Osbourne for his song "Mr Crowley" claiming he was glorifying the man, but if you read the lyrics the message seems to be more about wondering what Crowley was talking about.

 

[MoreCoffee]

My question is can music be Christian not can horrible music be good

 

[Stravinsk]

I like to listen to Handel's Messiah and many Mozart compositions. Some people like Hillsong songs. Many enjoy hymns. Do you think that music can be specifically Christian and if so why? What do you like to listen to?

I don't think Music itself in any way pertains to any religion, and if it is Christian, then that would involve the message or lyrics that are part of it. Instrumental music can express feelings and spirits, but is in itself not "good" or "evil" - nor specifically relevant to any religion.

I remember a Christian lady at a church I used to attend describe heavy metal and hard rock as "evil" - which I responded to with "because of the lyrics, right?", and she said "no...it's the BEAT". Hehe. I know she meant rhythm but that opinion is a bias based on a generalization and otherwise doesn't stand up to scrutiny, which is why I followed up with a question about Vivaldi's music - is it evil? Because it certainly has elements in certain compositions that are in common with metal.

 

[YESLORDIWILL]

My question is can music be Christian not can horrible music be good

...laughing quietly, underneath my breath

 

[MoreCoffee]

...laughing quietly, underneath my breath

I recognise that line ... from a REM song

 

[YESLORDIWILL]

I recognise that line ... from a REM song

Oh...is it?

 

[MoreCoffee]

Oh...is it?

Yes

PS: It is good to see you again. I missed you.