Secular Music

Can Christians listen to secular music? Is secular music bad, good, or a sin? What does secular even mean?  Well first, lets break down that word secular. A general definition for  Secular is  denoting attitudes, activities, or other things that have no religious or spiritual basis. In other words, listening to music that is not talking about spiritual things.

 

Below I have two videos that will shed some light on this issue. However,  there are not specific verses that condemn or make secular music a sin in the bible, but there are other verses that helps us examine our practical life concerning things like music. Each video points out different verses to show us whether or not secular music is a sin or not.  

 

 

 

 

 

 As you can see Jefferey Bethke, does not think secular music is a sin, but if it does not glorify God, if It has no spiritual basis, then maybe there's a(or a few) specific song(s) you should not be listening too. He does not rule out all secular music all together because there are is some music that is/isn't secular because it can be taken in two ways. For example, its inspirational, encouraging, and has some spiritual basis in it even if does not say the word Jesus or lord within the song.

On the other hand, another you tuber thinks differently. In the video above, this unknown you tuber starts off the issue by discussing the power of music and its influence on individuals. He then begins to give many examples including surveys, quotes, science facts to back up his statements as well as the bible. For example, he quotes MTV. "We are a culture force, they don't just watch it, they live it," MTV said." MTV has affected the way a whole generation thinks, talks and buys." He then discusses where music came from and how, now, there are only two forms of music. Music that worships the Lord and music that does not and in this way there are no gray areas. He also has a second part to this video called "Gods view of Secular Music (Part 2 of 2)."


Here are some examples of some music, which are all in my own opinion and experience(too each its own and conviction) that are considered secular and not secular, but I welcome you to draw your own conclusions on them and make an intelligent stance.

"Try" by Pink, believe it or not has a lot of spiritual notation.

"We Cant Stop" by Miley Cyrus is very secular. 

 

"Blurred Lines" by Robin Thicke is very secular

 

 "Royals" by Lorde. This song hits borderline.

 

 

 Also, may I remind you that some music is very "borderline" and in my opinion, that my friend, depends on your heart. In one of my previous blogs "Tattoo's Tattoo's Tattoo's... What's wrong with it?"  discusses motives behind choices/decisions. So in this way, why are you listening to the music... what is it satisfying?  Does it glorify God? Is there anything relatable to Lord in the music? Are you getting "lost" in the music? Do you desire the things that are spoken of in the music? Does the music you listen too show that you are living a life worthy of the gospel? Those are some  questions you should really be asking yourself and evaluate your own heart based on those answers.  In the end, in my opinion, people know what they should do, but never take the steps to do it.

 

There's one side, there's the other, then there's the truth!