Hey don’t get me wrong, there is a place for romantic songs. All I am saying is don’t kid yourself about the music you’re listening to. And realize that there’s a place for secular music, just don’t try to claim it’s by any means Christian. Rock music is secular music.
What I find interesting is that you somehow want to make a distinction on the words but not the music. Try some hard core rock and try singing something beautiful to it, it won’t work.
Pop rock is secular music. Hard rock is secular. Top 40 is secular. Techno rock is secular. Punk rock is secular. Thrash is secular. Speed metal rock is secular. You want to somehow claim music isn’t secular just because they change the words but keep the music secular? I don’t buy it.
Further, if you are claiming this is true, that if you change the words but play secular music, and THAT is now spirutual and Christian, then are you also willing to then point to every band that has lines praising the devil and satan and killing off believers and telling people hell’s a great place to be, also as spiritual (un Christian) and in fact, anti-christian? Like Dio’s Holy Diver (where the cover shows a demon drowning a tied up priest), AC-DC’s “Highway to Hell”, Kiss’ “Heaven’s on Fire”, etc, etc etc? Dio by the way claims he is a Christian.
All I an say is my observations from watching people dance to secular music and so-called christian rock songs. I’ve seen the video of crowds at Christian thrash and Christian punk concerts. They are acting no different than their secular counterparts and much of the time you can’t even tell what they’re saying.
You can’t separate the spiritual from the music. It does make a difference.
Put it this way, if you’d put Christian thrash on in your church and think it’s totally wonderful and God-approved, you are the one that has the problem. These are people who are trying to claim they are putting out a spiritual message by wrapping it up in a more palatable, worldly veneer.
They all look like secular rock musicians. Their videos are all shot to look just like any other rock video. You think because some of them have cross tattoos or wear a cross or say “Thank You Jesus!” that sets them apart? Secular folks wear crosses and thank Jesus after the touchdown.
Music (without words) certainly communicates. But when words are added, the communication becomes less susceptible to translation errors. I never have had the argument with myself whether this song I am listening to is secular or “spiritual”. I do not even know what that means..
Computer programming is secular, as is flipping burgers, making cars, painting, etc.. So what if music is secular?
Dio will have to answer for his testimony.
Personally, I do not think ALL music is appropriate for all times, some music is inappropriate at ALL times. One has to practice discretion in all things. I prefer traditional hymns in worship, it helps me get in the frame of mind to worship God. But see, that is my preference..
It looks to me like you are hung up on secular things being evil. I hope you get over that.. Don’t confuse my statement as an approval of every rock musicians antics.. Personal responsibility..
Just so we completely understand, please tell us all just what chord progressions are secular and which ones are Holy, blessed, Christian, nonsecular (pick your favorite descriptive...) Enlighten us also as to which metronome settings are secular, and which are Holy. (Maybe anything faster than quarter note=60 is secular, huh?) And while you're at it, maybe a listing of which instruments are blessed and which are evil... I was told once some years ago that my saxophone couldn't be sanctified because saxophones are played in (gasp) jazz bands. Is that true?
I really am curious about these things, since I wouldn't want to somehow be involved in secular music....
By the way, Martin Luther's "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" is to the tune of an olde German bar song... does that make it EVIL?