EP 9: SHOULD CHRISTIANS LISTEN TO SECULAR MUSIC?

[Music] Hello and welcome to the Gospel Lens Podcast. I'm your host Kevin and this is episode 9. If this is your first time listening this is a place where I explore all things theology and answer important questions through the Gospel Lens. Okay so this question of okay how does secular music relate to us as Christians? Is something that's been dodged a lot? We don't talk about it in our churches and among Christians and believer communities so it's something that's not really addressed I would say as much as it should have been and even the answers that you know people give have always been ambiguous, vague nothing really conclusive really flirting with a gray area so I want to give a conclusive answer to this question and the question is should Christians or should believers people who believe in scripture or believe in the Gospel who follow Christ should they listen to secular music and my answer is simply no that's it it's simple as that and I'm gonna you know try to dissect and tell you all why it's a no right and most of you might be thinking why I mean what's wrong with secular music I listen to secular music or you know you might be someone who listens to both worship and secular music so here's the thing you know when we decipher you know topics like this which can be a bit tricky I approach it in a different way so if you're somebody who you know says you know I believe that secular music is fine you're a Christian and you listen to secular music and you think it's fine I would simply ask you okay give me an argument for secular music on other words tell me why it is okay for Christians or followers of Jesus who believe in the Gospel who believe in the Inherency of the Bible to listen to secular music tell me why it's okay like tell me your reasoning behind why Christians can and it's okay for them to listen to secular music and what I've heard and what I've come across right the the arguments for secular music have always been super super weak because like right off the bat you really don't have that great of an argument it's it's it's it's really difficult to make a case for why it's okay for Christians to listen to secular music so let's break it down right let's break it down to why I think Christians should not be listening to secular music okay so what is secular music well secular music is every music which is not Christian music right so basically any music which is not directed towards God which is not have any theology in it which does not have any kind of praise or any kind of worship which is directed towards God any music outside of that is considered as secular music right and also we need to understand what is our judgment criteria our judgment criteria is not going to be the type of music right so simply because the Bible does not distinctively say anything about the type of music that should be listened to or should be played in church right the Bible doesn't say or rock music is bad rap is bad rock rustic is fine no it doesn't in fact the argument can be swayed in the other way because in the time of King David and in the book of Chronicles in one Samuel and Ezra you see that percussion instruments string instruments symbols a lot of different kinds of instruments that produce different kinds of music were used so the type of music really does not matter at all again there are people still who have opposing views here but the type of music really doesn't matter that doesn't really affect or that doesn't come into the judgment criteria what comes into the judgment criteria as you would have guessed is simply and only the lyrics that's it the lyrics is the only thing that matters because the lyrics is what is conveying the meaning the ideology the value of the song so that's what matters right so that should be a judgment criteria okay so now we got that out of the way we also know that music has a huge impact on your brain right so just like if you watch something right if you watch something that's going to have an impact on your brain and your thinking it's the same with hearing anything hearing also right your hearing senses is also going to impact your thinking your reasoning and what and how your brain functions because hearing and seeing everything is just part of your senses and it's a way of perception so music is scientifically established to have a huge impact on how you think and how you reason and what kind of you know ideologies that you adopt it is incredibly influential and significantly significantly impacts your brain okay so now let's look at scripture right and see what the passages have to say Romans 12 to very familiar verse do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind so what does Paul mean when he says by the renewing of your mind how do you renew your mind simple you fill your mind of the truth of scripture you fill your mind of the gospel and the attributes and theology of Christ and God that's it that's what reading your mind means fill your mind of the truth that's all and he reiterates this Paul reiterates this again in the the letter of the Philippines chapter 4 verse 8 where he says finally brethren whatever things are true noble just pure lovely and a good report and which is virtuous and praiseworthy meditate on these things okay so that's pretty clear see from the two passages that we know scripture clearly states the thinking or consuming any content or any material which is against the truth of scripture which is against the doctrines of scripture and which is simply outside of the Christian worldview is not only dangerous but is just outright disobedience towards God and it does not mean or at least it shows that you're not a follower of Christ it's as simple as that so you go to one John John simply says as he puts his quite you know explicitly when he says do not love the world and the things of the world those who do this they don't have the love of the father in them they not understand the gospel they're not Christians okay so knowing this we know that any music which has literal content which is unbiblical and against the truth of scripture should not be listened to right that's that's as obvious as it gets right because scripture commands us to set our minds on Christ and heavenly things scripture commands us to think of things to know and just and to renew our mind with the truth of scripture so any music which has a completely radically different ideology and promotes completely blasphemous and sinful things listening to such music is sinful and requires repentance we just can't do that we just can't if you're a true follower of Christ you won't right to put it like that okay so when I think of secular music 99% of secular music is completely corrupt and sinful right and let's take mainstream pop music right that you know comes in VH1 MTV billboard the kind of music that you know if you're a Christian listen to secular music you usually come across like let's think about cinema musicals in that all what what are those lyrics talk about what are those songs talk about those songs talk about relationships outside marriage you know sex outside of marriage how the songs the lyrics of the song talk about how the man wants to do stuff with the woman how the man wants to you know touch different body parts of the woman how it promotes the songs promotes erotic desires the song promotes most of the song all the songs promote hookup culture you know it's fine to you know hook up with different people you know the lyrics talk about drugs so certain songs have a lot of swear words and you know language which is not gracious which you know Paul says in Ephesians that the things that you come out of your mouth should be gracious and nothing should be insulting and blasphemous to God so you look at all those lyrics and all the meaning of 99% of mainstream techno music it's completely corrupt and you can't really say or you can't really make an argument as a believer from scripture saying that this is okay you know it's fine to sing these songs for a competition it's fine to do covers of these secular songs at promote hookup culture and drugs and same-sec relationships and erotic desires and idolizing money fame power status I mean is it is it really okay can you really make a case from scripture that you know it's okay to sing these songs you know play these songs while you commute to work and while you're in the gym is it really okay can you really make a case from scripture as a Christian no you can't this is not anything in mind this is not pure just righteous like how Paul says in Philippians 4.8 and this is on the truth of scripture is completely unbiblical it's it's like if you watch porn right you're gonna corrupt your mind in nature you're gonna corrupt your heart because porn is dirty porn is completely unbiblical it's the same thing right if you're gonna listen to unbiblical and dirty and sinful things you're gonna corrupt your mind and your heart in the case of porn it's with your eyes in the case of secular music that promotes hookup culture and sex and drugs and power and idolizing men and idolizing the pleasures of the world, you're going to corrupt your mind and your heart through music or through your ears. So really, you really don't have an argument, right? But there is one argument that prosecular music Christians make, which is not all secular music is like this. Not all secular music talk about all of these things, the unbiblical and blasphemous. Okay, first of all, argument is already super weak because if you're still a Christian who's going to say, you know what, we can still listen to secular music, you will have to apply the filter of biblically, sounding and truth speaking songs. Fine. So when you put that filter of songs and lyrics, which talk about things to noble and righteous and praiseworthy, you're already going to eliminate. Most of the songs are out there in mainstream music, whether it's in cinema or in English music, whatever it is, right? When you put that filter, you're going to eliminate most of the songs, like a ton of songs, like 90% of the songs. Now you're left with 10% of songs, which you're going to argue and say, you know, these songs really don't talk about anything which is explicit or doesn't have any kind of wrong ideology or explicit words in it, doesn't promote any kind of sex erotic desire. It talks about, you know, peace. It talks about a loving relationship between a husband and a wife. It talks about, you know, working hard, which are all biblical things. And this is the argument, this is the only argument that you can make. And this is the only place where, you know, you can sort of say, okay, if the music and if the lyrics promote biblical truths, if the music promote things which are aligning with scripture, then it's fine to listen to it, right? So this is the only, say, already the argument has become super weak. Fine, you at least have something to argue with. So this is the only argument that somebody who listens to Christ, I mean secular music as a Christian can make. Now here's why I think that's a problem, right? So let's take a recent secular song, which doesn't really go against the Bible, right? Maroon 5's Memories. And that was a very famous song. A lot of people were listening to it, a lot of people were singing it even in church. And it's a song that talks about a guy who reminisces memories about a loved one that he lost. Yeah, that seems meaningful. That seems fine. And you know, what's wrong with listening to that? This seems like a song which is okay to listen to, right? But you know, I would probably stretch it and say like one of the lyrics says, because it brings bring back all the memories. I mean, is he promoting drunkenness there? Like, I don't know. Okay, fine. I'll give it to you. I'll give you the benefit of the doubt. Right? I'll give it to you that this is a song. This is a secular song. This is one of those secular songs, which doesn't really go against scripture. I'll give it to you. It's fine. It's meaningful. It's it's all right. It doesn't go against scripture. But I still have a problem with it, right? I still have a problem. The reason is who wrote the song? Maroon fire or the song, right? And the same artist, if you listen to, or if you know, or if you're familiar with the artist, all the other songs, like 99 percent of all the other songs are completely corrupt and sinful and completely focusing on sex and women and secular relationships and the body of women and satisfying yourself lustfully. Right? I'm thinking of a song that was released by them four, five years ago, which is called Animals. But the same artist who wrote the song memories. And that song literally, the song animals by Maroon fire literally talks about him going after a woman and devouring her sexually like an animal. Like, that's literally what he talks about the whole song. And that too was a very famous song. People Christians covered it, sang it, listened to it. Now, and it's another song called Moves Like Jagab by Maroon fire. Again, it doesn't, it doesn't add to all the line of scripture, right? It's blasphemous, it's corrupt, it's it's horrific. It's it's something like what Paul says in Romans 1, it's ungodly and unrighteous. And the wrath of God is upon those people who indulge in these things. Right? So here's one song called Memories, okay, the lyrics, you know, after a lot of, you know, leave way given to it. You can say it doesn't go against scripture. But all the other music, and there's a band as as individuals like Adam, Adam Levine and the entire band members as individuals do not align to scripture. All the Christian world, you ought to the Lord and save you that we worship Jesus Christ, right? So you really can't say that you're going to be that person who's going to go to Spotify, go to Maroon flies, Maroon Fies playlist and then filter all the songs and make sure you listen to only songs which are not going against scripture. No, you're not. You're not going to do that. First of all, it's going to take a lot of time. And second of all, let's just that's just not possible. That doesn't make sense. But most importantly, I think it's completely arrogant and foolish. I'll tell you why, right? So the argument that you're going to make or the only way that you can sort of navigate through this without disobeying God and not going against scripture is saying, okay, I'm going to listen to artist, secular artist, who 99% make songs which are against scripture and which are corrupt and sinful. But I will only listen to those few songs by those artists which don't go against scripture. So if Ed Sheeran makes 50 songs and if there is two songs which he makes out of the 50 songs which is not going explicitly against scripture, I'll only listen to that. Or if Maroon Fies makes 100 songs, right? And if three songs don't go against scripture, I only listen to that. That's the argument that you're basically making. Now that is arrogant because you're underestimating your heart. Right? What does scripture say? Genesis 6 5, the intentions of man is evil continually. The book of Jeremiah, what does scripture say? The heart is deceitful. Right? You can't tell me, you really can't be serious when you say that you'll only listen to memories by Maroon Fies and you will not be sucked into their worldview. It's impossible. If you're going to listen to someone like Maroon Fies who was individuals don't align to scripture and as a whole as their entire music, portfolio as a whole don't align to scripture. You can't tell me that you are going to somehow miraculously restrict yourself from being sucked into that worldview and sucked into that ideology where all the other songs are completely blasphemous and unbiblical and corrupt. But you'll only listen to that one song which is not really bad and really doesn't, it's fine. That's just plain arrogance according to me. If you're going to listen to Maroon 5 and he'll listen to one of the songs just fine, you're going to get sucked into it. You're going to get sucked into the worldview. I can assure you that because that is how corrupt and sinful we are. Let's take another secular song which doesn't really go against scripture. If you look at the lyrics of the song, well it's only talking about this relationship or this love that a person has for a woman. And you can say okay lyrics are fine, doesn't have anything which goes against scripture. But again, who are you fooling? You really can't tell me that you'll only listen to a cheer and thinking on loud and you'll never touch any of his other songs. Like you'll never come across it or you'll never be tempted to listen to any of his other songs. If you listen to one of his songs, you will get sucked into his entire music portfolio because a cheer and it's not a Christian. A cheer and it's not a born again believer. He does not align the scripture and his music does not promote scripture. So even if you're going to you know, play this wild card and say I'll only listen to the songs by secular artists to promote everything outside of scripture. I'll only listen to songs by them which don't go against scripture. You're fooling yourself if you say or if you think that you're not going to get sucked into that world, you're in that ideology. So if you're going to say and basically this is the only argument that you have that you're going to listen to secular songs which promote biblical truth from artists who predominantly make unbiblical and corrupt songs while you're just playing with fire. You're just flirting with sin, you're flirting with the flesh and the pleasures of the world and I can guarantee you you will inevitably get sucked into the worldview. Like even if you listen to only songs which talk about world peace and kindness, fine, I mean that's not sinful but you will get sucked into their worldview. You will get sucked into the ideologies. That's just inevitable because that's how the world functions, that's how the enemy draws you in and that's how corrupt your heart is and flirting with sin and putting yourself in a vulnerable position and exposing yourself to the sin that your savior and Lord died for is not it's not smart. It's pretty foolish. It's pretty foolish if you ask me like what is Paul saying in scripture? What does Paul say to Timothy? flee from you. Don't stand there, don't flirt around with the pleasures of the world. Even if you don't intrinsically listen to unbiblical music you will get sucked into it sooner than later. That's how the devil sucks you in and Jesus himself said watch and pray. Be diligent. Don't put yourself in a position where you can see. in and I can tell you that if you do and if you think you're going to be able to manage it and control yourself you're just fooling yourself and you will fall. You will get sucked into the world view and after that there's no coming back. Right? We have to understand that what Christ has done for us is unfathomable. You know as believers, as true believers, right? As true believers it should be in may desire to do everything that will please him and do everything that will make us wholly and set apart from the world. And if listening to secular music even if those there are certain songs just fine but you know you know right? You know in the back of your heart and your mind that there is a big chance of getting sucked into that world view. If you know that there is a chance of you falling and getting sucked into the world view which is true and if you don't make every step to avoid that I mean that that tells something and that that really shows that you know you need to introspect and ask yourself do you really love the Lord because the problem is not like if you're right now somebody who's listening you know you you have a habit of listening to secular music that's fine in a sense that if it worries you and if you're trying to get rid of it and if you're trying to you know kill this desire to listen to secular music that's fine that means you're battling with the sin that means you're battling with the temptation to listen to secular music that is fine but if your somebody is listening to secular music as a Christian and it doesn't bother you and you think it's fine and you've been justifying it that is dangerous my friend that is dangerous but if your somebody is listening to secular music and you've been trying to get rid of it and you know it's wrong you know it's dangerous you know it's flooding with sin you know it's playing with fire you know it's going against Christ command of being diligent you know it's mocking the Savior died for you and you're making every effort to avoid it that's brilliant right and you might not make progress but you will the point is your heart should be in the right place you should be in the right direction the direction you should be in the road that you should be taking is a road that is going towards getting rid of everything which is of the world getting rid of everything which is secular which is which is dangerous which can pose a threat to being that holy servant of the most high God who redeemed you and died for you on that cross because what we also need to understand is that music was primarily given to us by God I mean music is such an underrated thing right it's one of those underrated creations of God which is so beautiful and music's primary aim and objective when God created music was that we use music to glorify him to worship him that is the primary objective of music right music like everything else like every other good thing that God made should be used for his glory should be used to worship him and when we have something like music which can elevate us and make us or give us a glimpse of the attributes and the beauty and the joy of Christ when we worship and we use music to you know bask in his attributes and what he's done for us on the cross that should be the only way that we should be using music and that should be the only music that we listen to right because music throughout the Old Testament and throughout the New Testament was primarily and is always primarily used to glorify the Lord God who saved you from your own sin that is the right way and the glorious way that a servant and a child of God will use music let me leave you with what Charles Persian says once in his sermons and you know this is stuck with me ever since that I've read this you know he says biblical discernment is not knowing the difference between right and wrong but it is knowing the difference between right and almost right now that is spot on that's it from my guys I hope you enjoyed this episode I hope it was insightful feel free to reach out to me in the number that I've left in the description or the gospel in Instagram handle do follow on Spotify and Google podcast and I'm gonna go and the Instagram handle as well (upbeat music)