What are your thoughts on music?

[FrigidDev]

I'm a baptist(from a baptist family), but most of the people I know are OK with mild-CCM.

I however, listen to christian death/black metal, so what are your thoughts on that kind of music?

Here's a sample to let you know what I listen to. This song is definitely overtly-christian, and shares the Word of God.

This is my first post here so if I'm not doing something correctly, let me know.

Thanks!

 

[annsni]

It's not my style but if it brings glory to God, speaks truth from His Word and is done well, it's alright by me. Oh and the band HAS to live a life worthy of being in the limelight. I met a band years ago that were quite popular and yet their testimony backstage was sad to say the least. I never listened to them again.

 

[FrigidDev]

Oh I agree completely! The guy who made this actually has a breakdown of all the lyrics, with scripture references explaining every verse. He even has his testimony of salvation on his FB page. Honestly I prefer extreme music, because we live in an extreme world. With CCM, I just feel like it's way too "fluffy", is the word I use to describe it. Everything is 100% ok all the time. With metal...christians are able to express their frustration and anger with sin and Satan, while also bringing glory to God. It's like the best of both worlds

 

[annsni]

Yep - I know a lot of younger people who enjoy the heavier music. I don't like it because it just sounds angry to me. I also have enough hearing loss as it is that I don't need anything loud at this stage of my life. My one bit of advice for you is to not listen to loud music - wear earplugs. My daughter is studying to be a doctor of audiology and she says that you can get great custom earplugs that decrease the sound level without changing the sound. You can get them in 15 db and 30 db plus probably others (these are the two she has).

 

[FrigidDev]

Thanks for the tip, I wear headphones when I listen to music. I never turn it up too loud, I'm very paranoid about losing hearing as well...

 

[InTheLight]

It's definitely not my style either! I wonder why this style of music requires the singers to yell the lyrics in an angry, guttural voice?

Despite the content of the lyrics of this song the first impressions that anyone will get from this music is that it is dark, probably not Christ-honoring, and is an attempt to emulate a worldly style of music foreign to Christianity. I just can't reconcile the term "death Christian" with anything uplifting or edifying. Again, that's just me.

Here's the lyrics:

Struggle not against flesh and blood in these last hours
But against the rulers, authorities, and dark powers
Against spiritual forces of evil in realms unseen
Distorting the truth for lies, ways of the obscene

The weapons that we wield are not of this physical realm
They have divine power to tear the strongholds down
With arrows of fire, the demons take aim
On earth as in Heaven, be bound in Jesus' name

Stand against the devil, put on the full armor of God
Belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, feet are shod
Take up the shield of faith and helmet of salvation
Brandish the sword of the Spirit, evil exsanguination

Thirsty for the blood of Christ to wash away our sin
The sanguine river absolution
We submerge our shells of flesh deep within the flood
And rise to overcome the world through His cleansing blood

In His mighty power, we are strong in the Lord
Dismantling the deceptions as we speak His Word

Prepare for the slaughter.

 

[FrigidDev]

The kind of people(secular) who listen to death metal, are usually very elitist(I'm generalizing but it basically is true). They would never even consider for half a millisecond listening to Justin Bieber or any of that type of music. The same with hymns and CCM. They would never hear the gospel through CCM songs, since they don't listen to that kind of music. However, with Christian death metal, while stylistically the music/vocals are the same, the lyrics are praising God, or simply aren't satanic. It's exposing people who would be consider very inaccessible by the mainstream christian crowd, to christian beliefs and ideals. That to me, is a good thing. It's a ministry.

 

[InTheLight]

They would never hear the gospel through CCM songs, since they don't listen to that kind of music. However, with Christian death metal, while stylistically the music/vocals are the same, the lyrics are praising God, or simply aren't satanic. It's exposing people who would be consider very inaccessible by the mainstream christian crowd, to christian beliefs and ideals. That to me, is a good thing. It's a ministry.

That make sense. However, wouldn't these same people feel as if they were ripped-off or deceived if they listen to this music to hear about bloody, savage, inhuman, sadistic songs and it turns out it's about Jesus? I mean, wouldn't they groan and shut it off (with expletives)?

 

[FrigidDev]

That make sense. However, wouldn't these same people feel as if they were ripped-off or deceived if they listen to this music to hear about bloody, savage, inhuman, sadistic songs and it turns out it's about Jesus? I mean, wouldn't they groan and shut it off (with expletives)?

The general consensus is that lyrics to a DM song are second fiddle to the sound. You can ask anyone about how satanic some death metal is, and they will tell you that it's not about the religion of the music they listen to, it's about the music itself. At least there are christian artists willing to bring the material to the table of discussion. If they like the song, then they will hear the lyrics. I don't think they would feel deceived, just like they don't feel that they are satan worshipers just because they listen to music made by less-than-christian bands

Time and time again I read comments of secular people on christian songs, and it's usually something like "I don't care if this band is christian...they have some epic music and I will listen to it..."

 

[JonC]

A TV show ....Helix...comes to my mind. The show coupled horrific scenes with cheerful and upbeat music. The effect, I thought, was well played as the dichotomy created an eerie mood.

If the music itself expresses a characteristic in dichotomy with what characterizes the nature of Christ then it shouldn't be paired. Does the music lend itself to expressions of order, love, peace, reconciliation, etc.? Or does it lend itself to anger, rage, hate and darkness? I suppose that is what each of us has to evaluate on their own.

For me (at one time I listened to Danzig, Megadeath..... and Simon & Garfunkel) I wouldn't pair hard rock with Christian lyrics. Personally, I think music itself can be sacred (even CCM). But that's just my subjective opinion. I listen to some Christian rock....I just tend to consider it secular.

Sent from my TARDIS

 

[Greektim]

Just a question

I'm not a bible-thumpin' fundie w/ strict standards on music. I listen to Christian rap for cryin' out loud.

But music certainly elicits emotional feelings and responses. It conveys a tenor or tone. Not to mention that I can't understand a friggin' word in the dude's screeching (that's not singing).

So here is the question: can you truly say that this music, regardless of the words and intent of the words, elicits a positive response that brings glory to God???

I can't get there. The emotional pulse of this style is aggressive and even violent (mosh pit anyone?). The same could be said of rap, either its gang-related style of aggression or even its bump 'n' grind erotica. But I don't believe the rap I'm referring has that sound or driving emotional response. In fact, it has more to do with lyrical theology calling upon the creative lyric to display the beauty of God.

Call it a subjective thing, but I hear that and I heard noisy, angry aggression. This does not sound like the cruciform kingdom living disciples of Jesus are called to. Rather the opposite.

PS-I used to be a lead guitarist in a rock band and love hard rock and some metal (Metallica). I appreciate good rock music and guitar shredding.

 

[FrigidDev]

It seems that we are moving to the discussion of whether music can actually make you feel things irregardless of the lyrics. I think this is true. I agree that metal evokes an angry and frustrated kind of tone most of the time. I don't think this is a bad thing though, since it's all about WHAT you are angry about. If I was just listening to music, getting mad at my parents and wanting to rebel...that wouldn't be biblical.

However, when I listen to good, christian death metal, I'm thinking about the depravity of our world, and the bleak fact that billions, BILLIONS of people have died and are dying, without the knowledge of Jesus Christ. That makes me angry, and frustrated. If I'm getting riled up and aggressive, I'm doing it because we have to remember that we each have a purpose in life, given to us by God, and we must do this task with extreme diligence. Getting frustrated about our world is the driving force for what I do...I want change, I don't want to sit back and watch the world burn.

Then, there's times when I see Satan destroying lives and sin causing death. In those moments I just want to scream at the sin of this world...and there's nothing wrong with that in my opinion.

 

[Zaac]

I'm a baptist(from a baptist family), but most of the people I know are OK with mild-CCM.

I however, listen to christian death/black metal, so what are your thoughts on that kind of music?

Here's a sample to let you know what I listen to. This song is definitely overtly-christian, and shares the Word of God.

This is my first post here so if I'm not doing something correctly, let me know.

Thanks!

welcome to the board FrigidDev. I like all types of music. Though more of a "traditionalist", if I can UNDERSTAND the words and know that it's honoring Christ, I'm good with it.Thumbsup

 

[Greektim]

It seems that we are moving to the discussion of whether music can actually make you feel things irregardless of the lyrics. I think this is true. I agree that metal evokes an angry and frustrated kind of tone most of the time. I don't think this is a bad thing though, since it's all about WHAT you are angry about. If I was just listening to music, getting mad at my parents and wanting to rebel...that wouldn't be biblical.

However, when I listen to good, christian death metal, I'm thinking about the depravity of our world, and the bleak fact that billions, BILLIONS of people have died and are dying, without the knowledge of Jesus Christ. That makes me angry, and frustrated. If I'm getting riled up and aggressive, I'm doing it because we have to remember that we each have a purpose in life, given to us by God, and we must do this task with extreme diligence. Getting frustrated about our world is the driving force for what I do...I want change, I don't want to sit back and watch the world burn.

Then, there's times when I see Satan destroying lives and sin causing death. In those moments I just want to scream at the sin of this world...and there's nothing wrong with that in my opinion.

But is a Christian's general demeanor characterized by aggression and anger or joy and love? In other words, this kind of music seems hard to fulfill the chief duty of man: glorify God by enjoying him forever.

I say general b/c we do experience repentance and a loathing for sin. But repentance leads to joy.

PS--there is so such word as irregardless. If you listened to more artistic forms of music like good rap, you'd know that

 

[FrigidDev]

But is a Christian's general demeanor characterized by aggression and anger or joy and love? In other words, this kind of music seems hard to fulfill the chief duty of man: glorify God by enjoying him forever.

I say general b/c we do experience repentance and a loathing for sin. But repentance leads to joy.

PS--there is so such word as irregardless. If you listened to more artistic forms of music like good rap, you'd know that

I think listening to only metal and being angry all the time would be bad practice....I listen to classical piano like Chopin as well. Everything has its place, and I think that Christian death metal has a role just like any other genre of music, for people who have different tastes.

And I like rap as well...but I wouldn't call it more artistic

 

[Pastor_Bob]

PS--there is so such word as irregardless. If you listened to more artistic forms of music like good rap, you'd know that

Usage Discussion of irregardless
Irregardless originated in dialectal American speech in the early 20th century. Its fairly widespread use in speech called it to the attention of usage commentators as early as 1927. The most frequently repeated remark about it is that “there is no such word.” There is such a word, however. It is still used primarily in speech, although it can be found from time to time in edited prose. Its reputation has not risen over the years, and it is still a long way from general acceptance. Use regardless instead. Merriam-Webster

 

[FrigidDev]

Haha, I always thought irregardless sounded cooler. Guess I'll switch to regardless. :/

 

[Rolfe]

I however, listen to christian death/black metal, ...

(My Bold)

I do not know if i would call the term an oxymoron, but it seems close to one to me.

I listened to the first thirty seconds, and the first two thoughts that came to mind as impressions were agression and anger. I think I have a long way to go before I would be able to see the Christianity in it. My opinion only, and not meant as anything personal.

 

[evangelist6589]

I'm a baptist(from a baptist family), but most of the people I know are OK with mild-CCM.

I however, listen to christian death/black metal, so what are your thoughts on that kind of music?

Here's a sample to let you know what I listen to. This song is definitely overtly-christian, and shares the Word of God.

This is my first post here so if I'm not doing something correctly, let me know.

Thanks!

I used to be a major fan of this type of music but its very worldly and does not honor God.

 

[FrigidDev]

I used to be a major fan of this type of music but its very worldly and does not honor God.

So are you not going to address all the discussion that happened earlier in the thread, or...?