|
Post by Borndead on May 15, 2018 8:39:47 GMT -6
Yesterday I´ve found a very interesting post in the FB group " Christian metalheads international" & i´d love to see what you people are thinking about it. (I´ll just copy-paste it) ""Why should I listen to secular bands when there's so much great Christian metal available?" It's a question I see/hear a lot, and it could probably do with being addressed. I think this question needs breaking down into the following points: 1. Everyone has a tolerance level for what they can and can’t listen to. Some people find it difficult to listen to secular bands, others enjoy them. Some listen to overtly satanic lyrics without flinching while others reject the bands that use them. It’s down to what an individual can handle. 2. There is a wealth of so-called Christian metal out there, but that doesn’t imply it’s of a good quality. Historically, bands on “Christian” labels (more often than not just divisions of secular labels sucking in any old Christian band) suffered from poor budgets, little or no promotion, and restricted distribution. The result was sometimes great music spoiled by terrible production. 3. Again, the wealth of Christian metal doesn’t mean everyone loves it. Recent trends in Christian releases have seen a lot of black metal and various “-core”-style music that is popular with a section of the fans, but is far from universally accepted or loved. There’s comparatively little coming out for people who enjoy, for example, older styles of music, like 70s and 80s classic rock/metal. 4. Added to this is the controversy of bands suddenly claiming not to be Christians after achieving moderate success among Christian fans by originally claiming to be Christians. Fans still argue over the position and spiritual status of As I Lay Dying, Underoath, and an increasing number of similar bands. How can we claim the bands are out there, when the bands that ARE out there are openly turning their backs on Christianity? And can we really put them forward as suitable alternatives for our secular-metal-loving friends? What message does that send? 5. Not forgetting the controversy over the most successful Christian band of all, Stryper. People have decided to boycott their latest album, “God Damn Evil” because of its “blasphemous” title and cover art, without bothering to check the unmistakably evangelical lyrics all the way through it. Again, what message are we sending to someone when we say "No, don't listen to these obviously Christian lyrics, listen to this band of former believers who talk about drug abuse and suicide". The album’s excellent, by the way, if you can get off your soap boxes and listen to it. 6. Lastly, for now at least, how can we relate to a fan of a secular band if we don’t understand their musical tastes? How many posts on this page ask “What’s the Christian version of…”? How can we answer it if we don’t know anything about the band being asked about? There’s only so many times you can say “Barren Cross is the Christian Iron Maiden” until someone finally points out they’re nothing alike at all, but Mike Lee can do a passable Bruce Dickinson impersonation. Giving Demon Hunter as the answer to every question is funny, but I get the impression some people say that because they genuinely have no idea. I'm not claiming this is all the right answers rolled into one post, or claiming to be the final authority on the subject. I don't imagine for a second everyone agrees with me. Let me know what you think.""
|
|
|
Post by jazzhead on May 15, 2018 9:20:02 GMT -6
I saw this post on FB as well. I will say I listen to MOSTLY Christian music, but not exclusively. I like a pretty wide variety of stuff and sometimes, there just isn't any comparable Christian alternative. I have removed the music that blatantly glorifies satanic/dark/negative stuff, but most of that is metal and there's obviously loads of amazing Christian metal out there. Am I going to stop listening to Miles Davis because he was a drug addict, serial womanizer/abuser, and self-centered? Nope. He was a lost sinner, just like I was. He still created some of the greatest music ever, and single-handedly changed the course of jazz several times over his career. I am particular about what secular music I choose to listen to, but God uses all things according to His purpose, right? Although it certainly wasn't their intention, Eddie Van Halen and Allan Holdsworth both glorify God for me through their playing. No one else sounds like them, but they've influenced 2 generations of guitarists now. God gave them both a talent and singular musical vision, and to me, that glorifies God. Just my $.02 ~ your mileage may vary...
|
|
|
Post by nocturnaliridescence on May 15, 2018 11:01:00 GMT -6
Stuff like this just doesn't really sit well with me in general. These things always seem to have this undertone (however subtle it may be...) of thinking Christian metal is like some kind of inferior "little sibling" of secular metal. That our scene is riddled with problems, and they're all our own fault, and they're exclusive to us. The secular scene has every single problem we have, just on a bigger scale. For every Christian that gets on a soapbox about profanity, there are a hundred secular metalheads that get on a soapbox about their blind, baseless hatred of ""religious people playing OUR genre"" or something. And that "bigger scale" their problems are on, isn't necessarily our problem, either - if secular labels were willing to promote other Christian bands, and if secular FANS were willing to LISTEN TO other Christian bands like they are with Reverorum ib Malacht and what, maybe one or two other bands like Antestor, we would be able to throw more into our music, money-wise, and raise our often low-budget recordings up a few notches, to a more superficially respectable standard. And not that human praise should motivate us, but it undeniably does. And after how many decades of being thrown by the wayside, the music rarely reaching outside our scene and accomplishing what it actually set out to do, it gets tough. No matter what GOOD the scene does, we get the exact 100% same "its gay cuz its christ chin" "i wont listin 2 it but i no it sucks cuz its christ chin". How much of a demand is there for Christian 70s-80s rock and roll? Again, this isn't how we should look at it, but it influences people nonetheless. Also, people tend to get EXTREMELY self-conscious about "what message we're sending". We need to be... humble, but not so insecure about it. What message does it send when we're constantly berating ourselves for sending the wrong message, and criticizing ourselves for not putting out good enough music for our own standards?
Also we're not really under any particular obligation to understand secular fans' musical tastes. It's not "harmful" to be able to relate (as long as point #1 in your post is remembered), but it's not really... necessary, either. If somebody wants to know a "Christian version of ..." a YouTube link or two should be enough to illustrate what they're looking for. Music is an emotional art form and not something where we can just "imitate" somebody else, without losing a serious amount of sincerity in the process. Which, again, shouldn't be mistaken for a Christian-only problem. There are thousands of secular bands aping better-known secular bands, we just don't hear about them as much, because "secular bands aping secular bands" doesn't have as much of a stigma as "CHRISTIAN bands aping secular bands"... for some reason. Nobody complains about "all those nihilists copying better bands like Lifelover", or "all those occultists and neopagans copying Darkthrone".
Man, this really got me going, for some reason. Don't take it personally though Borndead. These are thoughts I've had about multiple things I've read over the past few years. This is more in response to all of that, not just what you wrote here. It's just that a few of these points happened to make me remember them.
|
|
|
Post by barabbas on May 15, 2018 11:15:10 GMT -6
Stuff like this just doesn't really sit well with me in general. These things always seem to have this undertone (however subtle it may be...) of thinking Christian metal is like some kind of inferior "little sibling" of secular metal. That our scene is riddled with problems, and they're all our own fault, and they're exclusive to us. The secular scene has every single problem we have, just on a bigger scale. For every Christian that gets on a soapbox about profanity, there are a hundred secular metalheads that get on a soapbox about their blind, baseless hatred of ""religious people playing OUR genre"" or something. And that "bigger scale" their problems are on, isn't necessarily our problem, either - if secular labels were willing to promote other Christian bands, and if secular FANS were willing to LISTEN TO other Christian bands like they are with Reverorum ib Malacht and what, maybe one or two other bands like Antestor, we would be able to throw more into our music, money-wise, and raise our often low-budget recordings up a few notches, to a more superficially respectable standard. And not that human praise should motivate us, but it undeniably does. And after how many decades of being thrown by the wayside, the music rarely reaching outside our scene and accomplishing what it actually set out to do, it gets tough. No matter what GOOD the scene does, we get the exact 100% same "its gay cuz its christ chin" "i wont listin 2 it but i no it sucks cuz its christ chin". How much of a demand is there for Christian 70s-80s rock and roll? Again, this isn't how we should look at it, but it influences people nonetheless. Also, people tend to get EXTREMELY self-conscious about "what message we're sending". We need to be... humble, but not so insecure about it. What message does it send when we're constantly berating ourselves for sending the wrong message, and criticizing ourselves for not putting out good enough music for our own standards? Also we're not really under any particular obligation to understand secular fans' musical tastes. It's not "harmful" to be able to relate (as long as point #1 in your post is remembered), but it's not really... necessary, either. If somebody wants to know a "Christian version of ..." a YouTube link or two should be enough to illustrate what they're looking for. Music is an emotional art form and not something where we can just "imitate" somebody else, without losing a serious amount of sincerity in the process. Which, again, shouldn't be mistaken for a Christian-only problem. There are thousands of secular bands aping better-known secular bands, we just don't hear about them as much, because "secular bands aping secular bands" doesn't have as much of a stigma as "CHRISTIAN bands aping secular bands"... for some reason. Nobody complains about "all those nihilists copying better bands like Lifelover", or "all those occultists and neopagans copying Darkthrone". Man, this really got me going, for some reason. Don't take it personally though Borndead. These are thoughts I've had about multiple things I've read over the past few years. This is more in response to all of that, not just what you wrote here. It's just that a few of these points happened to make me remember them. I wish I could triple like this post! These are great points. Christian artists have never had the resources of their secular counterparts, but manage to break ground in all kinds of domains anyway. (I could list a bunch of examples here, but I won't.) Imitation and similar sound is everywhere in music, and often to be celebrated. The only time it is denigrated is when Christians are perceived to be doing it. Perhaps they're expected to be more original than everyone else. Perhaps they should be, but so many of the criticisms of Christian music are vacuous. Like NI, I'm not overly keen on Christians absorbing the same attitudes toward Christian music. Like Jazzhead, I mostly listen to Christian music, because there's so much great stuff!
|
|
|
Post by SLAVE_HEART on May 15, 2018 16:35:40 GMT -6
Let's handle this first point biblically. The bible says as a christian that if it is clean it is allowed, yet as apostle paul points out, just because it's clean does not mean it's beneficial. Beneficial is about Christ, clean is nothing of perverse speech, etc. Now comes the discerning point with all Christians, either be transformed by Christ or be conformed to the world. Justification and rationalization are satan's counterfeit to confession and repentance. When one "justifies their sin, saying it's not that bad, or "there's only one scene in the video game". If one is to be a Christian they must lose this life. There is so much in the world to distract and as thorns on the soil "choke out the seed" by the distractions of things in this life. The question is not just in secular or Christian Metal, it's the question of movies, video games, t.v. etc. The point that borndead makes is that typically entertainment and Christianity have not for the most part been on the same level of secular things. To a degree it is true, though in the metal scene it's not. Old western movies are clean, for the most part, and not so much others in modern day. It's easy to be a "secular Christian", especially in america and not understand the deeply devoted life demanded a Christian. Yet with music, the band geval is a great example. Secular band Rammstein I used to listen to, way in my youth, yet after I became a Christiasn not anymore. Geval Sounds like them yet are not as high as quality yet come close on their hit single of their album. I like it BETTER BECAUSE OF THE MESSAGE. Even after As I Lay dying's lead singer got caught trying to hire a "undercover" hitman to try and kill his wife, I still have two songs bought from itunes with Christian themes. Even the Psalms were written by a King David who killed Uriah to get Bathsheba. People's sins shouldn't stop you from their message if it was clean. If the song is clean it is allowed. Yet if it is about Jesus I'll get spiritually fed. For myself in my collection I have 80 percent about Jesus, and 20 percent christian themed or clean. I wont take it down to 70. Video games? I have two games that are christian and one clean, three games in all. Movies, I collect Christian movies and seminars, Kingstone Comic Books, and Redemption Trading card game that's Christian instead of Magic the gathering, Holy Lands Rpg Christian Tabletop game instead of Dungeons and Dragons. I have learned to be the "guy who collects Chriatian Stuff" And I love it. I struggled so hard over the years to get here, but there is such joy in being at this place. I'm Transformed, not Conformed. God Bless you all!
|
|
|
Post by SLAVE_HEART on May 15, 2018 17:02:45 GMT -6
By the way forgot to say that The Lord hates those who love violence and bloodshed. Yet There is A holy and righteous bloodshed. Not just with Kill the Devil, Kill The World, Kill the Flesh. but even in physical wars as depicted by the Lord ordering the Israelites, or even during the stage in History of Lady St. Joan of Arc, who by God's decree fought the English, who at that time were thus deemed Infidels. Not saying they are today. Gore against the devil world and flesh I am allowed to love. Even on Christian Grindcore or also the new Stryper, etc.
Furthermore I forgot to say one of the major things in Christian metal beginning history is that the first major pioneers of Christian Metal bands "mimicked" the sound of a secular band as close they could with Christian lyrics and message, to help people who did repent have something that sounded the same with Christ behind it. As the metal scene grew, eventually bands were emerging with their own unique sound the secular world never heard. The Band Kohllapse for example was so good in the album "Distant mind aleternative" it was called an album before it's time. Circle of dust too, etc. were founders in the scene they were attached to and so killa it didn't even matter they were Christian to the secular world. Circle of Dust released a recent new album called Machines of our disgrace. The review in the magazine made for Goth/Industrial said; "no need to even stereotype it for it's Christian themes, the albums sound will turn you around into a fan".
Yet As a personal encouragement to you my brethren, Everything clean is allowed, yet not everything clean in beneficial. I would hope you had at least more beneficial than secular. But if you collect country music or other genres, it might be hard for that. Most country music can be clean I've noticed, same as classical, etc. I don't know where you would find much christian country or classical artists. Unless you collect Unblack and listen to the wonder classical intro's interludes and outro's. Hail Jesus!
|
|
|
Post by avjr on May 15, 2018 17:37:47 GMT -6
Everyone made good points in this post. I listen to “Secular” and “Christian” music. I judge the music first, lyrics second. I grew up listening to different styles of music, and they are good. I always see it as a positive thing for me because I am a creative person, who uses imagination to explore freedom. I was never the type of person who causes chaos, do drugs, fornicate, or anything like that. It was never my thing. I can see why Christians don’t want to listen to “Secular” music because of their past experience. I am fine with it. Everyone has different convictions. I have a conviction of staying away from “Satanic” music. I respect people who listen to it. I don’t agree everything of what my favorite artists/singers/songwriters, bands/musicians do or say, but I appreciate their art. As a Christian myself, my relationship with God is important than anything else. I should treat others kindly the way I want to be treated. No matter what they are. Whether they are Christians or not, I must love them. As Jesus says, love God, love your neighbor as yourself. One more thing, I love Geval and Circle of Dust. One of my favorite Electronic-Industrial-Metal-Rock bands. Thank you for reading this. I hope you are having a great week. God bless. Stay strong. 💪🏾
|
|
|
Post by nocturnaliridescence on May 15, 2018 19:57:59 GMT -6
I don't know where you would find much christian country I don't know country nearly as well as metal, but check out 16 Horsepower, The Brothers Bright, and (some) Wovenhand, if you're interested As far as I know these bands' stuff is LEGIT Christian, not just your standard "I love Jeezus and I also love to get in bar fights and get drunk and fornicate with chicks lol" type of country lyrics.
|
|
|
Post by Thomas Eversole on May 16, 2018 7:33:51 GMT -6
The result was sometimes great music spoiled by terrible production. Lots of (secular) black metal takes a lofi approach - and its loved if its quality music. Period. There's no doubt in my mind that this guy would take one look at the Christian counterparts and think its worthless, because it doesn't sound as clean and shiny as a shrink wrapped Walmart CD.
|
|
|
Post by exo on May 16, 2018 8:02:15 GMT -6
I actually reject that “secular vs Christian” is even a “thing”, for multiple philosophical reasons.
First and foremost, the modern concept of “Christian music” as an identifying label for what to purchase is primarily used to sell something based on it being some form of the “best a follower of God can get”. In many cases, it’s little more than using God for gain and profit....or at least it is where larger bands/labels are concerned. To me, that’s analogous to the money changers and sacrifice sellers Christ chased out of the temple. Is that a broad brush analysis that unfairly catches the smaller underground bands and labels in the net? Probably.....but for me, personally, I can’t shake off the dirty feeling when the approach is “you should give this person/band your money because they give you a God based product, and that alone makes it better....”. I DETEST the usage of “God” as a promotional tactic.
For other points, You can be a Christian, and produce art as an act of deliberate glorification or proselytizing ......you can be a Christian and produce art for your own enjoyment without caring what another person thinks o it......you can be a Christian and produce art for the enjoyment of others, rather than your own personal enjoyment. You can be a Christian and produce art as a dirty, angry, cursing cathartic experience that brings you to a greater understanding of God and Faith.......and only ONE of those concepts play nicely within the generally accepted confines of what constitutes “Christian music” when these debates or critiques pop up.
You can even have NO faith, and produce art that denigrates and denies God, yet triggers an intense reflection within your audience that ends up as a key moment in their faith because they reject your critique of their faith and walk away from the experience with a profound and unshakeable belief.
At the end of the day, every piece of music in existence was produced by a broken, flawed sinner, regardless of what claim to faith they make.
|
|
|
Post by Borndead on May 16, 2018 9:21:29 GMT -6
I definitely agree with avjr everyone made good points in this post. I didn´t expect so much input (although I hoped for it ^_^). I´m glad all of you shared your views, because all of us have our thoughts about it and proven by some posts in here the feelings reach quite deep (no wonder we´re talking art here which is a strong medium to share feelings and connect), so I´m glad we could let our emotions out a bit There are some problems in our "scene" but as nocturnaliridescence said they´re not exclusive to us, they´re spread across every art form. The only-major difference, I feel is, that a lot of us keep people & art/-ists to a much higher standard because we look at them/it through the filter of our faith.
|
|
|
Post by nocturnaliridescence on May 16, 2018 10:24:47 GMT -6
First and foremost, the modern concept of “Christian music” as an identifying label for what to purchase is primarily used to sell something based on it being some form of the “best a follower of God can get”. In many cases, it’s little more than using God for gain and profit....or at least it is where larger bands/labels are concerned. To me, that’s analogous to the money changers and sacrifice sellers Christ chased out of the temple. Is that a broad brush analysis that unfairly catches the smaller underground bands and labels in the net? Probably.....but for me, personally, I can’t shake off the dirty feeling when the approach is “you should give this person/band your money because they give you a God based product, and that alone makes it better....”. I DETEST the usage of “God” as a promotional tactic. - Assuming that's actually the intent.
|
|
|
Post by exo on May 16, 2018 11:06:03 GMT -6
Is that a broad brush analysis that unfairly catches the smaller underground bands and labels in the net? Probably..... - Assuming that's actually the intent. That’d be why I said this right here.....
|
|
|
Post by frozenfire on May 16, 2018 15:59:30 GMT -6
For me this issue runs similar to what SLAVE_HEART said. A slight piece of background: I came from 20 some years in the secular black/death/thrash/power metal scene. Coming into the Christian scene hasn't built one bridge back into the secular scene in the 8yrs since I was born again. I have the knowledge of the secular scene but the conversation between myself and the secular fan is more imaginary than reality. So, all my thoughts of it being a "ministry" have really been lost. I always thought, someday that'd be really powerful, especially since I'm around teenagers a lot as a middle school teacher. There have a been some music related bonding instances but they're rare and are generally superficial for ministry. For me, it just hasn't been a significant reality. So, considering this is almost 100% for personal pleasure my spirit runs the same place it does with Ephesians 4:29 "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Like SLAVE_HEART said, I'm really only concerned with personal edification since it's really only for me. I always use the phrase "Not what is Ok, Not just what is good, but what is best... I will think... I will say... I will do." It's not that I accomplish that at some level of perfection, it's what I'm striving for though. So, for me, I try to go with what is best. I actually don't even listen to Christian bands/artists if the words don't really do anything for me or I really can't decipher them. It's just not worth that much to me. I actually tried to go back to my favorite secular band Blind Guardian about three years after my conversion because they're 100% "safe" but I just couldn't get into the lyrics. It just felt worthless singing along to those songs. I do the same for TV (we don't have any services), movies and other entertainments. It's what I have found most pleasing. The secular scene just doesn't have anything to offer me other than a simple passing pleasure so it's not even a concern for me. It was part of the reason I found the Lord. I was always chasing the carrot that never really satisfied. That's part of the reason i stepped away. As for what others do. i was a jerk for the first year or so after my conversion about a lot of things, thinking what I did, everyone else should do. I stepped back away from that quite a bit over the years and that's why I just share my personal feelings instead of listing reasons for others.
|
|
|
Post by SLAVE_HEART on May 17, 2018 15:44:17 GMT -6
Lots of (secular) black metal takes a lofi approach - and its loved if its quality music. Period. Isn't that the point of Unblack Metal and the "underground music scene". Well Said Eversole. I've heard people say that it can't be worship to God because you don't understand all the words, especially in raw sound, etc. Yet in scriptures it says the holy spirit communicates our prayers to the Father in deep groanings impossible to understand. It became spirit filled Unblack during those cases to me, and spirit filled Christian grind. I always thought man is a savage brutal beast, and that screams and shredding were man in his most torn down primal state of raw humanity screaming unto God in a depth of sorrow and wrath and praise. I always thought that went well with the dark age war against satan mentality. You won't hear a church you go to on sunday sing psalm 88 and so many other pslams which ends with the words, "my closest friend is darkness", or "blessed is the one who smashes your children on the rock. Frost like ashes "A cruel Verse" of lyrics without showing their from the bible would make people think it was satanic, because people look the other way from a warrior Christ and focus only on the side of an all loving God instead of seeing his "feet dipped on the dead carcass of his enemy" (Psalms) But I will get to hear all this side of Christianity from the Christian Extreme metal scene...
|
|
|
Post by Deepfriar on May 18, 2018 21:25:07 GMT -6
I finally got a chance to read this entire thread and everybody has a lot of good points.
My opinion on the matter is that everyone has to follow their own convictions. We all have the Holy Spirit thanks to Jesus, but none of us are perfect and being strict about music might be what's best for one person, while anther person embraces freedom to enjoy all musical art pieces pleasing to their ears because they don't see anything wrong with it. I can understand both opinions, and my own personal thoughts have steered in both directions before.
Nowadays - me personally - I listen to mostly Christian music. I was raised very strict evangelical Christian and even had my music screened for lyrical content and "anointing". Most Christian bands didn't even 'make the cut'. Honestly, it drove me away from God rather than toward God. Like how Paul called the old covenant of law, and the Ten Commandments, the ministry of death and condemnation for mankind, I felt like I was having standards forced upon me that I could never live up to. The end result of that kind of raising was that I turned from God gradually all throughout my 20's and got into a whole mess of poor life choices. This is the time period when I listened to all kinds of secular metal and black metal bands. Nothing was taboo: I listened to the most satanic stuff I could find because it sounded awesome. Dark Funeral, Gorgoroth, Watain, you name it.
Then when I hit my thirties, I had a new encounter with God. I learned of the grace of God and how radically it is opposed to a "follow the rules" type of system. I began listening to teachers of free grace theology and was exposed to a liberating branch of Christian thought I never knew existed. It changed my life and my whole outlook. I learned that God was in Christ, reconciling the world to Himself and not imputing our trespasses against us. I learned that the law (of Moses) is not a handbook for the righteous, but a pointed finger at the unrighteous to bring them to Christ.
With my newfound freedom in Christ, I feel I have made better choices accidentally than I could have ever made on purpose.
I don't listen to any music with satanic lyrical content anymore but not because I think I'll go to hell for it or lose my faith. It's because it reminds me of a time when destruction followed me, when I was walking away from God. It cannot appeal to me because of how radically opposed the bands are to my worldview. But still others listen to music with satanic lyrics and it doesn't bother them at all. Like I said earlier, I see both sides and I don't think I'm spiritually superior or whatever to people who have no problems listening to music with lyrics opposed to Christianity. We all make our own personal choices based on our ideas; it's all any of us can do.
In closing, I'll say that after all these years and experiences, I don't know for sure if music has an "anointing" like I was taught so long ago, or if satanic-inspired metal (from bands who usually don't even believe in Satan) is detrimental to us. The thing I do know is this: when David--anointed by God--played the harp, the evil spirit that was tormenting King Saul left him. It's interesting to consider that music, or rather the person playing the music, may have an effect in the spirit realm. But does that same principle apply to music recorded to discs/digital, or is it the performer's presence that creates the spiritual effect? Either way, I've made a personal choice based on my experiences and the best information available to me. I actually love our little niche group of Christian extreme metal fans. We are the greatest, lol. Wouldn't trade it for anything. A little more exposure for all the awesome bands would be nice though. ~DF
|
|
|
Post by _ on May 18, 2018 21:47:56 GMT -6
I finally got a chance to read this entire thread and everybody has a lot of good points. In contrast, I only read your post I really enjoyed the first paragraph (as well as the whole post ha) -- well-thought!
|
|
|
Post by SLAVE_HEART on May 19, 2018 11:48:10 GMT -6
I finally got a chance to read this entire thread and everybody has a lot of good points. It's one of those subjects on which any one of us could write a short chapter book on our opinions, lol
|
|
|
Post by barabbas on May 20, 2018 21:03:48 GMT -6
Yes, good points by everyone. (Except for mine, which was kind of a tangent!)
|
|
|
Post by Thomas Eversole on May 21, 2018 6:08:14 GMT -6
First and foremost, the modern concept of “Christian music” as an identifying label I think you nailed it bro. We the people have created these concepts out of nothing. This music is "Christian" because it has A, B and C. This other music is not because it has D, E and F. Then there's the created emphasis.... like listening only to "Christian" music means something, and listening to only "non-Christian" music means something else. Why is it Christian? Well, its not like the CDs and Downloads can accept Christ as savior. If it's Christian because it points people to Jesus, then.... is a satanic black metal album Christian if someone listens to it, hates everything it stands for so much that they go the complete opposite (Christian) direction? Centuries ago, there was no "Christian music". It was just music. Whether it contained Christian themes/lyrics or not made no difference to what it was.
|
|
|
Post by SLAVE_HEART on May 21, 2018 16:08:47 GMT -6
Centuries ago, there was no "Christian music". It was just music. Whether it contained Christian themes/lyrics or not made no difference to what it was. Pastor Bob Beeman is the official Pastor who the metal bands from the start of Christian Metal Scene discussed this. He said he was against labels and that he always encouraged band members to write about what they were going through even if it wasn't what everyone expects from a "christian metal band". I think for myself that if I know the lyrics are all about Jesus I can have a worship encounter with Jesus as the lyrical theme. And I prefer that. Yet any light versus darkness music with hope and a good message I also enjoy. It's the things the bible tells me to stay away from, Perverse speech, witchcraft, sexual immorality, etc. In order for my belief in Jesus to remain in integrity I cannot have the ways of this world being put into my eardrums. The bible says watch my ear gate and my eye gate, for what you put in is what you will randomly drift on into a daydream or think about it. The brain is a computer storing files that once something in it can be brought to mind. Antestor's track "Old Times Cruelty" was about the former stuff put in your mind of an evil past that you hate so much it's the whip from beyond. Halls go on forever, possibilities are endless. The bible says absent from the body is present with the Lord. Yet if my body dies, who is the "I" that is present with the Lord? It's the mindset of all the glorification of God and things like love and selflessness. I can play a video game with my little brother like mario, but in heaven I won't have mario, instead I'll have the bonding and laughter and encouragement to each other. Music that promotes junk leaves imprints on your mind that satan knows and can trigger, and let's face it, Metal about Jesus and positive things that encourage your walk with Jesus is the stuff you want to replace former junk with. Jesus Metal is the only metal that will last forever...
|
|
|
Post by SLAVE_HEART on May 21, 2018 16:29:53 GMT -6
For we know, neither the perverse, the adulterer, the magicians and soothsayers, etc. shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
I like the Classification Christian Metal, because for me it means a session with praise and worship to God. I want as much "I" of my mind to be present with God as much as possible while I live. So why not live like it now to the fullest? That's why on my earlier post it was written by apostle paul, "Everything clean is allowed, but not everything clean is beneficial (ABOUT Jesus). It doesn't matter what someone thinks is clean, if it breaks the least of the commands of God in music, it is not allowed. Bible Period. Never Justify your sin because justification and rationalization is Satan's counterfeit to confession and repentance. It requires SELF-CONTROL to hear a song that sounds good, but has something UNCLEAN, and not everyone has the SELF-DISCIPLINE to do it.
|
|