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You are here: Home / Faith / Drawing the Line: Music

Drawing the Line: Music

10 Jul

Music can be a bit of a touchy subject. What is appropriate? What’s not? Where should I stand on that grey area?

Well I can’t tell you what to do, but I will share with you my personal standards for music.

Figuring out what music is good or not good to listen to can be a very fuzzy line. Here are some guidelines that blogger Rebecca Gregoire uses to figure out what she does and does not listen to. Read the rest at lifeasadare.com

Music does not have to be Christian

I’m not really one for most Christian music to be honest. I’d prefer a good country song or some classic rock over most contemporary Christian artists. Nothing wrong with them, it’s just not my style at all. I over-played Christian songs when I was in Jr. high and so now the sound just kinda reminds me of being 13 and God knows none of us want to revisit those years. (That being said, if any of you can recommend some Christian artists whose music is really great, go for it!) Pretty much the only Christian music I listen to is worship music, like Jesus Culture and Hillsong.

I personally don’t see a problem with listening to non-Christian music. And before anyone blows up at me, you know that all secular music isn’t bad (I mean, for pete’s sake–Sweet Home Alabama is secular music). The reason I think that secular music is often better than Christian music is because they’re focusing on musicality rather than a message (for the most part). And as someone who plays guitar and piano, I really like hearing songs from artists who take the time to master their instruments and create new products that will outshine the others musically. See Christian artists are able to hide behind a mask of that “new message” that no one else has given through music, and so the musicality is the means by which their message is given, but not the purpose of producing music. I think it’s a great cause, and if it’s your kind of music, that’s also great! Just personally I find it very repetitive.

Where do we draw the line on music? Here’s one blogger’s opinion:

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The music I listen to should not have excessive swearing

Yes, we’re all going to know a few songs with a curse word or two in them. You live in the world–it’s inevitable. However, this is not an excuse, and I try to keep my music 100% clean–not only on my iPod, but what I’ll listen to on the radio, with friends, etc. Music is pretty dangerous if you let the wrong stuff in your head–it’s extremely influential in our lives. Because of that, I just think hey–better safe than sorry! And there are a ton of great songs and artists who don’t swear, trust me. :)

Music has to actually be musical

This means more than just the standard four-chords progression. Seriously–most songs just use the same notes over and over and over again. When I’m looking for music, I like to look for songs that if I learned how to play it on guitar or piano it would actually be impressive, rather than just the same old thing.

No explicitly sexual songs

I think this is a no-brainer, but is actually pretty hard to carry out. All the really catchy songs are so dirty–but still, so catchy! But at the end of the day, I really think it’s just a bad idea to be constantly listening to songs that glorify sex and lust, especially when it’s portrayed as “romantic” and “sweet.”

No songs that seem to come from something darker

There are some celebrities and artists that even if they released a song that was 100% clean I still wouldn’t buy it. The reason being is that music penetrates. Movies and books tend to simply stay in your head, but music can infiltrate your soul and has the power to affect your behavior. I’m not going to say I don’t like their songs–they’re super catchy! But as often as I can, I tend to stay away from them, because I feel that there is a much darker force behind the production than just their writers and producers.

In the end, it really isn’t about whether or not they mention Jesus. It isn’t even about how much swearing the song has–it’s about whether it portrays a healthy or a dangerous worldview.

Music is beautiful and fun, but it’s always good to be cautious.

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COMMENTS: 8 Comments TOPICS: Faith

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About Rebecca



Rebecca Danielle Lindenbach is a 21-year-old psych student living in Ottawa, Canada. Knitter, wife, guitar player, classic rock enthusiast.

This blog is to document the journey of a chronic worrier trying to living a life of simplicity, keeping her focus on what really matters. Read on for a satirical take on life from one millennial to another. Read more

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rebeccalindenbach

We are all sick but having a toddler means we stil We are all sick but having a toddler means we still went for a walk 😅
Mommy and Vivian tummy time! 🥰 Mommy and Vivian tummy time! 🥰
I love babies. And I love my daughter. And I love I love babies. And I love my daughter. And I love that she’s perhaps got the worst baby-patterned baldness that I’ve ever seen 🤣
I love this little one. No asterisk. No caveat. I I love this little one. No asterisk. No caveat. I just love him. 

God uses parental imagery for Himself all the time when he talks about his love for us. 

So why do we feel the need to add asterisks to Gods love?

God loves you…. But you don’t deserve it. 
God loves you… but only because Jesus died for you.
God loves you… but you make him sad and angry.
God loves you… but, but, but. 

Yes, we get it. We are sinners. I’m not arguing against that. 

But can I ask you something? 

Why do you think Gods love needs a caveat? 

What are you afraid will happen if you simply accept his unconditional, all-encompassing love for you? 

What are you afraid will happen if you AREN’T a horrible worm God can’t stand to look at? 

What would happen if instead of being motivated by fear of Gods anger and disappointment we were spurred on to good deeds out of Gods magnificent joyful love for us? 

God loves you. No buts. 

———-
(Also shoutout to @pastor_rob_wiesner who was the first pastor I ever heard say in a sermon that God delights in us and just plain likes us without giving a caveat. It made such a profound impact on me and opened my eyes to how anxious of a faith I have had for so long.)
THIS is what I spend most of my time doing. Clea THIS is what I spend most of my time doing. 

Cleaning my kitchen. 
Breastfeeding my daughter.
Reading to my son.
Folding laundry.
Taking care of my home. 

There are some big-name authors who talk about me as if I’m some big evil mastermind, like there’s some huge conspiracy against them, like they’re somehow the victims when they’re the ones who are propped up by the largest organizations in Evangelicalism today. The ones who have made their living off the backs of women who have been bruised and beaten by their false teachings. 

I hate to break it to them, but it’s not true—I’m not anyone special. I’m just a mom who wants better for her kids. 

I’m just a mom who refuses to allow her son to grow up in a church who sees him as a lustful animal who needs women to keep him honest. 

I’m just a mom who refuses to subject her daughter to soul-destroying teachings that her body is a problem, and her role is to be second to a man. 

I’m just a mom who sees the poison you are pouring into her children’s milk, and is finally standing up. 

I think they have to see us as some big mastermind threat. Like some huge, powerful enemy. 

Because the alternative is way scarier. 

The alternative is that we are just normal women. And we aren’t taking your crap anymore.
She’s got eyes of the bluest skies, as if they t She’s got eyes of the bluest skies, as if they thought of rain. ❤️
My kids are good. Yes the baby cries. Yes she bi My kids are good. 

Yes the baby cries. Yes she bites me every now and then. 

Yes Alex spills his milk when he doesn’t pay attention. Yes he has big emotions when he gets overwhelmed. 

But these are not “badness.” These are necessary parts of learning. My kids aren’t just “good kids”—my kids are an example of goodness. 

They remind me every day that although I’m still learning, I was born with the same goodness my kids have. 

The goodness that drives them towards connection. 

The goodness of the look of joy when they learn something new. 

The goodness in satisfaction and contentment found in everyday needs being met. 

I love getting to see that goodness flourish. I don’t have to break their spirits, “beat the devil out of them,” or see them as dirty rotten sinners. 

My job is to foster that goodness. To rejoice when they run towards love, towards Christ, and not get in their way. 

“Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matt 19:14
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