A Christian Music Guide

Living the Christian life is a balancing act of mind and spirit, intellect and emotion. It is also a balance of sanctification, a constant judgement about the things we do and say. So when faced with decisions in everyday life, we must always weigh the merits of our thoughts, words, and actions.

One area that is particularly ambiguous is in our buying habits. Should we watch Disney movies, knowing that company policies are contrary to what we believe? For some, it might be acceptable to watch a Disney cartoon but not a sitcom on ABC (owned by Disney). The Apostle Paul instructed us to think about whatever is "good and acceptable" - but obviously different people have ideas about what he meant.

When it comes to music, there are some obvius choices. Limp Bisquit and Korn are probably not acceptable choices when weighed against the "good and acceptable" model. At the same time, to what extent can Christians appreciate quality musicanship and production while possibly not agreeing with every aspect of the lyrical content?

That's an age old question we will never answer in this space. What I can suggest is that you will probably know when something is obviously just not acceptable. When you are not sure, here are some guidelines:

1. Look at the life of the artist. Their actions are good indications of the real intentions and thoughts of that artist. Scott Weilind from the Stone Temple Pilots is in prison right now for drug possession, so that's one indication of his character. Examining what an artist does besides record albums can help you understand the character of the artist.

2. Study lyrics to see what the real message is. Artists such as Pop Unknown have an interesting spiritual outlook that matches up pretty well with scriptural princicples, yet they are not promoted as a Christian band per se. Vigilantes of Love are definately considered a secular band, but frontman Bill Mallonnee writes very spiritually-minded lyrics.

3. Ask other people. This can be a great measuring rod, and it shows you have character if you ask other people for their opinons. You might be biased to a certain style of music, but other people might be able to take an unbiased look at the lyrics and message.

4. Find alternatives. If something you are listening to is mildly questionable, perhaps even acceptable to some but not to others, it won't hurt to find another artist who you can trust better and who has a message that you agree with.

5. Look at your own life. Are you angry after listening to a certain artist? Depressed? Disillusioned? Their music might have an effect on you that you are not even realizing. Examine your own actions and thoughts after listening and do a mental check on whether it has changed you adversely.

6. Stop listening. Remember that music is a n entertainment business. If you question whether something is good for you, stop doing it for a while and see what happens. Find a good book and stay away from music for a week and see if your attitude changes.

 

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