Music

Our family uses a lot of classical, a tiny bit of the more conservative Baptist style of instrumented hymns, and a lot of the pre-revival hymns written by Fanny Crosby, etc. However, we personally know another conservative family that would put country and bluegrass on the same shelf as classical. Most of our singing consists of, again, the pre-revival hymns (we usually use Hymns of the Church). What would be any of you all's views on this?

Can country music really be put on the same level as classical? If not, why?

I've been asking myself a lot of those same questions, and certainly have a lot of research to do yet on the vast topic of music. I learned a lot through the 10-session youtube series "Distraction Dilemma" by Christian Berdahl. Here are some other worthwhile resources to consider:

The Christian & Rock Music (Bacchiocchi)

This Little Church Went to Market (Gary Gilley)

Why I Left the Contemporary Christian Music Movement (Dan Lucarini)

Music and Morals (Kimberly Smith)

Notes on Music (Louis Torres)

In Tune with God (Lilianne Doukhan)

Making a Good Brain Great (Dr. Daniel Amen)

Ho Bro. Judson,

That's a very good question. When I first came to faith in Christ I continued to listen to secular music. I then realized how immoral it can be so I started listening to Contemporary Christian music. Here's the thing, many seem very secular with a Christian theme, or so it would seem. Not all of them are. Over the last few years, these artist have begun to make some very bold unbiblical claims in their songs.

Now, we have some very popular artist making albums supporting homosexuality/LGBT, theistic evolution, heresies and some are refusing to stand on the Word of God when asked about "social issues" like homosexuality. It breaks my heart to see those who call on the name of Christ, compromising and bowing to the secular world view and the pressures they're forcing on all of society to conform or be labeled a hater, religious zealot, intolerable etc. This includes "Christian" movies as well.

Here very recently, I've started to listen to hymns, especially classic hymns and that only. It shouldn't come as a no surprise since we've been warned in the Word that in the last days would come difficult times, a falling away from the faith, false teachers waxing worse and worse, the list goes on. Again, we've been warned to be steeped in the Word and the faith so that we can discern these things.

" Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may be able to prove what is the good, acceptable and perfect will of God." I'm praying for these people. Seek God's counsel on this brother. You'll feel a "twinge" in your spirit if it isn't proper. At least that's how know. I hope this helps.

Thank you for this extensive list of resources, dear brother Grant. There looks like a lot of really good food for thought in your list.

I remember listening to a message that dear brother Dean Taylor spoke to the Charity Christian Fellowship Youth Bible School back in 2006 entitled "Principle of Godly Music - Sing a New Song". This message was part of five-message set entitled "Nonconformity to the World".

I remember that a big part of brother Dean's message was the very obvious drift towards worldliness and even immorality in the Contemporary Christian Music movement at that time. This message should help seekers to learn how to be discerning regarding music.

This message can be accessed for listening or downloading from the following link:
.

Thanks, I'll check it out!

Thanks a lot, everyone, for your responses! I wholeheartedly agree with you, brother Lopez; I think that so many well-meaning Christians are simply carried away by this hypocritical 'mixed music' view of mixing in secular music with godly lyrics. Then it gets worse as the singer begins to drop in secular beliefs and views in his music.

Pretty soon that so-called godly singer is almost completely secular and the people that endorsed the music in the beginning are pretty much no different on their views than any other people on the street. And I am sure that ungodly peer pressure has a lot to do with accepting this kind of music.

So what would you say about the country/ bluegrass styles? Like I said before, I know of a person that puts country music on the same shelf as classical. I would not have that view at all, but what about you?

Thank you, brother Charles, for your link. I will try to check it out when I have some time :).

Hi Bro. Judson,

I know near to nothing about Country and Blue Grass music. I would suggest that you look at Bro. Grant and Bro. Charles' sources to start with. I know that me,personally, am touched in a very special way by music. When I came to this realization, I started to really think about why a song really touched me so. Was it what the singer was saying? Was it just the music itself (some can be very catchy)? I know a few years ago being at Church service during praise and worship one Sunday morning.

This church plays Contemporary Christian music. Afterwards I asked myself, did we really praise and worship God with those songs? I strongly felt like we hadn't. I strongly felt that we were entertained but was it really praise and worship? I have made a personal decision to listen to just hymns and even then just the annabaptist hymns. We live in difficult times and they're only going to get even more difficult as time goes by.

Pray and be discerning about all you listen to and put before your eyes brother.

Hello again, brother Lopez.

Yes, I would be almost on the same level as you concerning my familiarity with country music, which is probably why am asking about it... anyway, what you said there about making the difference between the music or the lyrics really is true. Most of the time I would say that if it is the music that inspires you, it would probably be because of a catchy tune or something a bit more physical.

If the lyrics of a song are what inspire a person, it would probably be because of the spiritual meaning of them.

And I also think that it is very important to make a beforehand commitment to what I will listen to so that it is not so easy to slip into compromises. And compromises (especially concerning music) can be extremely dangerous.

So what I would say is that when it comes to country music, we must see how it can lead one onto a wrong road towards other music styles that are simply not godly (stuff like bluegrass, contemporary, pop, and then further down the road, Christian rock and then finally secular rock).

Not that it is always wrong-I'm sure that there is at least some music out there in that album that is truly wholesome-but we must be extremely careful about what we listen to and always be checking ourselves- "Will this lead me onto a wrong road towards wrong music?" "Is this really wholesome?" "What would Jesus listen to?" I can hardly imagine Christ sitting around with his disciples, snapping his fingers to some catchy "Christian" contemporary tune of our day.

Anyway, that's my few cents for today :)

The Inspirations has some very nice music though having protestant flavour so be aware

Okay, I looked it up. They seem like they would have a more southern baptist style?

Yes it would be something like that. But some very nice tunes if you like that type of music like "Follow the Lord" and "Waiting for the Call". God bless

I never heard of this group. Thanks for the suggestion! Looks like it would be enjoyable listening to them!

Yeah sounds interesting. I'll have to look up them up sometime!

Not that I am a complete fan of southern baptist music. I think that there is a place for it in the Christian's life, but I also think that a lot of it has to be listened to "standing up"- in other words, ready to pitch it when it turns bad or we can see its negative effects in our lives.

Yes brother clearly Lutheranism can creep in as they're evangelicals and better be aware of that. But some are really follow Jesus minded and lets take the good where we find it amen.

True point. I don't listen to it just a lot, but it can get to the point, where I'm listening to it because it is lively and as a plus Christian. We do need to be on guard, I agree.

Yes, Simon, that is really true.