This is a question I discussed with a friend once. I should probably give an explanation of what Christian music is first. The Christian music I’m talking about is music that gives glory to God in its lyrics, whether it’s a testimony of what God does for a believer, or direct praise that is speaking to God in the second person point of view.
LeAnn Rimes, Missy Elliott, Patti LaBelle, Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Johnny Cash, Marty Stuart, Sean “Diddy” Combs, and Alan Jackson are just a few of many secular artists/producers that have dabbled in the Christian or gospel music industry. Is this something that is acceptable and should we even care? Well, in order to answer this pressing question, as Christians we should look to God’s word since he establishes the principles that believers should live by.
“Gather my saints together unto me; those that have made a covenant with me by sacrifice. …
Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:
And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth?
Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee.” (Psalm 50:5, 14-17)
“The sacrifice of the wicked is abomination: how much more, when he bringeth it with a wicked mind?” (Prov. 21:27)
“He that turneth away his ear from hearing the law, even his prayer shall be abomination.” (Prov. 28:9)
So, who are the wicked people these scriptures are referring to? Anyone who lives outside of God’s will (i.e. those who have no relationship with Christ). In the passage from Psalm 50, God goes on to list some of the sins that these people are guilty of. Many of them are the same sins that secular artists participate in. It is no secret that these celebrities fornicate, use drugs, are drunkards, lie, and curse–among other things.
God basically says if you’re wicked, you have no business trying to tell other people about his covenant or anything else he commands in his word. Since you haven’t established a relationship with him your sacrifices of praise are an abomination and he doesn’t want to hear it. The only sacrifices he accepts are from his saints.
“… but be filled with the Spirit;
Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; …” (Eph. 5:19)
“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” (Col. 3:16)
No one can make melody in their heart to the Lord unless the Lord is in their heart. The word of Christ has to be in us for us to be able to create a song for God’s glory that encourages other believers.
–Harry A. Gaylord–
February 1, 2007 at 12:00 pm |
I wouldn’t assume that secular singers aren’t also deeply devout Christians who simply had not been able to make their living singing their faith. Neither would I assume the postman or police officers and firefighters aren’t devoted to Christ or anyone else who holds a secular job. Music has the power to convert us and give glory to God. Thanks be to God for any all music that does this!
February 2, 2007 at 12:47 pm |
Luke 19:40 “And he answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these should hold their peace, the stones would immediately cry out.”
Even Nebuchadnezzar praised the Lord in Daniel. All of nature speaks of His glory. Eventually every knee will bow and every tongue confess Jesus as Lord of all. The lost might as well do it now before it’s too late.
It’s all about the intents of the heart. Are secular musicians playing sacred music to make more money or are they finding something wonderful there that touches their hearts?
September 21, 2008 at 5:07 am |
define sacred music?
and yes i agree though if someone is not living for God, they’re not for God, and they can sing about Jesus all they want, but if they don’t live by Him, how are they serving Him? Faith isn’t the only way to Heaven?… I forgot the scripture that says “Your for me or for Satan”, you can’t choose both, so that means you live for Him and Sing His Glory, or yoU Don’t live by Him and you either Sing His Glory or not, you still don’t live by Him.
so it comes to the heart really.
yes i have downloaded Avril Lavigne “Hallelujah” “Oh Holy Night”
yet i don’t see her living His Glory. But recently i don’t know how she’s living.
Her other sounds (forgot their names) seem Encouraging biblicaly.. don’t know if that’s her intentions, but I by Faith believe she meant it that way..
i say by Faith is Cause If she is trying to follow God like we are (we make mistakes and we must try to live a good life by actually serving Christ) that we’d be lying if we say she isn’t…
(vice versa)
But either way God will either Convict me and say it’s secular, or He won’t and say it’s not.
It all starts from the heart. Other wise you cant’ mean what you say.
Anyways we should Pray for them When God Tells us too. and WE must Continue to Ask God to Guide us into the right music/songs. and Let the Holy Spirit Guide us to the Right Music and Songs….
i have deleted lots of disney songs thinking they’re positive, but i’m rethinking that.. it may sound positive but it starts with the heart of the writer and artist/musician.
I Believe God Convicted me saying Disney is Evil. you can think otherwise, but i choose by Faith of What God Told me, I’m going to keep saying by Faith, cause you may disagree and believe the opposite,
God has Truly Opened my EYES lately than Before…
another thing is that we shouldn’t jump to conclusions on the artist without realizing if they really turned to Him or Not…
September 21, 2008 at 10:07 am |
Dj Plasmic,
You bring out some good points. I defined sacred music at the beginning of my post. It may not always be possible to determine if a secular artist is truly sincere because they may not be in our circle of associates, but we can always look at the lyrics of their secular songs to see if they are in line with the message of their gospel songs. If there are glaring inconsistencies, then we can conclude they aren’t for real about their praises to God.
Jesus said we can judge a tree by the fruit it bears. If the fruit is not fit for consumption, the tree is evil, but if the fruit is edible, the tree is good. In Elvis Presley’s case, he made some wonderful gospel music, but it eventually was made public that he was fornicating with women and using drugs in addition to singing his gospel music. He died of a drug overdose, so that clearly says he wasn’t really sincere about his love for God because those who truly come to Christ endure with Christ to the very end of their earthly lives according to the scriptures. Since he lacked genuine love for God, his sacred music was nothing more than sounding brass and a tinkling cymbal based on 1 Corinthians 13. In other words, it was just noise to God.
Jesus also said, “A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” What comes out of an artist’s lyrics reveals where there heart is.
In Diddy’s case, he has made and produced some good gospel music during his career, but have you seen how he behaves on his television shows? He has often shown himself to be impatient, short-tempered, and has cursed people out. His lyrics have often boasted about what he can do or what he owns to glorify himself. Although we see the same type of boastfulness in televangelism and in modern churches, such attitudes are not Christ-like and in Diddy’s case, they show his insincerity.
Avril Lavigne has not had any recent work on the music charts, but she has been known to use foul language.
The gospel music of these artists may stir us emotionally and we may learn a few things from them, but we should not hold them up as people we look to as personal examples of godliness like we can to sincere believers. And we should have an understanding from God’s point of view on how he sees their works. God considers them unacceptable.
May 20, 2009 at 2:45 pm |
He who has no sin cast the first stone.
What it tells me is that they are open to the fact that God is real and that Christ died on the cross for our sins. It is a cry out to us christians “PLEASE SAVE ME FROM THE PITS OF HELL ”
Who are we to judge what they should or should not sing. Are we better than God to say that they have no bussiness singing these songs. If one of these secular christian songs make somebody investigate who Christ is, simply because that artist was led to make that song, is it still bad for them to do it.
Can non christians recieve a word from God and act upon it just as us beleivers can?
Obviously they had to do some type of research and investigation about Christ in order to make these songs. And maybe they were once devout christians that have backslidden. Maybe they really are trying to go back to their walk with God. I try to keep an open mind and look for signs that say ” I NEED HELP ”
In conclusion I dont agree that a gospel song should be thrown on a cd along with many other songs that promote fornication, drugs, alcahol, and degredation of women. However we should consider knowing all the facts and really praying for the person to come to Christ and have a true relationship with him as their lord and saviour.
May 20, 2009 at 10:35 pm |
You overlook the fact that God through the psalmist says he will not accept sacrifices from the wicked–the psalm I quoted above–and singing words of praise to God counts as a sacrifice. Even Jesus lamented about the people in his day who showed outward religion, but whose hearts were not changed–”This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me…” [Matthew 14:8-9]
Jesus said their worship is vain–it has no worth to him. Who am I to judge? Jesus has given all believers the right to judge between right or wrong and between good and evil. Otherwise, how would we be able to distinguish between true teachers and false ones? Would you want a preacher at your church who commits adultery, does drugs, or is a drunkard? We are called to “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.” [John 7:24]
If secular artists need help, they can search for that help without releasing a gospel song. Gospel music is profitable and that’s why many secular artists release those songs–they’re all about the Benjamins. When they sing about God’s goodness and then continue to commit their sins openly as if they’ve done nothing wrong, they cause the way of truth to be evil spoken of [2 Peter 2:2]. Through their covetousness with their insincere words they make merchandise of us Christians [2 Peter 2:3] for their own profit.
R. Kelly has done gospel, but after he released his gospel song, he had another song about groping women called “Feelin’ on you b…y”. LeAnn Rimes has done gospel in the past, but a few months ago, she was spotted kissing a co-star of hers when they were out to dinner–and they’re both married. And the kiss wasn’t just a friendly peck on the cheek. And have you forgotten that Elvis died from a drug overdose several years after he recorded gospel?