What makes anything "Christian"?

If it brings honor, praise and glory to God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, then I would say it's Christian. Man-made religions generally focus on man or the person who started that religion, but Christianity focuses on Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God Who came to earth to "seek and to save the lost."

 

The disciples were called "Christian" first at Antioch. The term Christian has become very ambiguous in recent centuries. It is not really a term of endearment as far as the world is concerned.

There are many forms of worship which are termed "Christian" today.

There is a lot of entertainment of the flesh which is conformed to the world. God cannot be worshipped in the flesh. God is Spirit; and they that worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in Truth. Many worship services fall short in both categories. There is a lot of money being exchanged in the temple--for tainted offerings.

The worship service should start with ashes and sackcloth and finish with the same with a lot of repentance in between. God does not dwell in temples made with hands.

We do not put it all on the altar of sacrifice--in vain we do worship, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men, much like the scribes and pharisees.

Repent and do the first works. We have the same problems as Israel--we do not listen, hear and obey. We call Jesus Lord but do not do what He said.

Even so, come Lord Jesus.

Bro. James

 

The Apostle Paul preaching to the Greeks on Mars Hill said:

Acts 17:24, 25
24. God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands;
25. Neither is worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;

God is not worshipped with men's hands but is worshipped in spirit and in truth.

My opinion is that the only "thing" that can legitimately be called Christian is a "born again follower" of Jesus Christ.

 

I think context matters.
If we are talking about a Christian dentist then it is merely a man or woman who happens to be Christian and is employed as a dentist. I don't think there is any need to combine the terms in the label.

However, when it comes to things like music, or literature, then the combination should matter. It implies that the music or writing will be written from a Christian perspective and will address Christian issues.

I know many people use Christian symbols and labels simply as a means to market their goods and services. That is why we must address these things on a case by case basis.


A few years ago my father and I owned/ran a Christian men's store. We sold books, music, clothes, and other items that with the goal of reaching and encouraging men to be overt in their faith in their work and in their hobbies. We sold God's Country Camo clothing and hunting gear but also some things that were not distinctly Christian but were neutral (ordinary fishing rods, for example). We had a space in our store for Bible study and often prayed with and otherwise encouraged people.

 

isn't music though more of the situation that a chrsitian artist redeems it by doing it unto the Lord, regardless of the style?

Agree lyrics should reflect christian themes, or at least morals, but can;t they be hard rockin/country/jazz etc?

 

For something to be really "Christian" it must relate to Christ in some way.

A Baptist preacher could preach on David and Goliath, but if Christ is not mentioned, it is not really a Christian Sermon, but a Jewish one.

Music, apart from words is neither Christian nor non-christian...Many classical tunes have become well-known for their uses in hymns...is the tune Christian or not? I say not really, it's a tune...

Like a brick, you can through it through a window of your neighbor, or build a church with it.

 

The word "christian" is too ambiguous & not Biblical. Remember, it is an invention on unbelievers. The term is often used to control how believers think & act. Anything that is not "christian"; according to a particular person or group's definition, must be sin. We are believers, that is our Biblical definition. Scripture does not divide every aspect of life into "christian" & heathen. Not everything is morally right or wrong.

There is music which floods my mind with memories of my father, turns my heart romantically to my wife, stirs my patriotic spirit, & other non-evil thoughts & emotions. It is ridiculous & unScriptural to put a man-made description on human activities in order to impose our own ideas on others.

 

I didn't mention style because I believe it does not matter. Your statement of the person redeeming it is simply another way of saying what I said. A non-Christian, being spiritually blind and dead, cannot come to the music process from a Christian position.

 

Music is an outward revelation of one's experiences & beliefs. If I, as a believer, write a song about my experiences with my family, would that be a "christian" song? What about a song that speaks of the memories I have of my father?

Just once, I'd like to see the Scriptural commands, references, & examples of the classification of "christian" music. It does not exist. All of the opinions on what makes a song or piece of music "christian" are based upon religious human reasoning. Some people will preach whole sermons on the subject, outlining what music we should & should not be allowed to play without a single shred of Biblical support. If God did not think it worthy enough to make such a distinction in music, then why do men feel so compelled to write whole books & sermons on the subject which, when put together, contain more words than the written Word of God? It's ridiculous.

 

A good example of what Michael is talking about is Haydn's String Quartet #62 in C minor, Op. 76, #3 (Hob. III:77) entitled "The Emperor." The music Hadyn composed for one of its movements was adapted to the hymn "Glorious Things Of Thee Are Spoken" -- thus according to some making that music "Christian."

OTOH, that very same music is also used for what originally was the anthem of the Austrian Empire and now for the nation of Germany ("Deutschland, Deutshland, Ober Alles" [Germany, Germany, Over All]). This was reportedly one of Adolph Hitler's favorite songs.

So, was Haydn's music "Christian" or secular?