I was recently in Peru where all they speak is Spanish. It is almost impossible to find anyone who spoke English except the missionaries. I did notice one thing: Alot of the music they listened to was in English. It was English rock, rap, and other types. Now the Bible says that we are to "abstain from all appereance of evil" (I Thessalonians) Now if you were to bring Christian rap or rock or contemp Christian to Peru the Peruvians would think you were listening to the real thing. I would have to say then that you would be sinning by listening to it because despite what the words say, the music speaks differently. Remember Music is the universal language.
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Contemporary Christian Music
- Thread starter Comrade
- Start date
DeclareHim
New Member
Yes but if I took hymns played to piano music they would think it was classical which is not Christian. So that would apply to anykind of music. This is a stupid reason to not listen to it. If you can't find anything better at least say you don't like it.
paulsfocus
New Member
Why don't you go on the internet and find Handel's Messiah, and tell me that's not Chirstian. Or how about bach's jesu joy of mans desiring, and tell me that's not Christian. Almost all of bach's music is Christian, and the same with Handel.
I don't believe you've correctly interpreted "abstain from all appearance of evil." Therefore, your argument is not compelling to me on those grounds.
The question is this. What if I thought hymnal music was inherently evil? Would you be sinning by listening to hymns? No, I do not determine what is sin and what is not. Now, if you brought a CD player up to my face and started to force the music on me, that would be a sin. We are not to flaunt our liberty in Christ.
I think the issue is of cultural sensitivity. If something we normally do is offensive in other cultures, we should adapt to those cultures out of kindness. Now if we refuse to do so after being made aware of offending another culture, then we are being obnoxious and potentially sinful.
The question is this. What if I thought hymnal music was inherently evil? Would you be sinning by listening to hymns? No, I do not determine what is sin and what is not. Now, if you brought a CD player up to my face and started to force the music on me, that would be a sin. We are not to flaunt our liberty in Christ.
I think the issue is of cultural sensitivity. If something we normally do is offensive in other cultures, we should adapt to those cultures out of kindness. Now if we refuse to do so after being made aware of offending another culture, then we are being obnoxious and potentially sinful.
DeclareHim
New Member
Why don't you go on the internet and find Handel's Messiah, and tell me that's not Chirstian. Or how about bach's jesu joy of mans desiring, and tell me that's not Christian. Almost all of bach's music is Christian, and the same with Handel. </font>[/QUOTE]So all classical music is Christian
I think you have problems
Trotter
<img src =/6412.jpg>
Hey, CCM may not be perfect, and not for everyone, but it is definately a better choice than listening to what the world has to offer.
When I am in my car, or puttering around the house, I WILL listen to the radio, and I want to hear music with a good beat (I ain't THAT old). So, my choices are CCM, or the garbage that sings about sex, drugs, cheating on my wife, whatever. I prefer the CCM.
Besides, it allows me to draw closer to God through the words. Hymns it ain't, but that is why I don't listen to hymns outside of church.
In Christ,
Trotter
When I am in my car, or puttering around the house, I WILL listen to the radio, and I want to hear music with a good beat (I ain't THAT old). So, my choices are CCM, or the garbage that sings about sex, drugs, cheating on my wife, whatever. I prefer the CCM.
Besides, it allows me to draw closer to God through the words. Hymns it ain't, but that is why I don't listen to hymns outside of church.
In Christ,
Trotter
Technically any music is worldly. But if we are to be separate (I Corinthians) don't you think our music should also be that way? You play a hymn, people will know that that is different. I remember a story from a missionary whose kids came back to the states and picked up some contemporary Christian music. Well, they played it on the field and when the missionary tried to witness to a native the native said why is Christianity so special your children listen to the same music ours do. We are told in the Bible to be separate. A "peculiar people zealous of good works" (Titus) If we are not that way in dress, lifestyle, and music then what makes us so different from every other person?
JonathanDT
New Member
Nope. Why should it be? Do you drive different cars from pagans? Type on a different computer? Read different newspapers? Wear different clothes?
Comrade,
1. I'm not believing your story about some missionary kid who brought a CCM tape back to some remote tribe and the response was "your music is the same as ours." I don't know your background or if you hang around mostly Christians who have similar beliefs as yours, but I have never once played CCM for unsaved people and had them say, "it was similar music as the music they listen too." They hear the words and if they are not a believer they are usually uncomfortable with the music because it is "Christian."
2. The easiest way to be different is in dress, lifestyle and music. I mean if that is the way we are different then just dress and act like the Amish, and listen to piano music and you have completed all that God wants of you. Do you really think that Paul was saying "be weird" and you are doing everything that I have asked of you. No he is saying, "see the world in a different light." Don't live for today. Live for the Kingdom. Invest your life in things that have eternal value. Live out the Beautitudes and begin conspiring to introduce the Kingdom. Be kind to those that are mean to you. Give to others when it hurts and in being so peculiar in that way people will be amazed and want to know what would cause you to be so radically different!
The people that I live and work with who are not Christian wouldn't even understand the controversy that you are creating about music, dress, and your definition of "lifestyle." You would have to "educate" them. They would totally understand the "peculiarness" of living for the other side of death, giving instead of taking, and qualities of the heart which they so desperately cannot find within themselves.
1. I'm not believing your story about some missionary kid who brought a CCM tape back to some remote tribe and the response was "your music is the same as ours." I don't know your background or if you hang around mostly Christians who have similar beliefs as yours, but I have never once played CCM for unsaved people and had them say, "it was similar music as the music they listen too." They hear the words and if they are not a believer they are usually uncomfortable with the music because it is "Christian."
2. The easiest way to be different is in dress, lifestyle and music. I mean if that is the way we are different then just dress and act like the Amish, and listen to piano music and you have completed all that God wants of you. Do you really think that Paul was saying "be weird" and you are doing everything that I have asked of you. No he is saying, "see the world in a different light." Don't live for today. Live for the Kingdom. Invest your life in things that have eternal value. Live out the Beautitudes and begin conspiring to introduce the Kingdom. Be kind to those that are mean to you. Give to others when it hurts and in being so peculiar in that way people will be amazed and want to know what would cause you to be so radically different!
The people that I live and work with who are not Christian wouldn't even understand the controversy that you are creating about music, dress, and your definition of "lifestyle." You would have to "educate" them. They would totally understand the "peculiarness" of living for the other side of death, giving instead of taking, and qualities of the heart which they so desperately cannot find within themselves.
paulsfocus
New Member
What's the differance from worldly music and CHR?
Easy answer, NOTHING.
paulsfocus
New Member
Nope. Why should it be? Do you drive different cars from pagans? Type on a different computer? Read different newspapers? Wear different clothes? </font>[/QUOTE]Do you go to bars, dance halls, and do drugs? Why not, if it's all the same?
The music isn't the same, your flesh is though and you like carnal fleshy music.
paulsfocus
New Member
It's not "legalism" it's called biblical standards. The thing is everyone wants to live like the devil, but say "it's all right I'm a Christian".
paulsfocus
New Member
Why don't you go on the internet and find Handel's Messiah, and tell me that's not Chirstian. Or how about bach's jesu joy of mans desiring, and tell me that's not Christian. Almost all of bach's music is Christian, and the same with Handel. </font>[/QUOTE]So all classical music is Christian
I think you have problems </font>[/QUOTE]Not saying that at all, but if you want to take it that way suit yourself.paulsfocus
New Member
See my other post about this comment.
You just admitted that you like it because it appeals to your flesh,it doesn't glorify God.
It doesn't allow you to "draw closer to God" it makes you want to swing your hips, because of that "good beat".
JonathanDT
New Member
What's the differance from worldly music and CHR?
Easy answer, NOTHING.
</font>[/QUOTE]Here's two songs, guess which one is CCM and which is secular:Blood Brothers
Watch your back because the next man is coming
And you don't know if the next man is dumbin'
Survival of the fittest what it is
I got yo back, you got my back and that's the biz'
Blood is rushing through my veins
I got the power channel the energy
And with my strength I will devour
Sickening thoughts is running through my head
That's when I realize I'm glad I'm not dead
Corruption and abuse, the salesman of our blood
For the public's craving, existence in the dark
It's in our nature to destroy ourselves
It's in our nature to kill ourselves
It's in our nature to kill each other
It's in our nature to kill, kill, kill
It was a dream and then hit me, reality struck
And now my life is all shifty and it all moves fast
Close to the buck 50 and we all stand strong
In respect to the family in times of insanity
And through words of profanity
I describe our dysfunctional family
Blood Brothers keep it real to the end
Deeper than the thoughts tha you think, not a trend
*Corruption and... - kill, kill, kill
*It's in our nature to destroy... - kill, kill, kill
Again and aga-a-ain...
*Corruption and... - kill, kill, kill
*end kill, kill, kill x 8-12
Wilderness
the rain falls on the righteous and the wicked
Mine is not to reason why this is
In this i rest in this i find my refuge
That my thoughts and ways are not his
I spend my life on looking up the answers
It's rare that i can't find a reason why
But reasons fail at childrem without mothers
His plan is more than i can know
Have you ever held in doubt
What this life is all about
Have you questioned all these things taht seem
Important to us
Do you really wanna know
Or are you a little scared
You're afraid that god is not exactly what you'd have
Him be
What should i hold to and what should i do
How do i know if anything's true
I'm somewhere in-between canaan and egypt
A place called the wilderness
I'm not one who always trusts their feelings
I don't believe in what you'd call blind faith
But faith that you can do all that you promised
And you said it all works for good
It's safe to say I don't see the big picture
I can't see the forest for the trees
And if five hundred lives
Were mine to get to know
You all could be spent on just this
(bridge)
God do you really understand what it's like to be a man
Have you ever felt the weight of loving all the
Things you hate
Have you struggled have you worried
How can you sympathize
I have spoken much too soon put my hand over
My mouth
I can't contend with you
Your ways are so much higher
And we pass through the fire that Christ endured
Before us
When you were in the wilderness
Now try again. What's the difference between worldy music and CHR? One honors and glorifies God, one doesn't.
JonathanDT
New Member
Nope. Why should it be? Do you drive different cars from pagans? Type on a different computer? Read different newspapers? Wear different clothes? </font>[/QUOTE]Do you go to bars, dance halls, and do drugs? Why not, if it's all the same? </font>[/QUOTE]Because I'm underage so I can't go to bars yet. Do dance halls still exist? Maybe you mean like a night club? No, I don't. But I would if a friend wanted to go. And I don't do drugs, because it would be stupid and wrong to destroy my body.
Each of these things, like music, aren't adressed directly in the Bible. Thus each must be judged individually whether or not it can be God honoring. I would say the first two can be, the last one can't be. Now tell me, why do you think that rock music can't be? Just because it started "in the world?" Virtually all music did. Come up with something better than that.
DeclareHim
New Member
Paulsfocus your crazy if you are saying CCM lyrically is the same. Totally differant messages.
God is not the author of confusion. The actual music and lyrics of CCM and CHR create confusion. Why? Because The music sounds like what the world listens to but the words glorify God. Let me ask you a question: What makes you want to listen to CCM and CHR? The Bible says to worship in "spirit and in truth" Does CCM and CHR worship God in spirit and in truth or the flesh?
In I Corinthians it says "Let all things be done decently and in order" When I speak of separation and mention dress I mean decency. If you dress decently then people will see something different. You must recall When Jesus was on the Earth the people first saw Jesus then they saw the disciples. People must first see Jesus through you before they see you. If you get what I am saying. I'm not going to go into all the Bible and give you the refernces for all my standards. But the Bible says ye are in the world not of the world.
God also says if you are not for me you are against me so if the Bible gives a standard and you aren't for it then you are against it. Biblical concept and I don't mention that verse as a means against CCM. It's just a little extra piece in there.
In I Corinthians it says "Let all things be done decently and in order" When I speak of separation and mention dress I mean decency. If you dress decently then people will see something different. You must recall When Jesus was on the Earth the people first saw Jesus then they saw the disciples. People must first see Jesus through you before they see you. If you get what I am saying. I'm not going to go into all the Bible and give you the refernces for all my standards. But the Bible says ye are in the world not of the world.
God also says if you are not for me you are against me so if the Bible gives a standard and you aren't for it then you are against it. Biblical concept and I don't mention that verse as a means against CCM. It's just a little extra piece in there.