A DISCUSSION ABOUT SECULAR MUSIC

The following is a response to this podcast.

This is a pretty ham fisted discussion.

I get what Joe Schimmel is saying in the first part, about his personal convictions on this issue, but he takes far too long to explain it.

There is no way "They Sold Their Souls for Rock and Roll", as good a documentary as it mostly is, could have covered every secular artist ever recorded, or even recorded since the start of the rock and roll era.

Incidentally, Christians invented rock and roll. Check out Sister Rosetta Tharp if you don't believe me.

The word continually in the verse he quotes doesn't mean literally. There are thousands of other things we do besides praising God throughout the day.

Ditto to how singing "Smoke on the Water" edifies. In fact, I would venture to say, depending on the content of the song of course, that if I am playing secular music well, that is honouring God because I am using the talents He has given me to the best of my ability, similar to how a rose glorifies God because it helps reflect Him in Creation.

I couldn't find any q and a or FAQ section on their website.

I would definitely agree Christians shouldn't listen to, and can be effected by, openly satanic music.

As to examples of secular music in the Bible:

Though it has parallels with our walk with Christ, God included the Song of Solomon in His Word, a secular love song that, if it were translated from the original Hebrew, couldn't even be played on the radio.

The dancing when the prodigal son returned. Look up what the psalms originally sounded like on YouTube; not very dancee.

Jesus mentions people playing the flute in the marketplace, the same way there is music in stores these days.

As to there not being secular music in Heaven, let's look at what a lot of secular songs are about:

Love: In Heaven, they neither marry or are given in marriage.

Political or Social Protest: Everything will be perfect.

The Difficulties of Everyday Life: See above.

I get what Joe and Chad are saying, but the way they're saying it could lead to legalistic attitudes in the listeners, which is something neither they or I would want.