not all secular music is bad!

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On Fri, 9 Aug 1996, Ronald J Bowden wrote:

> Most rock music is for the glorification of the music and the words 
> are secondary.  If you went to a church where everyone shouted so loud 
> all the time that all you could understand from the preacher was a word 
> now and then do you think it would feed you as a Christian?  And 
> further most rock music was inspired by drugs.  Do you think adding 
> gospel words to this makes it a message that will touch someone?

I think that listening to certain types of Christian "rock" should be 
done very carefully. While I don't think that listening to this type of 
music should be done day after day, I do believe that there may be 
something to be said about harder types of Christian music. 

Consider this: a very good friend of mine from high school is a musician. 
He and I have been the best of friends for about 5 or 6 years now, having 
met when I played the bass for the jazz band in high school (my buddy, 
Shane, was the guitarist). For a long time in high school, Shane often 
tried to get me learn rock and roll music, which was music I didn't 
listen to, nor did I ever care to learn or even to *play* for that 
matter. So, I never did go along with him wanting me to learn rock and 
roll music. I would play jazz, funk, whatever (well, if it was 
appropriate), but never rock. Because of this, Shane saw that I believed 
in having a holy lifestyle, no matter what I was doing, but often he just 
didn't understand why I didn't play that kind of music. 

Although I tried to witness to him several times, he just didn't seem to 
want to learn about what I believed. He didn't really care to go to 
church with me or do stuff with the youth group. However, there *was* 
something that Shane really digged- listening one of our guitarists at 
church. One of the brothers at church (who has since moved to the Phoenix 
area) could really jam on the guitar. I mean, this man could go to town! 
Needless to say, Shane would come to church to check out the music. 
Whether or not this is the correct "reason" for him coming to church with 
me, I do not know. But I can honestly say that the music was a major 
influence in his coming to church with me.

On another note, Shane has also been very interested in listening to DC 
Talk as well as Geoff Moore and The Distance. Even though these artists 
may not have identical beliefs as you and I, they have gotten Shane 
thinking more about God and have soft-of "primed" him for me talking to 
him about the plan of salvation. 

So, I believe that although Christian rock may not be the best music for 
a Christian to listen to, in a way it is very helpful to the soulwinner 
to reach out to a lost friend. 


Andy