Comments on: Why Do We Play “Secular” Music in Church?

By: Gregory Despain

Gregory Despain — Fri, 19 Aug 2011 09:10:12 +0000

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By: Thomas

Thomas — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 06:06:20 +0000

Thing here is, music is music, without words a song has no one meaning, as it will be interpreted by everybody differently, and we could all write our own words to a piece of music, making the song have a clear meaning.

So in church, the words of a song give it its “worldly” or “Godly” meaning.

If you know your hymns history a bit you will know MANY of them are written from old pub songs, because people knew the tunes. In those times people went to church regardless of how they lived their daily lives. Ive also seen letters from church members complaining about these blasphemous songs, songs like, “what a friend we have in Jesus” and “redeemed” etc because of the music.

If your playing secular songs, being sung with lyrics in church then i think that is wrong. Those artists do not write their songs for church, or with Christianity in mind. Nor are any of them Christians that go to church every sunday. As a worship leader you need to be careful of how you lead your team. And your church pastor is also doubly accountable for what goes on in your church. And you playing this kind of music is causing him to also be accountable.

At the end of the day you have to look at the lyrical content of the songs, and secondly if the songs genre of music is fitting for your people. Not playing metal in a church with older people, or singing old hymns with mostly youth.

Oh, what makes me able to be so forthcoming like this? I’m a worship leader in a church, im actually the ministry leader, and have been for the past year. I have been involved in this ministry for 7 years in the same church. Its a church many of you have possibly heard of, And my names not Thomas just to protect me.

By: Jose Hernandez

Jose Hernandez — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 14:43:05 +0000

I have seen many churches, mega-churches, use secular music not as worship but as part of an illustration for a sermon. I do understand where we get “cultural connection”. For instance, we had a Christmas play and out of all the songs that touched the congregation, the most heartwarming one was entitled “Happy Birthday Jesus”. Of course, we all relate to the happy birthday song so it touches a deeper level. I can see where using it as an illustration makes sense but I am not in agreement with two ways of using secular music.

1. As worship. I do not want to sound judgmental in any way, but when someone truly spends a lot of time practicing prayer I’m sure that they don’t run to hear “un-christian/non-worship” music. Songs are used for more than worship, they are also used for teaching. Most people learn their theology from songs not from preachings. So let us ensure that what they hear is constructive to their faith. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”–but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”–but not everything is beneficial. 1 Corinthians 10:13 With this verse in mind would we agree that if I listen to Mercy Me verses the Beatles my faith would be mostly benefited?

2. For evangelism. What Jesus Christ did to make the world believe was the use of miracles. Miracles. God’s power being manifested in earth. If we are holding steadfast to secular music as the key to bringing people, then something is terribly wrong. When people see the gospel in our actions, integrity, fruits, gifts, and miracles there would be no need for other ways to reach the lost.

Now before I get stoned, I am not saying that our church is doing this to its fullest but let us not deny the goal that we as Christians must attain.

By: SUZYQ

SUZYQ — Sat, 21 May 2011 21:27:34 +0000

IF THE WORDS TO SECULAR MUSIC MATCHES THE WORD OF GOD THAN IT’S OKAY. GOD HAD CREATED EVERYTHING AND PEOPLE SING ABOUT EVERYTHING SO YOU ARE IN A WAY GLORIFING HIM.

GOD EVEN GIVES PEOPLE VOICES, TALENTS AND MUSIC ABITITIES,TOO.

HE IS THE CREATOR OF OURSELVES AND LIFE SO PEOPLE WRITE AND SING ABOUT IT.

By: Marcelo Urias

Marcelo Urias — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 04:34:04 +0000

Secular music has absolutely no place in church. There is association - artists who do not know the Lord use their music for their own pleasure, for entertaining and for promoting their agendas. To say nothing is secular is ludicrous - would you use the litanies sung in black magic rituals for any purpose in church? Those litanies are associated with those practices just as much as Madonna, Eminem and all the junk being brought to the house of the Lord is associated with their wayward life. We have in a year just 52 opportunities to worship the Lord collectively - it is a prime time to show the world our love for Christ, our devotion and above all, our commitment to the One who died for us. To waste that time with songs that merely entertain an audience and do not glorify Him is really sad. I pray and hope you will get to know Jesus as your Savior - a transformed person cannot associate with the tools Satan uses to lead people to perdition.
Marcelo Urias
Music Director
Cokesbury Church
Knoxville TN

By: storage tameside

storage tameside — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 09:43:34 +0000

That is a great, thanks a lot to post this.

By: Rhonda

Rhonda — Fri, 09 Apr 2010 02:12:22 +0000

It seems like music is often an emotional flashpoint for people. That says something about the depth with which it touches us. Music is a gift of immense power from God to connect in ways that other communication cannot. And each of us tend to prefer a particular music language. This can make it difficult to hear with another person’s ears. Some of the people who come to church can hear truth more clearly in a language that is not purely Christianese. Truth is truth, no matter what accent it carries. Because God created us in His image we are all capable of expressing something of the truth about who we are and about our spiritual need. If God can use what is meant for evil to make something that glorifies Him (as in the case of Joseph and his brothers), is it such a stretch for Him to use the insight and creativity of even an unbeliever to speak to His message to another person’s heart.
It’s OK to prefer what you like in music source and style. But please do not forget that yours is not the only ear that God wants to whisper into during that worship hour. And don’t be so sure that God likes only your songlist.

By: Cynthia Ncube

Cynthia Ncube — Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:38:59 +0000

Don’t get me wrong but sometimes I’m wondering myself what kind of music we listening to to church, playing real loud metals turning rock and roll music to gospel, and those high instruments and saying that we are making the music more interesting to listen to. I dont noe

By: Valorie Leinen

Valorie Leinen — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 10:33:35 +0000

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B.Eisenwolf — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 16:19:12 +0000

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