Can I Listen To Secular Music As A Christian?

One question most new believers always have is ‘Can Christians listen to secular music?’

Is there such a thing as Holy Music?

To begin with, music is powerful. It is no joke that music is for the soul. It is that powerful. Have you noticed the chills in the atmosphere during musical praises and worship? Have there been days when you feel so down but grabbing a word or two from the lyrics of a song, your mood begins to change.

Music is for man to enjoy. You can use music to praise God or for personal entertainment.

Humans have souls. And music does wonders to them. When we say soul we mean “the spirit man”. We are spirit beings in bodily coverings. Depending on our emotions and intellectual capacity (maturity), the lyrics of a song appeals to us on different levels.

The focus for this article will be focusing more on lyrics and less on genre. But is there really a need for the divide — secular and Gospel? We’ll look at that in a bit.

Meanwhile, there is no scripture in the Bible that speaks against any genre. However, the content matters a lot. What we listen to is where the problem lies.

The lyrics of a song is the heart of the song.

Gospel Music

Gospel Music is any musical piece that glorifies God. A signature of this kind of music is the raising up of heart and mind to God. It suffices as prayer depending on the genre of music it comes. The culture of a people also plays a great part here.

Under the Gospel category, there are sacred songs as well. They are usually meditational.

What makes a song Gospel is not the beats; neither is it how many Bible quotes it contains, but how it genuinely appeals to the soul. That’s why some people testify to being healed after serially listening to a song in faith.

Secular Music

This as the name implies, is a category which content is centered on human affairs; usually away from a religious/spiritual point of view.

Secular songs appeal most to our our emotional/sensual energy. In truth, they also depict the realities of the human society. While some promote ideas in direct contrast to the message of Jesus Christ, some motivational classics have also emerged from this category. The only thing missing most of the time is “Godliness”.

So What Makes It Awkward Listening To Secular Music?

The believer lives in a secular society so it is rather impossible for the believer not to listen to songs other than the gospel category. Especially, as pointed out above, that some actually have contents that edify man.

Regardless, anyone who lets the spirit of God dwell in him/her, will be able to know where and when to draw the line. You cannot consume every single trending music on non-gospel commercial TV/radio stations and assume your heart posture is always right with God.

The ears, just like the eyes are a window into your soul. Listening to raw and vulgar secular songs taints the purity and soundness of your mind. A mindful Christian knows better than take in every kind of song. Some songs accompanied by obscene and dark videos take quite the time to erase from the mind. As a man thinks, so is he.

You owe it to yourself to consciously know and understand the message of the song that entertains you. It is yours to choose, what goes into your conscious and subconscious. Will the lyrics and idea of this song please God? If God were before you now, would you do what the song projects to you?

Remember the Bible says what goes into a man does not make him. What does is what comes out of him. What fruits are what you are listening to bearing in you? Does it fill you up with stinky thinking or lustful pleasures?

“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. “

“I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”- Galatians 5:19–23

So now will our weddings, birthday parties and get-togethers be riddled with praises and hymns? Not necessarily. There are still decent love, party, happy and fun songs that we can listen and sing to, without being narrow minded about it.

As a matter of fact, there are suitable gospel songs in a variety of genres, to choose from if you wish to have it gospel all the way.

Conclusion

So the next time you are about to play that music, check the lyrics out again? And discern for yourself if it aligns with the word and will of God for your life.

“Can Christians listen to secular music?” is a question on the heart of so many believers, new and old. Be kind enough to share this information with all you know will need it.