The Subtle Influence of Secular Music

[kristinaf]

 ::playingguitar::I know this is obvious, but I just wanted to point it out to other Christians...listening to certain types of music can really influence you...subtlely and craftily it can influence you.  (like the devil..who is both subtle and crafty). 

I know this because I had been hanging out with someone who is not a Christian  ::doh::wrong move number one, and listening to their choice of music (wrong move #2). 
The music selection was quite clear in what it portrayed, basically glorifying drinking and glorifying fornication.   This one song, which I like, but shouldn't is called "Blame it on the Alcohol".  It talks about "blaming it on the alcohol" for the "loose sexual behavior".  I really shouldn't be calling myself a Christian right about now.  As my Christian friend said, "you have been contaminated!" because of the music choices.  I found myself the last couple of days, having hung out with naughty secular friend on Thursday, looking for that song on the radio and finding it and listening to it.  (It is the number one song, I heard on the radio, for 5 1/2 weeks now).  And you wonder why our culture is so screwed up...

After listening to that song, and having it permeate my soul, which it no doubt did, I felt like drinking alcohol (hello!) when I went out this weekend.  I lately have restrained myself to one or two drinks, clearly stopping before I felt tipsy, in accordance with the Word.  This weekend, I did not get "drunk", but felt the urge to like never before.  I have to wonder if it was in part due to that crafty little "devil song" that I was listening to. 

Just a warning to you all...guard your ears.  (It can influence your heart and your actions). 

[wolflet7]

I'm sorry to hear this.  I hope you NEVER get drunk and go out and do things that good Christian girls shouldn't.  I'll be praying for you.

[fanuvmxpx]

The longer you grow with God, the more able you are to hold your thoughts captive. So even if you were walking through a Mall and that song came on...the urge to drink will go away.

In fact, instead of thinking about drinking...you'll start to feel bad for those who are currently struggling with it. Since we were all lost at one point...we can relate to those who are currently lost. Its amazing to "watch/feel" your heart be changed by Christ.

[blackstyle]

Kristina! I completely hear what you're saying! We do need to be so careful in what we listen to! The song Blame it on the Alcohol, whether we want it to or not, does subconsiously encourage us to drink, have a good time and let go of all our inhibitions. The fact that you have recognised it is one of the first steps to being delivered from it! I've really tried to cut out all secular music from my life just because I'm not strong enough to keep battling with it!

And don't condemn yourself!

I really shouldn't be calling myself a Christian right about now.

We all have our struggles, I've questioned my commitment to Christ many times, especially when I keep getting into the stuff that I get into, but we have to pick ourself up and keep moving towards Jesus. I too, recently have been hanging out with an unsaved friend, and his language is so foul, that I've found myself about to curse, either in my head or in my speech. I've never had these kinds of urges before! So it's so clear that the people and the things that we surround ourselves with have an influence on us (whether we want them to or not) We have to keep each other in prayer as we attempt to run this race!! Love ya girl!!

[kristinaf]

Thank you, Blackstyle...it really means alot to me to share on this forum, and it really means alot to me that another Christian understands what I'm going thru, without judging me.  Some of the girls in my church (seem) so "righteous" that I am scared of sharing some of my struggles "in the world" with them.  Maybe they would understand, but I am hesistant to share some of the details.  This forum provides a wonderful outlet for me, until I get the courage to share some of the sticky details with other Christians face-to-face.  So far, I have only one Christian who I am close to "in the real world", and sometimes that's hard, because he likes me and I have to keep my distance sometimes to keep from leading him on.  I share alot of my struggles with him, but it's tough, because he's a member of the opposite sex.  I only wish I had more close Christian girlfriends, so it is nice to get a Christian woman's perspective at least on this site, and you have always been very understanding, so thank you!

I'm also glad that someone else has heard that (dreadfully sinful) song "Blame It on the Alcohol" and can relate.  The enemy has really pulled out his guns on me lately, tempting me with all kinds of things, hinting at me to go back to my former lifestyle of fornication, tempting me with secular music and all the evil ideas that those songs present, luring me with drinking, etc.  I am definitely going thru a period of temptation and testing.  This could mean that my blessing (hopefully of getting married) is on the other side of all this mess!  Please pray for me that I will get thru this period of my life, with all it's growing temptations.  I thought I had gotten over being tempted to have sex outside of marriage, and lately I have felt like giving in.  Ugh!  So strong, but so weak at the same time.  I will get through this.... 

As my Pastor gave a sermon on one time :  "Who is this coming up out of the wilderness, Like pillars of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense..." (Song of Solomon 3 v. 5 or 6? ) He spoke of coming up out of your wilderness period (a time of temptation and testing) and coming out of this period sanctified, with power and "smelling good"!  That's how I want to come out of this wilderness period ....smelling good!  Smelling like Jesus!   

[blackstyle]

Kristina!! That message from your pastor was so on point!! And girl, I kno exactly what it's like to not have many christian girlfriends! I've been praying that God bring me some christian girlfriends that I can get close to! I kno all about feeling like you can't share with the girls at church just in case they judge you! So this site is a great outlet to share our thoughts and feelings!!!! I'm here for ya! If u ever wanna talk, send me a message, I feel like we're going thru similar tests and trials!

[walker starr]

Hi there Blackstyle I just had ivoluntarily 4 paragraphs deleted.  OK  I will make this short and say almost the same thing.  If you want to counteract and protect yourself from the devil`s music listen to the old praise songgs and Gospels.  AMEN  Thank you JESUS.

[yesult]

Yeah, as above. Attack is the best form of defense. Christian music can be really helpful in washing stuff out of your soul and replacing the dross.

Also being careful what you watch. Ask God to show you if there's any leaks in your armour regarding things you're seeing on tv or books you're reading etc.

Sometimes stuff that we would have thought was actually pretty harmless can affect us more then we realise, even if by just lowering our standards which weakens us when tempted.

[fanuvmxpx]

Yeah, as above. Attack is the best form of defense. Christian music can be really helpful in washing stuff out of your soul and replacing the dross.

Either that or simply turning the radio off. Sometimes I get too focused on "I need/want music" so I turn off the Christian jams as well.

[DerekNI]

Thanks Kristina for your post I am glad you have made the point you did. I listen to some secular music, but mainly instrumental, for instance Pat Methany. Some instrumental can be dangerous too - because there is New Age instrumental, and I do believe that can have a consciousness altering effect. I started listening on the internet to a group I had not listened to for quite a while and was getting into it again, I actually really like their music (meaning sound, instrumental arrangments etc) but their lyrics are worldly and suggest there is wrong with sex outside of marriage, and its difficult not to take in the message if one is listening to it continually, I find the words going through my mind long after I have listened to it, so I agree with you.

God Bless

Derek

[jegabramaca]

I understand also!  I will say that now when I occassionally hear a secular song while shopping or whatever, it does not tempt me to drink, etc.  Rather, I am reminded at how acceptable it now is to live sinfully, and I feel for all the people who don't even know how wrong it is.  My perspective on this kind of media is that this is straight from Satan--he is putting his mark on the world and all of these people are falling for it.  As a Christian, you have to try to recognize these attacks from the enemy and reject them. 

That is my perspective now, but back when I was a new/struggling teen Christian--my perspective was different, and much more influenced by these secular things. 

[Brasee]

This is very, very true! We are told to "examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good" (1 Thessalonians 5:21) -- which means that we are not supposed to shut our brains off or accept whatever floats into our heads! It is good to pray for God to help you filter what you read and see and hear, and hold up everything against His righteousness. I am always thinking and testing and asking myself "Is this movie saying something True or False? Is this book Good? Are these lyrics Honorable?"

I listen to country music which has lots of drinking songs, but I am an avid teetotaller so I don't know 'zackly what I think about continuing to listen to those.

I do, however, change the station whenever a song comes on that has swearing or sexual immorality -- which means that it is a good thing there are four stations to choose from, where I live! Sometimes I get tired of having my guard up all the time, and I turn it to a Christian station that I trust, or just turn on my mp3 player, where all of the music is Jake-approved =P

But the sneaky thing is that it doesn't have to be an outright "vice" sort of thing. There are songs that (for example) talk about how life is crazy and things happen randomly. They can be fun songs, but if you swallow them whole, you will end up thinking that God is not really in control! Or that he doesn't care about the little details of our life! But of course He does -- He's very good that way. =)


I'll echo what blackstyle said about calling yourself a Christian. You're a Christian because Christ is good :) not because you are good! And even these struggles in your life can be turned into another beautiful example of His grace! But you can show you love Him too, by continuing the repentance that you display in this thread. And I think you have. :)


On a final note, thanks for being considerate to your brother-in-Christ! Thanks for holding back and not sharing everything with him, even though it'd be easy to do so. Sometimes helpful guys can be easily led on (which is their own fault for wishful thinking ) but it is good that you are being careful. I pray that he will keep being a good brother to you and that he will help you because you're his sister-in-Christ, and not just 'cuz he likes you. =P God can make it so. =)

[sedux]

Hi Kristina!

It's funny you are mentioning this because I used to avoid secular music like the plague.  But then, just recently, I've gotten hooked on that one song - Poker Face by Lady Gaga and listening to that song makes me want to go drinking!  But what you're saying is so true!  It's starts off with something harmless... or what you think is harmless.  Then that small thing triggers something else and if you don't stop yourself, you end up being somewhere, or doing something that's very compromising.

[akeng]

This is another example of inventing sin where there is none.  If you dont want to listen to it thats fine, if you want to alienate your friends thats fine but you better not be telling other christians to do that because these are just your personal convictions and are not scrptural.  Believe it or not there are christians that can listen to that music and hang out with there secular friends and not get drunk and have random sex.

[sedux]

This is another example of inventing sin where there is none.  If you dont want to listen to it thats fine, if you want to alienate your friends thats fine but you better not be telling other christians to do that because these are just your personal convictions and are not scrptural.  Believe it or not there are christians that can listen to that music and hang out with there secular friends and not get drunk and have random sex.

I totally agree with you that not everyone who listens to secular music gets drunk and has random sex.  But I beg to differ on your opinion that it's not scriptural - I am referring to secular music that is sexual in nature and promotes fornication. 

Philippians 4:8
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

How does secular music that basically glorify drinking and glorify fornication come in agreement with the scripture above?