i’ve been having a bit of a debate of myself for awhile now.
You see, while i am a Christian, i have a taste for music that tends to question my beliefs. The biggest offender is the band nine inch nails. i think their music is sheer genious and their lyrics are intelligently provacative… until i get to the songs with such lyrics as “your god is dead / burning in his own humility / and no one cares.”
Now, while i think the music itself sounds really good and catchy (for lack of a better word, i guess), these lyrics do kind of offend me, and NOTHING usually offends me. So i wonder, as a Christian should i just not listen to these songs, or as a music lover should i just tell myself, “Hey. It’s only music” and enjoy it for the beat?
Only you can decide that one. Do you think the lyrics are “influencing” you in a way you find abhorrent? (i.e. your attitude is becoming more cynical, whatever…) If so, then the music is not for you. If the lyrics that you don’t agree with roll off your back and don’t bother you, then there probably isn’t any harm for the time being. But be honest with yourself. If it’s bothering you, (and possibly it is, since you started this thread) maybe you’d better give yourself a break from the potentially “offensive” music, and think and ponder upon it a bit longer.
Then again, if it’s bothering you, rather than just rolling off you back, perhaps it’s touching on an issue that makes you uncomfortable, and that you might benefit from examining.
When I was in therapy (way too long ago now; maybe I should get some more . . .), I made a practice of asking myself what subject would I be most uncomfortable discussing with my therapist. Invariably it would be a subject which sorely needed to be addressed.
Liking the songs doesn’t mean you subscribe to the beliefs expressed in them. A priest friend of mine thought that most of the Monty Python church-bashing type stuff was hilarious. Doesn’t make him less of a priest.
I was just wondering if you thought REM’s ‘Losing my Religion’ was something that could be considered unchristian? The whole “losing my religion” part makes it sound so, but he then goes on to sing “trying to keep a veiw”. As you can see, it’s two-sided.
In regards to the OP, I wouldn’t listen to it. I mean, if I’m worried about the aforementioned song, imagine that! However, I’m also a lot more religios (sp?) than most 13 year olds (Look, my ICQ nick is ‘Jesus Freak!’). I’m not at all sure about how faithful you are, so I may sound incredibly stupid. If so, I’m sorry.
Actually, i heard the song has to do with Michael Stipe (REM lead singer) coming to terms with the fact that he’s gay. i do know the song has nothing to do with actual religion. Stipe said so himself.
I have the same problem sometimes. Some stuff still worries me, but then again I’m too cynical to let someone else’s ideas influence me.
Face it: most musicians are out to make money. NIN/M. Manson/et al are really out to stir up controversy, and thereby album sales. I doubt seriously they care about half of what they say, so why should I?
‘Losing my religion’ is an old Southern saying, basically it means to get really upset or angry. I saw an interview where Stipe said that was the meaning he intended.
I can’t imagine seeing NIN lyrics as intelligent or provocative. Trent is getting a little too old to keep writing bad high school poetry.
My personal opinion is that, if you believe you have enough faith in your religion as it is, listening to NIN isn’t going to harm you. The words may seem to offend you, but that was Trent’s idea when he wrote the music/songs.
You’ve posed an excellent question and you can apply it to anything, not just musical tastes.
I’ve been a Christian for over twenty years, and still love to pull out my Beatle albums [YES, real vinyl records!] and they are fraught with drug illusions. I didn’t buy them to DO drugs, or to agree with their choices. I just like the music.
I also have Petra, Steven Curtis Chapman, and Steve Camp, and it’s true that when they are singing about their difficulties in their walks of faith, it makes me THINK about my own struggles. Which is good, but it doesn’t take a religous song to make you think, anything can do that.
BUT, if you find the songs permeate your mind and make you THINK you’re doing something wrong, that’s where your problem may be. More in what YOU truly think, and are afraid of, rather than what the Bible would have to say about what you’re doing.
For an example. When I was more married than I am now, my husband used to jump up and turn off the tv when I came down the stairs ACTING as though he HADN’T been watching the latest sports game on tv. Now, is watching the Braves a sin??? NO. Of course not. But, HE thought it was, so for HIM, it became so. He was being deceptive but he fooled no one and only became a snare for himself.
So, it’s about what YOU think. Does a person always have to listen to religious music and watch religious shows to walk the narrow path? I can say no, for myself, but maybe not for you. You’re the only one who can answer that.
