Rock Music and Fathers

by Hannah
(Ohio)

My dad does not believe that there is such thing as a Christian rock band. He believes this because rock and roll was "supposedly" the start of rebellion and that it "supposedly" is the reason we have all this bad music today.


I, for one, do not agree with him. When I listen to these bands, I DO get something out of it, but he doesn't see how anyone could. He used to listen to all the old metal rock bands until he found God. I think maybe he doesn't want me to follow the same path. He thinks that if I start listening to rock I will keep lowering my standards until I am part of the world. Do you agree?

I REALLY need help on this issue. We've been arguing for over a year. HELP ME! God Bless You.

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Hannah,
This is a tough issue. First of all, I have to say that the bible is pretty clear that we are to honor our father and mother. It mentions it in the Old Testament and the New Testament stating that you will actually get longer life if you honor your parents.

Exodus 20:12
"Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the LORD your God is giving you."

Ephesians 6:1-3
"Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 'Honor your father and mother'—which is the first commandment with a promise— 'that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.'"

So, saying that, it is important that you honor your father's wishes as long as you are living at home and as long as he is not asking you to directly disobey God's Word.

This issue about music has been around for a while. Some people say that it is the "beat" that is evil. However, I have a hunch that some of our modern day hymns and worship songs would have been "banned" from churches hundreds of years ago due to the "beat." Music styles naturally change some over the years.

I personally believe that it is not the rhythm or beat of the music that makes it good or bad, but the message. If the message honors and glorifies Christ and draws me closer to Him then that is great. However, if I can't understand the words or if it causes me to think sexual thoughts or takes my mind somewhere other than God, then I would be careful about listening to that music.

Music is powerful. The words get into our minds as we listen to it over and over. The repetition can help put Godly thoughts and messages in our minds or ungodly thoughts and messages.

A great place to get reviews on music is pluggedinmagazine.com. If you're not sure about a CD or band, see what they have to say first.

Hope that helps!
Shelley

Comments for Rock Music and Fathers

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RE: Rock Music and Fathers
by: Lisa (16)

I'm really sorry Shelley, but i totally disagree with you. Ask any secular rock artist out there: the beat is purposefully put in the music to make you feel a certain way.

I have really been thinking about Christian rock lately, and I have tons of questions. Like, for one, if we are in sin and not walking with God, we shouldn't feel close to God, right? I mean the Bible says that if we have sin in our hearts, the Lord won't hear us. But many Christian teens (that are disrespectful to parents or have blatant sin in their lives) say they "feel" close to God when they listen to Christian rock music. I have a major problem with this.

Also, satan is a master deceiver and his specialty is music. Ezekiel 38:13 describes him as actually being a musical instrument (having "pipes" and "tabrets")

30 years ago, Rock was strictly "the worlds" music. Recently it's become Christian cause we threw a few Christian words in. Sounds kinda like "conforming to the world" to me, something we're told NOT to do (Rom.12:2)

Just some thoughts, this is a great site ya have here, but this music issue always seems to get to me :)
Christian Rock
by: CJ

I once heard someone compare music of all kinds to a knife. You can use a knife to stab someone and bring harm to them or you can use it to cut the ropes that keep a person bound up. Music is the same way...it either brings harm or brings life. I certainly believe some "christian" music over the years has done more harm than good because of the spirit in which it was birthed. But I have been very encouraged by many powerful Christian bands through the years because the songs were written out of a humble heart that desired to glorify the Lord. A few examples are Kutless, Switchfoot, and Pillar. These bands are very talented and with that talent they draw HUGE crowds. Those are great opportunities for Jesus to be lifted up.

Before we lump ALL Christian Rock into the same category, let's take a close look at the spirit and attitude in which the artists wrote the songs.

CJ
More on Christian Rock
by: Shelley

Lisa,

Thanks for your comments! I think with anything in our Christian lives, we should use wisdom instead of rules when making decisions. For instance, a rule says, "I will not listen to any Christian rock music because some of it is bad." Wisdom says, "I will ask God for His help in making my music choices....music that will glorify Him and draw me closer to Him but that I also enjoy."

Does that make sense?

I also think we need to look at the fruit of the choices we are making.

So, in regards to our music choices, what happens when we listen to our favorite music? Does it breed a rebellious spirit in us? Then, wisdom would say, don't listen to it.

Does the beat of the music cause us to have sensual and sexual thoughts? Then, wisdom would say, don't listen to it.

If the music we are listening to leads us away from God, then wisdom would say don't listen to it.

And most importantly, we as Christians need to know God's Word for ourselves. That way, we can always filter the music we listen to (and the books, movies, etc.) through God's Word, the Bible.

I've heard it said that people aren't given any special training to detect counterfeit money. They are just trained to know the real thing so well that if they see any slight changes, they can spot them right away as a counterfeit.

I think it should be the same way for us spiritually. We should know the Bible so well, that if any of our music contradicts the truths in the Bible, we should notice it right away.

Fixing our eyes on Jesus,

~Shelley



The bible talks a lot about getting wisdom, esp. in Proverbs...

Proverbs 4:7, "Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding."

Proverbs 1:1-6, "My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you, turning your ear to wisdom and applying your heart to understanding, and if you call out for insight and cry aloud for understanding, and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear of the LORD and find the knowledge of God. For the LORD gives wisdom,and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding."

Proverbs 8:1, "for wisdom is more precious than rubies, and nothing you desire can compare with her."

James 1:5-8, "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does."
Christian Rock
by: Leslie

FIRST OFF I WANT TO SAY I GREW UP THE SAME WAY, MY FATHER ONLY WANTED ME TO LISTEN TO SOUTHERN GOSPEL AND AS I GOT OLDER I LOVED SOUTHERN GOSPEL BUT SOME OF MY FRIENDS HAD CONTEMPORARY CHRISTAN AND CHRISTIAN ROCK MUSIC. I DID LIKE IT, IT WAS DIFFERENT THAN WHAT I WAS USE TO AND GAVE ME MORE OF A BEAT. MY FATHER DID NOT LIKE IT SO I COULDNT LISTEN TO IT, IN RESPECT OF HIM. WHEN I WAS OLD ENOUGH TO MOVE OUT AND GOT MARRIED I STARTED TO LISTEN TO MORE CONTEMPORARY AND CHRISTIAN ROCK BUT OVER TIME I REALIZED THAT NOT ALL CHRISTIAN ROCK WAS GOOD FOR ME TO SUBJECT MYSELF TO. I STARTED REALLY PAYING ATTENTION TO THE LYRICS AND IF I COULD NOT UNDERSTAND THEM I PUT THOSE ARTIST/SONGS ASIDE. I ALSO STARTED TO LOOK UP THE ARTIST AND MAKE SURE THEY HAD A TESTIMONY, THIS I FEEL IS VERY IMPORTANT!! IF THE ARTIST CANNOT LIFT THE LORD'S NAME UP IN PRAISE AND THANKSGIVING WHY ARE THEY SINGING CHRISTIAN MUSIC...IS IT JUST BECAUSE THEY COULDNT MAKE IT IN MAINSTREAM SO THEY WENT WITH THE NEXT BEST THING... THESE GROUPS YOU NEED TO BE AWARE OF. I ALSO GO TO ALOT OF CONCERT, I LOVE CHRISTIAN CONCERTS, I LISTEN TO WHAT THEY HAVE TO SAY AND IF THEY TESTIFY HOW MUCH LORD HAS GIVEN THEM AND GIVE HIM THE PRAISE AND GLORY FOR THEIR FAME AND LET YOU KNOW THEY ARE THERE TO GET HIS WORD OUT AND TO LET ALL KNOW THAT JESUS CHRIST DIED FOR OUR SINS SO WE COULD HAVE ETERNAL LIFE,THEN THAT IS PROBABLY A TRUE CHRISTIAN GROUP
SINGING FOR THE RIGHT PURPOSE. I HAVE SEEN ARTIST/GROUPS THAT WILL NOT SAY THEY ARE AN ACTUAL CHRISTIAN GROUP AND HIS NAME/WORD IS NOT EVEN IN THE LYRICS, I FEEL THAT IS SHAMEFUL AND I REFUSE TO LISTEN OR SUPPORT THEM. BUT I AGREE WITH THE ABOVE STATEMENTS YOU MUST HONOR YOUR FATHER AND HIS WISHES, IT WILL BE OK, I SURVIVED AND I HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR MY FATHER HE WAS TRYING TO PROTECT ME. MAYBE WE NEED TO LOOK AT CHRISTIAN GROUPS/ARTIST AS INDIVIDUALS AND EVUALATE AND PRAY TO FIND OUT IF WE SHOULD LISTEN TO THEM. AND I STILL LOVE SOUTHERN GOSPEL, I NOW LISTEN TO BOTH.
The REAL Issue.
by: AJ

Check out 1st Corinthians chapter 8.
You said your dad listened to a bunch of rock music before he was led to Christ, right? Well, I think this passage in the Bible should tell you exactly what to do. Music is music, and if there's nothing wrong with the lyrics, I don't see any reason why it should be considered "bad". When I first started reading your post, I was thinking it was just another old-fashioned dad story...like on the Snowden Christmas Show, or whatever it's called, that TV special that came on at Christmas that starred Raggedy Ann and Andy. At one part, you see a boy who likes to listen to Elvis, and his parents don't approve because of the genre.
"But Dad, Elvis is the king," the boy says. To which his dad replies,
"No, Frank Sinatra is the king--and don't you forget it!"
That's what I thought about when I read the subject of your post. But as I got deeper in, I realized this is more than just the clashing of two people's taste in music. It has to do with your dad's life before he was a Christian.
So read 1st Corinthians 8 (the whole thing--it's not that long), and think about what it says. And have a talk with your dad about the music. You really should try to get your point across. But you should be willing to bend. He is, after all, your father, and you should follow what he says.
Hi from:Mercy
by: Mercy

You can start a Christian rock band. But first try and make your father give you a chance. You'll sing for him and if hears anything bad from it you'll have to stop but if he doesn't then you can continue. Make sure you make the most of that chance. I hope you'll convince your father. I wish you all my luck.

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