secular vs christian?

Question

I am a young Christian growing up in a society where hip-hop and rock dominates the other genres in music (well, for the young onez).
I listen mostly to gospel and christian hip-hop artists
(Fred Hammond, Lisa Mcclendon, Lecrae, Trip Lee, Kierra Sheard - to name a few)
and a lot of my friends don't say much about it but they do think it's a lil' weird that I don't listen to Beyonce or Jay-Z or who's that newer guy... T-Pain? Since I'm black, people expect me to know that type of music and I don't!
I was just simply wondering if there's anybody else out there like me (besides my close church friends...)?

The answers that I'm getting are very impressive but I'd like to make sure ya'll understand that it's not that I ONLY listen to Christian music, but it what I listen to most, and it's not that I ONLY listen to gospel, rap, r&b yada yada, I like some of the others, but I love gospel/rap/jazz/soul.... I sing and perform and I don't know... I guess it's because I believe that music can definetly influence ur mind and if I surround myself by the garbage music that mainstream provides for us (the teens), it'll only make it harder for me to live as a Christian, ya know? The lyrical content of a song is something that I truly pay attention to...

Answer 1

I do not, nor will I ever, listen to so-called "artists" like Beyonce or Jay-Z or pretty much any other hip-hop. I suppose Christian hip-hop at least has different lyrical content; but the mainstream stuff has no lyrical content of any value, and even less musical value--it's a repetitive beat with little or no musicality. Neither Beyonce nor Jay-Z nor any of their colleagues can play any instruments, nor read or write music, and their singing is marginal--if they're even singing, that is. It isn't just hip-hop I have issues with, to be fair; it's pretty much all forms of pop music. Manufactured music, to me, defeats any value that real music is meant to have, as an art form, an outlet of genuine creativity, and especially musical talent and skill. I listen to stuff most people have probably never heard of nor would bother to listen to, and I like it that way; little, if any of it, ever gets any radio airtime. I like it that way--at least there's still a small measure of actual originality left in the world.

Answer 2

I'm with ya mate :)

Music's music. Shouldn't matter who the artist is as long as it's good, and in our case, clean/praise to God. I don't really have a problem listening to secular artists as long as the lyrics are clean. I mean, I just recently bought Guns and Roses' Sweet Child o' Mine because I LOVE the guitar in the song. But, that's pretty much the only the only song I can get from them =\

With your case of Hip-Hop and Rap, though, it's hard to find a secular rap/hip-hop artist who doesn't swear :(

Just stick to what you're doing mate. Christians can make great music too. Switchfoot, anybody?

Answer 3

I think we have to be careful not to associate too much with the things of this world. Remember, the word "holy" means "set apart". Not that music is a bad thing, but if the (Christian) music becomes sensual instead of spiritual in nature, I think it's more secular and should be avoided.

Answer 4

isn't there more to music than rap, hip hop/r&b vs gospel? There's a lot in b/w. My advice is sample all before you restrict yourself to just one kind. I listen to everything, some i like better than others

Answer 5

its sad that you only open your mind so far. Im not really into the new hip hop but I listen to jazz and soundscape music. And I'm not a chrisitan. I grew up as one but I chose to open my mind to other types of life. There is nothing wrong with listening to "that type of music". Its what you do with it.

Answer 6

it might not be the perspective that you want. but almost all of the music that i listen to is old Celtic Folk music, or classical music. I am 30. and people expect the rock-n-roll child of the 80's or the early 90's grunge to be what i would listen to. even my friends.

people are different. to find similarities we must first embrace differences.

Answer 7

I listen to Christians music all the time...and there sure isn't anything wrong with it...In fact I would rather listen to this rather all the other stuff out there...your not alone.

Answer 8

kudos to you...as a christian i think most all of the music sucks really bad...though gospel is cool...those folks get the house a jumping...but overall christian music is awful...if you can deal with it and have friends that don't give you hell about it? good for you...you're not missing anything with the sluts showing their sexual parts in every video and singing about it constantly....best to avoid the perversions of the world if you can. good luck.

Answer 9

I am not one of you.

To the guy below me, how is washing your hands, driving a car, wearing clothes from walmart etc. not of the world. This is an honest question. How do you differentiate between the two?

Answer 10

when i was going to school i listend to carmen and other christian artist. the Bible says we should not do things of the world. but be different.

to the person above. there are things we need to survive. and things that are good for our hearts. music i think is good. but then there is music that is of the world that is not good and music from christians that are good. there are clothes that you can wear that are good and then there are many that have sex and other things on them. of the world is doing worldy things that does not pertain to God or to keeping us alive. we have to have clothes on. we have to eat and work. what i dont need is to play violent video games or watch violent movies. things of the world are more so things that i dont need. that my flesh wants.