Is Christian Metal bad?
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P
While metal isnt my thing i beleive its all about what draws you close to God , for some people who before they were saved enjoyed Rock or metal that is what draws them.. its all about the lyrics and the heart , if thats what draws you to God and the words arnt satanic i dont see the problem.. Were all different and conect with God in different ways , there isnt just 1 kind of beauty worship comes from the heart and its about what it means to the individual.. Amazing grace could be just as beautiful to one person as christian metal i or rock s to another. lets not judge.. anyway i ramble on 
princess
princess
D
Yes.
Justification of thigns that gratify FLESH is always bad.
Christian POP is bad to. (Technically any time your making money of of "Jesus" its anti-christ) ALso
If it looks like the world and sounds like the world, then, ... Jesus already told you what he thinks about it.
So I dont realy have to say anything.
Justification of thigns that gratify FLESH is always bad.
Christian POP is bad to. (Technically any time your making money of of "Jesus" its anti-christ) ALso
If it looks like the world and sounds like the world, then, ... Jesus already told you what he thinks about it.
So I dont realy have to say anything.
R
I'm gonna have to disagree with you. There is power in sound alone.
I was going to post like a trillion youtube videos of incredible classical performances that uplift the Lord through pure instrumentation, but it occurs to me that I don't really need to. I think this is something people know and understand whether they realize it or not because it's something the good Lord has put inside humanity.
You know how movies have soundtracks? That's because music sets scenes. It pulls at your emotions because it is emotional. It's a language that has the ability to say so much more than our limited English could ever hope to.
Words are wonderful and the human voice is an amazing INSTRUMENT. But I completely disagree with the idea that lyrics make the song. It's only one (small) component.
I was going to post like a trillion youtube videos of incredible classical performances that uplift the Lord through pure instrumentation, but it occurs to me that I don't really need to. I think this is something people know and understand whether they realize it or not because it's something the good Lord has put inside humanity.
You know how movies have soundtracks? That's because music sets scenes. It pulls at your emotions because it is emotional. It's a language that has the ability to say so much more than our limited English could ever hope to.
Words are wonderful and the human voice is an amazing INSTRUMENT. But I completely disagree with the idea that lyrics make the song. It's only one (small) component.
P
why shouldnt God use different things to reach sinners, , God knows the person and whats gonna reach them , if meainstream christian music and hymns arnt gonna reach them, God will use whatever he needs to...What type of christian music you worship to isnt gonna get ou to heaven its your relationship with God., and repentance .... If God will use a christian heavy metal band to bring a sinner to repentance and relationship with him through the lyrics because thats the music they like to listen to then i think thats pretty awesome.. dont put God in a box
R
I appreciate your response, but I was talking specifically to the guy who said he wouldn't be considered a Christian if Christian metal is bad or something.
Christian metal didn't save him, but he seems to think it did.
To me, putting God in a box is believing everything labeled as CHRISTIAN is from God. That's foolishness.
I totally believe God can use a wide variety of things to reach sinners. However, I think it is a mistake to believe everything an individual Christian LIKES is automatically of God. If you smoke weed because it makes you feel closer to God, does that mean God wants you to get high?
Christian metal didn't save him, but he seems to think it did.
To me, putting God in a box is believing everything labeled as CHRISTIAN is from God. That's foolishness.
I totally believe God can use a wide variety of things to reach sinners. However, I think it is a mistake to believe everything an individual Christian LIKES is automatically of God. If you smoke weed because it makes you feel closer to God, does that mean God wants you to get high?
Does everybody like the sound of reggae? No, but there are Christian artists in the reggae scene that are standing up for Christ, preaching the gospel and winning souls for Christ?
Does everybody like the sound of country music? No, but there are Christian artists in the country scene that are standing up for Christ, preaching the gospel, and winning souls for Christ.
Does everybody like the sound of rap? No but there are Christian artists who in fact write very awesome lyrics that reach souls for Christ and minister to the body of Christ?
Does everybody like hard rock (for example:skillet)? No, but bands like them really reach the youth and minister to the body of Christ.
Does everybody listen to Mexican rhythms? No, but there are Mexican music artists who are standing up for Christ and reaching souls.
Even in the body of Christ, there will be people who will not listen to or like the same rhythms. But just so you know, just about every rhythm can be used for the glory of God. And if good fruit has come from the rhythm (meaning souls are being saved, and the body of Christ is being ministered to) then you can say that the Holy Spirit has approved and has taken over those who are playing it. Not everyone will listen to Christian country music, but to those that listen to it they will be ministered to. Not every one will listen to Christian rap, but to those who listen to it they will be ministered to. Not everyone will listen to Christian metal, but to those who listen to it they will truly be ministered by it. And if Christian metal has reached souls for Christ and is ministering to the body of Christ (Which in fact it has done both), then we can't really argue anymore.
All the above is fact, not opinion.
Does everybody like the sound of country music? No, but there are Christian artists in the country scene that are standing up for Christ, preaching the gospel, and winning souls for Christ.
Does everybody like the sound of rap? No but there are Christian artists who in fact write very awesome lyrics that reach souls for Christ and minister to the body of Christ?
Does everybody like hard rock (for example:skillet)? No, but bands like them really reach the youth and minister to the body of Christ.
Does everybody listen to Mexican rhythms? No, but there are Mexican music artists who are standing up for Christ and reaching souls.
Even in the body of Christ, there will be people who will not listen to or like the same rhythms. But just so you know, just about every rhythm can be used for the glory of God. And if good fruit has come from the rhythm (meaning souls are being saved, and the body of Christ is being ministered to) then you can say that the Holy Spirit has approved and has taken over those who are playing it. Not everyone will listen to Christian country music, but to those that listen to it they will be ministered to. Not every one will listen to Christian rap, but to those who listen to it they will be ministered to. Not everyone will listen to Christian metal, but to those who listen to it they will truly be ministered by it. And if Christian metal has reached souls for Christ and is ministering to the body of Christ (Which in fact it has done both), then we can't really argue anymore.
All the above is fact, not opinion.
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Not when it comes to deciding if a song is good or bad though... you said you had music that was just instrumental, worshiping God. But if you didn't know the context of the song when hearing this, you would have never known what the intent behind the song and could have never came to the conclusion, "this is Christian worship music" just by hearing this tune.
If you have no lyrics, music is just noise. It's like if an atheist farted or a Christian did.. a fart is a fart. Music is music. Now sure people have different intentions when it comes to music. Some are to glorify God and others are to slander him. But if there are no lyrics, and you don't know the intent behind the music, there is no way for you discern what this was without someone telling you. So music on it's own is not bad...
And also I haven't read all the posts on here but it's clear most people making these sweeping statements about metal clearly have no clue about this music group. There are so many different sub genres to metal it's ridiculous. You can't say ALL metal is just harsh music and confusing lyrics. There is power metal, symphonic, melodic, progressive metal etc etc... NONE of those generally have lyrics you cannot understand or harsh vocals. They have more bombastic or harder elements but a lot of it is quite harmonic and has good melodies.
There are some genres of metal where I can see where people would think this is what metal is. Death metal always seems to have gruff vocals. And more banging sounds to the untrained ear. I could not stand this stuff when I first got into metal. Actually I couldn't stand thrash, or any really hard songs either even in the power metal scene.
The songs that got me into metal were slow songs. Metal ballads. The two songs that I first heard from metal bands were "Sleeping Sun" by Nightwish and "The Bard's Song" by Blind Guardian. Both are really slow songs. I really liked them so I looked by other slow stuff by these bands and others similar. As I listed to other songs by them, I started liking more progressively harder stuff... My music collection is huge now and most of it is metal from classic heavy metal to power metal to melodic... melodeath.. progressive etc etc etc. I can listen to a death metal band or a group with harsh vocals without needing to read the lyrics because I'm used to hearing vocals like that, I can generally tell what they're saying. So while YOU may not be able to understand it, someone else can.
And a lot of it is very beautiful and poetic. More so than 99% of anything on the radio. I found Christian metal bands that have so much more meaning and feeling than anything on Christian radio which sounds more like it was made on an assembly line than with any kind of genuine heart for Christ. Lyrics that actually look like it took some time to write.
Anyway that's my opinion and that's all I'm going to say on the subject. Music itself cannot be judged based on what you like. If I was being as judgmental about others taste in music, I'd have to say Southern Gospel is from the devil. I cannot stand southern gospel at all. Lyrics aside (cause were not looking at lyrics anyway), the music is terrible. And the singing isn't much better. You can say "it glorifies God though" all you want. What makes it glorifying to God? The lyrics? We're not judging songs based on lyrics remember? The music? Why? Because it's pleasing to YOUR ears? It sounds like crap to me and I would feel embarrassed playing that before God. Surely God would have better taste in music than that.
I like rock and metal. Just because it's not pleasing to YOUR ears, doesn't mean it's not to God's. I love it though. God said make a joyful noise unto the Lord. And that's what most southern gospel and CCM is IMO. Noise. But who am I to judge? You can make a joyful noise the way you like, and I'll do it the way I like. God judges the heart. Not how good or how bad the music is.
And in heaven, you guys can have your little corner of SG music and I'll be rocking out with the hard rock angels praising the Lord with GOOD music.
Peace
If you have no lyrics, music is just noise. It's like if an atheist farted or a Christian did.. a fart is a fart. Music is music. Now sure people have different intentions when it comes to music. Some are to glorify God and others are to slander him. But if there are no lyrics, and you don't know the intent behind the music, there is no way for you discern what this was without someone telling you. So music on it's own is not bad...
And also I haven't read all the posts on here but it's clear most people making these sweeping statements about metal clearly have no clue about this music group. There are so many different sub genres to metal it's ridiculous. You can't say ALL metal is just harsh music and confusing lyrics. There is power metal, symphonic, melodic, progressive metal etc etc... NONE of those generally have lyrics you cannot understand or harsh vocals. They have more bombastic or harder elements but a lot of it is quite harmonic and has good melodies.
There are some genres of metal where I can see where people would think this is what metal is. Death metal always seems to have gruff vocals. And more banging sounds to the untrained ear. I could not stand this stuff when I first got into metal. Actually I couldn't stand thrash, or any really hard songs either even in the power metal scene.
The songs that got me into metal were slow songs. Metal ballads. The two songs that I first heard from metal bands were "Sleeping Sun" by Nightwish and "The Bard's Song" by Blind Guardian. Both are really slow songs. I really liked them so I looked by other slow stuff by these bands and others similar. As I listed to other songs by them, I started liking more progressively harder stuff... My music collection is huge now and most of it is metal from classic heavy metal to power metal to melodic... melodeath.. progressive etc etc etc. I can listen to a death metal band or a group with harsh vocals without needing to read the lyrics because I'm used to hearing vocals like that, I can generally tell what they're saying. So while YOU may not be able to understand it, someone else can.
And a lot of it is very beautiful and poetic. More so than 99% of anything on the radio. I found Christian metal bands that have so much more meaning and feeling than anything on Christian radio which sounds more like it was made on an assembly line than with any kind of genuine heart for Christ. Lyrics that actually look like it took some time to write.
Anyway that's my opinion and that's all I'm going to say on the subject. Music itself cannot be judged based on what you like. If I was being as judgmental about others taste in music, I'd have to say Southern Gospel is from the devil. I cannot stand southern gospel at all. Lyrics aside (cause were not looking at lyrics anyway), the music is terrible. And the singing isn't much better. You can say "it glorifies God though" all you want. What makes it glorifying to God? The lyrics? We're not judging songs based on lyrics remember? The music? Why? Because it's pleasing to YOUR ears? It sounds like crap to me and I would feel embarrassed playing that before God. Surely God would have better taste in music than that.
I like rock and metal. Just because it's not pleasing to YOUR ears, doesn't mean it's not to God's. I love it though. God said make a joyful noise unto the Lord. And that's what most southern gospel and CCM is IMO. Noise. But who am I to judge? You can make a joyful noise the way you like, and I'll do it the way I like. God judges the heart. Not how good or how bad the music is.
And in heaven, you guys can have your little corner of SG music and I'll be rocking out with the hard rock angels praising the Lord with GOOD music.
Peace
R
This strikes me as kind of sad. Just like how narrow this view is. Hmmm
You don't need to know the history of the song to know that it's positive or uplifting or not. This isn't opinion. Music affects people emotionally and the affect is the same across all of humanity. These studies were done primarily with classical music because they're significantly more emotional and complex than modern pop songs (metal is pop, btw. follows the formula).
I understand that you like heavy music... that's cool. I don't mean to imply that all heavy, dark music is of the devil or something. God gave us all a wide range of emotions. The Passion of the Christ isn't all sunshine and rainbows and the great songs that have been written about it accurately reflect the heaviness of the event.
I do, however, wholeheartedly reject the idea that 'uplifting lyrics' can make truly hateful music glorify God.
It's not a coincidence that the 'christian metal songs' people most often enjoy are the slow ballads. There is also the movement of mainstream prog metal...basically bands that sound kinda like Tool. They've swapped out the angry vocalists for those with beautiful, soaring voices. Why? Because a positive, glorifying message about God doesn't come across in growls and screams. That's nothing to do with lyrics. That's instrumentation. That was my point.
You don't need to know the history of the song to know that it's positive or uplifting or not. This isn't opinion. Music affects people emotionally and the affect is the same across all of humanity. These studies were done primarily with classical music because they're significantly more emotional and complex than modern pop songs (metal is pop, btw. follows the formula).
I understand that you like heavy music... that's cool. I don't mean to imply that all heavy, dark music is of the devil or something. God gave us all a wide range of emotions. The Passion of the Christ isn't all sunshine and rainbows and the great songs that have been written about it accurately reflect the heaviness of the event.
I do, however, wholeheartedly reject the idea that 'uplifting lyrics' can make truly hateful music glorify God.
It's not a coincidence that the 'christian metal songs' people most often enjoy are the slow ballads. There is also the movement of mainstream prog metal...basically bands that sound kinda like Tool. They've swapped out the angry vocalists for those with beautiful, soaring voices. Why? Because a positive, glorifying message about God doesn't come across in growls and screams. That's nothing to do with lyrics. That's instrumentation. That was my point.
K
don't really care
Who are we to say that God is limited to just one certian sound to glorify his name? I grew up listening to gospel, and music that sounded similar. But as I got into my teen years I start to drift from that worshipy type of music and fell into that secular snare, in a sense. Then I discovered some bands that had that same tune, only with the intent of glorifying God with their talents. My little brain was blown away. That little box of music was torn apart with the electricity from the electric guitars... I fell in love with rock that day, and still have that stupid little grin when I hear a band using their instruments to rock out for God.
Music is music. I've grown to learn to like music for what it is. A gift from God to us. Be it metal, or country. Bluegrass, to folk, and all the way to reggae. No one genre disappoints me. I like knowing that someone put some effort to connect to another with that universal language of music. And when someone uses that music to glorify God, then I'm happy knowing they put effort into making a joyful noise unto the Lord.
There's me penny. (Too poor to place anothe cent)
Who are we to say that God is limited to just one certian sound to glorify his name? I grew up listening to gospel, and music that sounded similar. But as I got into my teen years I start to drift from that worshipy type of music and fell into that secular snare, in a sense. Then I discovered some bands that had that same tune, only with the intent of glorifying God with their talents. My little brain was blown away. That little box of music was torn apart with the electricity from the electric guitars... I fell in love with rock that day, and still have that stupid little grin when I hear a band using their instruments to rock out for God.
Music is music. I've grown to learn to like music for what it is. A gift from God to us. Be it metal, or country. Bluegrass, to folk, and all the way to reggae. No one genre disappoints me. I like knowing that someone put some effort to connect to another with that universal language of music. And when someone uses that music to glorify God, then I'm happy knowing they put effort into making a joyful noise unto the Lord.
There's me penny. (Too poor to place anothe cent)