Secular Music

Does anyone else think that heavy metal music is from the devil himself? I remember my eldest son (who is now 31) used to play this stuff in his room as a teenager (I wasn't a Christian back then) and when I used to go into his room to put away his ironing for him it used to stress me out, I couldn't wait to leave his room because the music really had a bad effect on me and it did also seem to make my son angry. In recent years he has admitted the music made him angry too and he listened to it a lot longer than my short doses. I know that some of the artists were not ideal role models for my kids and some of the lyrics seemed to be demonic but my son was in his late teens by then and with a mind of his own and I didn't really believe in Satan...if you don't really believe in God then you don't believe in the anti-Christ either.

I know that a lot of secular music has dubious lyrics but it is usually sexual, heavy metal however seems to me to have something evil about it - even demonic.

Music is a form of art. Art is, in essence, a piece of communication and perspective. The object is made to have a dialogue with the person who perceives it.

The ultimate value then is found in what sort of dialogue it evokes, so there is an objective and subjective component. Can it be worshipful or ultimately lead to worship? Can it excite the listener to great deeds or great thoughts? Does it inspire thought and appreciation or simple droning?

There are many questions for the listener to consider, so a simple yes or no answer cannot be given to "is metal evil?" Based on my experience with it though, I would say most metal is not worth anyone's time.

For me a lot of it depends on the lyrics. I listen to secular music along with Christian music on Sirius XM radio. Since becoming a Christian, I'm more selective about what I listen to. Songs like "highway to hell" and "running with the devil" are certainly off my list! I listened to some heavy metal music when I was in High School. Iron Maiden had a lot of historical lyrics in their music, yet they also had a song called "666 the number of the beast." I remember about 10 years ago channel surfing and I came across the Head Banger's Ball on MTV. I watched it at times when I was in High School back in the 80's and thought I would check it out (just out of curiosity) to see what kind of new heavy metal they are playing. I saw a large man covered in tattoos with long hair and dread locks who looked to be standing in the middle of hell playing his guitar as hard as he could and singing in a very deep angry voice. I immediately changed the channel as it gave me the chills!

Yeah it's funny how we see things from a different perspective. Back then I didn't really believe in the devil but the music still had a bad effect on me, it made me angry and stressed and that was just short bursts. My son was quite an angry teenager but I know this can be normal teenage behaviour.

Had I been a Christian back then thing would have been so very different in so many ways but hey you live and learn.

Heavy metal makes my body hurt. Its unpleasant on purpose. I think it also encourages rebellion.

I was always annoyed by heavy metal, they are always screaming and so angry. Personally I dont think its a good idea to listen to it because music really does affect us.If we listen to angry music it makes us angry if we listen to peacefull music we become peaceful if we listen to happy music we become happy if we listen to music that praises God with an upbeat and get you going kind of worship then hecks ya we're gonna praise God with everything we've Got lol.

Rap however even Christian rap has always annoyed me idk why

I play jazz with classical on the piano. There is a freedom in jazz that I love. Love the blues and all soul music even though I know most of it is not necessarily spiritual. Yet it grabs my heart. I was brought up around it.

But I've even heard "Just a closer walk with thee" played and sung in such a way that I just wanted to cringe.

All forms of music, I think, has a spirit attached to it. He's an example, I like metal, it's my favourite genre of music. Before I was born again I used to love the band Pantera I treated them like gods a couple of years ago I listened to them again out of curiosity and it was like the power they once thought they had was gone, it was like it was empty. I can't really explain it but there was a discernable difference.

So you had short bursts of experience, years ago, with a style of music and you're able to judge every band through that limited exposure? True, there is anger in much of metal, but not all. And there is anger in other forms of music as well.
Personally, country music has a negative effect on me, particularly 'modern' country. Is this to say 'country music is evil'? Or is it more likely that it increases my agitation because i don't like it? Does it make me feel depressed because it's evil? Or is it more likely it triggers some memory in me that is depressing?
It's not really valid to label something 'evil' by it's very nature when you have so little experience with it.

It's not just about my "little experience with it".

(taken from the OP) "In recent years he has admitted the music made him angry too"

so if metal is evil does that make christian metal evil>? i mean its the same style. oh maybe youre talking about lyrics which with your admittedly limited experience you probably couldnt make out anyways.

I've been listening to it for 25 years. Some bands, yes, have an obviously angry vibe to them. But to blindly label 'all heavy metal' as angry and evil? In metals over 30 years of existence, your reference and exposure to it is still very small and limited, therefore your claim is not really valid. Personally, i'll trust my 25 years over you and your sons limited experiences.
Is all tv 'of the devil'? Are all movies 'of the devil'? Is the internet 'of the devil'? Is sex 'of the devil'? Or are these things that the devil finds ways to corrupt, but are not bad by their nature?

My son's experience certainly wasn't limited, it lasted for years! Maybe it was just the stuff he listened to but it didn't have a good effect on him - or me. That is my experience. I never mentioned TV, movies, internet or sex - so where did this come from???

I was a young Christian, but even Ozzy spoke to me in his album, Master of Reality. Of course, the master is God. He sings, "Are you afraid what your friends might say, if they knew you believed in God above? They should realize before they criticize that God is the only way to love.

Sammy Hagar's "Three Lock Box", and he took it with him into Van Halen's work, took a step up when he joined them. Oh yeah! Also, "Eagles Fly"!