Mining Secular Music for Biblical Nuggets

GWH · Feb 1, 2025

I believe God gives gifts or abilities to everyone that may be used from good or evil motives for good or evil purposes (PHP 1:15-18).

I believe gifts given to Christians when motivated by love and used for Christ are spiritual or manifestations of the Spirit (1CR 12:7).

I believe that folks who misuse or bury their gifts grieve God and will be punished appropriately (MT 25:24-30).

I think I remember that the person who used their gift of music to compose "Who Will Answer" was a Christian, who hoped hearers would answer the question with "God will answer and has answered in the Gospel".

Unfortunately, my impression is that the Beach Boys were not Christians, even though songs such as those I posted sounded heavenly and seemed inspired to me. I just finished reading "The B.B. by the B.B.", and before composing Pet Sounds Brian Wilson said to Carl, Let's pray. Let's pray for people. Let's pray for Jesus Christ." Later he admitted that he intertwined prayer with ego or a competitive spirit, wanting an album that would be better than Rubber Soul. His last hit song was "Love and Mercy":

I was sittin' in a crummy movie with my hands on my chin
Oh the violence that occurs seems like we never win
Love and mercy that's what you need tonight
So, love and mercy to you and your friends tonight

I was lyin' in my room and the news came on t.v.
A lotta people out there hurtin' and it really scares me
Love and mercy that's what you need tonight
So, love and mercy to you and your friends tonight

I was standin' in a bar and watchin' all the people there
Oh the loneliness in this world well it's just not fair
Hey love and mercy that's what you need tonight
So, love and mercy to you and your friends tonight

Love and mercy that's what you need tonight
Love and mercy tonight
Love and mercy

My prayer is that Brian and the BBs will squeak into heaven by meeting the minimal parameter indicated by LK 9:50, so I can thank them for blessing my earthly life with their joyous and loving music (GL 5:22). Music like "In My Room":

There's a world where I can go
And tell my secrets to
In my room, In my room

In this world I lock out
All my worries and my fears
In my room, In my room

Do my dreaming and my scheming
Lie awake and pray
Do my crying and my sighing
Laugh at yesterday

Now it's dark and I'm alone
But I won't be afraid
In my room

Adstar · Feb 1, 2025

Music definitly spoke to me even before i became a Christian about Christianity.. And yeah I believe the LORD can use any type of music to send a message.. There are more then a few outwardly secular songs that a stealth Christian songs..

When you're close to tears remember
Someday it'll all be over
One day we're gonna get so high
And though it's darker than December
What's ahead is a different colour
One day we're gonna get so high
And at
The end of the day remember the days
When we were close to the edge
And we'll wonder how we made it through
And at
The end of the day remember the WAY
We stayed so close till the end
We'll remember it was me and you
'Cause we are gonna be forever you and me
You will always keep me flying high
In the sky of love
Don't you think it's time you started
Doing what we always wanted
One day we're gonna get so high
'Cause even the impossible
Is easy when we got each other
One day we're gonna get so high
And at
The end of the day remember the days
When we were close to the edge
And we'll wonder how we made it through
And at
The end of the day remember the WAY
We stayed so close till the end
We'll remember it was me and YOU
'Cause we are gonna be
'Cause we are gonna be forever you and me
You will always keep me flying high
In the sky of love
We are gonna be forever you and me
You will always keep me flying high
In the sky of love
High, high, high, high
High, high, high, high
And at
The end of the day remember the days
When we were close to the edge
And we'll wonder how we made it through
And at
The end of the day remember the way
We stayed so close till the end
We'll remember it was me and you
'Cause we are gonna be forever you and me
You will always keep me flying high
In the sky of love
'Cause we are gonna be forever you and me
You will always keep me flying high
In the sky of love
'Cause we are gonna be forever you and me
You will always keep me flying high
In the sky of love

John146 · Feb 1, 2025

GWH said:

I have always loved music (cf. EPH 5:19). In this thread I would like for folks to share lyrics from secular songs that seem to be spiritual or at least compatible with Christian morals (LK 9:50). Following the lyrics a few words of explanation might be helpful. As an example, I cite a song by my favorite secular musical group since I was a teenager in the 1960s, the Beach Boys, that was played at my wedding: “Wouldn’t It Be Nice”.

Wouldn't it be nice if we were older?
Then we wouldn't have to wait so long
And wouldn't it be nice to live together
In the kind of world where we belong?
You know it's gonna make it that much better
When we can say goodnight and stay together

Wouldn't it be nice if we could wake up
In the morning when the day is new?
And after having spent the day together
Hold each other close the whole night through
Happy times together we've been spending
I wish that every kiss was never ending
Oh, wouldn't it be nice?

Maybe if we think and wish and hope and pray
It might come true (run, run, we-ooh)
Oh, baby, then there wouldn't be a single thing we couldn't do
We could be married (we could be married)
And then we'd be happy (and then we'd be happy)
Oh, wouldn't it be nice?

You know it seems the more we talk about it
It only makes it worse to live without it
But let's talk about it
But wouldn't it be nice?
Goodnight, my baby
Sleep tight, my baby

Nuggets I mine from this song along with Biblical context include:

1. It is nice or blessed to wait until marriage to live together as a married couple. (MT 19:4-6, EPH 4:17 & 5:3)

2. Thinking, wishing, hoping and praying worked for me (EPH 6:18). Soon after I had been praying to meet “Miss Right”, my future soulmate was encountered, dated/waited for 5 years, married and still having happy times together after 50+ years.

Even some modern worship songs have little nuggets of truth within them.😜

GWH · Feb 1, 2025

Adstar said:

Music definitly spoke to me even before i became a Christian about Christianity.. And yeah I believe the LORD can use any type of music to send a message.. There are more then a few outwardly secular songs that a stealth Christian songs..

When you're close to tears remember
Someday it'll all be over
One day we're gonna get so high
And though it's darker than December
What's ahead is a different colour
One day we're gonna get so high
And at
The end of the day remember the days
When we were close to the edge
And we'll wonder how we made it through
And at
The end of the day remember the WAY
We stayed so close till the end
We'll remember it was me and you
'Cause we are gonna be forever you and me
You will always keep me flying high
In the sky of love
Don't you think it's time you started
Doing what we always wanted
One day we're gonna get so high
'Cause even the impossible
Is easy when we got each other
One day we're gonna get so high
And at
The end of the day remember the days
When we were close to the edge
And we'll wonder how we made it through
And at
The end of the day remember the WAY
We stayed so close till the end
We'll remember it was me and YOU
'Cause we are gonna be
'Cause we are gonna be forever you and me
You will always keep me flying high
In the sky of love
We are gonna be forever you and me
You will always keep me flying high
In the sky of love
High, high, high, high
High, high, high, high
And at
The end of the day remember the days
When we were close to the edge
And we'll wonder how we made it through
And at
The end of the day remember the way
We stayed so close till the end
We'll remember it was me and you
'Cause we are gonna be forever you and me
You will always keep me flying high
In the sky of love
'Cause we are gonna be forever you and me
You will always keep me flying high
In the sky of love
'Cause we are gonna be forever you and me
You will always keep me flying high
In the sky of love

Nice! I want that for my Ipods.

GWH · Feb 1, 2025

John146 said:

True, and even some old/early CCM, such as "Gotta Serve Somebody" by Bob Dylan:

You may be an ambassador to England or France
You may like to gamble, you might like to dance
You may be the heavyweight champion of the world
You might be a socialite with a long string of pearls
But you're gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeed
You're gonna have to serve somebody
Well, it may be the Devil or it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody

Might be a rock 'n' roll addict prancing on the stage
You might have drugs at your command, women in a cage
You may be a businessman or some high-degree thief
They may call you doctor or they may call you chief
But you're gonna have to serve somebody...

You may be a state trooper, you might be a young Turk
You may be the head of some big TV network
You may be rich or poor, you may be blind or lame
You may be livin' in another country under another name
But you're gonna have to serve somebody...

You may be a construction worker workin' on a home
Might be livin' in a mansion, you might live in a dome
You may own guns and you may even own tanks
You may be somebody's landlord, you may even own banks
But you're gonna have to serve somebody...

You may be a preacher preaching spiritual pride
Maybe a city councilman takin' bribes on the side
May be working in a barbershop, you may know how to cut hair
You may be somebody's mistress, maybe somebody's heir
But you're gonna have to serve somebody...

Might like to wear cotton, might like to wear silk
Might like to drink whiskey, might like to drink milk
Might like to eat caviar, you might like to eat bread
May be sleeping on the floor, sleepin' in a king-size bed
But you're gonna have to serve somebody...

You may call me Terry, you may call me Timmy
You may call me Bobby, you may call me Zimmy
You may call me RJ, you may call me Ray
You may call me anything, no matter what you say
You're still gonna have to serve somebody
Yes, you're gonna have to serve somebody (serve somebody)
Well, it may be the Devil and it may be the Lord
But you're gonna have to serve somebody

PAC-fit · Feb 1, 2025

Edify said:

Really!? Your welcome to that, as for me I would begin with one I lived through to morph into the Savior's praise effortlessly. Even though, the former Beatle’s member had a much different intention for this song, I would venture this song came to be known as the most hijacked pop hits to be morphed into Christian praise songs – ever.

"My Sweet Lord"

My sweet Lord
Hm, my Lord
Hm, my Lord

I really want to see you
Really want to be with you
Really want to see you Lord
But it takes so long, my Lord

My sweet Lord
Hm, my Lord
Hm, my Lord

I really want to know you
Really want to go with you
Really want to show you Lord
That it won't take long, my Lord (Hallelujah)

My sweet Lord (Hallelujah)
Hm, my Lord (Hallelujah)
My sweet Lord (Hallelujah)

I really want to see you
Really want to see you
Really want to see you, Lord
Really want to see you, Lord
But it takes so long, my Lord (Hallelujah)

My sweet Lord (Hallelujah)
Hm, my Lord (Hallelujah)
My, my, my Lord (Hallelujah)

I really want to know you (Hallelujah)
Really want to go with you (Hallelujah)
Really want to show you Lord (ahh)
That it won't take long, my Lord (Hallelujah)

Hmm (Hallelujah)
My sweet Lord (Hallelujah)
My, my, Lord (Hallelujah)

Hm, my Lord (Hare Krishna)
My, my, my Lord (Hare Krishna)
Oh hm, my sweet Lord (Krishna, Krishna)

GWH · Feb 1, 2025

PAC-fit said:

Most hijacked (minus the last part?), and maybe the most milked lyric to make a full-length song.

I prefer Harrison's "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" in the context of Jesus weeping for Jerusalem:

I look at you all
See the love there that's sleeping
While my guitar gently weeps

I look at the floor
And I see it needs sweeping
Still my guitar gently weeps

I don't know why nobody told you
How to unfold your love
I don't know how someone controlled you
They bought and sold you

I look at the world
And I notice, it's turning
While my guitar gently weeps

With every mistake
We must surely be learning
Still my guitar gently weeps

I don't know how you were diverted
You were perverted too
I don't know how you were inverted
No one alerted you

While my guitar gently weeps...

(Not sure whether Jesus had his angels play the guitar :^)

PAC-fit · Feb 1, 2025

GWH said:

Oh well, with confining such a transient thing such as one's love, the whole selection is sorely in need of emphasizing. Have you seen the list? I had forgotten a number of Harrison's spirituals would have been contenders with ''My Sweet Lord'' and yes, so very shallow

GWH · Feb 1, 2025

PAC-fit said:

Yes, but of course the biblical nugget is mined by viewing love as fruit unfolded by the Lord Jesus's HS (but folks were not told the Way to do that).

I am unfamiliar with the list you mentioned.

posthuman · Feb 1, 2025

GWH said:

as an instrument, it's descended from lutes, which are descended from lyres, which are hand-held harps

PAC-fit · Feb 1, 2025

Time in a Bottle
1973

If I could save time in a bottle
The first thing that I'd like to do
Is to save every day
'Til eternity passes away
Just to spend them with you

If I could make days last forever
If words could make wishes come true
I'd save every day like a treasure and then
Again, I would spend them with you

But there never seems to be enough time
To do the things you want to do
Once you find them
I've looked around enough to know
That you're the one I want to go
Through time with

If I had a box just for wishes
And dreams that had never come true
The box would be empty
Except for the memory
Of how they were answered by you

But there never seems to be enough time
To do the things you want to do
Once you find them
I've looked around enough to know
That you're the one I want to go
Through time with

posthuman · Feb 2, 2025

i know a place
where i can go, when i'm alone
into your arms
into your arms
i can go

i know a place
that's safe and warm, from the crowd
into your arms
into your arms
i can go

so if i should fall
i know i won't be alone anymore

GWH · Feb 2, 2025

PAC-fit said:

Time in a Bottle
1973

If I could save time in a bottle
The first thing that I'd like to do
Is to save every day
'Til eternity passes away
Just to spend them with you

If I could make days last forever
If words could make wishes come true
I'd save every day like a treasure and then
Again, I would spend them with you

But there never seems to be enough time
To do the things you want to do
Once you find them
I've looked around enough to know
That you're the one I want to go
Through time with

If I had a box just for wishes
And dreams that had never come true
The box would be empty
Except for the memory
Of how they were answered by you

But there never seems to be enough time
To do the things you want to do
Once you find them
I've looked around enough to know
That you're the one I want to go
Through time with

Jim Croce. Yes, I like that song and biblical nugget!
(Another one to get for my Ipod :^)

GWH · Feb 2, 2025

posthuman said:

Pleasant tune, nice lyrics, and good biblical nugget. Lemonheads?

PAC-fit · Feb 2, 2025

"Up Around the Bend"
1970

There's a place up ahead and I'm goin'
Just as fast as my feet can fly
Come away, come away if you're goin'
Leave the sinkin' ship behind

Come on the risin' wind, [Praise?]
We're goin' up around the bend

Oh

Bring a song and a smile for the banjo
Better get while the gettin's good
Hitch a ride to the end of the highway
Where the neon's turn to wood

Come on the risin' wind,
We're goin' up around the bend

Oh

You can ponder perpetual motion,
Fix your mind on a crystal day,
Always time for a good conversation,
There's an ear for what you say

Come on the risin' wind,
We're goin' up around the bend.

Yeah
Oh

Catch a ride to the end of the highway
And we'll meet by the big red tree,
There's a place up ahead and I'm goin'
Come along, come along with me

Come on the risin' wind,
We're goin' up around the bend

Yeah
Do do do do

GWH · Feb 2, 2025

PAC-fit said:

I guess I see some nuggets. That song reminded me of Slow Train Coming by Bob Dylan:

Sometimes I feel so low-down and disgusted
Can't help but wonder what's happenin' to my companions
Are they lost or are they found?
Have they counted the cost it'll take to bring down
All their earthly principles they're gonna have to abandon?
There's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend

I had a woman down in Alabama
She was a backwoods girl, but she sure was realistic
She said, "Boy, without a doubt, have to quit your mess and straighten out
You could die down here, be just another accident statistic"
There's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend

All that foreign oil controlling American soil
Look around you, it's just bound to make you embarrassed
Sheiks walkin' around like kings, wearing fancy jewels and nose rings
Deciding America's future from Amsterdam and to Paris
And there's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend

Man's ego is inflated, his laws are outdated, they don't apply no more
You can't rely no more to be standin' around waitin'
In the home of the brave, Jefferson turnin' over in his grave
Fools glorifying themselves, trying to manipulate Satan
And there's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend

Big-time negotiators, false healers and woman haters
Masters of the bluff and masters of the proposition
But the enemy I see wears a cloak of decency
All non-believers and men-stealers talkin' in the name of religion
And there's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend

People starving and thirsting, grain elevators are bursting
Oh, you know it costs more to store the food than it do to give it
They say lose your inhibitions, follow your own ambitions
They talk about a life of brotherly love
Show me someone who knows how to live it
There's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend

Well, my baby went to Illinois with some bad-talkin' boy she could destroy
A real suicide case, but there was nothin' I could do to stop it
I don't care about economy, I don't care about astronomy
But it sure do bother me to see my loved ones turning into puppets
There's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend

PAC-fit · Feb 2, 2025

GWH said:

I guess I see some nuggets. That song reminded me of Slow Train Coming by Bob Dylan:

Sometimes I feel so low-down and disgusted
Can't help but wonder what's happenin' to my companions
Are they lost or are they found?
Have they counted the cost it'll take to bring down
All their earthly principles they're gonna have to abandon?
There's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend

I had a woman down in Alabama
She was a backwoods girl, but she sure was realistic
She said, "Boy, without a doubt, have to quit your mess and straighten out
You could die down here, be just another accident statistic"
There's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend

All that foreign oil controlling American soil
Look around you, it's just bound to make you embarrassed
Sheiks walkin' around like kings, wearing fancy jewels and nose rings
Deciding America's future from Amsterdam and to Paris
And there's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend

Man's ego is inflated, his laws are outdated, they don't apply no more
You can't rely no more to be standin' around waitin'
In the home of the brave, Jefferson turnin' over in his grave
Fools glorifying themselves, trying to manipulate Satan
And there's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend

Big-time negotiators, false healers and woman haters
Masters of the bluff and masters of the proposition
But the enemy I see wears a cloak of decency
All non-believers and men-stealers talkin' in the name of religion
And there's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend

People starving and thirsting, grain elevators are bursting
Oh, you know it costs more to store the food than it do to give it
They say lose your inhibitions, follow your own ambitions
They talk about a life of brotherly love
Show me someone who knows how to live it
There's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend

Well, my baby went to Illinois with some bad-talkin' boy she could destroy
A real suicide case, but there was nothin' I could do to stop it
I don't care about economy, I don't care about astronomy
But it sure do bother me to see my loved ones turning into puppets
There's a slow, slow train comin' up around the bend

Quite a bit to soak up there. A songwriting SDA friend of mine has his style. I try to advise tactfully a down-to-earth approach.

PAC-fit · Feb 2, 2025

Admitting, some of these writers might have had something concurrent in mind, maybe not. Anyways, if you’ll permit a reverse nugget of extractions, that being ‘’woman’’ to reveal the near entirety dedication to the precious One, Jesus!?

‘’Right Down the Line’’
1978

You know I need your love
You've got that hold over me
Long as I've got your love
You know that I'll never leave
When I wanted you to share my life
I had no doubt in my mind
And it's been you woman
Right down the line

I know how much I lean on you
Only you can see
The changes that I've been through
Have left a mark on me
You've been as constant as a Northern Star
The brightest light that shines
It's been you, woman
Right down the line

I just want to say this is my way
Of tellin' you everything
I could never say before

Yeah this is my way of tellin' you
That every day I'm lovin' you so much more
'Cause you believed in me through my darkest night
Put somethin' better inside of me
You brought me into the light
Threw away all those crazy dreams
I put them all behind
And it was you, woman
Right down the line

I just want to say this is my way
Of tellin' you everything
I could never say before

Yeah this is my way of tellin' you
That every day I'm lovin' you so much more
If I should doubt myself
If I'm losing ground
I won't turn to someone else
They'd only let me down
When I wanted you to share my life
I had no doubt in my mind
And it's been you, woman
Right down the line

GWH · Feb 2, 2025

PAC-fit said:

Yes, so much NT truth there that I am astonished Dylan did not convert himself to faith in Christ. Apparently his wife at that time was a Christian influence, but I heard that later he disclaimed being a Christian, so I can only hope--similar to my hope re the BBs.

GWH · Feb 2, 2025

PAC-fit said:

Admitting, some of these writers might have had something concurrent in mind, maybe not. Anyways, if you’ll permit a reverse nugget of extractions, that being ‘’woman’’ to reveal the near entirety dedication to the precious One, Jesus!?

‘’Right Down the Line’’
1978

You know I need your love
You've got that hold over me
Long as I've got your love
You know that I'll never leave
When I wanted you to share my life
I had no doubt in my mind
And it's been you woman
Right down the line

I know how much I lean on you
Only you can see
The changes that I've been through
Have left a mark on me
You've been as constant as a Northern Star
The brightest light that shines
It's been you, woman
Right down the line

I just want to say this is my way
Of tellin' you everything
I could never say before

Yeah this is my way of tellin' you
That every day I'm lovin' you so much more
'Cause you believed in me through my darkest night
Put somethin' better inside of me
You brought me into the light
Threw away all those crazy dreams
I put them all behind
And it was you, woman
Right down the line

I just want to say this is my way
Of tellin' you everything
I could never say before

Yeah this is my way of tellin' you
That every day I'm lovin' you so much more
If I should doubt myself
If I'm losing ground
I won't turn to someone else
They'd only let me down
When I wanted you to share my life
I had no doubt in my mind
And it's been you, woman
Right down the line

Viewing marital/romantic love as analogous to platonic love between Christ and believers is permitted and even indicated by Scripture references to the church as the bride of Christ.

Mining Secular Music for Biblical Nuggets

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