Can you tell me which is Secular and which is Christian?
Should Christians attend concerts? Here is my simple answer... no.
Why you might ask, well here is why...
Secular concerts- As a Christian exposing yourself to what goes on at secular concerts will effect you, whether you think it will or not. If we were strong enough why would the Bible tell us to be not of the world? The things of this world is not of God, so as a child of God why would we want to participate in what the world has to offer? As Christians we are still sinners, sinners saved by grace but still sinners none the less. I believe we should not be filling our minds with the lyrics of secular songs. By reading them you will see that they will talk about adultery, drinking, sleeping around etc. Doesn't the Bible teach us to NOT do these things? Do you agree a Christian SHOULD do these things? So why sing the words to something you know is wrong?
Secular singers are all about themselves. They sing because they want to glorify themselves. By screaming their name, asking for their autograph are we helping to glorify them? The Bible teaches we CAN'T serve God and man... we need to choose.
Another reason I believe secular concerts are NOT for Christians is because of the drinking, smoking ( if it's an outdoor concert) swearing and immodest attire or unmoral dancing that happens.
It is sad to see pictures of Christians new or old on face book for example at a secular concert, dressed very immodestly. How will the world know we are a child of light when we look as dark as the world?
The devil is smart he knows how to make evil and sin look fun and interesting... that's why we need to stand up and fight. I've heard people say " oh it's just a concert, It's just one singer who I enjoy"
But once you let your guard down even just a little the Devil will take advantage of that!
Following God can be tough, friends may laugh at you, you may think your missing out on what you see others doing but we were NOT promised it would be easy but we ARE promised it will be well worth it. SO worth it!
So that's my thoughts on secular.
So what about Christian concerts, those are better right?
Well, not really...
Christian Concerts- You see, all the time you hear a Christian artist say " I use my talents to praise God, to write songs to help encourage others" and so on and so forth. That's great, praise God... So why the need for concerts with flashy lights, intros that request cheers and standing O's? Why the meet and greets? Well, for the same reason the secular artists do, to please themselves, and to glorify themselves.
Christian singers should be singing to encourage others and to minister to the lost through the way of music, for example like someone would do singing a special in church, but sadly with most this ISN'T the case.
Christian artists nowadays are even leaving the names God and Jesus out of their songs, they are too afraid to even put the gospel message boldly in their songs, because they might offend.
I love music, I believe it can be a wonderful form of worship but ONLY if it is truly done with worship.
This is why I choose NOT to listen to contemporary Christian music. Some of their songs do have wonderful lyrics but if you can't hear them through the music played what is the point?
I am not writing this to judge but to share my thoughts and maybe it will encourage someone...
Here are some verses I encourage you to look into, that back up my beliefs on this topic.
I Peter 5:8
Romans 12:2
John 17:14
John 18:36
I John 2:15-17
I totally agree with you.... I work for a very large company and they have a big "holiday party" every year in December..... (can't say Christmas anymore according to my company)..... It is held in a giant sports arena downtown in San Antonio Texas.... rumor has it that this year the rock band ZZ TOP is going to be the entertainment..... It is all free... the food is always great..... but I have no desire to go and listen to this music. The scales have fallen from my eyes and I don't want to be entertained by the things of this world. Your sister in Christ, Louisa
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this! Excellent article. We were studying today as so many of our church friends went to a "Christian" concert a few nights ago. The pictures are now all over fb. We looked up one of the bands...Skillet...and couldn't wait to turn it back off. It sounded demonic, yet it's the band everyone was raving about. The youth in my daughter's class actually made fun of her because she had never heard of the concert. So, I showed her what it was and how they sounded. She was not impressed. Now, we actually go to a pretty conservative church. Why people can justify going to these secular looking/sounding concerts is beyond me. When my daughter heard the song, she said she wouldn't have been able to tell the difference between it and a rock song on a radio station. We agree with your article 100% and it was another opinion I could share with her. Thank you! Blessings....from MO
ReplyDeleteWow this was just what I needed to hear. Thank you for sharing. Last night we had a huge Christian concert here in Sacramento. I was a bit unsure if it was right since I saw many individuals doing things that I would not usually see in a Christian atmosphere. The verses and thoughts that you wrote about really answered my questions. Thank you. God bless you sister.
ReplyDeleteWhat if some songs are cheering you up and others are clearly of this world? What if you clearly understand right from wrong as you are not in your teen age? What if you enjoy good songs on the concert and make up different words of honoring Jesus when you hear the bad songs? Can I go to Hedley???
ReplyDeleteAnonymous i agree with you on this.About listening to songs that simply cheer you up..
DeleteI'm in my late 50s. Am living in a dysfunctional family unit & we're under lockdown in India since last 3 months.This has pushed me into a depression.I havent been able to go work at my office, a daily life routine of the last 22 yrs that brought me a lot of joy, fulfillment & balance.Despite my Bible reading & prayer & attending Sunday worship on live streaming, I have not been able to overcome the negative feelings because this whole dysfunctionality(our elder sibling is a 'hoarder' & our home is stuffed in with his 'junk') hasnt changed one bit n it feels worst when we're all cooped up inside at home.
Sometime early last month I started listening to a few songs of Michael Jackson.He is a singer that we all used to love during the 80s, when we siblings were in our young 20s.Later in 1993, after I gave my life to Christ, I drifted away from his / other secular music.
MJ's songs have cheered me up a lot in the last 6 weeks, loved his music videos that showcase his excellent dancing skills too.Its been very entertaining & has helped me manage my depression over this locked down situation..
So really one has to find a balance in all this.Re:attending a concert, we dont have Western artistes performing here in India much.I believe Justin Beiber performed here in Mumbai last year.But its mostly the youth who attend these concerts,also parents with kids.
In any case, I'm out of touch with the music of the 2000s, of Beiber & others of his generation.
I like to listen sometimes to ABBA, MJ, Lionel Richie, etc.Good music of 60s 70s 80s 90s max..
Jesus was having a feast with a tax collector but that did not mean Jesus has the same values as with him.. Quote: "Jesus made himself a friend of men, even of the tax collectors and the worst of sinners. He set a new precedent among the Jews by accepting and associating with the tax collectors. He ate with them (Mark 2:16), He offered salvation to them (Luke 19:9), and He even chose a tax collector (Matthew) as one of His twelve disciples (Matt 9:9). "
ReplyDeleteNo judgement here.... Seems that quoting verses to justify your attendance would be self serving, your thoughts?
DeleteWe should be very careful when quoting scripture to try and prove OUR OWN point, like saying ...Then God said, "Behold, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is on the surface of all the earth, and every tree which has fruit yielding seed; it shall be food for you; and then trying to say cannabis is from God. Well, so is poison ivy but He doesn't recommend rubbing it all over your body.
Jesus knew the true heart of every man, had a single purpose in his association with sinners ..... to glorify His Father by sharing the good news and reconcile them to Himself.
If your purpose in attending is to share the light of the good news then march on and I'll be praying for ripe ears to hear your message. If its for selfish reasons, pray about it.
I disagree with attending worldly concerts however Christians concerts are accepatble in my opinion, we are to go into the world and spread the gospel and not sit in our cosy pews and become judgemental. Young people need to be evangelised , after sunday school age, many youth stop attending church anyway. it is a platform to reach the unsaved
ReplyDeleteI agree with your observation. Too many legalistic churches and message of condemnation out there doing it on Gods behalf.
DeleteI totally disagree. The quality of the concert and the people you are seeing is a whole topic all together.
ReplyDeletePeople that require a certain discipline in order to stay in line with their Christian values may have to resort to live in a very strict environment. So does it mean you hear no Christmas music, instrumental or not, no educational plays, no opera, no symphonic concerts, No cheerful holiday songs with the Boston Pops? Did anyone ever hear ABBA growing up? C’mmon!! Never gonsee a circus event then, or the Blue Man group, Annie the orphan, The Gaithersburg Home coming shows where the sparkle and musical talents are galore! A Toby Mac in all his splendor and message of salvation, AHillsong United singing Jesus!! Who dreamed this religious and separatist rhetoric?, There is religiosity and extremists out there doing ridiculous things in Gods name. There are churches preaching message of condemnation rather than the grace and love of salvation.
I love the Lord Jesus Christ, I preach the Gospel, In my perspective you can attend functions that are not demoralizing or to cause human degradation. God is not sitting with a pencil and paper writing daily a negative check mark; every time you throw a chewing gum ball out the car window. Don’t legalize God. The Lord also gave us wisdom and discernment. There is consequences to poor judgement. Be glad! God is salvation and forgiveness in a humble sincere heart!
Great information and nice share!
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