Can Christians listen to secular music?

We all love music, right? Of course who doesn’t. Even animals do!

We often get fascinated with videos of some dogs howling to a piano or guitar chords, or some birds mimicking a melodious tune. It is unimaginable to think of what the world and our lives will be like without music. Boring- you said? That might just be an understatement.

Without any doubt, music has, and will- perhaps forever- have a major place in our lives. However, this article intends to answer the question that may be in the mind of many Christians about music.  

Is it a Sin for Christians to listen to secular Music?

Well it’s not just a straight-forward answer. Yes and No! It depends on the music.

The first thing you need to understand is that God gave us music to enjoy, you can see that right through the scripture. A great example to look at is David. He sang and he worshiped God with music. 

2 Samuel 22:1– “David Spoke the words of this song to the Lord on the day the Lord rescued him, from the grasp of all his enemies and from the grasp of Saul. He Said: The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my rock, where I seek refuge”

And he goes on and on just to worship God with songs. And look at how David and the singers of the time used music to praise and worship God when they carried the ark.

1 Chronicles 15:16- “Then David told the leaders of the Levites to appoint their relatives as singers, and to have them raise their voices with Joy accompanied by musical instruments- harps, lyres, and cymbals.”

So they even used musical instruments to praise God, but in some churches they say, ‘No you can’t do that, you can’t play any musical instruments in church,’ but-  you can if it glorifies God.

David even used a harp to play to Saul, to calm him down.

The most amazing picture we get from music is the angels in heaven who sing and praise God.

Job 38:7 says, “While the morning stars sang together, and all the Sons of God shouted for joy.” And Luke 2:13-14 says, “Suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host of the angel, praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earth to people He favors.”

So there’s nothing wrong with music, to sing and praise God, but… 

WHAT ABOUT NON-CHRISTIAN SONGS- that doesn’t have God in it?

Well, there are normal songs out there, Secular songs- just like a normal piece of beautiful intellectual artwork- that are about nature, about love, about normal things that are not against Scripture.

Then, you can listen to this kind of secular music if it agrees with Philippians 4:8. It says, “Finally brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any moral excellence and if there is anything praiseworthy- dwell on these things.”

Now, there’s a lot of secular music that does not fit in with this verse, or the whole Bible, for that matter. Most people just listen to music because it has a alluring tune and rythm, right? But, they don’t listen to the words, to the lyrics.

Music is very powerful, and you should be careful of what you let into your mind, into your thoughts because it will influence you. 

Secular music that have lyrics in them that is just full of swearing, and cussing, cursing should not be listened to, or songs that are focused on the sinful, fleshly nature that just focus on our desires, those evil desires of the flesh and a lot of secular songs focus on immorality and violence.

They move away from everything that is pure, and that is good, and you should not listen to them. An easy test that you can do, when you want to listen to a particular song is just ask yourself this question; “Would Jesus listen to this song?” 

Now it may be needful to add that no where in the bible is it said that a particular instrument or style of music is sinful or ungodly. 

That being said, I will definitely not listen to heavy metal music, because the Holy Spirit in me does not just agree with that. The best music out there will always be a type of music that honors and glorifies God.

You can listen to secular music out there in the world that sings about normal things, but if they disagree with the scripture, then stay away from them.

What are your thoughts on secular music? You can share your opinion in the comment section below.