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When can music be considered 'Christian music'?



    
    

Clarify Share Report Asked July 01 2013 Mini Anonymous (via GotQuestions)

Community answers are sorted based on votes. The higher the vote, the further up an answer is.

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Shea S. Michael Houdmann Supporter Got Questions Ministries
Unfortunately, there is no universal definition of what specific qualities a song must have to be considered a "Christian" song. Here are some opinions: - The song lyrics must reflect biblical trut...

July 01 2013 4 responses Vote Up Share Report


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Hosting svg bible festival 2013 Michael Peters Supporter Coordinator SVG Gospel Fest Committee
In my opinion for a song to be considered 'Christian music', it must glorify God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit! The source is less important. Gods uses all kinds of persons for His glory and plans.

October 31 2013 1 response Vote Up Share Report


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Open uri20130807 12032 18udcoo Chris Button Supporter Retired Fire Captain, sinner saved by Grace
At a concert by a Christian artist he stated that only people are Christian, ie followers of Christ. Music did not have a conversion experience. Christ did not die for the sins of music. I tend to agree with this definition. However, music can be inspired by the Spirit and written by Christians. God created everything and that includes music. It's man that perverts music from glorifying God. 

As a guitarist, I've written many instrumental songs. Without lyrics, how can someone say that a particular song is evil or against God? 

On the flip side, slapping the label "Christian" on something doesn't necessarily make it glorifying to God. One just needs to browse the local "Christian" bookstore to see books that deify man and his efforts rather than God.

November 05 2014 0 responses Vote Up Share Report


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Stringio James Fehr Supporter I'm a farmer
Any song that brings a person closer to our Heavenly Father I would say is a Christian song or any song that teaches us to love our neighbour. The obvious Christian songs would be praise and worship or hymns. I also believe that songs like, Chain of love by Clay Walker are also Christian songs because they remind us of how to treat one another. After all, Jesus is not going to be impressed of all our religious gospel singing that we did, even though that is a beautiful way to worship our Lord.... Jesus said, what we will have done to one another, that is what we have done to Him.

June 24 2017 0 responses Vote Up Share Report


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Data Ursula S Monroe Supporter
I do my best worship when singing (actually making a joyful noise) along with Christian music of all genres. I love to dance and praise God with some genres while lifting my hands in praise and supplication to others. I believe that all genres like denominations speak to someone’s heart more than others.

God looks to our heart and sees what’s there no matter the genre. I also believe that Satan will use music as a vessel to praise him, i.e. any music that debases God, sexes and love of our neighbors. Then there’s the music that doesn’t speak explicitly about God but knowing the singer, identifies it to be to the Lord. For example, on a Christian album there are a variety of songs meant to praise God but some don’t, by themselves, mention God but implies Him. Sort of like a chapter in a book; you don’t mention God in every sentence yet the implied message is about him. That’s why I sometimes get a bit miffed because a radio station may play a song from an album that doesn’t mention God specially but implies Him. Why? Because if someone seeking God happens to hear and implied reference to God they may apply it to someone else. Then God reminds me that He will speak to that persons heart because He’s calling them. That reminds me that God is in control and will use the means He knows will bring that soul to Him.

April 02 2019 0 responses Vote Up Share Report


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Img 20161227 055715 Bryan Barnes Supporter
A Call to Praise the Lord

A psalm of thanks.

100 Shout to the Lord, all the earth.

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Serve the Lord with joy;
come before him with singing.

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Know that the Lord is God.
He made us [Gen 1–2], and ·we belong to him [or not ourselves];
we are his people, the sheep ·he tends [L of his pasture; 74:1; 79:13; John 10:11–14].

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Come into his ·city [L gates] with songs of thanksgiving
and into his courtyards with songs of praise.
·Thank [Praise] him and ·praise [bless] his name.

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The Lord is good. His ·love [loyalty] is forever,
and his ·loyalty [faithfulness] ·goes on and on [L for all generations].


I believe that any song that is consider to be label "Christian". It should speak of his greatness, goodness, works. Etc. It should be only towards him and what he has done for his creation. I do believe true worship come from with in the Spirit. There are a lot songs that a name "Christian", but instead of pertaining to God or do spirit of man, it pertain to the flesh.

March 29 2017 0 responses Vote Up Share Report


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Image41 Ezekiel Kimosop Supporter
When Can Music be Considered Christian Music?

My view is that there are no straight line template rules for determining the authenticity of a gospel song. I believe that each case should be handled based on its specific circumstances and the convictions of the believers or Christian community of context. 

For my case, I am keen on three pastoral tests which I will briefly outline below. 

First, the theology of the song is the eye-catcher for me. What is the artist singing about? Are the lyrics consistent with the teaching of Scripture? If the song fails the test of Scripture at this stage, I would classify it as unbiblical. 

The theology of the lyrics of a composition can be quite obscure to the ordinary person in the streets. However, when examined through the lenses of Scripture, it is possible to establish if the songs are consistent with the the revelation of Scripture. 

The second test concerns the identity of the gospel singer and his Christian convictions. This is critical in assessing the spiritual personality of the singer. The singer's relationship with Christ and with an established Christian congregation or community is paramount because they affirm the singer's doctrinal orientation. It authenticates their calling in Christ and the legitimacy of their gospel ministry. Does he or she truly profess Christ? Where was the artist raised in their faith? What Christian doctrines and traditions do they subscribe to?

Where a gospel artist cannot demonstrate evidence of their relationship with Christ, they cannot be entitled to any benefit of doubt. 1 Corinthians 6:14-15 says "Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? 15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever?" (NKJV). 

Finally, the gospel artist should demonstrate that his ministry of song is consistent with his Christian moral living. They should possess a credible testimony of a transformed Christian life, beginning with the Damascus experience. They cannot live in two worlds at the same time. They cannot proclaim Christ on Sunday and live in the shadow of darkness during the rest of the week! 

It is the responsibility of every child of God and, by extension, any Christian congregation or community to be discerning when dealing with strangers, including Christian gospel groups with which they are not familiar. The people of Berea engaged in godly prudence when they heard Paul and his associates preach in their city. They searched the Old Testament Scriptures at their disposal in order to verify the authenticity of Paul's gospel (Acts 17:10-15). 

This is not to suggest that gospel artists should be perfect people. None of us is perfect before God (1 John 1:8-10). They, like us, fail God's standards on many occasions. However, a true child of God should appreciate that he or she is a steward of God's grace. They should be conscious of their calling by God to employ their skills and talents in advancing the kingdom of God.

November 17 2024 0 responses Vote Up Share Report


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Best facebook picture! Carrie Hayes Supporter My name is Carrie Hayes and I am an ordained Minister
I feel Christian music is hymnals, gospel and worship music, which itself supports numerous Christian styles of music, including contemporary worship, and urban contemporary gospel. The contemporary Christian music industry has roots in the late 1960s and early 70s Jesus music and its Jesus music artists. The encyclopedia of Contemporary Christian Music points out three reasons that all the Christian Music industry developed as a parallel structure to the general music industry.

February 10 2022 0 responses Vote Up Share Report


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