About heavy metal and christianity

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KaphLamedh

Puritan Board Freshman
Should born again christian listen and play heavy metal? Is heavy metal totally satan´s music or is every music neutral?
What about so called "christian rock or heavy metal"? Is it possible to use heavy metal music as tool for spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

I was heavy metal musician, secular one, before I was born again christian. I think it is impossible to use heavy metal. I feel everytime bad when I hear heavy metal, no mather is it christian or secular.
Is metal music satanic or do I just think it is satanic?
I don´t want to fight with anyone, but I want to hear what other true christians think of it. If christian can listen to heavy metal, where is the line?
 
What does God's Word say? It's silent as to this sort of specific so far as I can tell. The only thing I can imagine applying so as to discern guidance is Paul's instruction that while all things are legal, not all are profitable. Profitability, for the most part, I think falls under subjective determination. What may be profitable to you might not for me. One of the most conspicuous examples of this is alcohol.

Line drawing and trying to determine and label particular forms of music as sinful delves into legalism and adding to God's Word where it hasn't spoken. Surely, there are songs that are in and of themselves sinful because they're blasphemous. However, simply because a song is secular or of a particular genre of music doesn't, by itself, make it sinful. The genre of heavy metal is no more sinful than the genre of country music. However, a song of either genre that blasphemed God would be.
 
It can certainly have very negative associations, but at its core, it is basically just the worst sort of music and barely deserving that label.
 
It can certainly have very negative associations, but at its core, it is basically just the worst sort of music and barely deserving that label.


That's merely your opinion though and due largely to a matter of taste. I don't find the type of music appealing either. However, there are some who enjoy it and yet find classic rock or country music abbhorrent and barely deserving of the title of music.
 
I enjoy heavy metal done by Christians. Christian heavy metal tends to have more uplifting lyrics that call us to persevere in times of hardship. A lot of secular bands mainly express hatred, anger, depression, or some less than positive thought. Of course, not all secular bands do this, but I am troubled by most of the ones I listen to.

Heavy metal is like coffee to me. Instead of a coffee in the morning, I crank up the heavy metal and I'm ready to go :cool:

I'd be interested to see a Biblical case against metal/rock without tainting the argument with culture, taste, and preference bias.
 
Should born again christian listen and play heavy metal? Is heavy metal totally satan´s music or is every music neutral?
What about so called \"christian rock or heavy metal\"? Is it possible to use heavy metal music as tool for spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

I was heavy metal musician, secular one, before I was born again christian. I think it is impossible to use heavy metal. I feel everytime bad when I hear heavy metal, no mather is it christian or secular.
Is metal music satanic or do I just think it is satanic?
I don´t want to fight with anyone, but I want to hear what other true christians think of it. If christian can listen to heavy metal, where is the line?

You have raised good questions. A book I recently read discusses this in detail:

Amazon.com: Why I Left The Contemporary Christian Music Movement: Confessions Of A Former Worship Leader (9780852345177): Dan Lucarini, John Blanchard: Books

The author, Dan Lucarini (who was involved in the "Contemporary Christian Music" movement himself), explains and gives reasons as to why it is inappropriate to use "Christian Rock" into the worship service. He does offer sound reasons one being the unavoidable association of rock music's origins with sexual immorality, drugs, etc. Lucarini also addresses the "music is neutral" objection of "Contemporary Christian Music" advocates.

One big problem I have with the book, however, is that its author is not Reformed and thus does not hold to the Regulative Principle of Worship (RPW). Some of his conclusions on worship are simply and totally unacceptable in a Reformed Lord's Day worship service.

So is it possible to use metal music as a tool for spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ? Some people may think, of course, that it is possible but Bible-believing Christians would do well to use the God-appointed means in the converting of sinners to Christ, namely, the pure preaching of the gospel.

A contemporary defense of the RPW is Hart and Muether's

Amazon.com: With Reverence and Awe: Returning to the Basics of Reformed Worship (9780875521794): D. G. Hart, John R. Muether: Books

This book I think offers a better approach than Lucarini's in examining issues like this.
 
I think there is also a difference between using Christian rock in worship and listening to Christian rock outside of church. I would not like to see a rock-filled worship service, but I enjoy heavy metal, rock, and anything else with beautiful guitar riffs and solos.
 
There are many sub genres in heavy metal music. Some are more uplifting than others. One can usually hear the blues and even classical influences in the differing forms of metal music depending on the sub genre. There are some sub genres of metal that ,as a metal fan, even I have little affection for.
 
In summary, my main points are that, first of all, the only way something can be wrong (as opposed to simply disliked) is if it is forbidden by an authority--either God, the government, or (in the case of one who is still under his parents' authority) parents. God does not specifically forbid any particular kind of music.

However, some kinds of music do have psychological effects on people and can cause you to sin. Particularly--though not necessarily--music with ungodly lyrics, which can lead to a conscience that is insensitive to sin.

This can be observed in another area in that if you work around people who frequently use vulgar swear words/take the name of the Lord in vain, you become "accustomed" to it and it no longer hits you with the abhorrence that it should.
 
i love to listen to it and i love to make this kind of music. if you can't listen or play it in good conscience then don't, if you can then you have that liberty.
 
Though I would be uncomfortable using heavy metal in a worship service I have no problem listening to it outside the service...even when I had my office in the chapel. I don't think any music style is inherently sinful but the lyrics can drive it to either side.
 
I enjoyed metal before my conversion and still do. Immediately after I was saved I was made to feel so guilty by legalistic Christians that I threw away all of my secular music and made my wife do the same. I then bought a bunch of Southern Gospel CDs because it appeared that was the only acceptable and sanctified music for Christians. I never could get into that genre so I eventually just stopped listening to music altogether. I thought something was wrong with me because I didn't enjoy that style of music and still wanted to listen to metal and alternative. This is where legalism leads.

I have since started rebuilding my collection (and my wife's) because I see nothing in Scripture that would prohibit a certain style of music. I see it as a matter of preference. I believe discernment should be used however, because there are lyrics that accompany music that are certainly sinful and this goes for any music genre.

And while I would have problems with metal or rap used in corporate worship, I see no reason why a particular musical style can not be used to proclaim the Gospel.
 
As a side note, those who were formerly closely entwined with the satanic culture of heavy metal--such as yourself, KL, from the sound of it--will almost inevitably be unable to handle heavy metal as a Christian. It's the same way with a drunkard who becomes a Christian--he can't get near alcohol again because it'll send him back into bondage. So, don't listen to it, especially if it has the effect you describe.
 
(in case you were wondering, Joshua is an all-powerful admin and reserves the right to redefine "billion" as "nine" when the case requires)
 
As you can see from my testimony from my profile, you can notice that I was playing in many heavy metal bands as well as even in black metal band.
I simply cannot make any difference between christian and secular metal. I listened before bands like Narnia, DivineFire and SAviour Machine, although their lyrics are biblical sometimes and they have good moral views I always felt that, it´s not right in the eyes of God to listen that music. Yes, I was told by some christians that it´s not good to listen that music. Someone said it was ok. I don´t mean that my view is only the right one, that´s why I want to hear your opinions and views. But is it possible that for me it can be "trap" if I listen to that stuff that I might go back to old "heavy metal lifestyle" and God has in His grace gave me the thorn in the flesh if I listen to heavy metal?

-----Added 12/17/2009 at 11:20:06 EST-----

As a side note, those who were formerly closely entwined with the satanic culture of heavy metal--such as yourself, KL, from the sound of it--will almost inevitably be unable to handle heavy metal as a Christian. It's the same way with a drunkard who becomes a Christian--he can't get near alcohol again because it'll send him back into bondage. So, don't listen to it, especially if it has the effect you describe.

You answered to my question before I asked it. :eek:
Well, you are right about that.
Yes ex-drunkard can´t take a beer after the sauna, but for "sober" is not problem to take a beer.
 
My personal experience is that upon becoming a Christian , we all have things in our lives that we want to distance ourselves from. This is a good thing as we need to grow in our faith. I suggest that you currently distance yourself from whatever is spiritually bothering you. In time as you mature in the faith you may feel differently. Who knows, God may even you lead you back to minister to those in the lifestyle that he saved you from.
 
"Abstain from all appearance of evil." (1Thes 5:22)

So many things in this fallen world have different affects on different people. Simply use wisdom and abstain from that which tempts you away from God. If heavy metal was part of your sinful life prior to salvation, it very well may be something you need to put off in favor of Christ. For others, heavy metal may be a simple matter of indifference, a fitting soundtrack for a part of a movie, or sports highlight, etc.

I used to play very 'violent-sounding' rock music (not really metal, but more punk taken a little too far :duh: ) when I was in a band in my teens and 20's. There is some of it I still enjoy, but for the most part it is folly to me now. I definitely have a new perspective in Christ that cannot be shaken.
 
Should born again christian listen and play heavy metal? Is heavy metal totally satan´s music or is every music neutral?
What about so called "christian rock or heavy metal"? Is it possible to use heavy metal music as tool for spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

I was heavy metal musician, secular one, before I was born again christian. I think it is impossible to use heavy metal. I feel everytime bad when I hear heavy metal, no mather is it christian or secular.
Is metal music satanic or do I just think it is satanic?
I don´t want to fight with anyone, but I want to hear what other true christians think of it. If christian can listen to heavy metal, where is the line?

You know, when I first became a Christian I was in a similar situation. I had been in punk bands instead of metal. When I became a Christian alot of what I formerly was seemed evil to me. So evil that I concluded it was in fact evil. I lost (for a while) some good friends who had grown up in the church over the music argument specifically.

As I grew in maturity I realized that what I felt about the evils of punk, metal, et al. were most likely the promptings of the Spirit keeping me away from that which could tempt me in my immature faith. The music was wrong for me as it would have violated my conscience as I was being led. My friends were not so bound in conscience over this peripheral issue.

A few years and a bit of wisdom later, I ended up making a lot of apologies.
 
You know, when I first became a Christian I was in a similar situation. I had been in punk bands instead of metal. When I became a Christian alot of what I formerly was seemed evil to me. So evil that I concluded it was in fact evil. I lost (for a while) some good friends who had grown up in the church over the music argument specifically.

As I grew in maturity I realized that what I felt about the evils of punk, metal, et al. were most likely the promptings of the Spirit keeping me away from that which could tempt me in my immature faith. The music was wrong for me as it would have violated my conscience as I was being led. My friends were not so bound in conscience over this peripheral issue.

A few years and a bit of wisdom later, I ended up making a lot of apologies.

Well, I have quite same feelings. I´ve been fighting with this music thing since 2004. Not all the time, but sometimes it comes up. I haven´t listen metal for years, but rather old christian hymns and some classical music like Bach and Handel.

I´m really sure that black and death metal is out of question for christians. The secular one I mean.
 
I'm a fan of metal, even now, but a lot of it is appalling. Rammstein's music, for example, is full of murder, destruction and perversion, and rarely anything less. As good as it sounds, and despite the fact I can't quite understand the German lyrics, I try to keep away from such bands.

Other bands, like Iron Maiden, I find to be pretty good. I just avoid their darker songs like Number of the Beast.
 
Heavy metal is like coffee to me. Instead of a coffee in the morning, I crank up the heavy metal and I'm ready to go :cool:

Well, there you go. First it's coffee, then heavy metal. The natural course of addiction will now only lead to the next strongest when HM doesn't "do it" for you anymore...karaoke. Seek help.

:coffee::coffee::coffee::coffee::coffee:
Now I feel better at least.

-----Added 12/17/2009 at 10:14:58 EST-----

I'm a fan of metal, even now, but a lot of it is appalling. Rammstein's music, for example, is full of murder, destruction and perversion, and rarely anything less. As good as it sounds, and despite the fact I can't quite understand the German lyrics, I try to keep away from such bands.

Other bands, like Iron Maiden, I find to be pretty good. I just avoid their darker songs like Number of the Beast.

Rrrrreally? Ya' mean like this? Come to think of it, you DO look alot like Bruce
[video=youtube;DQW9wD00Twc]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQW9wD00Twc[/video]
 
Heavy Metal Bands are OK if...

It depends on their lyrics if they are God fearing and theologically correct than I think its OK to listen to. Music is neutral its the lyrics that count. I do not listen to it because I don't usually like the music and I do not like sound of Rap either. I like to hear a melody. If there is no melody I do not consider it music.
 
I can't judge "hard metal music" as it is just not a part of my world (I am 69 years old). I do not even know what this kind of music is like or what it represents.

So, I would ask Christians represented on PB how they believe and implement hard metal music to witness to the cross work of Jesus Christ.

Is it a witnessing tool to the holiness and grace of Jesus Christ? How does it magnify His Person?

Is there a gospel message of salvation incorporated within it?

In other words,'s, what is the spiritual and eternal worth of this kind of music making?
 
I´ve been thought that where heavy metal can used for spreading the Gospel. It isn´t suitable in islamic countries or countries like North-Korea, but is it suitable in Western countries...

Well, at least I get many good answers and I thank everyone of you.
 
Someone mentioned "black metal". What exactly is that?

As you can see from my testimony from my profile, you can notice that I was playing in many heavy metal bands as well as even in black metal band.
 
I tend to avoid the "of Satan" line of argument although some bands and genres are undoubtedly satanic. A better way of looking at it is to ask yourself is is "worldly"? or give the appearance of evil? As far as "Christian" Heavy Metal I find the people who do this usually have the best of intentions but the people there usually trying to reach don't care, are belligerent, or think the whole thing is a lame joke I know this from personal experience when I tried to do "positive" rap and share "christian" rap with my lost cohorts some genres of music are just too of the world to be redeemed and discretion being the better part of valor the christian would be better off just avoiding it completely.:2cents:
 
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