There are many people who call themselves Christians who don't listen to what they call "secular" music. By that, they mean "non-Christian" music. Some do it as a way of "purifying" themselves of the secular culture, some see secular music as sinful or satanic and some view it as a way to "get closer to God". I am a Christian and I embrace secular music and I will listen to what is called Christian music, too.
Christian music is a multi-million, if not billion dollar industry. We aren't in the age of singing hymns or praise and worship songs for free. Even if a church wants to play modern Christian music, they have to pay a pretty hefty fee. Christian music has become a business, with few exceptions, just like secular music.
When I listen to Christian music, what I find is that it is usually about me and God. There is no one else involved. It is about my condition in relation to Christ. I think this is why rightwingers or conservatives love Christian music--it really is about self. Myself and My relation to Christ. If you are praising God, great. If you are convicted of a sin and act to change your behavior, great. However, my guess is that is what doesn't happen. It is My interaction with My God and we had a good time and I feel better so I will leave it at that. It is vertically directional, but what it leaves out is the horizontal direction. What I mean by that is what we need to do as a Christian or if convicted, to be right with God. That is why I like secular music. Quite often, secular music points out what is wrong with our human condition and our society and prompts us to think and act on it. This is something I find that is missing in Christian music--a lot.
Take for example, The Yardbirds song, "Mr. You're a Better Man Than I" from 1965--
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZPX0mMiObN4
The Yardbirds lyrics are provoking because they ask us to re-evaluate how we look at others. From the song--
"Could you tell a wise man
By the way he speaks or spells?
Is this more important
Than the stories that he tells?
And call a man a fool
If for wealth he doesn't strive"--
Chorus: Then Mister you're a better man than I
Yeah Mister You're a better man than I
Oh Mister You're a better man than I
Yeah Mister You're a better man than I "
If we begin to think about how we view people, we should hopefully be the ones that start to change for the better. The way God would want us to change to treat His children.
Motown music also prompted us to think about what we were doing not only to each other, but to the world. Marvin Gaye had an entire album dedicated to the human condition called "What's Going On?" which hit on our problems. Here is a link to the song "Mercy, Mercy, Me"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkYx--x9wa0
Once watching it, just think about how we are treating the planet God created. Secular music points this out, I haven't heard Christian music pointing it out.
There is a lot of trash in secular music, but a lot of good music that points out our human condition. Secular music is the horizontal music in our lives--it is about our family, our neighbor, our country and our world. Jesus didn't come to Earth so He could get right with God, Jesus came to Earth so you could get right with God. That doesn't mean you praise God, sing worship songs, go to church and then hate other people. Or ignore other people or vote for people who help the rich and harm the poor. What it means is get your act together and do what is right in the eyes of God. Secular music offer alternatives of what we should be doing and a lot of it is starting out that we are in the world together, to live or die together. Too many people claim they are Christian and love God and then either actively or passively harm their neighbor because they are different than them. There are too many who blindly support politicians who blame the poor and steal from the poor and middle class while giving monies to the ultra rich and to profitable corporations that don't need it.
This song, "We Take Care of Our Own" from Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band fits a lot of what is wrong with people who claim they are Christian. The point is we don't take care of our own. The delusion or ignorance of many rightwing Christians is some may actually listen to this song and think, "yes, we do take care of our own", when the point is we don't (since Ronald Reagan and the Republican attack on the average American) and if you served in the military, are poor, are not white, you are screwed.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-x8zBzxCwsM
Unfortunately, Iris Dement sums up what rightwing Christianity means for the USA in her song "Wasteland of the Free". Sorry about the jumpy video--but it is well worth it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhgb9hYjX3g
Dement's lyrics hit the nail on the head with conservative America--blaming the poor for their condition, praising the ultra rich, outsourcing jobs overseas for profits, etc. I think that is why many who say they are Christian don't listen to secular music. Secular music can challenge you while Christian music makes you feel good--usually about yourself and your relationship with God.
With Christian music you can be in your own bubble with God. You can sing songs of praise and worship and feel good about your relationship with Christ and then you can turn around and stab your neighbor in the back and feel justified in doing it. It's OK to listen to Christian music and worship and praise God, but you should also be involved in society--you might learn something along the way!
More Secular songs to get you to think and act as a Christian--
The Hollies--He ain't Heavy, He's My Brother--
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C1KtScrqtbc
Bruce Springsteen--If I should fall Behind--
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04mRvBaEku4
Billy Bragg--Upfield--
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnkkxC7BOrM
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