From: learnd@lafcol.lafayette.edu (Dave Learn)
Newsgroups: rec.music.christian
Subject: Re: *Burning*Albums* (Anti-Secularism)
Keywords: LONG
Date: 23 Jul 92 20:26:52 GMT
Organization: Lehigh University

In article <1992Jul9.173020.13926@rice.edu>, mueller@owlnet.rice.edu (Ernest Conrad Mueller) writes:
> A good example is the song (sorry, I don't
> remember the name) that Jason Steiner detests, some love song
> saying something about showing/expressing your love.  He interprets it as
> a rather crass "I want your sex" type song.  When he posted the 
> lyrics I got nothing of the sort out of it; rather I was reminded of "Let
> us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth" (1 John
> 3:18).  I believe neither interpretation is "correct,' but whatever we
> individually get out of the song is what counts.  

In scholarship, this is called "reader response criticism"; it amounts to
the individual reader/viewer/listener's arriving at her own interpretation
of the material without considering the author's intent.  This is generally
irresponsible and can end up with us supporting the ministry of people we
do not want to support.  I have heard people talk about Madonna in very
glowing terms as they reinterpret songs like "Like a Virgin" as a powerful
message of the renewal Christ brings to us.  But if we listen to this
song responsibly, we soon realize that many of Madonna's other songs
glorify sex (and not just her songs--watch some of her videos some time)
and attack Christ and the Church.  I find it amazing and frightening that
ordained priests who claim to represent God can claim that Madonna is
delivering a Christian message when she has stated, "Crucifixes are sexy
because there is a naked man on them."
     DON'T just interpret a song the way you want to.  Find out what the
artist believes, familiarize yourself with her other works.  I don't know
the song referred to above, but there are plenty like it in Phil Collins,
Billy Joel, and countless other musicians' repertoire.  Listen to music,
use it as a springboard to evangelize, but for God's sake, do it
RESPONSIBLY.  KNOW what you're listening to.  KNOW what the artist
intended it for, KNOW what she believes and KNOW how she lives.

> This topic always brings to my mind several different Scriptural concepts.
> One is the freedom we have in Christ, and that we are, as Christians, able to 
> listen to at least wholesome and neutral music without it really affecting us.

I'm not aware of any neutral music except for instrumental music.  Music 
itself is neither good nor evil, it is (if you will pardon the horrible
pun) an instrument of tremendous power used by both God and Satan.
     Yes, we do have considerable freedom in Christ and I am not going to
begrudge a brother or sister that.  But don't forget that the freedom Christ
gives us also demands responsibility.  In the case of music it is to know
what we are getting into (don't just assume--study the Word, pray, talk
to other believers, and ask questions) and to act in accordance with Jesus'
will.  I myself do not buy music that is produced by musicians who 
deliver a worldly hope--I don't want to use the money God has given me to
support their ministry.

> Another is that of not causing your weaker brother to stumble.  If someone
> thinks it is sinful to listen to some kind of music, then it probably is,
> for them.

Keep in mind that this refers to the STYLE of music (heavy metal, rap,
polka, waltz) rather than the CONTENT of the lyrics.

In Him,


Dave Learn, Knight of the Wolves         "What an extraordinary thing to
dl20@lafayacs.bitnet                      do--and you only a stutterer."