Should Musicians Only Listen To Gospel Music?

[davidenoch]

I think T-block kinnda touch on what i wanna say.. Of course you have to be carful what you listen to as in WORDS... Music was made by GOD...What pollutes the music i feel are Lyrics for example...That track "I kissed a girl and i liked it" was bangin... i mean if you are into rock the music was tight.... But as soooo many of you said or tried to say, those lyrics infiltrate your spirit and i feel thats the fine line we as musician must balance....God Bless

[T-Block]

for example...That track "I kissed a girl and i liked it" was bangin... i mean if you are into rock the music was tight....

I will CO-SIGN that.  That music is on point, however it's hard to ignore the lyrics too.

[Gaxton]

I say musicians should listen to what they can handle.  If it's going bring up ungodliness you steer clear.  Honestly I don't subscribe to the "gospel musicans should listen to secular so that they'll be exposed to different types of music," because for every secular genre there is there's a gospel genre.  You can listen to all gospel and still be musically well rounded.

Hi all,

Please remember that it was God that gave Satan the Musical talent which he (satan) corrupted with words that accompanied his music.

I believe what the bible says: Be swift to hear and so slow to speak.

so braze ursef up and learn all u can, remember the earth is the lord's and the fullness thereof including all forms of music.

God Bless

[musiqisme26]

Reading some of these posts makes me glad that Jesus was not like us when he walked the earth. It seems like many of us follow the ways of the disciples more so than the ways of Christ.

Some of you will get this when u reach your 2,000th post

We have been playing secular music in church since Thomas Dorsey used it to start Gospel...........but it has already rightly so pointed out the Gospel is a message, not a progression, style, or genre.

[wayouaj]

God Bless y'all in everythin you do, By da way, Gospel Music is not a "Genre", its Music to worship God.
Gospel is what we preach and what we preach is Jesus-Chirst; whose Gospel we preach, dnt be confused lol.
in the book of 1Chronicles 13v1-13, we find that David wanted to carry the Ark(which represents the very presence of God) the way the Phillistines(Who represents the "World") did when he was with them and God struck them. if u take 1Chronicles 15-16, you'll find that David learnt how to carry the Presence of God.

Now all I'm tryanna say is that as musician for God, we need to feed our mind body and spirit with God and only God. the Bible says God is Spirit and those who worship Him shall do so in spirit. so as long as we tell him he is God and our spirit is clean, its all Good..........God bless y'all

[TheBigO30]

everybody have diffrent veiws on this topic, some say it ok, and some say it not ok. if you are save than you suppose to be a new. the way we think, the way we acted, and the we we look at things all should be new. so all the old stuff we use to do shuold be buried. i speaking for myself i loved to listen to BIGGIE, 2PAC, NWA, TOO $HORT and WU-Tang Clan, also so R&B. but now i found CHIRST i don't listing to the stuff anymore. today some gospel song have no creative only sampling hooks and beat for R&B and Rap. That way some people can't tell the differents that why some people don't like it. but you have some musiciansfeel that you need to listen to other genre so you can better your skill.

[TheBigO30]

I was talking to my Boi in DC and play the B3. but anyway he told me that he played a shout using BIGGIE song (DEAD WRONG). I ask why he played that in a shout because he was listen to it before he when to church and i had a nice hook and beat, so why not use it, so we went on and on to make a long short. he call me ol and that i try to PUT GOD in a BOX, I reply strongly I DON'T HAVE NO POWER TO PUT GOD IN A BOX. JUST LIKE YOU DON'T HAVE THE POWER TO TAKE GOD OUT THE BOX.

[Ramar]

I was talking to my Boi in DC and play the B3. but anyway he told me that he played a shout using BIGGIE song (DEAD WRONG). I ask why he played that in a shout because he was listen to it before he when to church and i had a nice hook and beat, so why not use it, so we went on and on to make a long short. he call me ol and that i try to PUT GOD in a BOX, I reply strongly I DON'T HAVE NO POWER TO PUT GOD IN A BOX. JUST LIKE YOU DON'T HAVE THE POWER TO TAKE GOD OUT THE BOX.

I would have to agree.... I played R.Kelly's "Happy People" for offering in a Sanctified, Spirit-Led Church, and people started shouting and praising God.... people's spirits were lifted, and the atmosphere was much more pleasant and open... I mean I literally felt sadness and depression leave the room... It's all about the spirit in which you do things.

God Bless y'all in everythin you do, By da way, Gospel Music is not a "Genre", its Music to worship God.
Gospel is what we preach and what we preach is Jesus-Chirst; whose Gospel we preach, dnt be confused lol.

I both agree and disagree. Gospel music IS SUPPOSED TO BE music that worships God and preaches the Gospel of Jesus Christ... But unfortunately, the world has a different definition... That's why you got radio stations that mix and match.... you got hip-hop DJ's that play Hip Hop all day, and then play "the inspirational song of the day", and then go right back to playing booty-shaking music. Another example, when you go to wal-mart or (any other store), the music section looks something like this:RAP, R&B, ROCK, GOSPEL, JAZZ, LATIN, COUNTRY, CLASSICAL, etc.

The only "Gospel Music" can exist in commercial facilities is as a Genre (unless you Go to a Christian Book/Music Store)..

Another example would be a major record label's "Gospel division"... trust me it's not about ministry it's about money... It's the idea that if I can cater to everyone's musical taste, I can generate more income.

In these next couple of years look out for openly gay, lesbian, and transgendered "Gospel Artists" to release "Gospel Music" that preaches a contradictory message to the Word of God... look for music that promotes sin to be played on "Gospel" Radio Stations, to be located in the "Gospel Music" section at Best Buy, to be seen on BET on Sunday Morning....

OPEN YOUR EYES PEOPLE!!! Everything that's classified as "Gospel" is not done for God (or his people)!!!

[Ramar]

The only "Gospel Music" can exist in commercial facilities is as a Genre (unless you Go to a Christian Book/Music Store)..

I meant to say The only way "Gospel Music" can exist in commercial facilities is as a Genre (unless you Go to a Christian Book/Music Store)..

[NJDBalla]

I listen to anything that sounds good to me, so long as it does not contain vulgar language/ sceneries.

Musallio hit the nail on the head for me! As long as its not vulgar, why not listen because the more music you hear(depending on your ear) The more you can play. Music is a lifestyle for me. Gospel, R&B, hip-hop, and soul all fit under one category. AND THAT CATEGORY IS MUSIC. If anyone comes down on you for living your life then oh well because they R not doin you. Only you can do you.

[diverse379]

You are who you are and when you are ready to evolve into someone greater then you will

i think if you feel a certain type of music by all means listen.

let me first put in a disclaimer

if the music you are listening to goes contrary to the faith you are practicing then God should have  a problem with that.


what I am really referring to is listening to music for the growth and the learning that can and will take place by listening to it.
there is music in every genre that sprouts messages that are contrary to God's word

but there are also songs and artists in every genre that sprout God's message or at the very least positive messages.  so you can listen to any genre. without the guilt


that being said

I feel you should listen to what your heart tells you to listen to

i used to try to listen to jazz and classical but didnt like it

so i only listened to gospel for about 7 years

now i dont listen to gospel that much I listen to jazz and classical

two years from now

who knows?

but it is what I feel I neede for my musical growth and no one can know what you need but God

so if you are lead to listen to a type of music who is anyone on earth to tell you you are wrong.

God uses the foolish things on earth to confound the wise.

because you dont understand it (agree with it ) doesent make it wrong

[Lildrummaboy66]

It's good to be somewhat versatile as a musician but you have to be careful of what your feeding yourself when listening to some secular music.

Co-sign!! I listen to jazz, classical, country and "old school" r&b and hip-hop(pure music-pure lyrics).
God has anointed and appointed me to be a part of His music ministry at my church, so for the most part(95%)gospel is what I listen to.

[timbass2882]

Like it's been said ealier, it's a personal choice.  Listen ONLY to what u feel is right and beneficial to you.  If someone else don't like it, that's tough nuggies.

I could have not said it any better that's the truth.

[giftedone88]

Me personally, I beg to differ. I believe that as you should only listen to music you can handle spritiually, music and lyrics don't necessarily mean the same thing to me. While a lot of Hip Hop music has cursing in it, i listen to it b/c i like the beats and the music. I have somewhat learned to listen to music for just that music. However, as a levite, I have no choice but to listen to Gospel music on a regular basis. Just as we get snips and chords from other Gospel songs to put into another one, some of us use Jazz, Classical, and R&B melodies to play in gospel music too. Not from the lyrical stand point but for musical and chord purposes.

[diverse379]

Me personally, I beg to differ. I believe that as you should only listen to music you can handle spritiually, music and lyrics don't necessarily mean the same thing to me. While a lot of Hip Hop music has cursing in it, i listen to it b/c i like the beats and the music. I have somewhat learned to listen to music for just that music. However, as a levite, I have no choice but to listen to Gospel music on a regular basis. Just as we get snips and chords from other Gospel songs to put into another one, some of us use Jazz, Classical, and R&B melodies to play in gospel music too. Not from the lyrical stand point but for musical and chord purposes.

there is a guy up here in new york that I heard speak
at a church
and he believes that there are many many satanic influences in neo soul and hip hop

he verifies this with lyrics taken right from the cd jackets of artists like jay-z and naz

photos of hip hop artists on stage that if you didnt know better you would think you were looking at one of those 80's metal bands on stage just a different skin color

blood sacrifices etc


one point he made was how on one of jay z's albums

j-hova which if you researched hip hop you would see at its core is the theology that men are gods

speak to the real pioneers in the game the africa bambattas and you will find that at its core hip hop is a religion of sorts

but I am getting away from myself

I am really referring to this guy I heard speak
and he showed a lot of lyrics from hip hop records which were citing biblical texts but rewriting them and not in just a creative type of way but an almost sinister design way


I cant remember all of what this man said or can I cite each and every album

I can point you to two

one was the naz one where he was covered in blood on the cover
the lyrics in one of the songs was a theology lesson in the religion of hip hop


and the j hova album if you search the lyrics and compare them to the lyrics of naz you can tell they went to the same school
so to speak

for me I listent to what I want there are some hip hop songs that I am feeling
most I dont like


by the way the man I heard speak made a clear distinction between Rap and hip hop

he said rap was cool hip hop was not

I am not saying I believe everything this man said

but I would be an idiot not to take pause at all the evidence he brought to the table to support his positiion

as a man Of God I owe it to myself to arm myself against the tricks of the greatest musician heaven had.

[Ramar]

there is a guy up here in new york that I heard speak
at a church
and he believes that there are many many satanic influences in neo soul and hip hop

he verifies this with lyrics taken right from the cd jackets of artists like jay-z and naz

photos of hip hop artists on stage that if you didnt know better you would think you were looking at one of those 80's metal bands on stage just a different skin color

blood sacrifices etc


one point he made was how on one of jay z's albums

j-hova which if you researched hip hop you would see at its core is the theology that men are gods

speak to the real pioneers in the game the africa bambattas and you will find that at its core hip hop is a religion of sorts

but I am getting away from myself

I am really referring to this guy I heard speak
and he showed a lot of lyrics from hip hop records which were citing biblical texts but rewriting them and not in just a creative type of way but an almost sinister design way


I cant remember all of what this man said or can I cite each and every album

I can point you to two

one was the naz one where he was covered in blood on the cover
the lyrics in one of the songs was a theology lesson in the religion of hip hop


and the j hova album if you search the lyrics and compare them to the lyrics of naz you can tell they went to the same school
so to speak

for me I listent to what I want there are some hip hop songs that I am feeling
most I dont like


by the way the man I heard speak made a clear distinction between Rap and hip hop

he said rap was cool hip hop was not

I am not saying I believe everything this man said

but I would be an idiot not to take pause at all the evidence he brought to the table to support his positiion

as a man Of God I owe it to myself to arm myself against the tricks of the greatest musician heaven had.

Please tell me it wasn't G. Craig Lewis...

[diverse379]

Please tell me it wasn't G. Craig Lewis...

I dont remember what his name was  I know I heard him speak twice I had one of his videos but I didnt watch it.

[Lamonte 1990]

Co-sign!! I listen to jazz, classical, country and "old school" r&b and hip-hop(pure music-pure lyrics).
God has anointed and appointed me to be a part of His music ministry at my church, so for the most part(95%)gospel is what I listen to.

"DING DING DING DING" That's exactly what I was going to say...

Except I don't listen to counrty OR Classical...

I listen to things that are going to benefit me in this way that I worship GOD.

in my spare time, I listen to a WHOLE lot Of JAZZ. Alot of Hip hop now is very poor and all they talk about is drugs and Money and Sex (some may not but most of them are) So the only hip-hop that I listen to happen to be old-school, (I'm not saying that Theirs don't have cussing and vulgar lyrics, but they chose to talk about other things more than those significant 3 I said earlier. )

Like I said I don't have a Heaven or Hell to put you in, but GOD does, and you can't straddle the fence.

[Timz]

This verse i fink gives a bit of light
Luke 11.33-36
The Lamp of the Body
 33"No one lights a lamp and puts it in a place where it will be hidden, or under a bowl. Instead he puts it on its stand, so that those who come in may see the light. 34Your eye is the lamp of your body. When your eyes are good, your whole body also is full of light. But when they are bad, your body also is full of darkness. 35See to it, then, that the light within you is not darkness. 36Therefore, if your whole body is full of light, and no part of it dark, it will be completely lighted, as when the light of a lamp shines on you."

I herd a comment about "unique" music, theres unique music and then theres music which God backs with His Glory, henceforth why our music should be in line with the Spirit of God! It's funny how as ministers we would go into the world, borrow from the world and then use the same stuff to try and minister back to them. i fink carnally people will have loads of explanations a man can prove the moon is orange, but interms of biblical explanations...
Im definantly going to see the same stuff spoken, ei im limiting my abiblity to play, boxing myself up, ignorant, etc... but really i would definantly encourage us that do listen to demonic music as our material to serve God, to definantly ask God and seek in the word. Even all types of "Gospel" music are not music that Jesus Christ approves, we should let our ears be filled with light, ei music that does glorify Him. God Bless, im still growing in my knowledge so please anyone who has more "word" based opinions please keep it going.. :-)