Using secular songs to open service for icebreaker

[Jason B]

Originally Posted by Mr. Smith

Oh hogwash. Horsefeathers.

I gather that you are a preacher. You do things all the time while you stand in the pulpit that are carnal and not biblical at all, like for instance, standing in the pulpit. There are no pulpits in the bible. They are an invention of the Catholic church used to intimidate and separate. The pulpit is a carnal accessory of man. I can keep going with the list if you like.

Mr. Smith, dont you think that is quite a difference between standing behind a pulpit and playing secular music by confessed and known druggies?

There may be no pulpits in the Bible, but I've never preached for the sake of standing behind a pulpit. Nevertheless the concept is the same as that of the Jewish synagouge service, where someone in the front addressed the congregation.

This will be alot easier on the both of us if you concede now.

[Mr. Smith]

Originally Posted by Jason Badejo

Mr. Smith, dont you think that is quite a difference between standing behind a pulpit and playing secular music by confessed and known druggies?

There may be no pulpits in the Bible, but I've never preached for the sake of standing behind a pulpit. Nevertheless the concept is the same as that of the Jewish synagouge service, where someone in the front addressed the congregation.

This will be alot easier on the both of us if you concede now.

There you go, I knew you'd go there. Do you REALLY want me to write the names of "confessed and known" druggies within the Christian music culture???? But you LOVE their music don't you, because they FAKE it and pretend to be a Christian. As long as it LOOKS good, huh, Jason?

So you have ANY idea how many within the Christian music culture haven't attended church for years, who make a living off the church but who scoff at it, condemn it, and make fun of it on the side??

But you don't give a rip about that, do you? Let's just paint on the pretend face, sing about worshiping Jesus, and everything's good.

[Jason B]

Originally Posted by Mr. Smith

Yes, you sound like an ultra-con. You are unable to see the difference between something blatantly ungodly and something that is obviously not. You're condemning everything that doesn't fit into your own little personal mold of right and wrong. If Rev. Badejo doesn't like it, it's bad.

Where is the line? Where YOU say it is? Is it ok to listen to pop-jazz in your car? If so, what's wrong with Paul McCartney's "Freedom" written the day after 9-11? And don't go into the KIND OF PERSON McCartney is. If you do, I'll start spilling the beans on a BUNCH of Christian artists you dance and shout to on Sundays.

I think substance would go a long ways in deciding. In the case of secular music, the intention is certainly NOT to glorify God, and at BEST a secular song is spiritually nuetral with perhaps a good moral (but not God glorifying) message.

Furthermore, I would say that character should be a factor, though it should be secondary. The difference between secular artists and some Christian artists is that the secular artist OPENLY live an ungodly life. Wherein, in the few cases of Christian artists they may have a weakness that has overtaken them, or at worst be a total and complete hypocrite living a double life.

At least in the case of the Christian, the music is [normally] written for the express intent of glorifying God and building up the body of Christ.

[Jason B]

Originally Posted by Mr. Smith

There you go, I knew you'd go there. Do you REALLY want me to write the names of "confessed and known" druggies within the Christian music culture???? But you LOVE their music don't you, because they FAKE it and pretend to be a Christian. As long as it LOOKS good, huh, Jason?

So you have ANY idea how many within the Christian music culture haven't attended church for years, who make a living off the church but who scoff at it, condemn it, and make fun of it on the side??

But you don't give a rip about that, do you? Let's just paint on the pretend face, sing about worshiping Jesus, and everything's good.

First off, I know you have too much integrity to rat out someones secrets sins, and I admire that about you.

However, in a hypothetical world, if you were to tell about those "Christians" who scoff at the church and make money off the gospel, what difference would that make? The intent of their music is still to glorify God. Mike Murdock wrote (to my knowledge) the song "I am blessed" I cannot stand Mike Murdock and his prosperity gospel. People backslide, doesn't mean that whatever contribution they made to the church while they were serving God is worthless. And if they are doing as you say, God will judge them anyhow. God used Ciaphas to prophecy, yet Ciaphas was as corrupt a high priest as there was.

[Mr. Smith]

Originally Posted by Jason Badejo

I think substance would go a long ways in deciding. In the case of secular music, the intention is certainly NOT to glorify God, and at BEST a secular song is spiritually nuetral with perhaps a good moral (but not God glorifying) message.

Furthermore, I would say that character should be a factor, though it should be secondary. The difference between secular artists and some Christian artists is that the secular artist OPENLY live an ungodly life. Wherein, in the few cases of Christian artists they may have a weakness that has overtaken them, or at worst be a total and complete hypocrite living a double life.

At least in the case of the Christian, the music is [normally] written for the express intent of glorifying God and building up the body of Christ.

Ok, try this out......"Rise Above This" by Seether. It's talking about preventing teenage suicide.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qP6JDLQF23g

[Mr. Smith]

Originally Posted by Jason Badejo

First off, I know you have too much integrity to rat out someones secrets sins, and I admire that about you.

However, in a hypothetical world, if you were to tell about those "Christians" who scoff at the church and make money off the gospel, what difference would that make? The intent of their music is still to glorify God. Mike Murdock wrote (to my knowledge) the song "I am blessed" I cannot stand Mike Murdock and his prosperity gospel. People backslide, doesn't mean that whatever contribution they made to the church while they were serving God is worthless. And if they are doing as you say, God will judge them anyhow. God used Ciaphas to prophecy, yet Ciaphas was as corrupt a high priest as there was.

Wrong. The intent of the music is to do ONLY one thing.....sell it to Christians. They know how to assemble the words that will appeal to a certain economic demographic.


Second bold.....and God can use Paul McCartney and his music to reach people as well.

[Jason B]

Originally Posted by Mr. Smith

Ok, try this out......"Rise Above This" by Seether. It's talking about preventing teenage suicide.

I am unable to watch the video right now, so I googled the lyrics. I don't see alot of hop in them, but I guess the argument can be made its a positive message. ( I guess)

I also never heard of the band so I read the article about them on Wiki.

I fail to see the benefit in getting spiritual motivation from heathens. When we ought to be the light to them, they are seeming leading us?

[Sherri]

Originally Posted by Mr. Smith

I don't see why a person, who gets saved, needs to walk away from all their "secular" music.

We don't tell them they have to, but some of them do. Some of it is just too much of a reminder of where God brought them from.

[Michael The Disciple]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVqCVTnF6yI

Heres one that was current when I came to Christ. Secular duo but were looking in the right direction.

I have a Youtube playlist I call "Songs That Infuenced Me To Believe".

Not made by Christians but I was not a Christian either.

[Michael The Disciple]

Some secular songs I would use to break the ice in a WITNESSING situation. I doubt I would use them in the worship meeting.