Can Music Styles be Sinful?

Thanks!

The sitar is a very interesting instrument; it can be used to sound playful or grim.

In some countries, their music sounds like traffic jams, so does God judge their music just because of that? I think that God doesn't care really about the tune so much as the words. They are what counts.

It depends on the purpose of the music style. If a style was introduced to promote sinful activity, then it would be wrong.

Would it, though? I don't know about the style becoming automatically sinful once it is used to promote sin. I hold that music itself cannot be wrong; the wrong comes when the composer creates the music with sinful intentions. Did he create it to promote sinful activity? Or perhaps to imitate music used to promote sinful activity, just to reel people in and give them a Christian message with it? The intentions behind the creation of the music can make it very difficult for anyone to listen to it without participating in the same mindset the composer had when he created it. So although the music itself may not be sinful, listening to it (for entertainment's sake, with no intentional discernment involved) can become a sinful activity if one is not very careful. That goes for secular music and Christian music alike. Discernment is key when listening to any type of music. Always strive to keep your intentions pure.

I completely agree! I think that we need to analyze each piece separately, and look at the tune as well as the words. Both convey a message.

I don't think we should use worldliness to reel people in and give them a Christian message with it. However, if a certain style is more commonly used for sin than another, putting Christian lyrics to it could demonstrate that the combination of instruments and beats really can't be morally good or bad.

I completely agree! I think that we need to analyze each piece separately, and look at the tune as well as the words. Both convey a message.

Indeed they do. The message in the words is more obvious, surely; but the music, in the context of its creation (the present culture and the mindset of the composer have dramatic effects on what the music conveys) can carry a strong message as well.

Agreed. That certainly is a good way to show that music itself has no significant moral tendencies on its own. However, it is important to note that the way in which any music style was originally created can have a considerable effect on a given song in the same style. There are certain music styles present today that were created to promote, or at least be associated with, sin. Thus a composer who creates a song in one of these styles is more likely to have wrong motives for creating it than would a composer creating a song in a style that was not created to be associated with sin. The moral effect of a song depends on the intentions of the composer, the cultural context in which the song was written, and the mindsets of the individual listeners of the song.

Some songs are obviously good, and some are obviously bad. As for songs whose morality is questionable, they should ideally be treated on a case-by-case basis–what affect does such a song have on a particular listener? If a song promotes sinful actions or thoughts in the heart of the listener, he should avoid it. If it does not, he has the choice to continue listening to it, as long as it does not cause anyone else to stumble. That's my view on the subject, at any rate.

Yeah, exactly–individual songs, not a genre as a whole.

Taking into account, of course, that a genre can have a dramatic effect on a song. :)

[Verse 3]
I could weep
So many people never heard of the name
Yeah they heard the word Jesus
But never heard of His fame
They feel cut off from Him
Not just cause of their sin
But because of their clothes
Hair or their
Color of skin
And they been afloat
Drowning in sin
We're in a Boat
Yet they've never been approached
Cause we see em as different folks
God's offer's universal (yeah)
He wants you in His circle (yeah)
He wants you in a doo-rag
And He wants you in the purple (hair)
Now you can just take a cursory
Glance at the word and see
God made the plans of diversity (now)
Is there one godly ethnic group
In the church
Should we all wear
One polyester suit (or)
Maybe rock
Sandals and robes
No ham I suppose
When we meet
Maybe we should only eat
Salmon and loaves
Should we only like the organ or the violin?
I'm inquiring
I admire men
Up in the choir
And women
But one minute
Why do some people assume that
God's iPod
Got no tunes
That got the boom-bap
He's with White
With Black
With Lat
With Asian
With Rock
Country, Jazz
With Rap

Firstly: I'm new to the site, and new to the forums, but here's my opinion: No genre is inherently bad, unless, it uses the Lord's name in vain, or the lyrics or music have any Satanic connection, disrespectful towards God kind of lyrics, or the previously mentioned Hypnotic music, arguments for which sound extremely reasonable. So far as I have read, everybody's arguments for or against stuff sound reasonable. And, I would add, no cursing. If it isn't pleasing towards God, don't. Don't sing, listen to, or go to a concert where they might have any of the above.

Thank you, ladies and gents, for listening to my summary opinion!

And on the topic of whether rock is sinful or not, I reccommend the Audio Adrenaline song "The House Plant Song"

On your previous comment there's a genre called Regeton and in order for something to be considered Regeton it has to meet specific "Requirements", not taking the Lord's name in vain or Satanic so I mean yeah there are some types of music that idk you get my point