Music: Secular-Christian

Towards the end of my last post I started discussing how many country artists have songs that could easily be applied as love songs to God if you switch your perspective on the lyrics. This same concept applies to other genres of music too. There are lots of secular songs you listen to every day that could easily be flipped into love songs for God or Christianity-based lyrics.

Katy Perry’s “Firework” is a great example of positive, encouraging lyrics in the secular music industry.



"You just gotta ignite the light
And let it shine
Just own the night
Like the Fourth of July”

This could very easily be supporting Matthew 5:16 which says let your light shine before men, or Philippians 2:15 which says we should become blameless and pure so we shine like stars in a crooked and depraved world.

“Never Say Never” by Justin Beiber is another great example.

I will never say never (I will fight)
I will fight till forever (make it right)
Whenever you knock me down
I will not stay on the ground
Pick it up, pick it up
Pick it up, pick it up (up up up...)
And never say never (ne-never say never x3)

We can hear this song and apply it to fighting the devil and evil in our lives. Galatians chapter 6 and putting on the armor of Christ to fight, or 1 Corinthians 10:13, which says no temptation has seized you except what is common to man, and God will help you fight it off. Parts of it also remind me of the story of David and Goliath.

There are TONS of other examples of how we can listen to secular music and still keep our hearts focused on God.

What is more, there is A WHOLE GENRE of music that is secular, but purposely has Christian-based lyrics. This means you will hear these songs on all the regular radio stations, but if you listen to the lyrics they are blatantly Christian. The best explanation I have found for this kind of music is in this guy’s blog post, PLEASE take the time to read it! I feel very strongly about this type of music.

http://christianrock123.blogspot.com/2010/07/secular-christian-rock.html#comment-form.

Some examples other than the one’s he gave are:

Switchfoot

Creed

Carrie Underwood-“Jesus Take the Wheel”

P.O.D.

Evanescencse

“Change” by Taylor Swift

George Straight- “I Saw God Today”

Josh Tuner- “Me and God”

Garth Brooks- “Unanswered Prayers”

Lee Ann Womack-"There is a God"

I totally support what the artists are doing because we as Christians can listen to this music with our lost friends and use it as a witnessing tool, or a way to encourage them. Ask your lost friends what they think about the lyrics to songs like these they already listen to. What a way to start a deep conversation easily!

What other secular Christian bands can you think of? How can you use them to reach your lost friends? How can you use them to connect deeper with your Christian friends?

Tomorrow we check out regular Christian music!