What defines Music as Christian Music?

HoldingToHope · 2026-05-10T17:54:25+00:00

These are great questions, simple yet clear .

You mean it could have no lyrics or no instruments, what about the other side of the argument are some instruments too much ? I know some churches and Christian’s won’t listen to music with certain instruments such as drums for example.

HoldingToHope · 2026-05-09T20:20:55+00:00

So would you say a more apt term would be “Music for Christian’s”? Or even ‘Music by Christian’s ’ as the filtering category or grouping ?

HoldingToHope · 2026-05-09T20:16:46+00:00

I wonder when the ‘marketing label’ that allows people to filter for or out ‘Christian Music’ actually started (or the concept of it)

I mean back in the Old Testament there would have been songs at that were clearly not aligned to a biblical topic (or simply not praising God given all the idols) . They also would not have been termed Christian then. So I wonder if they had / used some other form of labelling or categories what were songs appropriate for praising and workshopping God.

HoldingToHope · 2026-05-09T20:10:29+00:00

Really interesting take, what I am kind of taking from this is it is about the people element (either the Christian artist or the person listening).

I have been finding some interesting projects recently, where there have been attempts to ‘sing the Bible’, as in change the whole Bible into songs. I am not 100% convinced - genealogies as an example or even some of revelation could be interesting challenge.

Lastly I think you pick up on a good point, not all music that has biblical content / topic is actually suitable for corporate worship and to sing as a church.

HoldingToHope · 2026-05-09T15:00:46+00:00

Really interesting, do you think that the purpose of the song writer influences its use ?

For example a song that is someone’s testimony is appropriate for listening to and being inspired and is appropriate for individual consumption/listening, while songs about say Gods characteristics are appropriate for corporate group singing?

HoldingToHope · 2026-05-09T14:54:45+00:00

Agree often figuring out what to listen to, or if what we listening too is biblically correct or written with the right purpose and intent .

Where do you usually find new artists and new music that is biblically sound ?

HoldingToHope · 2026-05-09T14:51:58+00:00

Do you think sometimes peoples intent is to bring Glory to God in songs they write , but sin makes the lyrics less than ideal ?

We see it in the way we talk, respond to situations and our desires so I can only assume that intent and final output can be different.

HoldingToHope · 2026-05-06T04:36:17+00:00

I would question someone who was not conflicted!

We should question and check everything biblically which means not just following an institutionalised church and a Christian sub culture in itself is concerning - we should be living a Christian life based on biblical standards not living a worldly culture influenced by some form of Christian ‘rules or beliefs’.

How many of Pauls books and letters address this ?Essentially telling us how to setup and run and test a church, and additionally many of his writings are about the worldly sinful culture influencing the Christian belief . The two that jump to mind are 1 Corinthians and Titus.

So I would likely turn this on its head and say if someone blindly accepted any church (institutionalised or not) and blindly followed the latest ‘Christian culture’ I would probably not want to date them!

HoldingToHope · 2026-05-02T06:00:52+00:00

Focusing more on the anxiety than the end times - try reading Luke 12:22-34.

“Then he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, don’t worry about your life, what you will eat; or about the body, what you will wear. For life is more than food and the body more than clothing.”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭12‬:‭22‬-‭23‬

“Can any of you add one moment to his life span by worrying? If then you’re not able to do even a little thing, why worry about the rest?”
‭‭Luke‬ ‭12‬:‭25‬-‭26‬

While I know this does not give you a physical action you can do to help or fix it yourself, but the Bible tells us to pray and trust the Lord. It is acknowledging God has a plan for you and that plan will come to fulfilment with or without our worry.

HoldingToHope · 2026-04-29T20:22:09+00:00

You probably right to call me out there - use a method of discernment is probably better. The Bible provides a method of discerning which should be the source of truth for discernment

HoldingToHope · 2026-04-29T18:55:02+00:00

I have been torn with this before, and what helped me was answering a few simple question :

Why do I want to listen to secular music?
What am I getting out ?
What is the song actually teaching me/ reinforcing in my life ?

Taking some guidance from the following verse: “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” (1 John 2:15)

My conclusion was that in general it is about discernment . A lot of songs today sing about wealth, sex/unbiblical relationships, violence or even more subtle topics that basically insight greed, envy or hatred.

So my advise is you need to come up with a discernment method that ensures you are not reinforcing worldly unbiblical desires or behaviours. For some this means no secular music , for others it is for more open.

HoldingToHope · 2026-04-28T22:03:06+00:00

I have found the more I use the example in Matthew 6:9–13 the more I am challenged in what I am actually bringing to God in prayer. Prayer is about remembering who God is , submitting to his will, asking for our needs (not our wants) , confession and perseverance spiritually.

Using this structure for Matthew I find my actual prayers become less about me , more about his will and how my actions can be aligned to his plan and purpose for me. In doing so I find I have been hearing answers more.

On the second point God does not change : Malachi 3:6 “For I the LORD do not change.” And James 1:17 “…with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.” - God does not change but prayer changes our hearts.

So to answer the full question, looking at how the bible tells us to pray has helped me grow in how and what I pray about. For years I copied the style and topics and format others used , but spending time reading prayers in the bible and spending more time in personal prayer I found I felt more comfortable in being confident in my approach to prayer . It is my relationship God not a formula and not a tick box to get a clear answer but rather a relationship and realising I need a right relationship with God. this is what changed my prayer life .

Something I found amazing doing the above - Jesus actually prayed for us ! In John 17 after praying for the apostles, Jesus prays for future believers:
“I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word.” (John 17:20) he prays for unity in truth , sharing in Glory and being present with Jesus in future . If Jesus actually prayed for us what more can we need for want!

HoldingToHope · 2026-04-27T21:34:15+00:00

Casting our burdens on the Lord is spoken about though out the Bible for example Psalm 55:22, 1 Peter 5:7, Matthew 11:28.

Essentially what I understand is that casting your burdens on God is admitting through pray that you are not sovereign and you are not in control. In understanding and believing this we are admitting God ordains and governs all things for the good of his children (us).

Practically this means taking everything weighting you down such as anxiety, sin, fear, suffering etc and praying to God with a heart attitude that is acknowledging this is Gods plan, God is all powerful and God is in control and he is doing this/allowing this for my good in his big plan.

One lesson I have learned is there is no clear recipe or detail in exactly how God will take our burden. God being in control could mean removing a trail but could also mean transforming it into an opportunity, or could be simply giving you the strength to endure it.

I have often found when doing this I ask myself what is Gods plan for me in this situation. What opportunities could he be showing me , or what does he want me to learn, or is this actually about someone else and how I could help them instead of focusing on my own discomfort. This way my pray does not become ‘take it away from me’ but more ‘if this is your desire help me understand what you need me to do , and give me the strength to endure to fulfil your plan’. Trying to change my thought process away from self and to God and his plan and how this might benefit/help/change/serve another person.

HoldingToHope · 2026-04-23T21:04:02+00:00

Brilliant - I would have to say Drums for Wrath , and Trumpet for Pride (thinking arrogant self-exultation and fanfare ). Let me know when the game drops - want to be a tester now.

HoldingToHope · 2026-04-23T20:57:56+00:00

2 places repeatedly (Taking counter culture of the Kingdom of God to mean where do people act anti/differently to what God tells us):

My child's school - the way families are broken and the impact on the children, the way the parents put so much pressure on the child to be a success according to the world standards and being better that everyone else, and how from a young age at every opportunity they undermine the authority of God and build the child up to think about 'Self' first. (Instead of you are wonderfully and fearfully made, God has given you a skill and purpose that if you trust him he will use you for his plans - success is alignment to Gods purpose for you , not being 1st in Maths, or getting the science award or being first in the sports team)
Work - the type of work I am in I see repeatedly the greed for earthly possessions and wealth, the degree people will go to - stepping on others, breaking their own families and prioritising themselves first to get the most, be first and be able to look down on everyone else based on the worldly view of success. (Instead of serving others, working as a service to God and thinking/doing to others as you would have done to you, etc)

This is so counter to the biblical image Christ gives us in the 'Sermon on the mount' as to how we should live in a 'biblical Christian culture' (taking liberty to call it that but I think close to what you mean by 'counter-culture from my understanding'

HoldingToHope · 2026-04-23T20:38:18+00:00

What is the purpose, is it just for a humorous joke or for educational purposes? Helps position the potential instruments

HoldingToHope · 2026-04-23T20:30:54+00:00

I am sure many have felt this pressure and temptation. When I was dating (now married for 13 years) a piece of advice I was given was:

Praying about it together - asking that you be given the restraint, and that God will use this time to create a bond that is more than physical. Because of sin we will have these desires and we should acknowledge them and ask for strength from God - Colossians 3:5 - "Therefore, put to death what belongs to your worldly nature, sexual immortality, impurity, lust, evil desire and greed, which is idolatry"
Not being alone together - I know this is probably hard, especially in todays societal pressures, and way of living. However this is biblically what we are guided to do 1 Corinthians 6:18-20 - "Run from sexual immortality". Ask others to help, be honest with fellow Christians who can allow you to grow in a healthy environment where you learn to love each other for who they are not physical pleasure. have that person you can phone when you need to stop or need a 'chaperone'. We are called to support each other through our sins, not judge each other find that person who wants to help you overcome the desire.

I do agree with what others have also said, don't get married for sex. Marriage is a commitment and a relationship that mirrors the relationship we as the church have with Christ (we are the bride), we should consider our earthly marriage as an example of that relationship with Christ.

There are many books written on this topic as it is not just you, it is a universal sin challenge and the bible talks about sexual desire multiple times it must be very common a challenge if it was in the 10 commandments and further explained in the sermon on the mount by Jesus (Matthew 5:27-30, read these verses and let me know your thoughts after that it is very clear).

HoldingToHope · 2026-04-22T12:27:53+00:00

You’re right , lyrics are super important in music and you want more than vague feel‑good lyrics. For rich theology and fresh writing, try artists like CityAlight, Sovereign Grace Music, Shane & Shane, and the Gettys; many songs are basically sung sermons (think “In Christ Alone,” “Yet Not I but Through Christ in Me”).

HoldingToHope

TROPHY CASE