Christian Living

Did God Create Music? Can Christians Listen To Secular Music?

by Rajkumar Richard
05/22/22
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            This raises a pertinent question. Why are some naturally gifted to play music and/or sing whereas others are not? The reason is God. Martin Luther said, “Music is one of the fairest and most glorious gifts of God, to which Satan is a bitter enemy; for it removes from the heart the weight of sorrow and the fascination of evil thoughts.”

            God is the source of music, not Satan or anything else.

            It is God who creates man, not Satan. Hence, it is God who blesses people with the ability to participate in the field of music. So music is a gift from God.

            The Bible reveals music’s purpose:

                        1. To worshipping God (Psalm 4:1; 6:1, 54:1).

                        2. To soothe a troubled mind (1 Samuel 16:14-23).

                        3. To warn of danger (Nehemiah 4:20).

                        4. To surprise the enemy (Judges 7:16-22).

            Having said this, could Christians listen to or play or sing secular music? (Let's just define secular music as that which has nothing to do with Historic Christianity.)      

            Without pontificating, the broad answer is yes as long as the music does not malign Jesus or the Triune God or Historic Christianity in any form or manner.

            But let’s assume that a Christian is employed in a music band and that his job demands playing music (at times) that glorifies other gods. In such a situation, how should this Christian respond?

            As long as this Christian’s life is devoted to the Lord Jesus Christ, he could play that music, for playing that music does not absolutely or necessarily imply a denial of Jesus.

            Let’s extend this question to a restaurant. Can a Christian be employed in a non-Christian restaurant, wherein non-Christian prayers and rituals are a daily occurrence? The answer is yes, as long as the Christian does not subscribe to the prayers and rituals directed towards another god.

            However, here’s a caveat. If non-Christian prayers, rituals, and music are distracting a Christian from worshipping his God, then he would be better off being employed elsewhere in a spiritually non-threatening environment or he should take actions to intentionally worship the living God.

            If Christians are to be employed only in Christian settings, then most Christians would be rendered jobless.

            So to return to our context, a Christian could listen to secular music as long as that music does not deny or malign the God of the Bible or Historic Christianity and as long as that music does not prevent or distract the Christian from worshipping the Lord Jesus or growing in the Triune God.

            To conclude, music is good. But Jesus is all in all. Music is a gift from God, but not a god.