Music and Christians

1349 Words3 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: The role music plays in religion

Music is an everyday occurrence for most people. In some way, shape and form, people listen to music. For Christians, specially those at bible college, this can be in chapel day to day. For others it may be in a car or even in the workplace, which can be the case for Christians also. Music for me is an everyday occurrence, not only in chapel but also in other places such as my dorm room and when I get ready for sports.

These things has caused me to research the topic of music. It has a huge impact on my life. I have sometimes listened to music when I am stressed out and need an escape. I listen to music to get ready for sports games, such as for football and basketball. Music is in my dorm room when I am doing homework. When reading or cleaning my room I am usually listening to music.

Music doesn’t only have a huge impact on my life, but also those around me. My girlfriend listens to music on a very high level. She is part of the music program here at Trinity. My brother plays guitar and listens to music regularly. When asked he would say that music is in about every aspect of his life. My foster parents listen to music to help keep them up when traveling. They listen to music constantly around the house to do things.

There are many views on music. As a Christian I have looked for views expressed by those of similar faith. The first question I asked that I researched for was: “Can music necessarily be Christian and non-Christian?” I found an article by Jerry Solomon that elaborated on this question.

His response to the question was that the term “Christian music” is a misnomer (Solomon leaderu.com). Jerry states that, “There is no distinctive sound that makes a piece of music Christian. The only part of a composition th...

... middle of paper ...

...aren. "The Christian View - LordSong: Gospel Music Makes a Difference." The Christian View - A Ministry of Christian Journalism. 2006. Web. 28 Mar. 2011. http://www.thechristianview.net/wst_page14.php.

Harvey, Dr. Arthur. "An Intelligence View of Music Education." MENC - The National Association for Music Education - Home. Web. 28 Mar. 2011. http://www.menc.org/resources/view/an-intelligence-view-of-music-education.

Kania, Andrew. "The Philosophy of Music (Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy)." Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. 2010. Web. 28 Mar. 2011. http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/music/.

Palmer, Michael D., and Stanley M. Horton. Elements of a Christian Worldview. Springfield, MO: Logion, 1998. Print.

Solomon, Jerry. "Music and the Christian." Leadership University. 14 July 2002. Web. 28 Mar. 2011. http://www.leaderu.com/orgs/probe/docs/music.html.

Show More
Related

  • James Edward Cleveland Research Paper

    1156 Words  | 3 Pages

    Music is a form of art which blends melodies with words to produce a piece that communicates with people’s thoughts and emotions, by stimulating their senses and thus extracting responses. Gospel, a distinctive genre of music, makes use of sounds and words to praise and worship God. It is also used to teach the teachings of God in an entertaining and captivating manner. Gospel music not only fills people’s hearts with hope and joy, but also relieves their stress and comforts them. One of the most influential figures who has played a major role in the flourishing of gospel music is James Edward Cleveland. Cleveland was an accomplished vocalist, performer, composer, producer, philanthropist, preacher, choral director and pianist; hence earning titles such as: “Crown Prince of Gospel” and “King of Gospel Music.”

    Read More

  • Rick Warren: An Excellent Example of Protestant Leadership

    3305 Words  | 7 Pages

    Young, Bill. "Contemporary Christian Music: Rock the Flock." The God Pumpers: Religion in the Electronic Age. Ed. Marshall Fishwick and Ray B. Browne. Bowling Green, OH: Bowling Green State University Popular, 1987. 141-58. Print.

    Read More

  • Religion’s Profound Effect on Musical Development

    3673 Words  | 8 Pages

    Religion has been an important part of man’s life. Man has allowed religion to control and influence his life in many different ways, affecting both his behavior and his actions. So its not surprising that music, one of man’s earliest expressive forms, has also been influenced by religion. Religion has had an effect on man’s music all throughout history, from the early Egyptians to even now. So it is only natural that Western music should also have been affected by religion. Western music, and its development by composers, has been strongly influenced by the Christian religion, especially in the Medieval, Renaissance, and Baroque periods. The music in these periods laid the foundation for all the different types of music we enjoy today.

    Read More

  • Secular Rock Music Analysis

    505 Words  | 2 Pages

    Secular rock music has influenced contemporary Christian music by in essence decentralizing God from being the main motive of the music. The journal entry Watering Down Christianity? states that “With the mainstream success of [contemporary] Christian bands such as Jars of Clay, Sixpence None The Richer, and P.O.D., people are questioning Christian bands that may de-Christianize their lyrics to sell albums to a larger crossover audience” (Livengood and Book 121). Many contemporary Christian bands stray away from the message they should be focused on in order to reach out to a more diverse crowd. It is understandable for contemporary Christian artists to be so heavily influenced by secular rock music if their intention truly is to reach out to people who are not considered Christian and show them a better life. However, the decentralization away from God might actually be harming the image of God by, like the journal entry says, watering down Christianity.

    Read More

  • The Importance Of Chicano Culture

    801 Words  | 2 Pages

    Music is a large consumption of my daily life and the artists I listen to have shaped me in some way. Listening to music is one of my most time

    Read More

  • african american religious music

    2304 Words  | 5 Pages

    ...erself expanded gospel’s exposure when she appeared twice on “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” Meanwhile, television producer Bobby Jones reaches four and a half million viewers each week with his BET program, “Gospel Explosion.” However, the test for Gospel music reflects one that all Christian musicians must wrestle with: Can Gospel continue to increase its fortune in the mainstream marketplace while still maintaining its spiritual base? Despite what you believe the answer to be, African American Religious music will continually evolve. Since Thomas Dorsey first stretched the boundaries to create gospel music, choirs, quartets, and power vocalists have been singing the same song, albeit in different styles and places. As African American religious music continues to grow beyond even Dorsey’s expectations, one can only hope that it will be embraced regardless of how it is labeled by everyone who needs to be reminded of the good news it represents.

    Read More

  • The Impact of Negro Spirituals on Today's Music

    1704 Words  | 4 Pages

    Maultsby, Portia K. Afro-American Religious Music: A Study in Musical Diversity. The Papers of the Hymn Society of America. 35. Springfield: The Hymn Society of America, n.d.

    Read More

  • Comparison of African, Indonesian, and Indian Music

    669 Words  | 2 Pages

    One of the very first things taught in this class was the concept of the Qur'anic recitation. It is a practice reciting different passages in the Quran. Much to the frustration of those who take part in this practice, it is often mistaken for music by those who are not very familiar with the idea. Music in this culture, however, is considered a nonreligious thing and is thought to be “secular” and “profane”. I found this extremely different from music in Africa, for example, where music plays a huge role in religion. Praise dances are very common in West African cultures where music and religion go hand in hand. Music is most often present in worship and passage rites, as well.

    Read More

  • Drug Use at Music Festivals

    1788 Words  | 4 Pages

    Since the earliest days of human civilization music has been a key tool for communication of stories which carried emotions through them. If we think back to our youngest years of life music has surrounded us whether it was from our parents singing us lullabies or from some sort of toy that played music we can say that musical melodies have helped shape or lives one way or another. Once we start growing up and figuring out who we are our musical preferences change; some people like classical and some like punk. We start to befriend people who like the same music as us and eventually we may attend a musical event. Our lives somewhat revolve around the music that we listen to.

    Read More

  • A Personal Philosophy of Music Education

    1032 Words  | 3 Pages

    Lehman, Paul R. et all. The School Music Program: A New Vision. (1994). Reston, VA. Music Educators National Conference.

    Read More

  • Gospel Music Research Paper

    613 Words  | 2 Pages

    There are various types of music and it’s a unique word with countless meanings. Music is simply defined as the science or art of ordering tones or sounds in succession, in combination, and in temporal relationships to produce a composition having unity and continuity, vocal, instrumental, or mechanical sounds having rhythm, melody or harmony (www.merrium-Webster.com). Even though I enjoy listening to a diversity of musical selections by numerous artists, the music that inspires me the most is GOSPEL music. To me, gospel music or music in general, is a melody that consists of a linear sequence of tones and harmony. The power of music with the expression of tempo and rhythm, can inspire, entertain and change the mood of an individual. Nevertheless, not only is the tempo crucial, but the lyrics play a major role in whether I like the song or not.

    Read More

  • The History of Gospel Music

    2853 Words  | 6 Pages

    Music has been relevant in Christianity since its beginnings. Some of the first music was written in Latin and they were called Hymns. “Hymn is a song of praise” (Van Camp) and were sung only by catholic churches. When Martin Luther led the Protestant Reformation and helped create Protestant Christianity, he began translating hymns into German. All around Europe people were translating hymns into different languages. These translations were brought over by European settlers coming to America and were used frequently in both Catholic and Protestant churches.

    Read More

  • Why Music is Important to Me

    386 Words  | 1 Pages

    Music is the third most important thing to me in life outside of god and my mom. Music keeps me balanced. Every since I was a baby music was played around me. Jazz was always played around me to soothe me. There would be times when I would be really hyper acting like I couldn't sleep, my mom would put on some jazz and I would be fine. A lot of times I can have a long chore and I say to my self how can I accomplish this, Knowing it will take me forever. So I'll put on some jazz music and in twenty-five minutes I'm finished.

    Read More

  • Christian Listening To Secular Music

    769 Words  | 2 Pages

    Although he may not be pleased with what people choose, since time began, He gives His guidelines and instructions and He also gives us choices, whether we choose to follow Him or not. Sometimes a Christians choice on secular music does not affect their walk with God because the content is encouraging, yet may cause another Christian to stumble in their relationship with God. Romans 14:12-13 “So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. Therefore, let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.”

    Read More

  • The Important Role of Music in Society

    447 Words  | 1 Pages

    Music is an essential part of life because of the expression it allows people to have, its entertainment, and its therapeutic ways for the world.

    Read More

More about Music and Christians

Open Document