Should we throw away secular music and movies once we get saved?

[Michelle Reed]

Did you throw away your music when you got saved? Or throw away movies and stopped going out to certain places? What about as you got closer to God in your Christ walk - did you stay away from certain places?

I have changed a lot of the music I listen to and I still miss it at times! Sometimes I just want the nostalgia and sometimes a secular song can express those things of the flesh that want to be expressed!

This is why I am so happy that gospel is on hip-hop, dancehall reggae and heavy metal, rock! I can still hear my music but with a spiritual flavor.

I do listen to a lot of sensual soul and rnb because I'm married and it sets the mood for romance. I know others who believe we shouldn't because it's unrighteous.

I have to admit when it comes to movies I watch everything that's out - Action, Chick Flicks, Comedies. But I know a lot of folks say we shouldn't be in the movie theater watching certain flicks.

I want to know what you think! Which side of the line do you stand on or is there a balance? I know you're going to come up with a great discussion, as you always do!

God bless,

Michelle

[AJ 'AJ ROK' WOODSON]

I was listen to Rev. Calvin Butts of the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, NY, one day who said once he got saved he threw away orgave away his extensive Jazz collection and then a few month or a year or so later realized it wasnt necessary for him to do so and he felt sort of foolish. The stuff he gave away he could even replace some of the put of print stuff he had if he wanted to.
Now that being said my former pastor Michael Rouse of St Catherine AME Zion Church in New Rochelle said when you reach a certain level in your Christian walk you will find you dont enjoy some of things you did as you did when you were of the world. You go to some of the places you used to frequent and you feel uncomfortable and thats how you know you have grown as a Christian. I hear some of the hip-hop of the 90's and hear a few phrases and while I find myself dance, nodding my head and singing along theres alwasy something I might hear and be like WHOA!, Something I used to sing at the top of my lungs and feel in my spirit I really shouldnt be singing this or get that uncomforatble feelings when I hear the verse in Nas joint when I was 12 I went to jail for snuffuing Jesus, Im shooting automatic guns at nuns, the same verse Big L sampled in one of his earlier tracks The Devils Son. Back then in the early 90's I may not have sung along with it but i didnt feel the unconfortableness I felt even recently when I played the live perfromce of Big L singing that on a radiop show dedicated to Biggies and the fallen artists in Hip-Hop we lost, backthen I joked ya know he;s gointo Hell for that but we laughed and still played it when as back in May thsi year I was like oh man Im goin to Hell for playin that I said to my boy jokin but the fact of the matter is anything that speaks badly about Jesus does make me uncomfortable, I had an internet hip-hop radio show so there wasnt necessarily a FCC to worry about so I wasnt known for playing the clean edited versions and would let it ride but even then would edit any song that had G- Damn in it I had to turn down that part with GODs name so all you heard was Damn like the RUN DMC joint Peter Piper a huge hit and by many standards a hip-hop classic, where Run who is now Rev Run said G- Damn that DJ made my day, U would only hear Damn That DJ Made my day!
So while I dont believe I have to not listen to hip-hop ever again there are classic by Kane, Biz, Rakim, KRS, BDP, PRT, Brand Nubian, Tribe Called Quest, Leader Of The New School, EPMD etc etc that I dont feel bad but I am feeling uncomfortable about anything degrading or speaking negatively about JESUS, GOD and being a Christian. As a father with a daughter I had become a little more sensative about the protrayal of the female in hip-hop as well. To quote Chris Rock in his latest HBO special live concert recording in Constitution Hall in DC - Never Scared -
I LOVE HIP-HOP BUT ITS GETTING HARDER AND HARDER TO DEFEND IT!
So I guess for a professional hip-hop junkie who has been involved in the hip hop games professionally since 1987, that shows some growth that Rev Rouse was speaking of but like Steve Harvey said on his live concert DVD recorded at MeagFest - DON'T TRIP HE AINT THRU WITH ME YET!!!!
-AJ ROK da professional hip-hop junkie

[Michelle Reed]

It truly is good to read some of this older discussions! What you write here, my hubby and I were talking about last week "when you reach a certain level in your Christian walk you will find you don't enjoy some of things you did as you did when you were of the world."

And with good movies like Fireproof out there, we have good things we can watch!

God bless you AJ! That word was sitting there waiting for me! =)

[AJ 'AJ ROK' WOODSON]

I too have been revisiting some of the older post on my site and yours and been blessed by some post that were 6 months old or more... it's like it was intended for you to see at this time or reread with new eyes of the spiritual growth you have encountered since it was first posted... I went back thru the older comments people left for me on my page and saw how God was using me at a time when I was starting to question if what I was doin was making a difference...
Like you said with good movies like Fireproof out there we have good things we can watch, that's how I feel about the music on SPIRITUAL MINDED RADIO. God has replaced the classic hip-hop or the golden era I grew up on with some new classics from emcees reppin for GOD!
He is an awesome God!!!!!

[Michelle Reed]

AMEN!

[Ms. Kelly-Rene'e Mooney]

I believe it depends on the person. I had cousins that were forced by their father to burn their secular stuff when they were growing up. They only listened to it behind his back still anyhow...now that they are adults? They listen to what they want to...doesn't make them any less a Christian...They still attend church & read the bible & listen to Christian music as well...I think nowadays that there is religion more amongst the music...

[Michelle Reed]

You bring up such a brilliant point about the extremity believers can take things to. Paul talks about being under the law in the book of Romans - it doesn't have power to save. Only the grace does that and we serve out of a grateful heart. Great sharing here! Thank you Kelly!

God bless,

Michelle

[Logan]

There was a time in my life when I believed that I should not listen to secular music or watch secular movies. I threw all secular movies/music away. That's when I realized that there are a vast array of christian/gospel music that appeal to different genres, like gospel rap and R&P. But I noticed that when I acquired these types of christian/gospel music, I received harsh criticism from church folks. Ultimately, your decision has to be based on your relationship with God. Today, I have over 100 gospel CDs. Later in life, I began filtering in some secular music. As a result, certain secular music had an effect on me, personally. I listen to some secular music today because it enhances romance in my marriage. However, I have to be careful because some music and some movies have no positive impact on my life or my spritiual walk with Christ.

[Michelle Reed]

Hey Logan,

I like the way you set yourself apart to Grow in God and then looked for various ways music could minister to you. You said the number one thing here - our relationship with God is number 1, 2 and 3. You sound like you have much discernment about what works for your Christ walk. Thank you for your post!

God bless,

Michelle

[Marion L. Jones]

I thought that what you had to do also, but I'm Old School and I love the 70's music. Won't give it up and I love jazz for driving short and long distance. I remember moving a pastor to a new house and he had all these albums od Barry White, EWF, Al Green, you know in the attic and I said to myself what is he doing with this stuff. I see that you don't have to give up your music, it good to listen too at times and let you go back to your childhood memories or where you were at that time when you last heard that song.
You laugh or cry or just stare at the world around you and know you have those memory to hang on to and tell your children about.

[Michelle Reed]

WOW! I love what you have here. It really touches my soul.

This is what I got out of your post:

It is all about feeling every fiber of life and knowing what it is you've lived. There is something to learn from each and every moment in life and it is all beautiful. Reflection is also a beautiful way to think on what God has done for us and witness!

Thank you for this insight Marion!
God bless,

Michelle

[SistahKenya]

I have always been told that my style of listening pleasure was weird and yet profound when others took time to listen to the lyrics. I realize for me that secualr music has offered some comfort, release of anger and frustration, expression of love etc. I love artists like The Roots, Amy WineHouse, Outkast, Macy Gray, Erykah Badu, Res, Mary J blige, TUPAC, Biggie, Lauryn Hill, Fugees, Nas, India Irie, Anthony David, Anthony Hamilton, Maxwell, Raheem Devaughn, Talieb Kweili, Dwele, Goapele, D'angelo...The list goes on and on!

I relate to their artistry.. I love music and it expresses me..at least those which I listen to. I have never been a movie or tv watcher so that is no issue! I must say I realize that with growth and maturity in Christ my listening tracks may change... Like now I can't listen to Jaimee Foxx (unpredictable) which used to be my favorite! I am living a life that requires my thoughts to be kept pure. That album is too seductive! I am not walking in that realm at this time. But Please believe when God gives me the ok with my Husband (When I get One) then I will play Jaimee like he going out of style!

I believe there is alot of good in secular music...You just gotta find it and know what to feed yourself. And for just as much secular there is christian and spirit filled with the sane flavor!! You just gotta find it!Check out the Video I posted by Queen Latifah now that is a hot joint and I love it! Positive and with a message!
**Pay attention to what you feed you spirit-soul!!**

Well I have said my piece!!
One

[AJ 'AJ ROK' WOODSON]

thanx Sistah Kenya for sharing and that opened the door for me.
I would like to add check out all the videos posted, to find some really good spiritual minded artists! Check them out and leave ya feedback in da comment section!
-AJ