Mercy Me - Christian or not?

[ManOfWord]

Originally Posted by webe123

I agree with what most have posted....it is not necessarily wrong to listen to music other than christian that does not have bad lyrics or messages.

My father asked me to do a concert at his work on my classical guitar and I was going to play some James Taylor, Gordon Lightfoot and Jim Croce! (We had to cancel the concert, because they were having some troubles with one of the people that donated money trying to run around and tell everyone else what to do, even though they did not have the authority to do it. I practiced those songs for an entire WEEK...only to have that happen...LOL!)

But guess what? NONE of those guys I mentioned are christian artists! But it was the type of setting in an art gallery that they wanted some older music that everyone knew by just playing the chords...like "fire and rain" for example by James Taylor.

The manager was amazed that I knew those older songs and could play them. But what she didn't know, was that I grew up with those songs on the radio in the 1970's when they came out! (though I was not playing guitar back then)

And that included Led Zepplin, The Eagles (which were my favorite secular band) and a lot of others. I used to have reservations about even using distortion on my guitar in church when I first was baptized with the Holy Ghost, but times change.

I do not think you can ("fruit inspect" ...not judge) a persons spirituality by music they have on their ipod.

Though I do have a lot of gospel music and know a lot of older gospel songs...I also know a lot of secular music and can play it also. That used to make me feel like I should just try to forget about that side of my life, but God has given me a peace about my past and now I can incorporate some of what I have heard into my playing now. And still use it for God.

I have done all kinds of hammer on's, string bends and other things on guitar that years ago, I would never have even attempted because it was just not the thing to do in church.

Rock on, Dude!! I'm with ya!!!! What guitarist, worth his weight in guitar strings, doesn't know how to play Stairway to Heaven? Most Christians just won't admit it, though.

[simplyme]

THey have made some AWESOME music, I like most all of their songs they've hit the top of the charts..and their video of "So Long Self" remains one of the best, most fav of mine and my husband.

In fact, that song is just so RIGHT ON about how we must die to self, and the problems we can have achieving that., its a cute video, partly funny., of course, but with a good message.

THe latest one Bring the Rain...oh wow it is almost even more RIGHT ON..'cause of the acute message- "If thats what it takes to praise YOU..JESUS bring the rain" ( suffering )

All of their songs have GREAT messages..starting with I CAN ONLY IMAGINE which is almost like a national christian anthem..(sort of) it illustrates how everyone (whether they admit it or not, saved or not, Wenone Judd even recorded her version of it ) imagines heaven..or seeing GOD..

While they may have had nonchristian musical influences (and who of us hasn't) they have found a way to glorify GOD in their songs., moreso than some of the other contemporary artists I've heard throughout the years, there really IS a fair amount of good christian radio music to listen to where it is NOT necessary to entertain other music genres.

I don't listen to anything but christian music I love it too much, I love JESUS too much; music from the past lost lifestyle needs to stay there, JMHO

[webe123]

Originally Posted by ManOfWord

Rock on, Dude!! I'm with ya!!!! What guitarist, worth his weight in guitar strings, doesn't know how to play Stairway to Heaven? Most Christians just won't admit it, though.

That reminds me of a Movie I saw a long time ago called Bill and teds excellent adventures


In a part of the movie, they are in a guitar store when Bill starts to play "stairway to heaven" on the guitar....the manager notices him and stops him from playing...then points to a huge sign above his head that reads:
THERE SHALL BE NO PLAYING OF STAIRWAY TO HEAVEN! LOL!

[webe123]

Originally Posted by simplyme

I don't listen to anything but christian music I love it too much, I love JESUS too much; music from the past lost lifestyle needs to stay there, JMHO

Well that is a PERSONAL conviction. I love Jesus too, I just don't think that I gotta play "the kingsmen" tunes all the time to have a walk with him. Even though I COULD, if I wanted to.

Like I said, God has given me a peace about my past...it used to really bug me, but it just does not anymore, because I have learned to take things and use them for God's purpose.

Remembering a secular song does NOT mean you don't love God. For example....I was playing in church about a month ago and I was using a distortion that sounded EXACTLY like the guitar that is played on Bob Seger's "Mainstreet". I kept thinking to myself..."that sounds exactly like the guitar on mainstreet".

Then my pastor who is a younger guy that grew up in the 80's said "that effect sounds just like Bob Seger and "mainstreet"...you ever hear of that song? We both started to laugh after he realized I was thinking the same thing.

Now, I did not pick out that effect because I wanted to play, "down on mainstreet". But there was another choir song we did where it fit in perfectly.
So not everything in your past has to be bad!

That being said, would I get up and sing "down on mainstreet" in church? No!

But I do find myself falling back on some artists sounds I grew up with....and I simply do not think that is "bad" at all. If I grew up with todays music....I might not have much to fall back on...as a lot of music today are re-hashes of past songs.

[Monkeyman]

One post struck me funny...the one about David & Giants and Petra....who do you think they listened to to get their sound???? There is nothing new under the sun and the styles and genres get passed down!!!! Sheesh.

Funny the author of this thread in another thread talked about bass strings and which ones are good for slapping....guess what? The bass player for Sly & The Family Stone INVENTED the SLAP/PLUCK technique! Somewhere some church boy listened to that and said, "Hmmmm, I think I'll try that in church" and now every one does it, well except for our resident flat wound boy Scott H., he he.

We can learn and then incorporate from others, in fact, we ALL have even if we don't know it...

[simplyme]

Originally Posted by webe123

Well that is a PERSONAL conviction. I love Jesus too, I just don't think that I gotta play "the kingsmen" tunes all the time to have a walk with him. Even though I COULD, if I wanted to.

Like I said, God has given me a peace about my past...it used to really bug me, but it just does not anymore, because I have learned to take things and use them for God's purpose.

Remembering a secular song does NOT mean you don't love God. For example....I was playing in church about a month ago and I was using a distortion that sounded EXACTLY like the guitar that is played on Bob Seger's "Mainstreet". I kept thinking to myself..."that sounds exactly like the guitar on mainstreet".

Then my pastor who is a younger guy that grew up in the 80's said "that effect sounds just like Bob Seger and "mainstreet"...you ever hear of that song? We both started to laugh after he realized I was thinking the same thing.

Now, I did not pick out that effect because I wanted to play, "down on mainstreet". But there was another choir song we did where it fit in perfectly.
So not everything in your past has to be bad!

That being said, would I get up and sing "down on mainstreet" in church? No!

But I do find myself falling back on some artists sounds I grew up with....and I simply do not think that is "bad" at all. If I grew up with todays music....I might not have much to fall back on...as a lot of music today are re-hashes of past songs., I agree.

I only meant that christian music is MY preference., and I know what you mean about those "effects" Bob Seger was one of my favorites and Mainstreet of course, I had like several copies of that album I remember the cover well, and he came to my town for a concert on my 19th birthday was I ever thrilled!

I still come across places where they will be playing oldies and of course, they sound like "old familiar friends" I don't HATE that music..its part of me, of my past..not all of it was bad., of course. High school was neato!
In our church we have a new musician, some of his music has "hints" of some of the oldies music as well., sooo I can "dig it". I worship JESUS in many ways., I know others do too.

In my car or home, or at work, anyone walking in will find the same ole "contemporary christian" music playing..I just prefer it, I like it lots.