The Musical Christian

[Soulfyre]

How should being a Christian inform our musical style, our lyrics, our performance, etc.? Does music written and performed by Christians have to be "tract" music (i.e. have an overtly evangelical message in its lyrics) to be acceptably Christian? Are there any styles of music that are inherently unacceptable for Christians?

I hope we will have lively and informative discussions here. I am searching for moderators who are Christians, have a good knowledge of music, and are unafraid of sharing and defending their opinions.

God bless and keep you,

Matthew (soulfyre)

[melinky]

Personally, I believe that any music that glorifies God, or moves a person closer to God, is good. I remember, years ago, Debbie Boone released "You Light Up My Life". I thought it was a beautiful love song about a man and a woman. In fact, I believe it was written with that in mind. But Debbie sang it as a song of worship, visualizing her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ as the one who lights up her life. At the time, I didn't understand and blew off her inspiration and heard only the earthly beauty of the song. Now, as a believing Christian who loves the Lord, I understand and hear the Heavenly beauty of that song and find myself moved to tears when I do hear it.

This song may not have been written as a Christian song, but it truly moves this Christian closer to the King of Kings, Lord of Lords who shall reign forever and ever! Halleluia! Halleluia! (Don't get me started on the Halleluia Chorus!)

[TheArchDuke]

I believe that everything a Christian does should be done to the glory of God. That doesn't mean just doing something that ISN'T BAD, the means everything we do should "promote" God. (whenever possible). I don't think it would be a sin for a Christian band to sing about a girl, as long as it's not a filthy song in any way. But why not use all of our time and energy and resources for God? Singing about neutral topics doesn't do any harm but it also doesn't do any good. We christian musicians should engage and challenge people to think with our lyrics. The music should put the proper mood to what we are trying to convey. That brings up another point. I'm in a very extreme band. The guitars and drums are fast and heavy and the vocals are raspy and intense. But i would never use that style to sing my love for Jesus because it is not a loving sound. I wouldn't scream my lungs out at Jesus if he were here in person so why do it with song? our songs are not written TO Jesus, they are about the spiritual war all around us and thus, are intense and dark. they are designed to rebuke evil rather than to praise God directly. my two cents

[melinky]

TheArchDuke said:

That brings up another point. I'm in a very extreme band. The guitars and drums are fast and heavy and the vocals are raspy and intense. But i would never use that style to sing my love for Jesus because it is not a loving sound. I wouldn't scream my lungs out at Jesus if he were here in person so why do it with song? our songs are not written TO Jesus, they are about the spiritual war all around us and thus, are intense and dark. they are designed to rebuke evil rather than to praise God directly. my two cents

Are you sure you're only 18? LOL

I really shouldn't be surprised, I have often been caught off-guard by the maturity of young artists. I don't know if it's because you're more in tune to the world and yourselves than the rest of us or if that's just part of what makes you an artist.

At some point, I'd like to read some of your lyrics.

As someone who is too old and too far removed from the things younger people like, I have a few questions for you. Before I ask though, I want to preface them with the comment that I'm asking out of curiosity, not out of condemnation or in a finger-pointing kind of way. With that said, here goes:

What is it about darkness that draws you toward it?

I have always been told that to dabble in darkness/Satan's realm, makes one more susceptible to Satan's power. Have you ever felt Satan pulling you or trying to get control of you while performing this kind of music?

What about your band-mates? Are they Christians also?

Thanks for any answers you might have for me.

Melinda

[TheArchDuke]

melinky said:

At some point, I'd like to read some of your lyrics....

What is it about darkness that draws you toward it?...

Have you ever felt Satan pulling you or trying to get control of you while performing this kind of music?...

What about your band-mates? Are they Christians also?...

Thanks for any answers you might have for me...

Melinda

Thanks for the compliments! ok about the questions...

what about the darkness draw me towards it? well, in a literal sense, my two favorite colors are black and dark blue but i'm sure that's not what you meant. what i love about black metal is not the darkness of it. what draw me towards that style in a purely musical sense is the beautiful atmospheric sound and the almost...swelling and swirling sound of the melodies. true they are very dark...i guess i just love music in minor keys. but of course there are alot of style's that sound like that. what brings me to black metal in particular is the shear hatred for anything Christian. i used to think it was all just for show and that the bands shouldn't be taken seriously...that is, until i read the lyrics. these two lines really broke my heart and i knew God wanted me to do something about it, "i am the bringer of the final war, your God lies dead in his own **** and gore." and of course the famous line (if you're familiar with these bands) "where is your God? shouldn't he be destroying us?" my heart broke and i was furious at the same time. so i'm not drawn to the darkness particularly, i love the sound and i hate the spirit behind it. black metal is battle music. haha...that was a long answer.

regarding the question about satan and if i ever feel him trying to influence us. no, not really. we did have a weird experience at our very first show though. we thought it'd be a good idea to wear the war paint that satanic black metal bands wear. we thought it would be a good way to draw in the fans of the evil genre. as soon as we put it on in the car before the show i felt a conviction from God but we didn;t do anything about it. once we stepped on stage the convition from God was soon over powered by a feeling of oppression and heaviness that i know wasnt God. throught the whole show i couldn't get into anything we were singing about. after the show i didn;t even want to ever play my guitar again. i woke up feeling better the next day but needless to say...we won't be adopting that image anymore. it was almost as if satan was saying "this is MY music and MY look. you don't belong here" it was intense stuff.

and the last question... yes we are all devoted followers of Christ (as devoted as sinful humans can be). we all started this band for one reason: warfare. if we don't sell alot of records, fine. just as long as the people God wants to hear us get our message. we started this band knowing that even if we never go anywhere, if we play the same clubs every weekend and sell 7 albums and 4 t-shirts during our whole career and yet one person comes to Christ, everything was worth it.

hope that answers your questions

oh yeah, if you want i can post all of the lyrics i have personally written for this band. there are six songs. we have more but i didn't write the words and i don't know them by heart.

[Soulfyre]

TheArchDuke said:

what i love about black metal is not the darkness of it. what draw me towards that style in a purely musical sense is the beautiful atmospheric sound and the almost...swelling and swirling sound of the melodies. true they are very dark...i guess i just love music in minor keys. but of course there are alot of style's that sound like that.

The music of the Christian band DarkLayStill speaks louder than words ....OK, pun...but I think that their sound is both unique and impressive. Keep asking TheArchDuke (Ragnvald) for the words to the music! Their message is equally impressive.

Of course, if you’re older than thirty, or can’t remember how much you liked groups like Led Zeppelin, Cream, Mountain, or Grand Funk Railroad...you’ll need to get out your eat plugs. But for the rest of us, listen and learn.

He who has ears

, let him hear...

Matthew

[TheArchDuke]

Soulfyre said:

The music of the Christian band DarkLayStill speaks louder than words ....OK, pun...but I think that their sound is both unique and impressive. Keep asking TheArchDuke (Ragnvald) for the words to the music! Their message is equally impressive.

Of course, if you’re older than thirty, or can’t remember how much you liked groups like Led Zeppelin, Cream, Mountain, or Grand Funk Railroad...you’ll need to get out your eat plugs. But for the rest of us, listen and learn.

He who has ears

, let him hear...

Matthew

ok i'll post my songs. this promises to be a long entry though

they go in a certain order so the first one leaves the problem unresolved. just a warning so that you don't read the first one and think i've already given up hope. satan gets what's coming to him later in the story

THE ANGEL OF LIGHT
The brightest of all angels
Haunting beauty masks your ill intent.
Satan.
Deciever.
Your pride is an infection.
Your eyes burn beautifully with hatred.
Your carrion heart is as cold is winter.
Spread your furious wings and
take flight to decieve the earth.
Heart full of terror,
for your time is short.


(this next one has no name yet. maybe you could suggest something for me)
Down, down
Storm the gates.
Hell cannot withstand the fury of the Lord,
and heaven cannot contain it.
The day of the Lord approaches;
all of our souls will be loosened from their flesh.
And on that day, we, who have power and authority
over the mountains
and the demons that dwell beneath them,
we will judge the angels.


DEATH IS NO RELEASE (this one isn't finished yet. i'm still re-wording things)
Death, you have no power over me.
I have been pierced to the heart by the sharpest sword.
My bone was separated from the marrow.
I was buried into death with Christ
and I was rescued from the frozen dark of the grave.
Death, your sycthe has been dulled
and cannot penetrate.
Death, you are behind me.
Before me now is the life that only
rebirth can bring.
Death, you are defeated.
My new purpose is to
serve Jesus Christ who is the Lord.
In His name do we crush the demon hordes.
We are clothed in His light
and by His Blood we justified.
A warning to the people of the earth:
Death is not relief.
When you pass on,
Death will only tighten his grip on thee.
For those who have not been freed,
Death is no release.


AWAIT ASCENSION (this one was co-written by a friend of mine who likes high fantasy alot so that comes out in the beginning of the song alittle bit. i thought it was alittle cheesy with the 'dark flames' and all, but it sounds good with the music)

As I decend,
one thousand blades of black flame
rend my flesh,
and i am nearly torn asunder.

As I decend,
I proclaim with a false sense of victory
that God is dead.

As I decend,
a new brightness up above
burns my eyes as I am cleansed.

Cleansed by flame!
I am made pure!

I awaited ascension
but remained in the pit.
"Why, O Lord, do you keep me here?"
"You have been redeemed,
but I keep you here to fight.
For my kingdom suffers violence
and violent men must take it by force."

WHITE BLADES THROUGH BLACK HEARTS (co-written with my sister)
There are screams in the wind tonight;
demons to your left and angels to your right.
Forget all that you were taught to feel,
erase this moment what you thought was real.
Darkness creeps in and pierces the night
but angels stand behind you, robed in white.

Legions of angels draw their swords
and raise a cry to the approaching hordes.
One after another the sons of pride fall before angelic steel.

White blades pierce black hearts.
Still they blaspheme the Lords name;
even in the midst of defeat.
Their hearts are hardened
and the dead keep to themselves.

Leave not one standing.
Let not one be left alive to bury the dead.

The battle belongs to the Lord.
In Him is our victory.


THE SAINT AND THE MARTYR (our last song. very quiet and restful sounding.)
"What could eternity possibly
have to offer mortals like we?",
or so speak the dead.
For we are not mortals.
There is no peace like
the peace that follows victory.
True, all men fall prey to the hourglass
and we all will shed
this mortal shell.
But, when the war in heaven is over,
Eternal serenity,
Immortal peace,
Everlasting rest
await the saint
and the martyr.


i'm no theologian so i hope everything is accurate in my lyrics.if anyone sees any inconsistencies with the Bible then please point them out. thanks

[TheArchDuke]

Soulfyre said:

He who has ears

, let him hear...

Matthew

AHAHA i didn't notice that the first time i read your post! hahaha very funny!

[melinky]

I'm listening to "White Blades Through Black Hearts" now. Hmmmm. I love the music, it's fabulous! I love the complexity and layering of sound; I am totally impressed! However, I can't handle the "vocals." Doesn't screaming like that kill your throat? It hurt mine just listening. LOL

As for the lyrics, I like them, especially "Await Ascension"

As I decend,
one thousand blades of black flame
rend my flesh,
and i am nearly torn asunder.

As I decend,
I proclaim with a false sense of victory
that God is dead.

As I decend,
a new brightness up above
burns my eyes as I am cleansed.

very interesting stuff. I still don't understand the need for such demonic sounding vocals, but that's probably due to my advanced age.

There is only one problem that I really have, and this is just my gut feeling and not any kind of put-down to you and your band, because I really do believe that you have a mission for God and I don't believe He will lead you in a wrong direction. My problem, or fear, is that Satan will take glory any way he can get it, including from a song that insinuates his demise. (Kind of like the way God will sometimes use bad circumstances in a person's life to eventually work His good.) I guess that brings up another question, do people who listen to this type of music actually understand the vocals, or do they just like the sound? Also, what kind of audience do you play to?

[TheArchDuke]

melinky said:

There is only one problem that I really have, and this is just my gut feeling and not any kind of put-down to you and your band, because I really do believe that you have a mission for God and I don't believe He will lead you in a wrong direction. My problem, or fear, is that Satan will take glory any way he can get it, including from a song that insinuates his demise. (Kind of like the way God will sometimes use bad circumstances in a person's life to eventually work His good.) I guess that brings up another question, do people who listen to this type of music actually understand the vocals, or do they just like the sound? Also, what kind of audience do you play to?

thank you for the compliment! yes the vocals are definitely an aquired taste haha. i don't know how he does it but his voice is always fine after band practice and concerts. the point you bring up about satan taking credit is very interesting. because pride isn't just thinking of yourself as better, it's thinking of yourself, period. the music is really written mostly as a reply to secular bands and their claims that God is already defeated. also, another thing you have to understand is i've only posted the lyrics to the songs that i have personally written for the band. i tend to write the battle songs. our "singer" tends to write the ministry/outreach type of songs. he tends to write about the good things about being on God's side and i write about the bad things about being on the other side haha. that's just how my mind has always worked i think. as far as people understanding our lyrics, most people who come to see us play actually sing along! haha. even if they don't understand all of the words at the concert, we have plenty of talking time in between songs and we make ourselves available after concerts if people want to ask us a question, tell us something. whenever we produce CD's we're always going to have a mission statement and the lyrics in the CD jacket. bassically we want there to be no mistake about who we are and what we're trying to do. thanks for listening to our song though. i didn't expect you to like any of it really haha. it's really a style of music for musicians i think. i've noticed that MOSTLY only people who play extreme forms of metal really like it. but that's ok because that's who we're trying to reach.

[Soulfyre]

TheArchDuke said:

i didn't expect you to like any of it really haha. it's really a style of music for musicians i think. i've noticed that MOSTLY only people who play extreme forms of metal really like it. but that's ok because that's who we're trying to reach.

Well, of course, some of us older "head-bangers" enjoy it. Maybe its just that we lost a good deal of our hearing during Woodstock, so now music has to be loud for us to hear it at all ( ). Seriously, it's beginning to sort of grow on me...do you suppose their is something topical I could use on it?

God bless, my brother. Keep blazin' for God.

Matthew (soulfyre)

[melinky]

Soulfyre said:

Seriously, it's beginning to sort of grow on me...do you suppose their is something topical I could use on it?

LOL Matthew!

As for liking the music, I like a wide variety of music, though right now I'm listening to mostly Christian rock; Steven Curtis Chapman, Casting Crowns and MercyMe are my favorites. HOWEVER, I also love classical (particularly baroque), opera, jazz (just about all varieties), and a good deal of metal (though I care for the lyrics as much as the instrumentals). As you can see, I tend to like my music complex and layered (Billy Corgan is a master at this). Though I've listened to plenty in my life, the simple 4/4 time of country music and most mainstream rock doesn't appeal to me much, unless there is a degree of complexity. If I want great lyrics, I don't think you can beat Christian rock though.

I was just checking in, gotta run for now,

Melinda

[TheArchDuke]

Soulfyre said:

Seriously, it's beginning to sort of grow on me...do you suppose their is something topical I could use on it?

hahaha! that's so funny. i have to tell the guys about that

[Soulfyre]

I have recently added musical capability to my blogsite, Soulfyre's Confessions of a Daily Christian. Stop by and let me know how you like my first selection.

God bless and keep you always as we worship Him in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs,

Matthew (soulfyre)