If you know me, you'd know that I am a little bit in love with Solange and would pick her to be my friend out of any person in the whole world!
Alongside Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison and Chiamanda Ngozi Adichie.
The reason I titled this post "A Seat At The Table" is because it is the first non-Christian album that I have actively sought out and listened too for the first time in almost 8-10 months/ish.
This then led me to ask myself – “Am I allowed to listen to non-Christian (secular) music?”
Now, don't get the wrong idea and think that being a Christian means that there are a load of rules and regulations that must be carried out. No.
I believe that Christianity is a relationship with Christ. As you grow as a Christian and in relationship with God, you become more aware of the actions that you do which take you away from His presence, which ultimately leads to the change of lifestyle.
I made a decision this year that I wanted to limit the amount of non-Godly influences I had in my life to allow myself to draw closer to Christ - that included the type of music I listened too and what I allowed myself to watch on TV.
Why did I do this? Music, TV, films – media in general has a massive influence in what we do, how we treat others, how we act, how we think, feel etc.
There are studies done on how you can hear or smell something familiar and it’ll take you back to a specific time, person and memory.
There are some people and some memories that I would rather not remember!
I felt as if I had mentally made a decision to stop smoking, drinking, feeling insecure, feeling depressed, going out and having sex but I was continuously listening to people sing about or act about how great (or not so great) that lifestyle was.
I wanted to move on and I was wondering why I couldn't.
After listening to my Pastor talk about how we should guard our relationship with Christ the same way we’d guard our relationship with our boyfriend/girlfriend and wife/husband I thought I’d give it a try.
There is also a scripture in the bible where King Saul is depressed and David sings/plays an instrument to him and Saul instantly felt better because of the music.
(1 Samuel 16:23)
I really believe this shows how much power and how much influence music/media has over our lives! And if I’m going to be influenced by music, I at least want the influence to be an uplifting and positive one.
I want to lift up God's name and worship Him with my whole heart and soul, giving Him the glory and honour deserved to Him.
In all that I do, and in all that I listen too, I want to glorify God.
Have a listen to my video and tell me what you think:
Can Christians actively listen to secular music?
Until next time,
Chid x