Is Heavy Metal Evil?

[DraKKar]

Is heavy metal music evil? Should a Christian listen to this type of music?

 

[JonahofAkron]

No music is evil. Only the musicians or the lyrics. I listen to heavy metal put out by Christians and can say it is quite uplifting and encouraging.

 

[DraKKar]

So, are you saying that a Christian should only listen to Christian heavy metal? Is it ok for a Christian to listen to a satanic heavy metal band?

 

[s.i.e.]

You seem to be looking for a black-and-white answer to this question, so, I'll play along:

Is heavy metal music evil?

No.

Is it ok for a Christian to listen to a satanic heavy metal band?

No.

 

[DraKKar]

Is it ok for a Christian to listen to a satanic heavy metal band?

No.

Why not?

 

[JonahofAkron]

So, are you saying that a Christian should only listen to Christian heavy metal? Is it ok for a Christian to listen to a satanic heavy metal band?

The answer I gave was simple enough. What do the writers f the music write for? What is their point? If its not Messiah, get away from it.

 

[s.i.e.]

Why not?

Why isn't it ok for a Christian to listen to satanic heavy metal music?


Wow. Where to start...

I said no, it's not ok ---- because if you're a Christian, you wouldn't be persuaded to want to listen to satanic heavy metal music. If you are persuaded to do this, then something in your premise must be untrue, and I would instead conclude that either this band is truly not satanic, or this person isn't truly a Christian.

Opposites of personality may attract, but opposites of Spirit don't attract. It's water and oil / positive and negative / darkness and light. So, I said "no" because the premise of your statement couldn't be true.


Perhaps I missed what you may have meant/implied by "is it ok"? (not really sure what "ok" means or implies)

 

[DraKKar]

Why isn't it ok for a Christian to listen to satanic heavy metal music?


Wow. Where to start...

I said no, it's not ok ---- because if you're a Christian, you wouldn't be persuaded to want to listen to satanic heavy metal music. If you are persuaded to do this, then something in your premise must be untrue, and I would instead conclude that either this band is truly not satanic, or this person isn't truly a Christian.

Opposites of personality may attract, but opposites of Spirit don't attract. It's water and oil / positive and negative / darkness and light. So, I said "no" because the premise of your statement couldn't be true.


Perhaps I missed what you may have meant/implied by "is it ok"? (not really sure what "ok" means or implies)

If a Christian listens to a satanic heavy metal band, why is that different to a Christian watching, say, a horror film such as The Exorcist? Why can't you enjoy the music/film without agreeing with the subject matter?

 

[JonahofAkron]

Why isn't it ok for a Christian to listen to satanic heavy metal music?


Wow. Where to start...

I said no, it's not ok ---- because if you're a Christian, you wouldn't be persuaded to want to listen to satanic heavy metal music. If you are persuaded to do this, then something in your premise must be untrue, and I would instead conclude that either this band is truly not satanic, or this person isn't truly a Christian.

Opposites of personality may attract, but opposites of Spirit don't attract. It's water and oil / positive and negative / darkness and light. So, I said "no" because the premise of your statement couldn't be true.


Perhaps I missed what you may have meant/implied by "is it ok"? (not really sure what "ok" means or implies)

The question is about metal. Not
Satanic metal. There is a difference. Not all metal is satanic.

 

[JonahofAkron]

If a Christian listens to a satanic heavy metal band, why is that different to a Christian watching, say, a horror film such as The Exorcist? Why can't you enjoy the music/film without agreeing with the subject matter?

AlThough I say that if bad goes in, bad will come out, I'll roll with your hypothetical. Do you watch a movie several times in one day? I know that when I listen to music, it is usually frequent. I hear the same songs over and over again and find myself singing the words. Music has a way of sticking with us and we end up singing the songs even when we aren't listening. I quote movies, but not that often. They aren't as invasive to our memories as rhythmic songs are. If its not positive, it will not produce positivity in your life.

 

[s.i.e.]

The question is about metal. Not
Satanic metal. There is a difference. Not all metal is satanic.

You haven't read the thread then. It's true, the OP didn't talk about "satanic" metal...but later on, the question then morphed to that. :shock:

If a Christian listens to a satanic heavy metal band, why is that different to a Christian watching, say, a horror film such as The Exorcist? Why can't you enjoy the music/film without agreeing with the subject matter?

There is something of our spirits in music. We gravitate towards certain music because our spirits are drawn there. Music ultimately draws us towards worship. We identify with it. We feel certain lyrics are so close to our own selves, at times, right?

I'm not so sure the same can be said of movies. At times, it can, I suppose. And its not that movies are benign, but music is more inbred, or connective -- to our true selves, that is. Our spirits.


Anyways -- at some point in this thread, someone's gotta ask the question (so, it may as well be me!) about how one would determine what kind of "heavy metal" could be classified as "satanic", and what wouldn't? How / where do you go about drawing that line? Since you're asking the question, do you also have a way of bifurcating where that line gets drawn, and how, and what it would mean to "step over" that line?

What bands are "over the line" to you, vs. what bands would you consider to be ok?

Metalica?
Judas Priest?
Led Zeppelin? (some Christians who don't know better may lump them into this category)
Dio?
etc., etc., etc.,

 

[DraKKar]

You haven't read the thread then. It's true, the OP didn't talk about "satanic" metal...but later on, the question then morphed to that. :shock:



There is something of our spirits in music. We gravitate towards certain music because our spirits are drawn there. Music ultimately draws us towards worship. We identify with it. We feel certain lyrics are so close to our own selves, at times, right?

I'm not so sure the same can be said of movies. At times, it can, I suppose. And its not that movies are benign, but music is more inbred, or connective -- to our true selves, that is. Our spirits.


Anyways -- at some point in this thread, someone's gotta ask the question (so, it may as well be me!) about how one would determine what kind of "heavy metal" could be classified as "satanic", and what wouldn't? How / where do you go about drawing that line? Since you're asking the question, do you also have a way of bifurcating where that line gets drawn, and how, and what it would mean to "step over" that line?

What bands are "over the line" to you, vs. what bands would you consider to be ok?

Metalica?
Judas Priest?
Led Zeppelin? (some Christians who don't know better may lump them into this category)
Dio?
etc., etc., etc.,

None of the bands you mentioned could be considered satanic. Some bands sing about satan but are not satanists. And then there are bands that are satanists and freely admit it. It's complicated. But i still don't get the argument that you have to agree with the lyrics of a band if you listen to them. My favourite actor is John Wayne, but i think his politics sucked. Why can't music be listened to just for the music?

 

[gdemoss]

I used to worship with all of the ungodly, giving carnal glory and honor to men through metal music. Then I found out that the bible was true and that one must become a follower of Jesus. At first, I though that I could just switch to christian metal and that would make everything better. But honestly, listening to that stuff is about me, not about Jesus. Even if it talks about him. It is still just me wanting to enjoy myself because of the way the music moves my flesh, not my spirit. Before I was born of the spirit, the music still had the same impact on me as it does now. It was never about living in the spirit or worshiping God. It is no different than porn as it is just about my pleasure. I chose not to partake.

 

[DraKKar]

I used to worship with all of the ungodly, giving carnal glory and honor to men through metal music. Then I found out that the bible was true and that one must become a follower of Jesus. At first, I though that I could just switch to christian metal and that would make everything better. But honestly, listening to that stuff is about me, not about Jesus. Even if it talks about him. It is still just me wanting to enjoy myself because of the way the music moves my flesh, not my spirit. Before I was born of the spirit, the music still had the same impact on me as it does now. It was never about living in the spirit or worshiping God. It is no different than porn as it is just about my pleasure. I chose not to partake.

So what music, if any, do you listen to now?

 

[gdemoss]

So what music, if any, do you listen to now?

Great question! I don't spend time listening to music much anymore. Most of my time is spent studying scripture. I do however sing unto the Lord when the spirit moves me. How about you?

 

[DraKKar]

Great question! I don't spend time listening to music much anymore. Most of my time is spent studying scripture. I do however sing unto the Lord when the spirit moves me. How about you?

Well, i'm a big metal fan, but am trying to work out if i should start listening to Christian metal only. I don't agree with what you wrote about Christian heavy metal.

 

[gdemoss]

Well, i'm a big metal fan, but am trying to work out if i should start listening to Christian metal only. I don't agree with what you wrote about Christian heavy metal.

Fair enough. I just encourage you to spend your time working to improve your relationship with God through his word. You or I will only ever understand the real truth of any matter through him and what he has said. I have no real dogma over music as God wasn't explicitly specific in his word on the nature and place of music in a believers life. I have, however, considered the lack of material in the bible about Jesus entertaining himself by any means, to mean something. Not to say Jesus did not enjoy himself as he went to a wedding once, drank wine regularly and other times had children gathered about him. I just don't see him as one who sought out entertainment for selfish purposes.

However you feel about it, just keep learning and growing in his grace.

Take care

Gary

 

[s.i.e.]

None of the bands you mentioned could be considered satanic. Some bands sing about satan but are not satanists. And then there are bands that are satanists and freely admit it. It's complicated. But i still don't get the argument that you have to agree with the lyrics of a band if you listen to them.

Hmm...ok....then I'm curious what bands you would consider truly "satanic". Also...some that may claim they are satanic, may or may not be satanic, right? I mean, again, it goes to the question of how one would determine that, etc.

Anyways, do you listen to bands that you "know" to be satanic, and enjoy such music? (my next question would be "why"? How do you feel when you listen to it? What does it "do" for you? Why do you like it / what draws you?...if you want a preview of coming attractions )

 

[DraKKar]

Hmm...ok....then I'm curious what bands you would consider truly "satanic". Also...some that may claim they are satanic, may or may not be satanic, right? I mean, again, it goes to the question of how one would determine that, etc.

Anyways, do you listen to bands that you "know" to be satanic, and enjoy such music? (my next question would be "why"? How do you feel when you listen to it? What does it "do" for you? Why do you like it / what draws you?...if you want a preview of coming attractions )

I love the genres of Black and Death metal. Now, within these genres you will, to some peoples surprise, find Christian bands. Examples being Antestor, Crimson Moonlight, Holy Blood, Frost Like Ashes and many many more. But along with those bands i often listen to Deicide and Morbid Angel who would be considered 'satanic'. (Deicide's frontman, Glen Benton is open about the fact that he is a satanist.) When i listen to those sorts of bands i enjoy the music, but have no interest in the message. But when i listen to the Christian bands, i agree with the message. So, is it wrong to even listen to the satanic bands just for the music?

 

[Peace Seeker]

I love the genres of Black and Death metal. Now, within these genres you will, to some peoples surprise, find Christian bands. Examples being Antestor, Crimson Moonlight, Holy Blood, Frost Like Ashes and many many more. But along with those bands i often listen to Deicide and Morbid Angel who would be considered 'satanic'. (Deicide's frontman, Glen Benton is open about the fact that he is a satanist.) When i listen to those sorts of bands i enjoy the music, but have no interest in the message. But when i listen to the Christian bands, i agree with the message. So, is it wrong to even listen to the satanic bands just for the music?

To turn your question around, is it okay to support evil as long as it is giving you something? (What is so attractive about evil that one couldn't give it up?). Satan has no problem with giving people things if they'll support him.

If Anton La Vey's Church of Satan had a fund-raiser bake sale and had your favorite kind of pie on a table, would you buy one from them? Is merely liking the sound of a band, or liking a certain baked good, reason enough to support evil with your money? I would say no.

The only thing I can't live without is Jesus, everything else is just wants not needs.

I don't have a problem with metal but I do draw the line at openly satanic metal bands. There are so many good metal bands to choose from, so why would you need to listen to a satanic one?