Music is a struggle, at least for me, I have some oldies but goldies.
And some times I like to reflect back, to a time in space..not to put
on the old man, but to appreciate where God brought me from..now
when I see, myself listening too much or too often, I go in prayer..!
I can't say for sure it is right, but my music to me is like looking at,
an old picture of myself, I know I can't go back, nor should I want to.
But it does bring a smile to my face, just as some music, make me
praise God all the more, cause some bring me to a place, I'd rather
forget..All I can say, is pray on it..and stay away from this stuff they
call music now days, the sound is the same, but the message is different.
I love you..I was almost ready to write a book on your blog..(smile).
See what that music does..

Hey Carol, I'm in your generation of music lovers ;-) and I love that old music beat and raw emotion too...like Janis Joplin. But this poor soul was certainly not an example of a Godly life. I not only love her raw emotion and honesty but I guess I feel like she was a lost soul who really needed the Lord and I feel sorry that she died so young. On other singers, I like the Rolling Stones and Eric Clapton, the Eagles, Doobie Brothers, Creedance Clearwater, Gladys Knight and the Pips...I could go on and on. I mean I like the talent and the beat, but I don't dance ...It is just that though I love music, I do not go out of my way to listen to these tunes...in fact, I hardly ever listen to music on the radio or on CD .....and I love the old hymns too!

All of this to say that I think some of us are more music lovers than others...and we struggle to varying degrees with it. It shouldn't surprise us that we love music. God made music and Satan was his number one musician until he wanted to be God. Now Satan uses music to destract and destroy...when we can..so the more we are in God, the less we will want to listen to what Satan promotes...It isn't because we can't (God gives us a free will) but the more we have of God, the less we want of the world.

Those are my thoughts. Thanks for an interesting topic. God bless.

If I listen to Carole King I cop a Carole King attitude. I went through a phase where I burned my music. Then I bought it again, Then I gave them away and then bought them again. Then thought giving them away means someone else is getting dragged into the same mess it would drag me into. That isn't an answer. I struggled then found that honestly this LAST time, pitched them and felt good. Like a book burning. It is sorta like wearing jeans instead of dressing up for work. You slump casually in jeans and sit a bit more proper in the right clothing.

I find when I feed my spirit holy music, I grow in faith. It is simply feeding my spirit food instead of a pacifier.

I'm pretty lucky in this area.  I grew up with the impression that Christian songs were nothing but sappy, over-produced, third-rate music with amateur lyrics.  A few years ago I followed a nudge of the spirit one afternoon driving home from work and spun the radio dial looking for a local Christian station.  Within seconds I stumbled onto the radio station that carries my then-future pastor's sermons and ultimately led us to our church.  The music really surprised me with it's quality, and I've never moved the dial since.  I'd put the talents of artists such as Steven Curtis Chapman, Casting Crowns, and Jeremy Camp up against anyone in any wing of the music industry.

I can honestly say I never paid much attention to the lyrics of the non-Christian music I listened to.  I can't NOT listen to the lyrics of Christian music.  I'd buy a non-Christian album knowing I'd like only half the songs.  Now I rarely find a song on an album from my favorite Christian singers that I don't get hooked on.  As others have said, I still have my old music, but simply don't feel the urge to listen to it very often.  When I do, I always feel a little let down because the enjoyment I used to have just isn't as strong, despite the fact that little if any of it is objectional in any way.  Only Christian music simultaneously fuels my heart, soul, and mind.

I can understand where you're coming from though, because while you have this problem in the area of music, I have that problem when it comes to books, particularly fiction.  For example, I read almost every Stephen King book when I was in my 20s.  I still love his imagination as a writer and would love to check in to see what he's come up with in the last few years, but I don't.  I might have listened to non-Christian music without paying much attention to the words, but that's obviously not possible when it comes to books.

Great discussion topic!

Thanks Carol for a very thought provoking blog. My taste in music changed completely after I was saved, but that was just my personal experience. I believe we should be balanced in every area of our life and be lead by the Holy Spirit. I personally love Celtic Christian music. Lianna Klassen's "History Belongs - #5" ...a song for intercessors... is my favorite. http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendid=154566055