Comments on: Should We Use Secular Songs on Sundays?

By: Nini

Nini — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 22:13:51 +0000

Thanks Bob! I cannot agree with you more on this topic. There is a secular song that has been used at my church and many other churches and now Chris Tomlin has his own rendition of it and I don’t understand what is so “christian” or “godly” about it! It’s U2’s “Where the Streets Have No Name.” If someone can tell me why I’d wanna be in heaven “burning down love” and what the heck is a “dust cloud” doing in heaven, maybe I’ll consider it again. I really think whoever wrote it was high on some drug or hallucinogen and was as far from heaven as the one who wrote the Lonely Boys’ “Heaven” which has also been used at my church for a series we recently had on Heaven. Couldn’t we have used “Revelation Song” to create a much better picture?

By: Paul

Paul — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:39:11 +0000

Bob, would you consider “Everything” by Lifehouse a “secular song that should not be used in a Church setting? It appears to have not been written as a love song between a man and woman, bit rather sung to God from a believer.

Here are the lyrics:

Find Me Here
Speak To Me
I want to feel you
I need to hear you
You are the light
That’s leading me
To the place
where I find peace, again.

You are the strength, that keeps me walking.
You are the hope, that keeps me trusting.
You are the light, to my soul.
You are my purpose, you’re everything.

And how can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?

You calm the storms, and you give me rest.
You hold me in your hands, you won’t let me fall.
You still my heart, and you take my breath away.
Would you take me in? Take me deeper now?

And How can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?
And how can I stand here with you and not be moved by you?
Would you tell me how could it be any better than this?

Cause you’re all I want, you’re all I need
You’re everything, everything
You’re all I want, you’re all I need
You’re everything, everything.

By: Shawna

Shawna — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 15:10:08 +0000

Not to be disrespectful, but I don’t think that Jesus would plug in secular songs. Honestly. #1, songs like “Your body is a Wonderland” have lyrics that imply a man and a woman being sexually intimate, while not married. And yes, I do understand that the sermon was about sexuality, BUT I do not believe that the Lord himself would sing the song. Why would he encourage such a thing? If HE wouldn’t sing it, then why should I in the church setting?

#2…There are so many better ways to express Christ’s love, and so many DIFFERENT ways to get the point across, rather than to “accept” secular music, and actually USE it in a WORSHIP service. That is time for worship. Not time for people to sing John Mayer. It would be the same if someone got in front of the church and started rapping 50 cent, or singing “Shake Your Tailfeather”. Maybe the pastor would be trying to preach on sexuality..I’m pretty sure that it would not be acceptable. Maybe Rap songs would bring in the folks that really like hip-hop/rap…The line has to be drawn somewhere…Why even start down that road?

WWJD? He would probably want you to worship just as He worships…

By: Dacia

Dacia — Sun, 17 May 2009 03:10:13 +0000

There should not be a difference between coporate worship and evangelism. A service should be open and welcoming to any and ALL that might come through the doors. The context in which we sing a song - whether or not we’re focused on God and singing from our HEARTS - is all that matters to God.

The GREAT commission - Therefore go and make disciples of ALL nations. Not some. Not a few. ALL.

If that means plugging in a secular song here and there (as long as God is still at the center of it all) what in the world is all the fuss about???

Seriously folks. WWJD?

By: Andrew

Andrew — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 15:18:44 +0000

When I think of worshipping in spirit and in truth, I think of an audience of One. What would God like to hear? What would He find pleasing? I think there is a distinction between corperate worship and evangilism. If I am trying to make some social statement, who is it to? Since it is not to Him, I don’t think that is worship.
Also when contemplating the use of any music a relevant question may be, does it appeal to the flesh or to the spirit?

By: Jadie Stiven

Jadie Stiven — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 20:26:35 +0000

Aaron,

I appreciate you messaging back. I do understand that it is illegal. I was not suggesting that it was not (I think sometimes communication in ‘text format’ can be misleading).

It is more the point that Bob skillfully did not just come out with, IT’S ILLEGAL - SO DON’T DO IT!!… but rather he sought to get to the heart of why it is not useful to simply change the words to secular songs.

… but then he DOES tag on the end the “obvious” statement.

(I probably should not have gone into it - If I am honest, I think it reveals my sinfulness in getting a little frustrated. Forgive me)

Out of interest - I knew of a church that changed the words to a song - and changed them for the worse! They changed the words of the song, ‘blessed be your name’. Instead of reading “You give and take away”… they sang… “You give in every way”.

What a shame! Not only is it illegal as you point out - but refusing what is biblical. They could not understand that God could ever, ‘take away’!?!

Anyways - thank you for messaging back <

By: Aaron Campbell

Aaron Campbell — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 20:44:43 +0000

Jadie,

It is actually illegal to change the words of a song and use it in a public format without receiving permission to do so from the owner of the song. We used to sing “Above All” and change the last line of the chorus to try and correct the theological issue, but then I read that it was truly illegal to do so. So now we just don’t sing it.

By: kimk

kimk — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 18:26:13 +0000

Hellooooo! Is there anybody out there that cares what God has said. Our opinions will not change what His word says. Do you love what God loves and hate what God hates? Unless the song was written for the Lord to give Him praise, not for entertaining people, then it should not be played in His house. Why would you want it to anyway? I use to listen to secular music, when I was living for myself. Hearing that kind of music did not bring me to him, but after I did give my heart to him, my life changed, so has the music I listen to. Secular music belongs in the world, not in the place where we worship our Lord. Is that His house or ours?

By: Jadie Stiven

Jadie Stiven — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 22:04:51 +0000

Reading these 50 some comments has been interesting and enlightening.
I find some of the comments to this question simply amazing!
Unfortunately - not in a good way!

So much has been said…
… - to anyone who gets to the bottom of this page, and reads this comment - well done. You have endured a multitude of remarks. I hope you have found it as enlightening as I have!

My favorite comment has been from ‘Tiffany’. I am encouraged to know that someone like this is reading Bob’s blog! I hope it benefits her.
Well done Bob for encouraging her and noting that her passion for reaching her generation is admirable. But Tiffany, please take note when Bob suggests to you that the way you have proposed to do this is NOT the way to go about it. I pray that your passion becomes honed and directed toward a more fruitful path.

I am 24 also. May I say, I am not perfect (ask my wife). I am a sinner… but I am a sinner saved! I am redeemed by the precious blood of Christ.
What keeps me close to God? What brings me back when I am tempted, and stray? - it is the grace of God - the work of His Holy Spirit, and the power of the gospel in my life.

i.e - it is not the music, and it is certainly not secular music.

WE NEED THE WORD OF GOD!! - THE GOSPEL!!! this is what will transform the lives of the next generation… and this is what will keep them strong in their walk with God.

TO GOD BE THE GLORY GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE.

anyway - to end with….
my next favorite comment is Bob’s. I love the ‘dryness’ by finishing a resonse saying:
“… besides, … it’s illegal”.
You probably didn’t even mean it in that way, bob. - you are far to caring - but I love that kind of humour. Perhaps it is the brit in me! (No one else get it? - never mind).

Thanks <

By: Bob Kauflin

Bob Kauflin — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 20:26:26 +0000

Will,

Thanks for reading a post twice! Great question and it’s hard to answer without knowing the context. In most cases I’d say that tweaking a few words doesn’t do anything do distinguish the church from the world, and the associations people make with the song will still be there. Besides, it’s illegal.