By Jeremy Myers Filed Under Life, Mission Written on October 3, 2008

New Favorite Music

Here is the timeline for my music-listening preferences:

Birth-Jr. High: Only Christian music
Jr. High-High School: Mostly “Secular” music
College-Pastoral Ministry: Mostly Christian music, Some country music
2005-2008: No music at all
June 2008-Present: Mostly Secular music

Generally, when I made the switch from Christian to secular music, it was because the Christian music sounded so fake and empty. Most Christian music seemed to be about happy feelings and happy lives and how great God is and how awesome is His name. Also, there were those breathless love songs to Jesus, which always made me squirm. Oh, and the songs about fountains and tides of blood, creeped me out a bit. So I would switch to “secular” music where people sang about the issues and feelings I was actually dealing with in my mind, heart, and life.

But then some Christian would come along and tell me that “secular” music was evil, and I needed to repent and only listen to Godly music which didn’t tempt me to sleep around, take drugs, and kill cops. So I would trash all my secular albums, and go back to the Christian stuff.

Finally, about three years ago, I just gave it all up. I couldn’t, as a “good Christian,” listen to the secular stuff, and for the most part, I didn’t like listening to the Christian stuff. So I just didn’t listen to anything.

Then I read some books and talked with some people (like my pastor, Stephen Hammond) and realized that there should be no real division between “sacred” and “secular.” This is an artificial, man-made division to help some Christians feel self-righteous and holier-than-thou. Anything that is well done, whether music, art, cooking, or working, is a testimony to the goodness and creativity of God.

So I started listening to secular music again, and realized why I enjoyed it so much. Christian artists (with the exception of groups like Casting Crowns) seem to suffer from the illusion that since God is so great, when we come to Jesus, life becomes grand and all our problems disappear. Everybody knows this is hogwash, but nobody wants to admit it. ”Secular” artists do not try to hide the fact that this world and all our relationships are messed up. Instead, they lay things out the way they are, and often, they dream about something better, about the way things could be…if only things were different.

As an example, check out the lyrics to one my current favorite songs. It’s from the song by Nickleback called “Savin’ Me”

Prison gates won’t open up for me
On these hands and knees I’m crawlin’
Oh, I reach for you
Well I’m terrified of these four walls
These iron bars can’t hold my soul in
All I need is you
Come please I’m callin’
And oh I scream for you
Hurry I’m fallin’, I’m fallin’

Chorus: Show me what it’s like
To be the last one standing
And teach me wrong from right
And I’ll show you what I can be
Say it for me
Say it to me
And I’ll leave this life behind me
Say it if it’s worth saving me

Heaven’s gates won’t open up for me
With these broken wings I’m fallin’
And all I see is you
These city walls ain’t got no love for me
I’m on the ledge of the eighteenth story
And oh I scream for you
Come please I’m callin’
And all I need from you
Hurry I’m fallin’, I’m fallin’

Also from Nickleback, here are the lyrics from their song entitled “If Everyone Cared”:

And as we lie beneath the stars
We realize how small we are
If they could love like you and me
Imagine what the world could be.

If everyone cared and nobody cried
If everyone loved and nobody lied
If everyone shared and swallowed their pride
Then we’d see the day when nobody died
When nobody died…

These lyrics are not exactly perfect in their theology, but who says they should be? What they reveal is a heart longing for forgiveness, redemption, and a world set straight. Such songs create amazing bridges with other people to talk about what Jesus offers the world.

So the next time you are in your car driving to work or the grocery store, try flipping to a “secular” station. As you listen to what they are singing about, you will begin to learn and understand what people are feeling and longing for. See if your heart doesn’t begin to break.

P.S. I have also recently enjoyed songs by Coldplay (“Viva la Vida”) and The Fray (“How to Save a Life”). If you know other songs I might like, mention them in the comments below.

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Mark

Jeremy, THANK YOU! I have lived my 28 years as a Christian (I am 53) and early on felt absolutely in love with Christ and then FELL OUT of love for Him. Why? Well it wasn’t ALL backsliding as some well meaning Christians insinuated back then. A lot had to do with EXPECTATIONS-unbiblical ones at that. I was eaten up by the- ALL TRUE BELIEVERS LIVE CONTINUOUSLY OVERCOMING LIVES! I came from a family of addicts and co-addicts (my dad RIP was a prescription drug addict, compulsive gambler and binge alcoholic) and learned early on that if bad were to happen it was to happen to me. Even after I became a believer the way I was raised haunted me and the advice I received ranged from trust Jesus more to -Are you sure your a believer. Ultimately I fell into a suicidal depression and got helped in a secular environment (I personally have a hard time with the term secular as I believe all the graceful elements of help be they Christian with a cross on the building or secular w/out the cross have as their origin God and His Son and Spirit even working through people unaware of the Author of the graces they extend). I have learned the truth as the Bible states the truth and my favorite passage is 2 Corinthians 1:4 “..who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” The lesson: We ALL suffer affliction and God wants us to comfort and love one another through it! —– So yea Jeremy — the secular world cries out all the time- and ignoring their pain and denying their pain isn’t God’s way. For me it’s walking through the pain to the arms of the One! and always will be! Thanks so much!
http://www.tillhecomes.org Jeremy Myers

Mark,

Thanks for the comment and for sharing part of your story. It sounds like you have lived through quite a bit of pain. I am sure that God is using the pain you have lived through to help others who are experiencing similar pain. Keep it up!
Diane

Hi Jeremy,

I liked that picture of you on your pastor’s website. Glad to hear how the Lord’s using you in people’s lives!!!

Interesting post regarding music. Yes, Music is God’s creation! Your post caught my attention because music is how I served the Lord in ministry most of my life and I loved it. I always was thankful to the Lord for giving me that privilege of serving Him in that realm.

Years ago I would write these simple little songs that God would put on my heart at the time. Today they would not be sung because the rhythms wouldn’t fit today’s contemporary music. But the words were written from true life experiences that I had at the time. Here’s the words to one little song I wrote after talking with a young Christian man who was going through a heart break and had lots of questions about why God wouldn’t let him and the girl he loved be together. After our talk I went home and wrote this simple little song for him.

(Country style with guitar)…. 4/4 time…

Why? Why? does God let such bad things happen?
Why? Why? this is the question people ask.
Why? Why? does it seem as though God’s absent
Listen, God has spoken in His Son.

(Chorus)
It’s all because of sin that men suffer.
There’s certain things in life we do not understand.
But if God our creator sent His only Son to die,
this I know for sure He loves me, in Him I will rely.

Why? Why is a word I’m not concerned with
TRUST! This word I know is mine.
For I know that my Father works good for me
because He sent His only Son to die.

(Then just the instruments play before repeating the words.)
THE END!

Music is a gift from God, and I personally love the music that glorifies Him.

Thanks for your post. You and your family will always have a special place in my heart.

In Jesus’ love,
Diane
http://www.tillhecomes.org Jeremy Myers

Diane,

Thanks for the song! I didn’t know you wrote music! That is wonderful. Are you playing in your church now?

I also really like country music. During the past three years, though I haven’t listened to much music, I have listened to some country.
Daniel

hey jeremy,

i was out at westcliffe today and they were all asking about you. i told them i hadn’t heard from you in a while but keep up with you through your blog. e-mail and let me know how everything is going and what you are up to.

as far as good music, i have never really been into the christian music scene that much either. the christian bands that i keep coming back to are switchfoot (you should check out jon foreman’s [lead singer] solo stuff, especially his album titled “fall,” read the lyrics for sure, the guy can write!), waterdeep (also go to their website or itunes and listen to some of their old stuff when they were just don and lori chaffer, extremely creative and original…no touchy feely), derek webb, tyler burkum (used to be with audio adrenaline, extremely talented) and bebo norman.

the secular stuff [sorry, i read your post and i totally agree] i like is led zeppelin, guns and roses, acdc, lynyrd skynyrd, pink floyd, cream, jimi hendrix, rolling stones, swell season, ray lamontagne (very cool), feist, wilco (also very good), norah jones, eva cassidy and many others (including lots of old country (50′s 60′s and 70′s) but I am guessing you would not be interested! i really like the classic rock and the folky/acoustic stuff that a lot of people are into right now.

get on itunes if you don’t already have it and you can find someone you like and then on the right side, you can follow a link to what other people bought who also bought the album you are looking at, or you can find the band you like’s myspace page and then follow links to their friends and other bands. but beware, this can turn into hours of wondering around the web.

i really do enjoy music and i totally know what you mean when you say you are tired of the hokey feel good stuff. i know i left some bands and groups out, but these are the ones i thought of off the top of my head.

hope you all are doing well.
Diane

Hi Jeremy,

You asked if I’m playing in my church now. YES! Piano’s always been my preferred instrument, although I play the electric keyboard now in my church most of the time with the praise team. Music’s always been a big part of my life. My dad was a wonderful banjo player… had his own band back in the days of songs like…. “Five Foot Two, Eyes Are Blue,” “12th Street Rag”!
These are all before your time (mine too, except I remember my dad playing all that stuff).
Then my twin brother was a great electric guitar player. He used his music in the secular realm. He even filled in once or twice for Johnny Cash. He died at the young age of 23. I believe I’ll see him again, but that’s a long story in and of itself.
My only other living brother plays the banjo also like my dad. So music is in my genes you might say!

I became a Christian in high-school and have always used my piano in the church, also accompanying high school and college choirs, etc. In fact, my husband and I traveled in a musical gospel team before we were married (and after) representing the Bible College we went to. It was great fun. I loved it. Still do.

But I agree that a lot of music is all show and emotion. I like Christian music with real meaningful words that speak to my heart from the Word of God.

I’m sorry to go on about me. You’re the one I’m interested in. I hope you’re doing well. I can see already how the Lord is working in and through you. Your pastor raved about how much you’ve meant to him. Quite a testimony.

Hope you enjoy each day with the Lord, I wish you God’s best.

Your friend always,
Diane
http://shoesoffatthedoorplease.blogspot.com/ Matthew C

I hardly listen to any Christian music.
http://shoesoffatthedoorplease.blogspot.com/ Matthew C

I mostly listen to Death and Black metal.
http://www.rosesreasonings.blogspot.com Rose~

Hi Jeremy,
I hope youa re doing well. :~)
I kinda like Nikleback too.
http://fullcontactchristianity.org/ Tim Nichols

Jeremy,

I’m catching up on my reading, can you tell?

I stopped listening to Christian music almost completely back in ’98 or ’99. I still don’t listen to much. But have you checked out Sons of Korah? Music’s pretty good, and I can’t very well complain about the lyrics — the Songwriter knows, better than anyone, what we need to sing about. It’s been an enormous blessing to my walk with God to begin to sing the psalms. I can’t believe I come from a background of strong, hymn-singing churches, and I never really learned to do this.

I’m getting more and more rabid about psalm-singing, and if the church as a whole would return to it — as we’re clearly commanded to do — I think that would train us in what to sing about. Music written by psalm-singing songwriters might well be worth listening to…

-Tim
Marianne

Andy doesn’t even like Nickelback that much be those are two of his favorite songs of all time!
http://withinthediscord.blogspot.com Amanda

I generally listen to a wide mix of both secular and Christian music. My favorite artist right now though, (and has been for a while,) is Jamie Cullum. Modern pop jazz type stuff. Here are some of my favorites, see what you think!

These Are the Days ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PXuIiHKk0H0

The Wind Cries Mary ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTdxAVPkUOk&feature=related

All At Sea ~ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUscn6VPfXc&feature=related

As far as Christian music goes, Gospel is by far my favorite. I listen to the Gaither Vocal Band and Ernie Haas & Signature Sound all the time.
Jennifer Lodine-Chaffey

I suggest you check out Sufjan Stevens. He writes about faith, but is not under a “christian” label. In addition, if you like Flannery O’Connor at all, he sometimes uses her themes in his work.