Favorite Christian Rock Music

[ALLFORHIM]

Hi,

I dont like rap christian or otherwise. It is the style of music that just grates on my nerves.

 

[Epistemes]

I do like Christian rap. I definitely don’t have a problem with artists like tobyMac and Grits, but some of the lyrics are just…weird.

Like this rap from tobyMac’s hit song, “The Slam,”

The Father slammed it like Shaq
For Latinos and Blacks
Packin’ them straps
And Caucasians hooked on Ecstasy and the crack
Stacked the sins of this world to his body
And conquered evil and hell
Then snatched the keys of death in one breath and unlocked the cell
He rose on the third I’m tellin’ you partner, its actual fact
Just like TOBYMAC and Boney Soprano up on this track
We slam dunkin and keep it jumpin like jumper cables
And keep the crowd rowdy like Jesus tossin’ them temple tables

I wouldn’t call it disrespectful! But it sure seems unorthodox somehow.

 

[Faithful2]

What is your opinion of Christian Rock/Punk/Heavy Metal?

Not so much your taste, whether you like the style of music or not, but do you think this is an appropriate way to praise God? Should Catholics be more wary of this music since, more often than not, popular worship music contains Protestant theological concepts?

Two points and a question –

Even though MOST Christian Rock falls in the category of “Rock/Punk/Heavy Metal,” NOT ALL Christian Rock does. There ARE other classes of rock music. See Oremus Catholic Rock, www.oremusmusic.net. There are others, but that’s my favorite.

WHY do many Christian groups (including many Protestant groups) do “Rock/Punk/Heavy Metal?” – Because they think they have to, to sell or to compete or to be popular.

SO-- why don’t we help to reclaim and redefine the image of Christian Rock by supporting those groups which are compatible with our Catholic values! . Both the sound and the theological concepts.

The power of the consumer-- put it to work!. .
**What are YOUR favorite groups which are compatible with Catholic values? ** . **List them, share them, support them! Make it happen. . **

 

[lak611]

WHY do many Christian groups (including many Protestant groups) do “Rock/Punk/Heavy Metal?” – Because they think they have to, to sell or to compete or to be popular.

Maybe that’s the style they like. Maybe they were into Metallica or Green Day and as they matured in their walk as Christians decided to keep the sound but write lyrics that are more positive and uplifting. That’s why I like the Christian rock and punk. I grew up on secular rock and punk, but now I prefer something that is positive and glorifies God.

 

[Gamera]

Some of my favorite Christian heavy metal and hard rock bands:

Daniel Band
X-Sinner
Whitecross
Guardian
Angelica
Barnabas
Neon Cross
Casting Crowns

My favorite Christian rock group of all is Petra, but they aren’t hard rock.

There are a couple of Christian rock bands that I won’t listen to because they have anti-Catholic songs: Saint (“Vicars of Fate”) and Jerusalem (“Babylon Falling”). But 99.999% of the Christian rock music that I’ve heard isn’t like that.

 

[SedesDomi]

The Greatest Christian Rock band EVER: King’s X!

 

[Jeanette_L]

I’m not sure that I would classify most Christian Rock as worship, but more a means of edification to the Body of Christ, and like a previous poster said, everything we do should be offered as praise to God, I think listening to spiritually edifying music qualifies.

We all have different tastes, styles, etc., and the things that reach or speak to us are different. And these tastes or styles tend to change as we travel through life, so the music that edifies us will probably change as well.

Luckily, we live in an age where we can find what is edifying to us at any given stage in our journey. And with all the raunch that is thrown at us constantly in our culture, thank God, I mean truly, that we have a great alternative to all the trash out there!

I’m a Third Day fan, I also love Fernando Ortega. I like to throw in some Sela and others on occasion too!

 

[Asbestos_Mango]

Hi, aging headbanger weighing in.

Really don’t like Christian rock.

I have two reasons for this.

The first is that the vast majority of Christian rock/pop music that I’ve heard is simply not very good music. The lyrics tend to be drivel, even the heavy-metal songs. For entertainment purposes, I would much prefer to listen to secular rock, as long as the lyrics are clean and not Satanic (easier to find than you might think).

The second is that a lot of the lyrics tend to fall into the praise-and-worship category, and I think that that type of lyrical content in entertainment-type musical styles actually demean praise and worship. Yeah, let’s boogie/bang our heads/whatever for God. Really, it’s just worldly entertainment, with the lyrical content changed. For praise and worship, give me some good Gregorian, Greek liturgical, or, heck, Slavonic liturgical chant any day.

 

[cynic]

The problem with Christian rock/pop is that so often it’s incredibly boring. Intentionally boring. Creativity is viewed as something dubiouse, especially when not directly linked to worship. Christian rock or more specifically worship rock is like taking the cocoa out of chocolate, or the cream out of icecream, just pointless. That kind of music is for recreation. If that’s a sin then why don’t christians just be honest about it and say so, and not try and make some bland, souless, emotionless copy of the real thing.

 

[reborn_pagan]

P.O.D. and underoath are some of my favorite bands, i know there christian bands and i even read up on there lyrics and see that even though underOath is a screamo band i can see the christian sides of them and along with P.O.D.

i even listen to matisyahu (probly misspelled it) who is jewish and a regae singer, if its good music then…its good music

 

[spark25]

That Wonderful song Moses is probably about his son with Gweneth P. whose name is Moses. I don’t know because I don’t listen to them but that is my guess.

Yeah, there are a lot of bands which aren’t classified as “Christian” but who seem Christians nonetheless. I have wondered if Coldplay - or, at least, lyricist Chris Martin - isn’t a residual Christian lyricist since he does write about some spiritual topics, including the fact they have a wonderful song called “Moses.”

What worries me, personally, are the bands who might claim to be Christian in order to appeal to a certain niche market, but whose lyrics aren’t Christian. I know there is still a lot of debate concerning the hard-rock band Chevelle, who signed to a Christian label but has also toured on Ozzfest and whose albums also contain some profanity. This shouldn’t be a worry for those of us who are old enough to determine what constitutes sound Christian lyrics and what doesn’t, but what about the younger audience?

As far as Creed, I’m not sure if they are Christian or not, but they do have some very spiritual lyrics. However, I know there’s a lot of scandal surrounding the actual band. You can read about some of these on wikipedia. They definitely seemed to have the message, but it appears they needed to work on witness. Don’t we all, though?

 

[Hastrman]

What is your opinion of Christian Rock/Punk/Heavy Metal?

Not so much your taste, whether you like the style of music or not, but do you think this is an appropriate way to praise God? Should Catholics be more wary of this music since, more often than not, popular worship music contains Protestant theological concepts?

I don’t think it’s appropriate, because it’s bad. God should not be praised by ugliness. Yes, he should be praised imperfectly rather than not at all, but there are many perfectly beautiful methods of praising God. Using bad rock to do it is just obstinance.

 

[Asbestos_Mango]

I don’t think it’s appropriate, because it’s bad. God should not be praised by ugliness. Yes, he should be praised imperfectly rather than not at all, but there are many perfectly beautiful methods of praising God. Using bad rock to do it is just obstinance.

Aging headbanger weighing in again.

Who says punk/heavy metal are bad and ugly? Granted, a lot of the newer stuff sounds like, well, not music, but I don’t think hard rock is inherently ugly. God is glorified by good music well played in all of it’s forms, even the more rhythmically aggressive varieties. But then, I still have a problem with the idea of “praise and worship” music as entertainment. If a person has certain religious/spiritual beliefs, the beliefs are going to be reflected in the song lyrics, and this is a good thing, but it’s still primarily entertainment. Probably preferable to have the younuns listen to it than King Diamond, though.

 

[rocklobster]

Here are my favorites:

• Third Day
• Relient K
• Rebecca St. James
• Casting Crowns (I love “Does Anybody Hear Her”)
• Mercy Me
• Delirious?
• Point of Grace
• Chris Tomlin
• Amy Grant

 

[AlegreFe]

What is your opinion of Christian Rock/Punk/Heavy Metal?

Not so much your taste, whether you like the style of music or not, but do you think this is an appropriate way to praise God? Should Catholics be more wary of this music since, more often than not, popular worship music contains Protestant theological concepts?

I don’t care for Christian Rock at all. One, I don’t like the sound. Two, it’s mostly Protestant stuff.

I have heard some Protestant Christian music which I do like though, but not the ones that sound more “rockish” or in the “punk” or “heavy metal” sounds. I like some classic rock or soft rock music but I just can’t enjoy that kind of music to go with Catholic/Christian themes. Just doesn’t seem to go together for me.

The Protestant music that I do like though, which is more contemporary and softer sounding, cannot have anything anti-Catholic in it though or something that doesn’t fit in with Catholic theology or teachings.

There are plenty of Catholic artists that I like so there’s no fear of ever not having enough Catholic Christian music. The Christian music that I have on my iPod is mostly (about 99%) Catholic and very little Protestant Christian stuff.

 

[AlegreFe]

I don’t usually listen to Christian songs, but I have a CD of Relient K, which is basically a pop-punk Christian band. I don’t know much about the difference between Catholic and Protestant theologies, but the lyrics of Relient K are not bad. I don’t always agree with them, but I don’t see whey they should be deemed an inappropriate way to worship God.

Oh yeah that’s right, I forgot to answer the OP question about appropriateness in praising God with “rock” or “punk” music. In my opinion, it definitely is not, but that’s just me. I’d rather stick with the music I hear at Mass for worshipping and praising God. I also would rather listen to the Catholic/Christian music that I like (that’s not heard at Mass) to worship and praise God.

• Donna Cori Gibson
• Tatiana
• Daughters of St. Paul
• The Foxhoven Family
• The Hanson Family
• Michael Joncas
• The Cathedral Singers
• Joe Hand
• Angel Gutiérrez
• David Jeremiah
• Rose of Sharon Media
• Monastic Choir Of The Abbey Of Notre Dame
• Most any Gregorian Chant (I have lots)
• Most any “Catholic Classics” CD (I have a few)

Those are just to name some that I have.
That’s pretty much my taste in Catholic/Christian music.

 

[AlegreFe]

Every living act should be used to praise God. In reality, we should offer everything up as a prayer to God. Such music (I personally like Relient K) is certainly not offensive to God unless it contains ideas in opposition to the Catholic faith. I skip such songs. However, I don’t think that these songs would be appropriate at Mass. If you’re listening to them for pleasure, I don’t think there is anything wrong with that.

I’ve never heard of Relient K. But I know that a lot of the music that I like is not played at Mass. Although I don’t think it would be bad to play at Mass because the Catholic/Christian music that I do like is not “rockish” sounding. But I think I’d rather just hear the Catholic Classics at Mass and the Classic Latin music/songs.

AquinaSavio:

That being said, Gregorian Chant is still # 1 on my music list.

:yup: I definitely love most any Gregorian Chant!

 

[AlegreFe]

Really don’t like Christian rock.

Same here.
Asbestos Mango:

The first is that the vast majority of Christian rock/pop music that I’ve heard is simply not very good music. The lyrics tend to be drivel, even the heavy-metal songs. For entertainment purposes, I would much prefer to listen to secular rock, as long as the lyrics are clean and not Satanic (easier to find than you might think).

I agree! I basically said the same thing. The more classic rock or soft rock that I like, I just like as secular but not anything with crazy or bad lyrics.
Asbestos Mango:

The second is that a lot of the lyrics tend to fall into the praise-and-worship category, and I think that that type of lyrical content in entertainment-type musical styles actually demean praise and worship. Yeah, let’s boogie/bang our heads/whatever for God. Really, it’s just worldly entertainment, with the lyrical content changed.
(emphasis added)

That’s basically the same way that I feel about that kind of music. I can smell a Protestant song on the radio instantly as opposed to a Catholic one. I’d rather put on my iPod in the car. Plenty of Cathoilc/Christian music that I like on there.
Asbestos Mango:

For praise and worship, give me some good Gregorian, Greek liturgical, or, heck, Slavonic liturgical chant any day.

Absolutely!

 

[Oblaidon]

What is your favorite Christian group or singer?

I like Rachel Lampa. I also like Jars of Clay.

 

[Cat]

Sorry, I’m one of those Christians who believes that all good Christian rock music ended when 2nd Chapter of Acts finally broke up their group.

I went to see Matthew Ward a few years ago, and he’s still really good. Old, like me, but good.

I’m lost in the 70s and 80s when it comes to Christian rock music.