Non-Christians playing Christian music

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NH93

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Hi all,

In college I once went to a choir performance where they sung some Christian songs. I was put off because the director was making some sarcastic comments about some of the composers of the songs and didn’t seem very reverent about it.

I also noticed the choir was made up of a bunch of different people from college or the local community and I wondered if they were all Christian and actually believed what they were singing. Or were there hearts not even united to the message of the music.

With that I have wondered: is it pleasing to (okay with) God for non-Christians to, either, play Christian music or at least participate in it by doing back up vocals or an instrument?

I have actual tried to avoid listening to Christian/Catholic/Gospel music if I’m unsure as to whether all the performers were Christian because I wouldn’t want to offend the Lord by playing music where one or all of the performers didn’t even mean what they were singing. But I also deal with somewhat of a scrupulous conscience so would like some help on this one.

Thanks and God bless
 
I lived near a cathedral and knew eg choir members who sang for the music and had no belief in what they sang. I could not do that .
 
We have two different questions here.

Is it okay for non-Christians to sing Christian music?

Is it okay for non-Christians to join choirs at Catholic churches?
  1. Non-Christians can sing and play Christian music. In fact, many non-Christian musicians and singers have been evangelized by the witness and beauty of Christian music.
On the other hand, any blasphemy by musicians in connection to practicing and performing such works will be judged by God. (But God also knows that musicians often don’t know any better.)

Obviously, the best possible way to perform Christian music is by real saintly believers who are also extremely good musicians. (And there is nothing like hearing a composed Catholic Mass sung at a Catholic Mass by Catholics.) But the Lord is not offended by people trying their best, whatever it is.
  1. Familiarity with a composer’s unedifying life, or the unedifying aspects of his life, can readily lead to a lot of jokes and sarcasm. I mean, there are composers who did nothing but good, but that sure isn’t everybody. Since our society usually avoids studying history, many teachers reach for humor, in order to make their students less intimidated by history. And musicians get slaphappy during serious practice, so there is always a lot of joking that seems funnier at the moment than it really is.
  2. A cathedral should ideally be employing nothing but Catholic musicians who are strong believers, and whose behavior outside of work won’t embarrass the bishop. But cathedral music programs often provide assistance to young student musicians who may or may not be Catholic, or employ whoever is available and who can hit the needed notes.
Again, this can be a form of evangelization if properly handled. There are supernatural benefits to singing in a Mass choir. The choir represents the songs of the “cloud of witnesses,” all the angels and saints whom we cannot hear, but who are always present at every Mass. And so anyone singing in a Mass choir has the privilege of harmonizing with angels and saints and receiving their attention, whether or not they know or believe it. To attend Mass every week also ought to provide one with a very good Catholic education, both by homilies and by being steeped in prayer. If the rest of the choiir is devout, they will give non-Catholics a good example and draw them closer to Jesus.

A lot of us have been helped or even converted by Father John Zuhlsdorf, aka “Fr. Z” of Internet fame. He was originally a Lutheran, who became a Catholic through getting sucked into the parish choir at St. Agnes in St. Paul, MN. Part of why this worked was that St. Agnes was already a thoroughly orthodox and devout Catholic parish, and that the music program was well-run and prayerful as well as having high musical standards. The other reason was that the pastor, Fr. Schuler, was a great hunter of souls and vocations as well as being big on choirs and music, and he kept encouraging and teaching the non-Catholics in his choir. That’s how to be evangelical to non-Catholic musicians.

So yes, it’s logical to be concerned about the beliefs of musicians performing Christian music. But it’s not wrong for non-Christians to perform such pieces, and sometimes it does them good.
  1. In any case, it is certainly not wrong for you the listener to listen to Christian music, whoever is playing it! The message is what builds you up, and Jesus is the power behind the message. Singers and musicians are just the instruments, much like your music player is to the music files.
If you tend to have scruples about these things, you should get some good advice from your parish priest or some other wise adviser.
 
I forgot to mention one of the mysterious things about being a singer or musician, or even a composer.

The gift of music is not a gift directed toward oneself.

It’s hard to practice constantly and to keep working on one’s skills. Just as a person can periodically face “spiritual dryness” in his prayer life, and yet must keep on praying, so a musician can have an “emotional dryness” or “spiritual dryness” towards his own music. It seems useless, because one cannot feel any good out of it. One has to have faith that the music really is worthwhile, and keep going.

If a musician is playing well, but the playing gives him no joy, the musician must keep playing his best anyway. If the musician feels sick or distracted, the musician must do his best and keep going. If something goes wrong during a performance, the musician must keep going as if nothing has happened. If a musician is feeling doubts or is angry at Father, the musician cannot stop in the middle of Mass; he has to keep going.

The mysterious thing is that, although a musician’s feelings and thoughts can be transmitted to an audience, a musician who keeps doing his best in spite of problems will often be able to overcome those problems entirely, as far as the hearers are concerned. The singer may be sure that she sang badly, while the audience is carried away by beauty and love. Music written by a doubting composer who lives a bad life, but who is honest in his music, can convert sinners and heal the sick. We are vessels, not the wine.

That is a great mystery - how God can work through our gifts without us knowing it. Sometimes it is sad and lonely, to think that He has come so close to everyone else, and left nothing for us. But often it is a mercy, because we are human and cannot always be perfect, or even perform as a piece of music deserves.

The singer can never hear herself sing the way others hear her. That is a mystery too.
 
NH93 said:
Hi all,

In college I once went to a choir performance where they sung some Christian songs. I was put off because the director was making some sarcastic comments about some of the composers of the songs and didn’t seem very reverent about it.

I also noticed the choir was made up of a bunch of different people from college or the local community and I wondered if they were all Christian and actually believed what they were singing. Or were there hearts not even united to the message of the music.

With that I have wondered: is it pleasing to (okay with) God for non-Christians to, either, play Christian music or at least participate in it by doing back up vocals or an instrument?

I have actual tried to avoid listening to Christian/Catholic/Gospel music if I’m unsure as to whether all the performers were Christian because I wouldn’t want to offend the Lord by playing music where one or all of the performers didn’t even mean what they were singing. But I also deal with somewhat of a scrupulous conscience so would like some help on this one.

Thanks and God bless
Click to expand...
Why would non-Christians singing Christian songs be a problem to anybody. I find that ridiculous.
This could even be a first step in seeing the light!!
 
The study of music requires the learning and performance of pieces with beliefs and texts expressed by the composer/lyricist that one doesn’t personally hold. Sometimes, since composers are often profit-seeking entities, they are commissioned to compose a piece based on a text they may not believe in or even feel strongly about. Most musicians, when confronted with such a piece, try to find a truth they DO believe in to inspire their performance. Listeners of music can also do the same. Many times I hear a piece of music that inspires a thought in me that I’m sure was not the intention of either the composer or performers.
 
There is in this an element of?? hypocrisy?? that does not apply to secular music. Singing so clearly and evocatively of the love of Jesus when you do not believe… Not sure I have expressed that well…
 
I have professional musician friends who refer to Christmas as “Gig-mas” If I were a church music director, I would think twice about hiring musicians to play music for worship services, if I knew that they had attitudes like that toward the events for which they were playing.
 
Mintaka said:
:
  1. Non-Christians can sing and play Christian music. In fact, many non-Christian musicians and singers have been evangelized by the witness and beauty of Christian music.
My eldest sister went from being an atheist to being an agnostic after years of singing in a Cathedral choir. Hey, it’s not a big step but it is a step in the right direction! :dancing::
Click to expand...
 
My friend took me to a Selena Gomez concert.

At one point of the show, Selena played the piano and sang Transfiguration (Hillsong) and then started singing another song she wrote about God. My friend is not a Christian by any means, but she teared up and then bawled like crazy. I was quite confused, but then she told me she find it amazing how Selena still has faith even though she went through terrible stuff (she has lupus). I was like “ok…”, because Selena, while she loves Jesus and all, isn’t really the shining rolemodel of the religion (she seems like a lovely girl, though) but after that my friend became more open to religion. She still doesn’t officially believe in anything, but I do notice a little change. For starters, she has started to listen to gospel music and doesn’t rant about religion if someone were to bring it up.

i think christian music can be god’s way of opening up someone’s mind. I like it when non christians like christian music.

Think it’s kind of weird if they do it for a living though.
 
I’m a musician & find this topic very interesting.

I’m a practicing Catholic but I sing & play songs that don’t jive with my beliefs or lifestyle. Jimmy Buffett songs and other songs that mention living with women. ( I jokingly quip, “my wife doesn’t like that” ) but the songs have a nice melody, so I play them.

Singing in a choir or singing Christian songs seems to be different but yet, a Jewish singer or an atheist may do Christian songs for the money or they may like the beautiful melodies.
I think I heard Barbra Streisand sing Silent Night & other Christmas songs.
So, it is really not unusual!
 
truetofaith said:
I’m a musician & find this topic very interesting.

I’m a practicing Catholic but I sing & play songs that don’t jive with my beliefs or lifestyle. Jimmy Buffett songs and other songs that mention living with women. ( I jokingly quip, “my wife doesn’t like that” ) but the songs have a nice melody, so I play them.

**Singing in a choir or singing Christian songs seems to be different but yet, a Jewish singer or an atheist may do Christian songs for the money or **they may like the beautiful melodies.
I think I heard Barbra Streisand sing Silent Night & other Christmas songs.
So, it is really not unusual!
Click to expand...
Ouch! :eek::mad:
 
truetofaith said:
I’m a musician & find this topic very interesting.

I’m a practicing Catholic but I sing & play songs that don’t jive with my beliefs or lifestyle. Jimmy Buffett songs and other songs that mention living with women. ( I jokingly quip, “my wife doesn’t like that” ) but the songs have a nice melody, so I play them.

Singing in a choir or singing Christian songs seems to be different but yet, a** Jewish singer or an atheist may do Christian songs for the money **or they may like the beautiful melodies.
I think I heard Barbra Streisand sing Silent Night & other Christmas songs.
So, it is really not unusual!
Click to expand...
Yeah, that’s what I was talking about in post #9. Kinda makes me wonder about the reverse situation – would a Christian singer/musician take a paid gig to perform at an atheist celebration? (Probably not an issue; there is a sufficient number of non-believers in the professional musician pool.)
 
NH93 said:
Hi all,

In college I once went to a choir performance where they sung some Christian songs. I was put off because the director was making some sarcastic comments about some of the composers of the songs and didn’t seem very reverent about it.

I also noticed the choir was made up of a bunch of different people from college or the local community and I wondered if they were all Christian and actually believed what they were singing. Or were there hearts not even united to the message of the music.

With that I have wondered: is it pleasing to (okay with) God for non-Christians to, either, play Christian music or at least participate in it by doing back up vocals or an instrument?

I have actual tried to avoid listening to Christian/Catholic/Gospel music if I’m unsure as to whether all the performers were Christian because I wouldn’t want to offend the Lord by playing music where one or all of the performers didn’t even mean what they were singing. But I also deal with somewhat of a scrupulous conscience so would like some help on this one.

Thanks and God bless
Click to expand...
Why would God be offended by non-Christians playing Christian music ?

God loves them as much as He does Christians.

In fact, it may be the avenue he’s calling them from.

Jim
 
NH93 said:
Hi all,

In college I once went to a choir performance where they sung some Christian songs. I was put off because the director was making some sarcastic comments about some of the composers of the songs and didn’t seem very reverent about it.

I also noticed the choir was made up of a bunch of different people from college or the local community and I wondered if they were all Christian and actually believed what they were singing. Or were there hearts not even united to the message of the music.

With that I have wondered: is it pleasing to (okay with) God for non-Christians to, either, play Christian music or at least participate in it by doing back up vocals or an instrument?

I have actual tried to avoid listening to Christian/Catholic/Gospel music if I’m unsure as to whether all the performers were Christian because I wouldn’t want to offend the Lord by playing music where one or all of the performers didn’t even mean what they were singing. But I also deal with somewhat of a scrupulous conscience so would like some help on this one.

Thanks and God bless
Click to expand...
It is not a sin to listen to Christian music performed by non-Christian performers, that’s your scrupulosity.

As a side note, there was a worldy Jewish young man in the 1800s who played music very well, like nationally known. One day a priest asked him to perform music for one of the Masses (showing that it’s not a sin to listen to religious music performed by non religious people, even at a Mass). That worldly jewish boy was very touched by the Mass, and became a very devout Catholic. He then became a discalced Carmelite and a priest. His life became so devout that he spent whole nights in prayer before the Eucharist, and he converted numerous people who he knew from his worldly life. He is now in the process of being canonized. His name is:
Venerable Augustine Marie (or Hermann Cohen):D:en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hermann_Cohen_(Carmelite)
 
JimR-OCDS said:
Why would God be offended by non-Christians playing Christian music ?

God loves them as much as He does Christians.

In fact, it may be the avenue he’s calling them from.

Jim
Click to expand...
Yes, you’re correct, and (relating to your discalced carmelite spirituality) it was so for Venerable Augustine Marie of the Blessed Sacrament
 
DaveBj said:
I have professional musician friends who refer to Christmas as “Gig-mas” If I were a church music director, I would think twice about hiring musicians to play music for worship services, if I knew that they had attitudes like that toward the events for which they were playing.
Click to expand...
The Christmas season generally provides professional musicians with a lot more gig opportunities than just a Christmas worship service. I don’t think saying “gig-mas” is necessarily a sign of irreverence as much as an expression of how busy a time of year it can be for them.
 
I play at nursing homes and assisted living facilities. In December I play mostly Christmas songs. One of the ladies in the facility is Jewish and she was singing along with the songs ,so, afterwards I asked her if she objected to the music. She said she loved the Christmas songs!
I do play a couple of Jewish songs for the people.
 
Allegra said:
The Christmas season generally provides professional musicians with a lot more gig opportunities than just a Christmas worship service. I don’t think saying “gig-mas” is necessarily a sign of irreverence as much as an expression of how busy a time of year it can be for them.
Click to expand...
Allegra, as a professional musician I can tell you that you hit the nail on the head. Although I have never called Christmas “Gig-mas” I have referred to Holy Week as The Marathon. It is exhausting, very uplifting but still exhausting. I feel like a limp noodle on Easter Monday.
 
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