by David Morris

Created on: June 08, 2008

When questioning my aunt, Pastor Patricia Cameron, about the nature of my five year old daughter's inappropriate maturity; she informed me that today's society demands education of worldly behavior. My concern was that my daughter was picking up on adult tendencies. I could not pen point a source, but I knew the music she was hearing on the radio was influencing her. I would cringe at times when she'd repeat a song word for word and I knew profanity was in the lyrics. Some of the music would disguise sexuality and drugs. I questioned if she understood the underlying message. My aunt was conveying to me that my daughter needed to understand what she was hearing. My daughter would soon embark on a society which glorifies sex, drugs, and rock and roll with minimal regard for morals and true artistry. A Christian proposes, "Can a good Christian listen to secular music?"

As a teenager, Tupac Shakur was my favorite rapper. I studied his testimony. I embraced the passion in his lyrics. However, as I aged, my fundamental Christian up bringing began to conflict with my admiration of Tupac's music. He seemed to contradict himself in terms of his morality. For instance, in "Me Against the World" he says, "Never stop, study your lesson, don't settle for less. Even a genius asks questions. Be grateful for blessings. Don't ever change, keep your essence. The power is in the people and politics we address. Always do your best. Don't let the pressure make you panic and when you get stranded, and things don't go the way you planned it: Dreaming of riches, in a position of making a difference. Politicians and hypocrites, they don't want to listen." I interpret these lyrics as guidance and inspiration to anyone. A Christian would embrace these lyrics. Ironically in "Lord Knows" he says, "To the homies on the block, slinging rocks with your glocks. Put this tape in your box, when you're running from the cops; and never look back. If they could be black, then they would switch. Open fire on them busters." These lyrics could prove detrimental to the influential vulnerable. Still the question is unanswered, "Can a good Christian listen to secular music?"

Yes a good Christian can listen to secular music. Music often mirrors what is going on in society. The enemy drives many vehicles. The enemy poisons the music that most people enjoy. A good Christian not only can but should listen to all music. This would make the good Christian aware of the enemy's influence. In turn the good Christian

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