Hello folks,

I play keyboard on a Sunday morning in a youth group, with teenagers aged between 13 and 19.

Yesterday our worship team experimented with a few pop songs, and adapted some of the lyrics for worship to God. 

The songs were Superhuman (we're starting a series on the Supernatural ) Jesus Walks and No Air.

Personally I have nothing against this type of adaptation, as long as the [b]intention [/b]is clear: in our case, to help kids encounter God in a non-stereotypical, fun way that they can relate with.

What do you guys think??

Yeah you're right. Its good for the kids just to make the worship service more interesting and fun to participate in.

What has God got in common with mormon? To me, using secular music for worship is absolutely wrong and uncalled for.

Nezan:

What has God got in common with mormon? To me, using secular music for worship is absolutely wrong and uncalled for.

seconded!

im far from the religious type but from my little knowledge about God, if it has anything to do with worldliness keep it away from God. . its just black and white, no grey areas. . .if its not a gospel song, it shouldn't be played.
im sure there are tons of christian songs out there that are as good as if not better than the ones you mentioned up there

There are a lot of good worship music available.
I think in introducing this you will be leading the youth wrongly.
Have you exhausted the available worship songs?

You can still make good use of the good good old hymns.
If we all do what you are doing we will produce a generation
that will be far from God.

Imagine in UK where cathedrals are now beer parlours.

Please be careful and be led of the Spirit.

Olaye

Ever since i've been attending churches, several Secular music have been adapted into praise and worship songs and people have been singing then all over. So it doesn't matter what song it is, whether hip hop, r n b or blues. So far the lyrics have been changed and the mood of the song is edifying. Nothing stops you from singing it most especially when that is a song most people in the congregation can easily identify with. We are talking of youths who are exposed to this songs day in day out.  
   It all depends on the perspective from which you are looking at it.

Well as for me, I believe what corrupts music is the lyrics. If the lyrics is not good enough then it aint good.

We have to understand that music itself did not mutate (permit me to use the word) to earth as all this names we call them now; like Jazz, PoP, Hip hop, Rock etc.

Lucifer was given the gift of music ministration and since God does not take back what he has given,

Satan went ahead to do whatever he liked with the gift God gave him hence the corruption in music as per lyrics.

You also understand that people relate with music based on their first encounter the kind of music and how and when they heard it.

For example if you play reggae song as worship, pple's mind just flows to Lucky Dube. Its a psychological thing.

BTW how do we know what music in heaven sounds like? yeah! I know we all think of strings and all those slow music.


But I dare tell you that you will get shocked on that day when we get there.

**** Music emanates from the throne of God*****

So enjoy and minister it the way it will edify the hearers.

Let's not limit the flow and inspiration of God's ability in us becos of ignorance or some pre-conceived notions laid down by ignorant.

Since music is something I have always had passion in and with, I have attimes argued with several people over the choice of music for worship to God. Coming from a background where my best mode of worship to God is in the DANCE, I have been seen and deemed a rebel for my crazy dance steps when it comes to worshiping God; all stemming from the statement that these dance moves are secular and 'worldly'.

What is the choice of music which God demands? Given that, God loves music, and the 24 elders are forever worshiping God.

In my opinion, I reckon it is permissible to adapt secular music with ''moderation''. Just as the bible says: Let your moderation be known unto all men. Apostle Paul said: To the Jews, I became a Jew, to the Romans, I became a Roman. . . just so that I may win them. My purpose is to worship my Maker, and if it surely attracts people to God, I would forever indulge myself in it, but with MODERATION.

@ OP

Someone once aptly said, "There are no Christian songs, there are only Christian lyrics".

Ride on bro, nothin' do you!

Be very careful, if u r a Christain, d HOLY SPIRIT will tell u what ur doing right and what ur doing wrong. Its not about entertainment or fun, we have to be conservative on our teachings and radical too but there must be a balance cos d devil wont relent, he's so happy to see the world gradually creeping into the church to make the church of Christ ineffective.

For me its a big NO!

Personally i have no issues with it,as long as the lyrics carry the right message, but my fear is that if not moderated,could lead to error.

NO. It is not permissible to adapt secular music for worshiping the almighty God.

If you are a Christian and have the understanding of teaching children, you will not find any difficulty in helping our young ones to know God. You cannot use the kingdom of darkness to teach children about God because God belongs in the light.

If you need help with how to teach children about God, start a new topic with your request and many Christians will come to your aid. You will be surprised at the support you will get.

For example, how would you use the coven of witches and wizards to teach children about God? Can you not see that God and wizard/witches are like two parallel lines?

If you use someone else's secular music instrumental and superimpose Godly lyrics (words), you are in copyright infringement of the law - that is a type of music piracy.

Hi Beknown,

My question is this;

Who inspired the musical beats to the instrumentalist in the first place?

sorry u don't have to compare witches coven to music afterall

u have never seen or used a witch coven b4 ok!

Its a question of knowledge

@beknown

Secular music = kingdom of darkness?

Oh my God, what has religion turned people into?!

@Pataki,

In my opinion, I reckon it is permissible to adapt secular music with ''moderation''. Just as the bible says: Let your moderation be known unto all men. Apostle Paul said: To the Jews, I became a Jew, to the Romans, I became a Roman. . . just so that I may win them. My purpose to worship my Maker, and if it surely attracts people to God, I would forever indulge myself in it, but with MODERATION[

For example,
Would you become a thief to be able to convert another thief to God? Or would you become a thief in moderation to convert another thief?

It's so funny that people wanna go to worship and be entertained or be satisfied, it is not about u but to please God, We are working towards perfection and someone is asking if secular music is permissible, non-sense, if u wanna have fun go to a club or shows. People often say the sermon is boring whereas it's the word of God but if a stammerer as an HR manager of a company manage to say c-o-m-e aaaannnndddd sssstaaaaarrrttt wooooork tooooomorrooow u will hear and understand it,

When will people learn how to read for God's sake?!

It's an ADAPTATION of lyrics, damn it!

The problem I see with most people here is that once they hear "Secular Music", a picture of D'banj, Ruggedman, et al instantly pops up in their head.

Asa is a secular musician, but I can easily adapt her lyrics and tunes into a worship song that will so move the heavens.  Michael Jackson too. 

@

Who inspired the musical beats to the instrumentalist in the first place?

There are varieties of musical beats. These beats have their purpose for each and every musician. The owner of the music has a purpose for it.

There are godly music and there are ungodly music, that is the fact. As much as God likes music, he does not like ungodly music.

God provided the inspiration for music but not all musicians are using their gift to glorify God. God is merciful, hence he did not take away the gift he gave to people. Ungodly people are breathing the air God gave, if not for his mercy.

beknown:

@Pataki,


For example,
Would you become a thief to be able to convert another thief to God? Or would you become a thief in moderation to convert another thief?

Was Apostle Paul a thief  in order to convert a thief to God? Your analogy is wrong and ill-submitted. Would I be a dancer to convert a sinner out there? YES.

You are today using the internet for passing across your message. This same internet has given rise to people defrauding/stealing/killing one another. Would you say, it is wrong for the church to adapt the use of internet for worship to God? Is it permissible to adapt modern day technology used for secular music also in the church for worship?  

Why are Christians so quick to manipulate things to their own selfish and freakish fancies?

Yes no

@Pataki,

Thanks for the beautiful analogy.

@Beknown,

U want to tell me that people who use talking drum in their church are Idol worshippers too,

Abi talking drum is the most important instrument in JUJU music, so tell me that when they use it

in church too they are worshipping JUJU

children of God and citizens of heaven,Would jesus have done that if he were on earth?The world is stylishly crawling into the church & The distratous end effect is the dilution of the spiritual things of God.SO LET'S BEWARE

Secular music adapted for xtian worship? well, methink it's a matter of lyrics. Some secular music, motivational ones such as World's greatest, storm is over, He lives in me (R.kelly, Diana Ross)etc were used by my fellowship in my university days. It should not just be any kind of secular music if you ask me. I remember R.kelly's 'storm is over' and Celine Dion's 'Because you loved me' being performed by the potters' house mass choir(Bishop T.D Jakes church choir).

Good topic.

I think it's wrong, including all those "Awilo dance" I see
in churches these days.

De Splash:

I think it's wrong, including all those "Awilo dance" I see
in churches these days.

Lol. . . so I'm guessing you'd love to see "Christian dances" instead. So pray, define "Christian dance".

The way Nigerians thinks about religion sometimes suprised me. NIgerians ! remember that God is not a native of Nigeria, two God created many languages and many tribes and every tribe has a differend rhythm and lyrics. So, how do we really judge Godly rythm and worldly rythm?

We have Jamaicans Christian music with cool christian reggea vibes, and the Americans with their pop vibes. How do we now judge the one God accept?

!!!!!! Remember David danced and God loved it!!!!!! what kind of music did David dance to? nobody ever thought of this. David was allmost naked according to the Bible, this kind of music is certainly not a blues or soul ballad rhythm. Think well folks. GOD ACCEPT ALL KINDS OF RHYTHM AND LYRICS PROVIDED THE WORDS AND INTENTION IS TO PRAISE GOD!!!

many of these kids cannot relate to traditional church worship, in this age of hiphop and rap.

It doesnt matter if they've been washed with Nigerian water and culture since they were born.

Unless they never set foot outside their houses or watched televison/listened to radio, they'll still assimilate the environment where they live.

There are many types of religious music that can fit their tastes- the organizer just has to go the extra mile and look for it, thats all. If they must adapt secular music, then he should make sure he vets it.

firstly, Jesus walks is not a christian song. then, you should understand that not everybody thinks like you so even if ur motive is clear, what of others? You might be taking a step and ur folks would take a mile. I guess there are better ways than adapting secular songs.

well, i havent ever seen the secular guys like sat, Elton John adopt a Don Moen song for a concert! we should be setting the pace, not following the trail!

i don't think so

It wouldn't be a gathering of Christians without a few self-righteous people chiming in.
As someone once said, if you use the soundtrack for a popular Michael Jackson song and substitute the Lyrics for ones praising God, what's the issue?

Would that you self-righteous people put the same effort into helping the poor. Nigeria would be a better place for it.