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What Does the Bible Say About..Rock Music?

Is it bad to listen to rock music. For example, Marilyn Manson is known for bashing Christ in his lyrics but I like his music but I do not approve of his lyrics. Can someone go to hell for listening to bad music?

Answer

I can find nothing to condemn listening to any specific type of music. There is good in rock, rap, country, and any other genre. However, there is bad in all of these as well. Regardless of what we may think, we are influenced by what we see and hear. If I listen to "give me my horse and my dog, but take my wife" long enough, divorce becomes more of an option. If I listen to somebody bashing Christians long enough, either I begin to accept their words or I reject them strongly enough to stop listening.

I think the scripture that might apply here is 1 Corinthians 15:33, "Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners." You can't influence the artists for good, but they can influence you for evil. Another scripture that might apply is 1 Corinthians chapter 8. Paul is talking specifically about eating meat offered to idols, but the principal is not to do those things that might cause somebody else to violate their conscience. You may be able to listen to music that tears down Christ and not be harmed by it, but someone else may know you do it and think it is fine for them, and as a result turn away from the faith. Possibly also related is 2 John 1:10-11. The principal being put forth there is not to help anyone to spread falsehood about Christ and the church. By buying or listening to music that actively bashes Christ or the church, you are contributing money to that person's cause.

There is good Christian rock, heavy metal, and country music. There is good rock music that doesn't bring down Christ. I can find no scripture against those.