Hi!
This is nothing about a relationship, but as this is a Christian website, I thought I could ask you.
I’ve recently got into metal music, particularly the bands bfmv and dragonforce. I know that this music isn’t good, and that a lot of metal is Satanic. Will it affect me even though I’m a Christian? I really want to listen to metal, but not if it affects me negatively.
From a Christian boy of 14
Hi!
It’s great that you think about what kind of music you listen to and how it affects you. You are right in saying that a lot of metal bands sing about Satanic themes which are often very dark and go against what God says is true. Both Bullet for my Valentine and Dragonforce have song texts like this.
You write that this music is not good, and you wonder if it will influence you. Different types of research, and also the Bible shows us that music has a clear ability to affect us. We know that music affects the brain in different ways, and it is very seldom that you can listen to music and not be affected in any way, in your thoughts, mood or emotions. Most of us have experienced how joyful music can make us happy, and aggressive-sounding music can increase our feelings of anger.
If we listen to our favourite music a lot, our mind will be full of the text and message behind the songs. You might not agree with what they are singing, but your thoughts will still be full of it. This is an important topic that Paul brought up when he wrote to the Romans:
‘Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will’ (Romans 12:2).
Paul says that Christians should not be afraid of being different. God has created us, and He knows how we function. When He encourages us to fill our minds with truth and good thoughts from Him, it is because He wants us to understand His will and what is good for us. Our faith is strengthened when we are filled with ideas from God, and the Bible says that this is what is perfect.
The Bible often speaks about a spiritual dimension that we can’t see, but which nevertheless affects the reality we live in. When musicians use music to deliver a bad message, this message can be destructive and can draw people further away from God. When Jesus died on the cross, He made it possible for us to live in freedom from sin and the things which bind us. By saying no to things that we know are against God’s will, we put ourselves in a position to be in the friendship He wants to have with us.
We would therefore recommend you to think through what kind of metal you listen to. Even though the music can be engaging to listen to, you can be affected by the message, and it can have a bad effect. There are Christian metal bands which have a good message instead of Satanic themes, you might find that you like to listen to some of them.
Best wishes, boyandgirl.info