A good deal of debate among many religions today is the categorizing of music as being Christian or evil. Religion too has been a subject of many debates, heated arguments that sometimes are carried to the extreme that has led people to wars. How sad.

When something that is very noble is turned into persecution in the name of righteousness, even that which has been waged in the name of a higher purpose losses its meaning and bear the stains of evil.

Music too.

If taken on a broad context, from which it is really presented, any music that elevates the spirit to a deeper and higher expression of ones love for his God is as Christian as any Christian music. It does not matter if it is Catholic, Protestant, Jewish or Muslim.

Bigotry and prejudice have been as ancient as pain and this have plagued Christianity then and now. Many supposedly respected church leaders (and you will find them everywhere) finds if very easy to label a certain type of music as evil or Christian music depending on their own set of perspective. The contradicting term is that you will find a good piece of music being sung in another church that another denomination will find hard to tolerate.

Casting judgment on things that are based on ones own personal viewpoint and casting this out as a final truth even when the judges only credibility is having the power to influence a tiny community has plagued the whole of Christendom for centuries. Many viewpoints have changed then and now proving only that the judgment that is often cast is based on nothing but opinionated hot air and ignorance, the saddest part of all is, people listen. But as the line of a song goes, when will they ever learn. Over and over we go.

What is the difference between music that is Christian and music that is evil? Really?

Surely there is music that contains lyrics that deal with suicide, drugs, prejudices, rebellion, sexual molestation, killing and they can come in different genres. Obviously, music that deals with these subjects can never be called Christian music.

Christian music has the ability to lift up the soul. Whether one is a member of the religion that are promoting the music or not. Whether one believes in what the particular denomination stand for or not and whether you believe me or not. Christian music is a longing for ones God, whether for the Christ or for His Father. Christian music speaks of the nobility of the soul and of human experiences. It is the sighing out of his deepest emotions to call to his God for aid, to praise, to thank, to repent and to serve. Christian music almost always is other centered.

The myopic view of many denominations calling themselves as Christian and playing Christian music is to promote (and this is very common), that their own music is the better if not the only Christian music. That is a lie. That is casting judgment on things that one does not understand simply because it does not fall into a groups point of experience. That is bigotry and ignorance and which is more that is stupid. Any music is Christian music, whatever the denomination and religion, for as long as it talks and tries to communicate in earnestness to ones God and is designed to bring out the best in any person. The God who wrote the music of my life and my neighbors life is an understanding God. He knows. And hopefully, sometimes He smiles. It is the people who try hard to divide us instead of uniting us towards a common goal, the people who insists their beliefs on us in the name of Christianity, they could be in trouble.

The bible that is to be the best source of Christian lyrics has the book of Psalms. Some of the line in that book talks even of pain and revenge that will scandalize present day moralists. The very same people who have egos big enough to tell us what is right from what is wrong. What is Christian music and what is not?