Can Christians Listen to Secular Music? What Scripture Really Says
As a Worship Pastor, music is a huge part of my life—it’s in my car, my home, my workouts, even in my downtime. Over the years in ministry, one question has come up again and again: Is it okay to listen to secular music?
Whenever someone asks me that, I always flip the question back to them: What do you consider secular music? And what does the Bible actually say about it?
What Is the Difference Between Secular Music and Christian Music?
First, let’s talk about what “secular music” even means. At its core, secular music is simply any music that wasn’t written specifically for worship or with an obvious Christian message. That includes everything from pop, rock, classical, jazz, hip hop R&B, oldies, even corridos. These songs can explore love, heartbreak, joy, struggle, or even just celebrate the simple act of dancing and having fun.
The real question isn’t whether a song has the label “Christian” or “Secular”—it’s about what the lyrics and the message are actually saying and how they affect your heart and mind.
A Personal Confession: From “Be Careful Little Ears” to Prom Buzzkill
Growing up in a Christian household and attending a traditional conservative church, I was taught that secular music was pretty much sin coming through the radio. From the pulpit, I’d often hear, “we’re not of this world, so we shouldn’t listen to worldly music.” And of course, my mom and dad had their favorite spiritual warning on loop: “Be careful little ears what you hear.”
Their goal was to help me understand that what I allowed in through my ears could potentially plant seeds in my heart. And hey, there’s definitely some truth to that.
But the result? I was that kid the one at homecoming and prom sitting in the corner with a halo over my head, refusing to dance with my girlfriend to what I had labeled “the devil’s music.” I wish I could say I was humble about it, but let’s be real—I carried around a bit of a “holier-than-thou” attitude, like I was doing God a favor by not listening and dancing to Snoop.
Fast forward a few years (and a lot of missed dance opportunities), and I’ve come to realize something: not all music that isn’t explicitly Christian is inherently evil. Some songs may not glorify God directly, but that doesn’t automatically make them bad. Music can inspire, set a mood (hello Berry White), evoke memories, or even bring healing. Turns out, God didn’t strike me down when I started enjoying a some Stevie Wonder.
What Does Scripture Say?
While the Bible doesn’t give a specific “thou shalt not listen to secular music,” it does offer some wisdom to help us discern what’s healthy for our spiritual lives.
- Philippians 4:8:
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
- 1 Corinthians 10:31:
“So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
- Proverbs 4:23:
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
These verses don’t come with a list of artists we should ban, but they do remind us to be thoughtful. What are we filling our minds and hearts with? What are we letting influence our emotions and worldview.
There’s a difference between a song that paints a beautiful picture of love or human experience—and one that celebrates sin, degrades others, or numbs us to godly values. Some songs uplift. Others… well, maybe not so much.
So How Do You Tell the Difference?
Try asking yourself:
- Is this song helping me love God or people better?
- Is it cultivating peace, or stirring up things like lust, anger, or pride?
- Can I listen to this with a clean conscience?
Music is a powerful gift from God, and like any gift, it can be used well or poorly. Scripture doesn’t call us to avoid secular music at all costs—it calls us to pursue holiness, guard our hearts, and be led by the Spirit in everything, including what we jam to.
So, whether you’re singing ‘Battle Belongs” or dancing to a Michael Jackson track, the goal isn’t to follow man-made rules—it’s to live a life that reflects the heart of Jesus. And yes, you can even have fun along the way. Just maybe don’t be the prom buzzkill like me.