Last updated on August 31, 2020
Question:
I am 17. I listen to a lot of music and I look up to people like Eminem, Beyonce, Mariah Carey, Chris Brown, etc. I am not officially a Christian, but I have a strong Christian faith. I do understand that there is this Illuminati or Satanic thing going on in the music industry. And I have heard that Eminem’s music is Satanic, just like Lady Gaga. I have heard Lady Gaga’s songs and although her songs are nice to listen for a burst of energy, I do not like her songs that much as I feel like they have double meanings. Thus, I refrain from listening to her. However, I am a big fan of Eminem as I feel like his fame was earned all by hard work and not by making a deal with the devil. Some web sites also claim that he is a Christian. Hence, I would like to know if it is bad for me to listen to his songs? I listen to his songs every day and I feel like I only get motivated and I do not go about doing the wrong things. And although he uses a lot of profanities, I have not picked that up from him. I look up a lot to him because he makes me feel like, with hard work, anything is possible and of course, with God’s guidance as well.
Answer:
What makes something worth listening to is not who performs a song or what that performer claims to be. Christians strive to make other people better because they have been with them. “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29). I know you claim otherwise, but what you accept does influence you for either good or ill. “Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits”” (I Corinthians 15:33). Notice that you don’t just like a particular artist, you state that you are a fan of what he represents. So the question comes down to does he represent Christ-like values.
One thing we have to realize is that you can’t extract good from evil. “And why not say, “Let us do evil that good may come”? — as we are slanderously reported and as some affirm that we say. Their condemnation is just” (Romans 3:8).
I don’t listen to this style of music, nor do I put any stock in Internet rumors, so I’m going to simply to take your own observations. You mention that Eminem’s music is filled with profanity. That is immediately a problem as faithful Christians don’t take God’s name in vain, especially not by using His names as curse words. As David noted, “For they speak against You wickedly; Your enemies take Your name in vain” (Psalms 139:20). Christians also don’t take serious subjects, like sex, and make dirty jokes about them or speak vulgarly about such topics. “But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks” (Ephesians 5:3-4). See Careful What You Say for greater details. I can think of better ways to motivate me.
Hard work is an admirable trait. But hard work toward what goal? “Here is what I have seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage” (Ecclesiastes 5:18). But hard work that doesn’t involve God in what you do isn’t going to profit you or others in the end. “As he came from his mother’s womb, naked shall he return, to go as he came; and he shall take nothing from his labor Which he may carry away in his hand. And this also is a severe evil – just exactly as he came, so shall he go. And what profit has he who has labored for the wind?” (Ecclesiastes 5:15-16).
“Rejoice, O young man, in your youth, and let your heart cheer you in the days of your youth; walk in the ways of your heart, and in the sight of your eyes; but know that for all these God will bring you into judgment” (Ecclesiastes 11:9).
“Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil” (Ecclesiastes 12:13-14).
It is my prayer that one day you’ll fully commit yourself to the Lord God.