Secular vs. Sacred

In the church world, there is (and has always been it seems) the debate over what is secular and what is sacred; particularly in the fields of art and music. My question is why? If God is the creator of all things (Isaiah 40:28) then where does our classification fit into the equation? What follows is not intended to suggest my opinions are absolutely right, simply to cause you to think about the topic before you instinctively dismiss something because tradition dictates.

Set Apart

One argument made by those who condemn the use of “secular” music in church settings is that we are called to be set apart. While I wholeheartedly agree that God has called us to be set apart, He has called us to do so in our lives, not simply our music. I can remember in my youth that the movie theater was considered an evil place where Christians shouldn’t attend. Now, we host events there and encourage our parishioners to attend family-friendly movies. God has called us to be “wise as serpents and harmless as doves” (Matthew 10:16) meaning we are to be able to recognize the enemy and yet be able to reach those deceived by him. If a song such as Van Morrison’s “Have I Told You Lately that I Love You” for example, adequately expresses our feelings toward our Savior, should it be disallowed, simply because it is more widely known in a secular setting? Is it truly a matter of the song not being set apart, or is the fact that the vessel delivering the offering is set apart? I believe the ultimate answer is found in prayerful consideration of both the worship leader and the pastor, who is the spiritual overseer. Is it not more wrong that we sing a “sacred” song with dirty hands or pridefulness, as opposed to singing a “secular” song with a broken spirit before our King?
I know, some of you are arguing that I am making an unfair comparison. Obviously, a “sacred” song with a right heart is the goal; however, in reality we are clay vessels that are imperfect, and are not always broken and contrite. As a musician, I understand all too well the struggle to lead people in worship, with excellence, and yet remain truly humble. Any of us who are honest with one another and ourselves must admit that only a concentrated effort keeps us from becoming prideful. Too many times I have heard worship leaders/singers leave the platform with such comments as, “we were really on today”, or “wow, we sounded pretty good”. While it is nearly impossible to have no opinion on our musical “performance” (for lack of a better word) - it is only a small step from there to prideful or spiritually harmful thoughts.

Causing Others to Stumble

Another argument against using “secular” music is that using such songs can cause someone to remember their past that could be tied to such musical memories. I know that memories tied to music are strong; however, do we not run that risk every time we use an illustration or current event in church? Does mentioning September 11 in a service, not risk causing people who may have lost loved ones in the attack to question God’s love or comfort? Are there not countless possibilities of the enemy being able to use someone’s memories against them? I know that sometimes my hardest struggle is remembering all of the times I’ve failed God. Admittedly, there are possibilities of this being a concern, but just as many examples I’ve seen allow people who are unchurched to express love and adoration to God in a way that makes sense to them. As worship leaders, that is our primary responsibility, to help people experience God in a real and personal way. This is why it is imperative that we know whom we are leading in worship. Obviously we can’t know each congregant personally, but we can understand the dynamic of the area, and the personality of the church. This coupled with diligent prayer can help us navigate such difficult questions.

So what is the Difference?

So is there a difference between secular and sacred? How do you classify a band such as Lifehouse, who are on a secular label, are played on secular stations across the country, yet they consider themselves worshippers? How about an artist such as Bob Carlisle? He writes beautiful songs to and for God, and yet some of his biggest hits have been wedding songs (Butterfly Kisses) or country hits (Why’d You Come In Here Looking Like That)? How about Delirious? Some of their songs are used in worship in churches around the world on a weekly basis. However, they have toured with such bands as Bon Jovi and Bryan Adams. Is their music tainted or less spiritual as a result? Shouldn’t secular and sacred be determined by our hearts, and not by the label we place on something? If I tell God, “I love You”, and then tell my wife the same thing, is that not mixing secular and sacred.

Music is simply a tool. I own several tools. One is a hammer. That hammer can be a blessing if it’s used to build a house or it can be a curse if it’s used to do harm to someone. It is not the hammer that is different, but the person wielding it. Is not music the same?