₦airaland Forum

Let’s be honest. Many Nigerian Christians sing along to secular songs daily.

From Afrobeats to hip hop, it is everywhere.

But here is the question: is it right for a Christian to be vibing to songs that glorify money, sex, pride, or violence?

Some people say music is just entertainment and has nothing to do with your faith. But is that true?


If music has no spiritual effect, then why did David use Psalms to drive away evil spirits from Saul? Clearly, music carries power.

Here are some hard questions to consider:

1. If a song promotes immorality, can you really claim it does not affect your spirit?


2. Why do many believers find it easier to memorize secular lyrics than Bible verses?


3. If Jesus sat beside you, would you still play those tracks on your playlist?



Yes, not every secular song is dirty. But let’s face it. Most of the trending ones do not glorify God.



They glorify self, lust, and greed.


A Christian who keeps feeding on such lyrics should not be surprised if their spiritual fire goes cold.

I broke down this issue with scriptures and practical tips in my full article here: https://www.psalm.com.ng/Nigerian-Christians-Listen-Secular-Music

What’s your take? Are Christians free to enjoy secular music, or is it a trap that slowly drags them away from God?

Good question. The Bible gives us a hint.

Jesus and the disciples sang psalms and hymns during their time.

For example, after the Last Supper, Matthew 26:30 says, “And when they had sung a hymn, they went out into the Mount of Olives.”

In Jewish tradition, the Psalms were the main “songs” used in worship.

These songs focused on God’s goodness, His laws, His mercy, and His power.

They were not entertainment songs but spiritual songs that lifted hearts toward God.

This shows us that music in itself is not bad, but the message behind the music matters.

If the disciples focused on psalms and hymns, it makes sense for us as Christians today to also be careful about the kind of music we feed on.

So the key question becomes: does the music you listen to push you closer to God or pull you away?

Better to listen to Don Moen & other gospel Nigerian artists

We have songs for worship and we have variety of choices regarding secular music but we don't listen to anything the world call gospel music!

Even Solomon sang about women's breast in songs of Solomon

It's wrong to start living because of religion. Why should religion people be listening to secular music.

Religion and their warp thoughts

pdppower:
Even Solomon sang about women's breast in songs of Solomon

You can sing romantic songs for your wife, Adam did that for Eve in the garden of Eden in God's presence! Genesis 2:23

If I listen to an hip-hop music.. it makes me heartless
An if I listen to Afro music it make me soft in spirit mind an heart..buh if I listen to Gospel music it makes me need God ..

Chai

So I no go listen to odunodublvck songs again laidis?😂😂😂

Anti world gangster( Abi Wetin he Dey talk sef)

Werey say… 🎵fall into her kpekus like a beast🎶😂😂😂😂

Secular Music, Secular Films, Secular Sports, Secular jobs.......

I love UEFA champions league anthem


Xxxxxxxxxcccx

Sure yes,, some are motivational, inspiring and encouraging.
They also state the state of the economy

Music that doesn't glorify vanities and immorality can't be harmful to the soul...there's a collection of music that is playing in my car ,it was like this Jamaica music but the lyrics are mostly giving praise to God jah...the music have a way of talking about the ills in the society and the solutions...from time to time I love to listen to it but u see all this immoral songs that makes the world people famous, is damaging to the soul by bit by bit...

It's a sin!

Doesn't glorify God, doesn't edify the spirit, and some of the songs promote violence, sex and other vices.

The arguement about what is right or wrong should not be dragged endlessly.. If you're doing what it wrong, you should know without anyone telling you.

Simple.

90% of the music I listen to is Christian music. I still enjoy my Tevin Campbell, Donnell Jones, Shai, SWV, 702, Monica, etc., sometimes, and always will. I'll always appreciate old school RnB and had I been born back then, I would've been the first at all my favourite Artists' concerts, front row tickets and all. Then there're some current RnB & neosoul Artists, along with some cool Naija artists (e.g. Omah Lay, Asake, Davido, Fave) whose music I like. That said, give me Phil Wickham, Todd Dulaney, Brandon Lake, Brooke Litgerwood, Shai Linne, Kierra Sheard, etc., all day, errday!!!

Religion is a desease historically, religious people will always find a way to judge other people based off of their personal morals.

With spirituality you can decide yourself what music is right or wrong

Imagine missing out on the joys of good music because you want to be devoted to imaginary nonsense

Put off every worldly appearance music inclusive.

If songs are sung in heaven, used to invite the presence of any kind of spirits, it's very important that a believer mind the kind of music they listen to. Anyone saying otherwise doesn't understand spiritual things.

When I'm back from church I will attempt to answer this question

Secular music, gospel music, any kind of music remains MUSIC
No dey worry yasef too much
Enjoy the music you like
Leave anoda person enjoy im own

Yes, but you make right choices.
There are secular music that talk about love and life experiences in a modest way.

I used to listen to Jimmy Clif.

The fact is music started in Heaven, Satan only hijacked it to promote his kingdom. So, when choosing circular music choose wisely.

Of course.....

Just ensure it doesn't influence your lifestyle negatively....

Music shapes us more than we admit. Not all secular songs are “evil,” but if the lyrics plant lust, pride, or compromise in our hearts, then they’re pulling us away from Christ. As Colossians 3:16 says, we should let God’s Word dwell richly in us, even in what we listen to. I shared more on this in Walking in the Light of God’s Word: https://spiritled.com.ng/walking-in-the-light-of-gods-word/

AntiChristian:
What kind of music did Jesus and the disciples sang or listened to while alive?

If you say it's hymns then where did musical instruments come in for the Biblical Jesus?

Who first defined Christian music and songs in the Bible?

Who classified music to be praise or worship song from the Bible?

Good points. In Jesus’ time, the temple used instruments, but in places like the synagogue it was more about chanting psalms and scripture.


The Bible never actually created a category called “Christian music.”

Paul only encouraged believers to sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs that lift hearts to God.

The labels we use today like “praise” and “worship” came later from church traditions.

What really matters is not the title of the song but whether the message draws us closer to God or pulls us away.

Secular music are inspired by the devil and his cohorts.

Psalms and hymns are inspired by the Holy Spirit and the sons of God should tune in to that one, not secular one

Softmirror:
Secular Music, Secular Films, Secular Sports, Secular jobs.......

True, not everything with the word “secular” is automatically sinful.

We all have secular jobs, and we engage in secular activities like sports or education.

The real issue is not the label but the content and the effect it has on your spirit.

For example, a secular job can still glorify God if you work with integrity.

But a secular song or film can either inspire positive values or feed thoughts that weaken your walk with God.


So it’s less about the word “secular” and more about whether it builds you up or pulls you down.

StoryHaven:
Yes, but you make right choices.
There are secular music that talk about love and life experiences in a modest way.

I used to listen to Jimmy Clif.

The fact is music started in Heaven, Satan only hijacked it to promote his kingdom. So, when choosing circular music choose wisely.

Well said. Music itself is not evil because God is the author of sound and worship.

Like you mentioned, the enemy only hijacked what God created for His glory. That’s why discernment is key.

A song about love, hope, or life lessons can be fine if it carries good values.

But once the lyrics promote lust, pride, or anything that weakens your spirit, that’s where the danger lies.

At the end of the day, the real question is: Does this song bring me closer to God or pull me away?

I actually wrote a full post on this topic here: https://www.psalm.com.ng/Nigerian-Christians-Listen-Secular-Music

So why do we have songs of Solomon in the bible? Have you read the lyrics there? There is breast there.

So if I want to have a romantic mood with my wife, I should listen to Mercy Chinwo?

There spiritual music, there's psalms, there's secular of different depth. Let the spirit guide you on what to listen.

It's a joke taken too far to call most Nigerian believers Christians. Try to differentiate these two words "Believer" "Christian"

In a religious context, a “believer” usually means someone who believes in God, in Jesus, or in certain spiritual truths — but it doesn’t automatically mean they follow the teachings or live according to them.

Example: A person may believe that Jesus is real but hasn’t committed their life to Him. That person is a believer, but not necessarily a Christian.

A Christian is specifically someone who follows Christ — not just in belief, but in lifestyle, commitment, and identity.

The name “Christian” comes from the early church at Antioch (Acts 11:26), describing disciples who patterned their lives after Jesus.

A Christian is both a believer in Christ and a disciple who practices His teachings, accepts Him as Lord and Savior, and lives under His guidance.

In conclusion I can only say we have 1% Christians if not 0.5% Christians in Nigeria