Listen for God in Secular Music

Whitney Hopler

When you switch on the radio or pop in a CD of secular music, you can hear a surprising amount of thoughts on relating to God. Contemporary Christian music has long been popular among the faithful, but secular music often broadcasts the musings of people who are searching for God. When you listen carefully to secular music, you can discover clues about how to reach out to them.

Here are some ways you can use secular music in ministry:

Adapted from Facing the Music: Faith and Meaning in Popular Songs, copyright 1999 by Darrell W. Cluck, Catherine s. George, and J. Clinton McCann, Jr. Published by Chalice Press, St. Louis, Mo., www.chalicepress.com, 1-800-366-3383.

Darrell W. Cluck is pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Little Rock, Arkansas, and conducts "Facing the Music" seminars throughout the United States. Catherine S. George is a student at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, Louisville, Kentucky. J. Clinton McCann, Jr., is Evangelical Professor of Biblical Interpretation at Eden Theological Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri.

What is a secular song you've heard recently that presents thoughts and feelings on relating to God? What message does the song present? How could you use that song to reach out to someone who is seeking God? Visit Crosswalk's forums to discuss this topic by clicking on the link below.

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