What Music Will New Believers Listen To?

What Music Will New Believers Listen To?

This post is to share my gospel music playlist with new christians of the 21st century. 

Congratulations on your salvation. You have just been drawn out of darkness into marvelous light. I believe you must have felt the impact in your lives. If you have, you must feel like Mary with the Alabaster box, extremely grateful to God and His son Jesus for forgiving you of all your sins, breaking the chains of sin that bound you for so long, filling you with so much joy and giving you the power to say ’NO’ to temptation and sin. If you have not experienced this, please re-examine your salvation (John 8:34-36).

Christian music consists of gospel tunes with lyrics inspired by the scriptures and the Holy Spirit. I’ve been a believer for a while now, so trust me when I say gospel music was not always like what you’ll find nowadays on Christian radio or hip hop style gospel etc. It was more solemn, meaningful, deep in terms of lyrics and carried a lot more power to convict sinners, refresh ones love for God and work miracles in the lives of the listeners. However, in recent times, what do we have? We have ‘gospel artists’ getting inspiration from worldly legends or copying the style of famous mainstream artists. Makes me wonder when this all started - replacing Holy Spirit inspired songs. 

Since, I cannot pinpoint the exact time the Holy Spirit left some gospel musicians to their own devices, I might just give up on the current gospel music and stick to the good old ancient hymns. At least those were definitely inspired by the Holy Spirit. However, in addition to these hymns, I want to tell new christians of this generation that there is more power to Christian music than the modern gospel music out there has.

Please see my top 10 Holy Spirit inspired powerful gospel music sources (in no particular order):

• The book of Psalms (Here, you have to formulate a tune and use the Psalms as your lyrics)

• Christian Hymns by various christian authors (e.g. "God give me light that I might see" by Zac Poonen)

• Cece Winans

• Michael W. Smith

• Casting Crowns

• Don Moen

• Ron Kenoly

• Wale Adenuga

• Phil Wickham

• Some current gospel musicians (by their fruits, you shall know them)

The physical way of life of a gospel musician will tell a lot about their relationship with God and indicates if they are being inspired by the Holy Spirit. Some don't even mention the name of Jesus in their so called gospel music. Have they forgotten that the name of Jesus has the power to save listeners? (See a related blog post)

My prayer is that God would keep these gospel singers in the faith and help them not to compromise with the world.

The list above is a starting point, however, there are many other gospel musicians, I did not mention, who are still directed and inspired by the Holy Spirit. For example there are "some" cool and modern gospel songs by artists like Bethel Live, Hillsong, Sinach and "some" other K-Love radio hits. I mostly listen to these when I feel like dancing or jumping up and down with my kid at home. I believe Christian music should be mostly deep and powerful. It should also elevate and make you rejoice in the Lord.

The Holy Spirit plays an important role in helping you filter the music you should listen to. If you have the Holy Spirit in you, you will be able to distinguish the wheat from the chaff.  As a new christian ask for the Holy Spirit, you need Him for every moment of this journey.

Finally, when He comes into your heart guiding and directing your paths, treasure His presence and don’t do anything to drive Him away.

Ephesians 4:30 

“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”

PS: Christians should guard their hearts with all diligence [Proverbs 4:23] from debris being passed around in mainstream music. Remember, Jesus now lives in your heart. This is why listening or singing secular or non-christian music is not an option for the followers of Jesus Christ.