[Bassmen13]

U know ive been talking to my pastor and he thinks that if you cant understand the words theyre not christian, ive been listening to this band and i looked at the lyrics its almost like demon hunter makes christian music sound like secular music to reach to a different level. But anyway does anybody like demon hunter im goin to the May 30th pomona concert at the glass house.

[DKelly]

I'm gonna go ahead and move this to Individual Artists.

Just as a response to what your pastor said, what Biblical proof does he have that solidifies his claim that screaming music is unChristian?

[conceived in fire]

On that basis, the sometimes unintelligible rapping by Toby Mac in the song "Jesus Freak" makes it "unchristian".

Yes, the music they play is more marketable to a secular audience. Ryan Clark has stated that the band wants to fill the void of "[awesome/cool] metal bands" left when Living Sacrifice broke up, however.

[Demon_Hunter]

Originally Posted by Bassmen13

U know ive been talking to my pastor and he thinks that if you cant understand the words theyre not christian, ive been listening to this band and i looked at the lyrics its almost like demon hunter makes christian music sound like secular music to reach to a different level. But anyway does anybody like demon hunter im goin to the May 30th pomona concert at the glass house.

Yeah, your pastor is nuts. There is no way to back up what he has stated with either scripture or practical aplication.

Besides that, I can understand most demon hunter lyrics without looking at the lyric sheets. So, I guess by your pastors standards they are infact a christian band.

Also, no one with half a brain could read their lyrics and not conclude that they are a christian band. Couple that with what all of the members of the band have stated publicly numerous times, and you really have all the evidence you need.

[ice_wiz]

It's just because he's not used to screaming. The more you listen the more you understand. Ryan Clark's scream is quite easy to decyfer.

I personally found Storm the Gates of Hell very open to their faith.

[Demon_Hunter]

Originally Posted by ice_wiz

It's just because he's not used to screaming. The more you listen the more you understand. Ryan Clark's scream is quite easy to decyfer.

I personally found Storm the Gates of Hell very open to their faith.

He's a heck of alot easier to understand than just about any other SS vocalist. Then again, he is screaming "softer" now than he was on S/T and SOD.

[ice_wiz]

A lot of screamers these days kind of slur their words. I like the way his are up front and quick.

[BillSPrestonEsq]

Originally Posted by Bassmen13

U know ive been talking to my pastor and he thinks that if you cant understand the words theyre not christian, ive been listening to this band and i looked at the lyrics its almost like demon hunter makes christian music sound like secular music to reach to a different level. But anyway does anybody like demon hunter im goin to the May 30th pomona concert at the glass house.

I can't understand the words when German Lutherans sing hymns.

I can't understand what old ladies with blue hair and bad vibrato are singing in church a lot of the time.

I can understand Demon hunter.

Now here is the thing. Its a completely silly standard because it is a subjective standard of an absolute thing. Are they something or not? I would argue that no music is Christian or secular but that music is good or bad based on actual content. People can be followers of Christ, but can a song?

If he is judging the band's salvation on whether he can understand them, I am sorry, but that is immoral and wrong.

If not, then, they are not Christian must have some strange new "meaning" without a meaning.

[bXm83]

Well, DH is easily my favorite band and I was glad to see the first post in this section was on them, woohoo! Now, as for your pastor, those are his convictions. Some people may have more trouble than others in different areas. Here is an example. Is there anything wrong with drinking wine? No, even Jesus drank wine. Is there something wrong with drinking to much wine? Yes, the Bible says not to be drunk. Now, we have two people here. "Danny" grew up drinking wine with his family. He has a decent tolerance and knows when to quit before going to far. Danny can drink wine because he has the ability to stop. "Dave" however, does not have that ability. He easily drinks more than he should. Is it a sin for Dave? Yes, because he should know better that that is not an area he is strong in.

Now for music. Say some people listen to metal/scremo/etc etc and can see the Christian nature in it. Those people have no problem listening to that type of music. Now, lets take someone with a weaker will. Listening to that music may not be the problem, but it may lead them to or back to secular music of the same genre. I am not saying that all secular music is bad, but there is alot of metal that is undeniably not good for a Christian to listen to. If they know that listening to that genre of music will lead them to listening to music they shouldn't, then it is a sin for them even to listen to DH.

I think I went on a slight tangent there but I think I made my point.

[guitarplayer917]

Your looking for it to be christian right? The Bible says to Sustain from all appearances of evil. If DH is preforming to secular standards to get too secular people, then they are "wrong", in that area. the Bible says to shine for them, not preform for 'em. And you might be able to undrstand the lyrics, but what about other folks who can't. They sound just like "Kiss", an 80's band that screams, i couldn't tell the difference between them. And te word Kiss stands for "Knights In Satan's Service". That's nice ain't it? I don't listen to Kiss, but my dad did in his younger days and pointed it out in wal-mart, while they were playing it. And also, they Bible says to make a joyful noise unto the Lord and honor and glorify him, would you want somebody to worship you by screaming their head off and looking like those who despise you? I ain't dissing DH, but i ain't praising them either.

[Demon_Hunter]

I whole heartedly disagree with you.

The bible never defines joyful noise. Besides that, in the christian metal genre, Demon Hunter is one of the most openly christian bands out there. In the current market that is. Plenty of bands before them were openly christian aswell.

And by the way... who says God isnt pleased with Ryan Clarks screaming? Are you in the position to speak for God to say that he doesnt like what Ryan Clark does with his voice? Thats a very dangerous position to try and take up. You had BETTER have scripture to back up your position. Anything short of scripture is just blowing hot air for the sake of flaiming those of us who like Demon Hunter.

I dont presume to know if God does or doesnt like Ryan Clarks use of his voice. I would lean toward the opinion that God gave Ryan a gift for both singing and screaming, and he is using those gifts now to glorify and honor the God who gave them to him. Are you really going to try and say God is displeased by the very gift he gave his child to use to praise him?

Secondly, the comparison with KISS is irelevant. It has absolutely no bearing on this discussion at all. If you want to discuss a secular band from the 80's go start a new thread in secular music. Thank you.

Also, your point about the way they sound also has no relevance. I say that, because by your own standard Southern Gospel bands, Praise and Worship (pop rock) Gospel (Soul, R&B, Rap, etc...) music are all more glorifying to satan than to God because secular musicians use those styles aswell. You cant name a single style of music that the secular industry hasnt already populated and use for its own gain. So... by your standard... its safe to say that you listen to no music what so ever, correct?

[Skeeter]

Originally Posted by guitarplayer917

Your looking for it to be christian right? The Bible says to Sustain from all appearances of evil. If DH is preforming to secular standards to get too secular people, then they are "wrong", in that area. the Bible says to shine for them, not preform for 'em. And you might be able to undrstand the lyrics, but what about other folks who can't. They sound just like "Kiss", an 80's band that screams, i couldn't tell the difference between them. And te word Kiss stands for "Knights In Satan's Service". That's nice ain't it? I don't listen to Kiss, but my dad did in his younger days and pointed it out in wal-mart, while they were playing it. And also, they Bible says to make a joyful noise unto the Lord and honor and glorify him, would you want somebody to worship you by screaming their head off and looking like those who despise you? I ain't dissing DH, but i ain't praising them either.

1. KISS never really screamed in their songs.
2. "Knights in Satan's Service" is an old myth that has been disproven.
3. What KISS did has no bearing on what Demon Hunter does. It's faulty logic.

Do you wear blue jeans? Have you ever played a guitar? Do you watch TV? If so, you are conforming to secular standards in the same way that Demon Hunter is. To make it more clear, just because Christians and non-Christians alike do similar things (play musical instruments, wear similar clothing, and watch similar TV shows) does not make those Christians who do so "wrong" or sinful.

[guitarplayer917]

Dudes, this was supposed to be a place to discuss music, not bash others opinions. i wanted to see other folks opinions and look into it and put mine in to see where i might be wrong, sorry if i came off the wrong way.
I do wear blue jeans and play guitar, but scripture says too sustain from appearances off evil. It''l take me a little while to find it again, so if you want the verse PM me, cause i just read, not memorize. But jeans is not an appearance of evil, don't wanna go walking 'round with nuthin' on do ya lol. It's just that if you walk into a bar drink a beer and say your a christian, there gonna laugh and probably throw you out right? There are bands out there that do play music that everybody knows the words to. And ya, if you look at DH's Lyrics,, they are christian, but other bands that play the same thing are not. Bible says we are also supposed to shine for the lord, and i never said that I know what God wants, just said how would you want to be worshipped? but if you read the Scripture (i am NOT saying that you don't) it does say to make a joyful noise unto the Lord, If DH is joyful to you, then thats cool, but its not for me, an i just wanted too see what type off people listened to and how it is for them. I like stuff like Petra and Stryper, im a softie lol.

[Skeeter]

This is a place to discuss music and you are certainly welcome to your opinions. At the same time, if your opinions are wrong and are based on flawed logic, people will disagree with you.

There are plenty of people out there who would say that Petra and Stryper are doing the same thing you are accusing Demon Hunter of doing, conforming to secular styles of music. If people complained about Stryper and Petra being wrong and having the appearance of evil, I am sure you would leap to their defence.

And, while this is beside the point, I have often walked into a bar, had an alcoholic drink (often with fellow Christians) and discussed theology in that setting. I'm in good company in that regard: C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien often did the same.

[thesteve]

Originally Posted by guitarplayer917

Dudes, this was supposed to be a place to discuss music, not bash others opinions. i wanted to see other folks opinions and look into it and put mine in to see where i might be wrong, sorry if i came off the wrong way.

I haven't seen any opinion bashing...don't try to play the martyr so quickly

I do wear blue jeans and play guitar, but scripture says too sustain from appearances off evil. It''l take me a little while to find it again, so if you want the verse PM me, cause i just read, not memorize.

It says to "abstain"...it's 1 Thes 5:22

22Abstain from all appearance of evil.

But jeans is not an appearance of evil, don't wanna go walking 'round with nuthin' on do ya lol.

Why aren't jeans an appearance of evil? What limits what are and aren't acceptable "secular standards" for a Christian to hold?

It's just that if you walk into a bar drink a beer and say your a christian, there gonna laugh and probably throw you out right?

My band, all Christians, have played in bars a few times and drank beer and invited our Christian friends...so far none of us have been thrown out.

I like stuff like Petra and Stryper, im a softie lol.

+1 to what Skeeter said. Stryper was basically the 1980s "butt rock" version of Demon Hunter.