We all have different tastes in music. That's a given. So when someone tries to tell me what music I can and can't listen to, I get frustrated. I let God decide what's good for me, not a hyped up Christian who thinks all Christian Rock Music is evil. The thing is, those kinds of people almost never change, so there's no point arguing with them. Either the arguers must tolerate each other's differences as two separate souls (a good Christian would realize this) or they should avoid the topic between each other completely.
Some people believe music is life, or a big part of it. Why? People listen to certain types of music because they can relate to it, they enjoy it, and/or because it inspires them. Hopefully all three reasons are kept in a positive, healthy domain. I listen to a band called Red because of all three reasons. I can relate to their music because sometimes I feel the world is pulling me down and I need a way out to see God again. I enjoy it because it is more emotional than most Christian music (this is my humble opinion) and I feel it has a deeper meaning. It also inspires me to write--I am a writer by heart, and sometimes I get writer's block during a climatic scene or event or stanza, and need to put emotions into words. Red's music helps to unlock the right words.
Now, I don't 'diss' regular Christian music--you know, the pleasant, quiet, happy songs with no electric guitars--because even though it's really not my style, I know a lot of people who like it and who have found happiness with it. Since I believe that the goal in life is to find happiness, I completely support their decision to listen to it. But when one of those people gets high and mighty and turns on me because they think Red is poisoning my mind, then I tell them, "Just don't listen to it then. It makes me happy, so leave me alone." Remember, there's no point in arguing your position with them; there's no point in explaining why you think it is o.k. They will most likely never change their mind, so you need to make a deal to just not bring it up in conversation.
Don't listen to something (or do something) if you don't feel right about it in any way. Don't lie to yourself. If you lose your individuality and gain conformity merely out of the sake of keeping a friendship or keeping the peace, you are building a storm inside of you. And the storm won't affect just you.
