I recently posted something about Led Zeppelin on Facebook. I thought perhaps I should reveal my true thoughts on that sort of music. Just for the record. In the past I was one of their biggest fans. And there is a part of me that still really loves that music. However, I don’t think that’s a good thing.
I have wrestled for many years in my head over the morality of rock music. When I was young, Led Zeppelin were far and away my favorite band. The first rock concert I ever attended was Black Sabbath. And one of the first rock albums I ever bought was their album “We Sold Our Soul for Rock and Roll”. Little did I know that I’d be fighting these demons for the rest of my life.
When I turned my life over to Jesus I had the standard ritual “album burning” in my driveway where I doused my worldly music with flammable liquid and set it on fire. In the years following that, I have gone back and forth quite a number of times. As a matter of fact, if my life history is open to ridicule, this would be one area where I am vulnerable. On four or five occasions I have sold large collections of rock music worth multiple thousands of dollars, at a huge loss, primarily for moral reasons.
In the Bible Jesus states “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in them.”.
To me this is what it boils down to. It’s the attitude, the lifestyle, and the culture. In the day, Led Zeppelin went hand in hand with rebellion, dope smoking, and partying. I think it’s undeniable. As much as I’d like to say that I just “appreciate the music” or attempt to detach the music from the activities and attitude that typified those who listen to it, I just don’t think it can be done. And believe me I’ve tried.
You could take ZZ Top, Motley Crue, and any number of rock bands you want. Their whole style really amounts to thumbing one’s nose at God. And I think listening to that type of music makes me a participant in that.
In the last 6-8 years or so, I’ve tried to diversify my listening habits. I wanted to listen to stuff that was spiritually and morally neutral. But’s that type of music is extremely hard to find. I don’t even know that it exists.
Even if you chose the instrumental variety of “new age” music that supposedly has no connection to any sort of religion or spiritual belief, there is a high risk that you will be exposed to music expressly designed for use by folks practicing a set of very real spiritual beliefs that are decidedly contrary to Christianity.
Music appeals to our passions. And in a fallen world, it will frequently appeal to passions that are of a fallen nature.
Regarding Led Zeppelin… I read a recent interview with Robert Plant. Even he is a little creeped out by the music they did together. Asked what the meaning of their song “Stairway to Heaven” was… they really don’t know. And calls for a reunion of the band are met by them with clear hostility. Maybe they are fighting some demons of their own.