From the perspective of the sources provided, the issue of choosing music for Christians is closely related to a person’s spiritual state and its effect on the soul.

Choosing Music for Spiritual Growth

From the perspective of the sources provided, the issue of choosing music for Christians is closely related to a person’s spiritual state and its effect on the soul. It is recommended to listen to compositions that contribute to spiritual cleansing, awaken grace in the heart, and help maintain a positive attitude in line with Christian values. In particular, it is emphasized that the best choice for an Orthodox Christian is church music which, according to one source, “cleanses the soul and creates a blessed mood in the heart” (source: link txt).

At the same time, certain genres are subject to criticism, with rock music in particular being considered detrimental to one’s spiritual condition. One clergyman expresses his view as follows: “Rock music is the music of death, decay, and disintegration; a music in which perverted passions are imprinted; music of some satanic sabbath, as if a dark force has burst forth from the netherworld…” (source: link txt). Another source also urges avoiding musical works capable of exerting a negative influence, explaining that “one must be very cautious with music, choosing that which is good, beautiful, and uplifting—music that cleanses our feelings—and resolutely turning away from anything that stokes the flesh, incites malice, or fuels the passion for destruction” (source: link txt).

It is also noted that music listening should correspond to the believer’s spiritual level. One should first exclude music with ritualistic components, saturated with impassioned melodies or tainted by bad mysticism—as pointed out in the recommendations: “Which music to listen to or not listen to at all depends on the spiritual level at which the Christian stands. First, one must eliminate satanic music: varieties of rock and jazz that have ritual origins…” (source: link txt).

Thus, religious prescriptions, according to the cited sources, do not forbid listening to music as such but emphasize the need for a conscious selection of melodies and texts that contribute to spiritual growth and do not lead to sinful thoughts. The choice should favor church hymns and works beneficial to the soul, while music with negative or destructive content (for example, many forms of rock music) is not recommended.

Supporting citation(s):
“Christ can be depicted singing a hymn of thanks to God together with the Apostles, as was the case after the Last Supper... rock music is the music of death, decay, and disintegration;... music of some satanic sabbath…” (source: link txt)

“Which music to listen to or not listen to at all depends on the spiritual level on which the Christian stands... Folk songs should be differentiated; what resembles ditties and dances must be discarded. Serious music directed towards the Church and the human soul is church music...” (source: link txt)

“The best choice for an Orthodox Christian is church music. It cleanses the soul and creates a blessed mood in the heart... one must approach musical education with heightened caution and attention.” (source: link txt)

“First... choose from it, as with literature, that which is good, beautiful, uplifting the soul, cleansing our feelings, and resolutely turn away from all that incites the flesh, provokes malice…” (source: link txt)

These excerpts demonstrate that the Christian approach to selecting music gives particular attention to its spiritual influence on an individual, ensuring that it contributes to the development of faith while upholding religious precepts.