Spotify Christian Playlist Tour
- Hope Joy X. Owens
- Oct 25
- 6 min read
“Listening is your laboratory. You create your own playlists more than other listeners do. Nice work, doc.”
In my Spotify Wrapped at the end of the year, my listening character was “alchemist” because I make a lot of playlists.
Before I start my music tour…
What is Christian music?
It’s not a style of music. It’s not “praise” or “worship” music. Christian music is a genre characterized by its topic. It can be pop or indie or rap, or whatever style you can think of. What makes a song Christian is its lyrics. If a song pertains to how a person lives their life in a Christlike manner, then it’s a Christian song. Most of the time, a Christian song has the words “God,” “Jesus,” or “Lord.” But not all songs that make a reference to God are Christian. The reference must be made reverently! It’s not about the style of music, but it’s about the content.
Is Secular Music Bad for Christians?
A little into my music journey
Thursday, July 17: I added the word “secular” to the name of my new playlist, which is backward from what I normally do. Typically, my playlists are secular, and I identify which playlists are Christian.
Now, it seems that I listen to so much Christian music that my new default is that a playlist will be Christian. I’ve come quite a ways.
I was an avid Christian music listener up to about 7th grade. When I transferred from a public school to a private Christian school, that stopped. Seeing the lives of my Christian peers who went to chapel and learned about God on a weekly basis but lived just like those who didn’t believe in God was a huge disappointment. My Christian music listening dwindled as my discouragement increased. (Side note: I also decided to listen to secular music purposefully in order to relate to my classmates. Eventually, it was not only to fit in but also to help build relationships that I could glorify God with.)
I would normally find myself listening to lots of Christian music only after mission trips or D-Nows or Christian camps, where I would experience a “spiritual high.” Slowly, those Christian music seasons have grown longer and more frequent.
I was a firm believer that I had the power and the freedom to listen to whatever music I wanted while also pursuing the Lord as a Christian. In reality, I was stubborn and wanted to listen to whatever I wanted. I wanted to indulge in my free will to listen to popular music. I did not want other people telling me what I should and should not listen to.
My Stance
Now? It’s crazy to have grown so much to admit that I was wrong.
I don’t believe it goes completely against God’s will to listen to secular music, but I do believe that listening to Christian music helps fill one’s mind with holy things. As I have grown to know the Lord, I am more inclined to listen to Christian music over secular music. My taste in lyrics reflects my heart.
“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” Philippians 4:8
My Advice
My advice for Christians when it comes to listening to music is this: Don’t cut off secular music because you want to be a “good Christian” or be holy. That’s trying to be good and earning your position as good. That’s legalism, and Christianity is NOT legalism. Whether it’s music, people, books, tv, social media, etc., be careful with what you listen to because it has the power to influence you. Listen to the convictions of the Holy Spirit and pray that God would mold your heart to match His. As you grow closer to God, watch your desires and habits transform!
Back to the Tour
BTW I add the year in front of most playlists… so 25 is for playlists created in 2025.
8 hours of vibes. The playlist that really kicked off my journey of finding Christian music outside of your typical Christian vibe listening.
Background you didn’t ask for: Until this playlist, I had a limited list of Christian songs with lowkey vibes. For this playlist, the artists MUCH MORE and LOVKN were really the inspo. After spending 8 weeks in Toronto sharing the Gospel, I was on a spiritual high. I wanted to listen to Christian music like never before. I began discovering artists that allowed me to take in lyrics with holy content but chill vibes. This dude from the Canadian church I worked with commented he had never heard Christian music like this before. Thus, I renamed the playlist after him because I thought it was funny and what he said was facts.
FAST FORWARD to 2025
7+ hours of fall breeze & crisp feels. My inspo was any Christian song that I could listen to on a walk with crunchy leaves or in a car with the windows down. Folk normally makes me cringe, but it’s the vibe for the fall. Somehow, people are saving this, and I don’t know how they got there. Actually, 17 saves?? I’m famous.
4+ hours of Indie/Rock/Alt vibe. One of my favs! I love this playlist so much. I need more Christian artists to produce in this genre, so I can grow this playlist. No year because I think it’s timeless. Also, a great playlist to work out to for a chill but higher-paced vibe.
My hype workout playlist. If you aren’t listening to the words, you might question if it’s Christian because the beat is so heavy. Makes me cringe, but I enjoy it because it makes me laugh.
9+ hours for when my other playlists are too hype. My go-to for when I need to slow down and lock in. Collection of worshipful songs + slow songs + background songs.
Not as cool but more optimistic.
Maybe more pop feels. Or Mr. Blue Sky. Or dubby. Or chill.
Work in progress. Similar to 25 folky indie fall Christian but more upbeat.
Basic vibes. The Christian playlist I’m dumping songs into that I want to listen to but don’t fit the vibe of the others. Maybe more pop-ish.
I made this for my mission trip, where we hosted a Christian camp for teenagers. Think upbeat but also chill mix. Forrest Frank.
Giving nostalgia to car rides when my mom was the DJ. Giving Casting Crowns. Songs I’m familiar with.
A Few Noteworthy Ones Before 2025
15 hours of casual basic vibes, but also worship songs. My top playlist in 2024. Not for the vibes but for the content. This playlist marks a milestone for when I started listening to Christian music more than ever before.
A little more upbeat than 24 new season. Basic vibes. CP stands for Church Planting. My goal when listening to this playlist was to remember to pray for church planting.
Similar to above, I made this playlist to remember to pray for my sister’s mission trip in Arlington! A collection of random “basic” vibes.
Small playlists of some good beats. Little cringe.
Country music. Not the best playlist. I might have included wholesome country songs that aren’t necessarily Christian because I was struggling to find country vibes with Christian lyrics. I really need some songs that sound like Morgan Wallen or Thomas Rhett or Rascal Flatts or Megan Moroney or Brett Young. So lmk if you got any suggestions.
Vibes for worship or casual. Playlist to keep the reason for Easter in mind past the holiday.
A small playlist of some songs I really just feel like singing to the Lord.
6 hours
Small playlist for nostalgia.
& many more
but I think I linked the most notable or longer ones. Some of the playlists I make are not “my vibe” but are for when I’ve listened to my favorite playlists so much that I needed to switch up the vibes. Thus the random curations.
Have fun listening! & do please lmk if you find a non-Christian song in one of my Christian playlists because that was not my intention!
HJ
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