Giving up/abstaining/not gonna do it wouldn't be prudent

So a few years ago, I quit listening to a certain band and other bands in that style at my wife's request. She said that she could tell when I had been listening to them because I would be angry afterwards.

I've also quit listening to some secular music because of the lyrical themes.

Now, I'm struggling with an artist. I've listened to this artist since about 2000 and love his work. However, in recent months I've noticed that when I listen to some of stuff I tend to get depressed. I struggle with depression anyway (although in the last year, I've made great strides in this area) and I kind of feel like I shouldn't listen to music that causes it.

One of my hesitations is that a few years ago I sold some of my stuff by this artist because of it's rarity and the money it brought in. I have quite a few cd's that would bring in some good money, I believe. So I don't want to ditch all of them and then down the road regret it and want to buy all of them again.

What are your thoughts?

If it was me (in your shoes)  I would put that music away for awhile (don't get rid of it....just don't listen to it for a few months).  See what happens.  If you feel like you could possibly listen again without the depression monster creeping in then give it a try.  Just be wary, maybe even ask the Mrs to help you be accountable if you decide to start listening to it again.

This should be a decision between you and the Lord.

But having been a repeat offender of this very thing, I personally would box up those things you feel that give you a problem, or you are unsure of. Garage or closet them until a later date.

My story in a nutshell: Struggled with clinical depression my whole life. When I came to faith in '89, I got ahold of some extreme religious literature and not knowing better, at the recommendation of said literature, I destroyed hundreds of albums (and other things) so I "would not be ensnared by the devil and the demons attached to those items" that were making me sin and causing depression.
Doing so gave me a rush of serotonin making me "feel" as though I did God's will and He loved me more for doing it   (today I have a much stronger understanding of His eternal love for His children)

Being the extreme black or white person I was most my life, I went through my first 10 years of walking with the Lord blaming "things" for where I was at with the Lord.
I'd go thru a bad low, I'd buy some old albums and feel better spinning them.
I'd start cussing or lusting, I'd destroy those albums blaming their influence.
I'd buy some Christian albums, and feel I was being a better Christian for listening to them instead of secular.
Then I'd spend too much time and money buying Christian music and related projects and feel as though those things were keeping me from time with the Lord, or that they were idols to me, so I'd get rid of those and focus only on Scripture....

Rinse, wash, repeat....

This is an over-simplification of the things I went through that first decade, but you get the picture.

I've now learned that music or any other external items are not what's wrong. What's wrong is I'm a miserable sinner who was born with lots of health problems including depression and that my Father is the only stabile One in our relationship and claims me as His child no matter if I'm listening to Jeremy Camp or Judas Priest.

Again, this is between you two though. I don't claim to have the right answer, I just wanted to share that I kinda understand where you're coming from as I spent years chasing after the legalistic side of Christianity... only to finally find true rest in His grace. And I also save a lot of money now that I'm not destroying and re-buying things all the time

Can't say I've regretted giving up all my secular albums when I felt convicted to do so. Only a few I wouldn't mind having again since there are no Christian equivalents, but it's no big deal. Music had been an idol for me and I won't let it become one again.

I am like some of the others.  Put the albums away that you feel are making a negative impact on you.  If that behavior really does change back to the good, then get rid of them.

I usually avoid responding to these "what should I do" type of posts for various reasons. However, you're talking about something "near and dear" to me ... music.

For the most part I agree with everyone about not getting rid of it, as I have often regretted getting rid of music I once had and very rarely do so now. However, when I feel it is something I really should not listen to I will either sell it or trash it. Normally music does not depress me, but rather the other way around: life depresses me and music is what usually helps me escape from the stresses of my day-to-day beatings. I used to escape to movies and/or TV, but they've gotten so sinful and worldly that they only feed the depression. Sometimes I can get involved in a good book, but mostly I will simply listen to music.

I suspect I suffer from depression off and on as well, but have never been diagnosed; I'm afraid they'll lock me up with mind-numbing drugs. Wait, maybe that's not a bad idea   .... sorry, I digress.

Anyhow, as I was saying before I chased that rabbit, every once in a while I will throw or otherwise get rid of a CD because I believe it is detrimental to my health -- spiritual, emotional, physical ... all of it. Case in point: I recently tossed WASP's "Dominator" in the trash because I felt the lyrics of at least a couple of the songs were detestable. I don't know if Blackie was a Christian yet in 2007, but if he was his fruit was very bitter. 

My point is, if you truly feel like this particular artist is bad for you, then maybe putting his music away isn't such a good idea. That would be like a recovering alcoholic stashing away a bottle of booze in the hopes that some day he won't be an alcoholic, or someone that has given up porn keeping his old Playboy magazines in a box "because they might be worth something." IMO your health -- again, emotionally, spiritual, physical ... all of it -- is worth more than any possession could possibly ever be, and if the object really is something that comes between you and God, or has the potential to do so, then you will be rewarded for removing that barrier/temptation. And odds are it will be as Fundy indicated: before too long you won't even miss it.

Ultimately, it's like G/F said: it's really between you and God.

BearDad - you had the response that hit closest to home...

My thing is... I love this guy's music. I've talked about him a lot on here. But some of his stuff just depresses me.

For instance, he has a song called Shotgun with part of the verse saying Someone give me a gun, someone give me a shotgun. I wanna end it all if I can't have my baby. During the tag at the end, he just shouts "I hate! I hate! I hate myself!" about 4 times. If you're fighting depression, that's a real bummer.

Another of his songs Chameleon says "I am the adulteress, I'm the penitent man. I'm the cunning culprit, I'm a little lamb. And I love all God's children, all but one. This chameleon."

Again, a real bummer.

Thanks guys for the input. I'm gonna have to pray about this.

So I posted this Monday evening. Yesterday morning I took all of this artist's music off my phone and haven't listened to it since then. As much as I don't want to admit it, I can already tell a difference. I've been listening to more positive (or at least hopeful) music since then and I listen to a lot at my desk throughout the day.

*sigh*

Looks like I'll be posting in the General Store... (maybe. I may just sell it at Discogs so none of you are affected by it.)

I take it that you don't listen to depressive/suicidal black metal  

And yes, that is an actual genre.

I've heard it and it's not my favorite... I don't hate it but yeah, it's probably best that I don't listen to it.