Discussing
Fleet Foxes on the Existential Shore

With their fourth studio album, Robin Pecknold and company don’t walk on water, but they do help us weather the 2020 storm.

Very well written. Love this album and this band. He is an absolute brilliant singer/songwriter. Looking for more great insights. If you ever have a chance listen to the the love is stronger than death. Amazing song. God bless

Hello, Ive loved the fleet foxes for about 10 years, forgot about them, and just this past year the Lord called me to follow Him. I’m finding most of the music I used to listen to (along with the way I used to live in general) downright disgusting, to be honest, as I continue on the path of sanctification. I just came across a fleet foxes post today that announced their tour dates. Remembering how beautiful I once found their music, I immediately googled: “Robin Pecknold religion, and the answer was clear: he’s an atheist who thinks Christians are delusional. Honestly this completely changes how I feel about them now. Despite finding their music pleasing to my ears and SENSES (isn’t sensuality a sin?), how can you reconcile still loving them? How can you gain Christ-like inspiration from something that was inspired by ……. Well, if the fleet foxes hate The Lord the mist love The World and I know it seems dramatic but that leads me to a pretty clear conclusion about what (a whom) their inspiration is. How do you reconcile all of this? I guess I’m just baffled how a Christian could gain insight from music inspired by someone who hates The Lord. I’m really hoping ti have a conversation about this. Thank you!

I wanted to edit my comment but there’s no way to so I wanted to say: he’s not an atheist (I misquoted an article), but it’s clear from their interviews it’s secular music with a “transcendental” inspiration/focus, and harnesses a gospel churchy type vibe. That being said and corrected, the rest of my questions for you remain the same. Thank you!

Kayleigh

Hi Kayleigh,

Thanks for your questions and clarification. As you'll see from our other articles, we mostly consider the work of artists who would not claim to be Christians. As to why, we try to sum that up on our About Us page. Hopefully that's helpful for you: https://thinkchristian.net/about

Thanks,

Josh Larsen,
TC editor

Thank you for your response! This is something I’m trying to figure out and not taking lightly, so I appreciate that. I went back to read your about section and the intent of your site is clearer to me now; thank you. And I suppose maybe Im just not quite in the same line of thinking. It’s clear to me, in the Bible, that when God talks about music it’s a command to use music (or art, or whatever), to glorify Him, instead of using it to please our senses. But I’m a new Believer and maybe I’m perceiving this topic wrong. Ive taken a hiatus from most music in general the past 8 years while building a family, and it’s just the past few months I’m diving back into music and it’s a weird experience now. That, and I hate to say it but I haven’t found much Christian music that I really enjoy listening to. I appreciate this site and I’ll have to read some more articles. And of course, pray and ask the Holy Spirit to lead me. I’m not dead set on buying tickets to their upcoming tour just yet ;)

In Christ,
Kayleigh

Thanks Kayleigh. I would add that we very much value discernment at TC, and it sounds like you are being wise about that. Just because some Christians may find spiritual resonance in the music of, say, Fleet Foxes, doesn't mean that you're wrong to feel as if it's not the best choice for you.

Hi Kayleigh. I highly recommend that you check out the book “Living in God’s Two Kingdoms” by David VanDrunen. I think you would love it and that it would help you to gain perspective as a Christian with a love for art (even if it’s “secular” art).