I just started a series on Wednesday nights on God’s authority in church ministry (if you have missed some Wednesdays, I would encourage you to come!) In preparation for the series, I waffled between several different ideas, including a KJV series, a full Baptist series, and a series on music. Since then, music has been on my mind.
I mainly wanted to focus on godly music because I know the destructive power that ungodly music has. And, I’m scared about how easily ungodly music slips into Christians’ homes. I’ve heard some of our teens quoting lyrics to top songs. I’ve heard Christians singing along with worldly music.
Do I judge them for it? No. What good would my judgment do? I don’t judge anyone. But I AM hurt by it, because I believe God is hurt by it.
Ahit song by Rihanna repeats the line, “When I look outside my window, I can’t get no peace of mind.” The song includes profanity and confusion. Adele’s “Someone Like You” is her pining fantasy about a past boyfriend who’s now married to another woman. Taylor Swift’s “Shake It Off” (which I almost have memorized just from walking through the mall!) and several of the other songs from 1989 are laced with confusion, sadness, profanity and blasphemy as she focuses on relationships as her source for fulfillment.
Are these the role models we want to spend all our time with? Are these the “truths” we’re pumping into our minds? You are what you think about. (“As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.”) And you think about what you put in your mind. If you’re spending time with pop stars instead of the Creator of the stars, it’s no wonder you doubt your salvation, fear the rapture, feel constant guilt, and never understand what an “abundant” life is all about!
I have NO idea who in choir might be struggling with ungodly music. One reason I am not on Facebook is because a part of me doesn’t want to know, so I can openly write things like this without it being directed at any one person.
I have no personal vendetta, here. I am just concerned for people’s relationship with God, and unsaved pop stars won’t get you closer to Him.
Instead, fill your mind and heart with truth-saturated music. Not Contemporary Christian Music (whose top artists are fans and bridges to unsaved artists—but that’s a whole separate issue). But soul-enriching, truth-rich music that encourages the spirit rather than feeding fleshly desires.
I love you all, and want God’s best for you. Adele, Taylor, and Rihanna can’t deliver that for you.
-Bro. Ryan