Whatever is True…

Music is such a huge part of our culture. It can hype us up or calm us down. It can be background noise or we can be right there singing along with it. I listen to my favorite music just about as often as I can- when I’m cleaning, when I’m driving, when I’m getting around for the day… It lifts me up and helps put me in a better mood, and often it helps me worship God. Music can be a good tool to use when we need a boost, but we have to be careful.

We have to be careful what we listen to. And I’m not just talking about songs that have to do with cheating, swearing, or lying. If you’re like me and your playlist mostly consists of clean, Christian songs, you may be thinking that this post isn’t for you. On the contrary, it is.

Just because a song isn’t labeled “explicit” doesn’t mean it’s appropriate, and sadly, just because a song is by a “Christian” artist doesn’t automatically make it truthful or “safe.” I believe that the enemy’s lies are creeping into the genre of Christian music, and the truth of the gospel is being watered down. More and more when I am listening to Christian radio, I hear lyrics that I do not agree with and don’t believe are biblical. I feel that of these “Christian” songs, more of them than not are more focused on us humans, rather than our Creator and worshiping Him. To me, many of them are also just plain depressing. While I do understand that people go through hard things and music can be their way of coping, and many of us can relate to how they are feeling, I don’t feel very encouraged or uplifted when I turn on the radio to focus on God and worship Him and then hear a lot of sad stuff that focuses on us and our problems.

You may be thinking, if this bothers you, you don’t have to listen to it. Well, I don’t. I at least generally try not to. I’m thankful for the technology we have where I can play whatever I want to hear, but it’s getting harder to find songs that are actually biblical and worshipful and, to be honest, actually good. Ok, that probably sounds a bit brutal, but I’m just being honest about my personal opinion. This is more of a warning to you than it is a complaint. What we fill our minds with affects our lives and souls. With music being such a large part of our daily lives, it’s important to be mindful of what we’re putting into our heads and hearts.

One lie that seems prominent and I think has crept into Christian music is that sin doesn’t separate us from God. Sin doesn’t separate us from His love, but when we disobey Him, it does separate us from Him. That’s the whole reason He came to save us!

Also, I feel that a lot of songs now are all about God’s acceptance and grace, meeting us where we are, leaving out the fact that we’re called to repent and change. He does love us and forgives us when we come to Him with a repentant heart, but He doesn’t want us to stay living in our sin. I think of the Israelites when I hear that God doesn’t get mad at us. He eventually did become angry with them, even though He was still willing to forgive them when they turned around and repented.

Something else that seems to be a thing within “Christianity” and Christian music in America these days is “worshiping to feel good.” When I hear that phrase I can hardly stand it! Of course God helps us up when we’re down, but we were meant to glorify and bless Him, not the other way around.

One more lie that I’ve noticed people believe and sing about is that everyone is a child of God. This is also blatantly against what the Bible tells us. Only true believers, those who have accepted God as their Savior and are following Him, are His children. Yes, He created all of us and loves all of us, but that alone doesn’t make us His children. (See John 1:12-13)

Well, I’ll try to wrap up my rant, although I feel passionately about this topic and could go on. These are only a few of my observations, but it all simply boils down to being careful about what you’re listening to, no matter how good it sounds, and that we have to question things that don’t sound like they line up with what God’s Word says. We have to know God’s Word to catch these things. I love music and don’t believe there’s anything wrong with it alone, but I do see where continually putting lies into our minds can be very dangerous and destructive.

“Your word I have treasured in my heart, that I may not sin against You.”

Psalm 119:11