In my quest to get our youth to renew their minds and to follow a life that is pleasing to God I've been challenging them to find good music to listen too. I don't think they always have to listen to worship music, but I do think it's important that they are listening to bands that are Christian, and bands that don't glamorize a lifestyle opposite of what a Christian should be doing. This is a difficult task, and it's even taken me some time to see the importance of changing what I listen to.There are so many challenges that a Christian faces today, and being a teenager only adds to that by about 1000 x's. All of the popular music today glorifies getting drunk, rebelling, sex outside of marriage, hooking up, chaotic relationships and the list goes on and on. Most teens, and people in general argue that they listen to music for the beat. They don't really care or even pay attention to the words. However, if you listen to a song even once how often does the chorus get stuck in your head? Or the next time you hear that song you can sing along to at least part of it? Even if you aren't "listening to the words" you are still hearing them.
I don't think that music is evil or that it necessarily causes people to do things (even though there are studies out there that say teens who are over exposed to sex in the media are more likely to become pregnant or get someone pregnant) but listening to that stuff desensitizes us to it, it starts to seem acceptable, normal and fun. This is no lie-sin is fun, and when we are listening to how fun it is, with no consequences we start to think we can do it too.
If we are one of the lucky few who do not feel we are influenced in that way it's still important to consider the music we listen to. Why? Because it makes our walk with God that much easier. I feel so much closer to God when I am reading my bible, praying and listening to Christian music.
I meant for this to be a much shorter post than what it's turning into. My goal is to leave you with some bands that you may fall in love with. Stop assuming all Christian music is like what you hear on Sunday mornings, if you like a certain genre search for the Christian version...I promise it's not all cheese :)
I have an eclectic taste in music but here is my very very short list, with some new people I've discovered: Paige Armstrong, Carlos Whittaker, Vicky Beeching, Anberlin, Family Force Five, Further Seems Forever, Underoath, Addison Road,Emery... There are way to many to list.
As a teen, and even an adult to some extent, the music that you make the soundtrack to your life *does* create a part of who you are.
ReplyDeleteWhen you have groups at a school, aren't the lines almost always drawn based on music or sports?
I have noticed that if I had different soundtracks growing up I would have had whole different thought patterns.
So good job Tiff...it's an important message.
If you need any suggestions, ask Jason! This is his main hobby. =)
ReplyDeleteit's true. so true. while i'm guilty of listening to music with bad lyrics, it really is hard to listen to music solely on the music. whether or not we realize it, the lyrics speak to us too...and that's when we need to be careful :)
ReplyDeleteI listen to Christian music most of the time. I luckily have the sirius tv channel with it. I think I am going to seek out some on your list though and give them a try.
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