So here's a question...
If there was a song that had a catchy tune and you really liked the music but the lyrics were really bad or even evil, would you choose not to listen to the song?
Now, what followed were some good, some bad and some just plain stupid comments...but what it really boiled down to was a bunch of opinions that had not a hill of beans to do with the Word. While I certainly understand that some people have convictions that others do not share, the scripture should be what we, as Christians, base our decisions on.
I seriously heart music...like a lot...almost as much as I love air! From the age of 10, when I heard my first real "secular" pop song (Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend), I have struggled with listening to music that I KNOW does nothing to build up my spirit and I would imagine that anyone who has been involved in music in any way has dealt with this on some level.
Now, I know what you're thinking: "Really, Jenni? Here, let me help you down off your soapbox; we live in the real world. Simmer down, sister!" I'm sure most people don't talk like that, but Hey, it's my blog, Jack! :o) ...and I digress...now back to your regularly scheduled programming...
My friend's question got me thinking about MY convictions about music. Since I do try to live my life by the Word of God, that's the first place I turn when looking for answers. (I ended up finding two articles that go into way more detail than I will go into on this post, but they are definitely worth a read...links are at the bottom.) The first verse that came to my mind talks about what comes out of your mouth...now, I understand that music goes in your ears, but what you put in your ears will eventually come out of your mouth...and that music going into your ears is coming out of someone else's mouth. Chew on that one!
Eph 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed from your mouth.
1. Rotten, putrefied
2. Corrupted by one and no longer fit for use, worn out
3. Of poor quality, bad, unfit for use, worthless
Sapros is only used 9
times in the Bible & every single reference (with the exception of Eph) refers to bearing fruit...interesting, huh? So, logic would say that corrupt communication=bad fruit, right?
Matt 7:17
Even so
every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth
evil fruit.
Matt 7:18
A good tree
cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good
fruit.
Matt 12:33
Either make
the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit
corrupt: for the tree is known by his
fruit.
Matt 13:48
Which, when
it was full, they drew to shore, and sat down, and gathered the good into
vessels, but cast the bad away.
Luke 6:43
For a good
tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit, neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth
good fruit.
Eph 4:29
Let no
corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the
use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
If we backup a bit to Proverbs, we are reminded of the power that resides within that stinky little mouth muscle called our tongue...and once again, we have fruit! To me, this plainly shows that your mouth or speech or tongue is a clear indicator of the type of fruit you are bearing...whether good or bad, your true colors come out through your mouth.
Prov 18:21
Death and
life are in the power of the tongue; and they that love it shall eat the fruit
thereof.Ok, so what does this have to do with what you listen to??? I'm so glad you asked :)
Philippians 4:8
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.
It's like the old saying "Garbage in, garbage out". To me, having a song stuck in my head is a form of meditation...albeit subconcious meditation. It seems that David had some great understanding of meditation as 15 of the 20 mentions of meditate or meditation in scripture are all in Psalms.
Psalm 5:1
Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation.
Psalm 19:14
Let the
words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight,
O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.
Psalm 49:3
My mouth
shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of
understanding.
Psalm 77:12
I will
meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings.David was really onto something! Almost every time he mentions meditation, he also mentions words or speaking...these two things are most definitely related! I once heard a pastor say this and have never forgotten it, "You are what you behold". This speaks volumns to me about how our brains work! There is so much power in what we say or hear others say that we can literally change for the good or not so good just by what we subject ourselves to.
I feel like I could write for days on this subject, but it's got to end somewhere, right? I'll end with this last and final throught. Music is made by what? Voices or speech and instruments, right? The speech has already been discussed, but I feel this next verse tells us the end result of what happens based on what we meditate on or give place to or listen to.
Romans 6:13
Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
God made us to be instruments for His use, to carry out His good deeds. But when we allow other things to steal away the words of our mouths, the meditations of our hearts become unrighteous, which makes us instruments that are unfit for His use. This is a sobering thought but I'm so thankful the story doesn't end there! His grace is enough to cover any failings we may have!
As promised, here are two fantastic articles about this subject...and as always, thanks for playing!
The Power of Music by Glenn Pease
Oh, Be Careful Little Ears What You Hear! by Alicia Bookout
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