Music used to honor God can be a very good thing. However, music also has the potential to help establish wickedness as a lifestyle.
In Exodus 32:18, “Moses replied: ‘It is not the sound of victory, it is not the sound of defeat; it is the sound of singing that I hear.’”
This shows that Israel was again using music to establish and exult in a commitment they had made. But unlike the joy and praise of God that was the focus of the song in Exodus 15, this time the commitment was to wickedness and disobedience. Music was used to celebrate the sinful actions of Israel just as music had earlier been used to celebrate the faithfulness of God. The people sang and danced around the image of a golden calf. This was the awful sound that Moses heard as he came down from the mountain. Similar uses of music to support wickedness are demonstrated in Amos 5:21-24 and Ezekiel 26:13.
We see that people use music to enhance both righteous and wicked behaviors. This is just like James’ warning about the use of your tongue. The same mouth can both praise and blaspheme. If the heart is right, music can encourage goodness and growth. But if the heart is not focused on the praise of God, then music can hasten the slide down the path of sin and destruction. When the attitudes and emotions are negative, music can lead to relational loyalties far away from God.
The only setting in which music will accomplish good rather than evil is in a life that is controlled by the Spirit’s Word and a heart that wants to sing God’s praises. (Colossians 3:16-17)
Music can tempt your child to see himself as an outsider and an outcast. During the teenage years many young people struggle with uncertainty, insecurity, self-pity and other emotional ups and downs. Popular songs often put words to the very issues kids are experiencing. Negative emotions of self-pity and despair can be intensified. Music can subtly influence your child to identify with those who hate God. That is the danger you must teach them to avoid. But music used for the glory of God can also help your child identify with God and His people. That is where your everyday talk should focus.
Music is designed to enhance relationships. Parents, you must get this. If you attempt to control your children’s music without understanding its relational impact you will not be able to have productive everyday talk with your kids. Instead, you will alienate them.
However, if you are able to have everyday talk with your children in which the discussion centers on how music enhances or weakens their relationship with God, you will have won a major victory.
Whose music is playing in your children’s heart? Whose music is playing in your heart?
From Chapter 11 of Everyday Talk
3 thoughts on “Whose music is playing in your heart?”
…excellent…a few points made that I haven’t heard before…a very perceptive comment, thanx!
Very good points concerning the influence of music, but it’s not just the words that influence, it is also the style of music. For instance, there is no such thing as Heavy Metal Christian music. Some Christian artists today cross that line, and we do need to guard both the words and style of music our children listen to. There will not be any sinful messages OR disturbing rythems to the heavenly music we will one day enjoy.
There are many different types of music that appeal to different people. I disagree with MGJ, there is most certainly heavy Christian music. As a father of 4, 3 of them in their teens, I closely monitor the music they listen to. I have found many popular praise songs to not be acceptable or least not very creative and many heavy Christian songs acceptable in content and creativity. Look at the instruments called out for some of the psalms, they were having a pretty loud worship time
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