Tune My Heart: Looking at the Influence of Music: Part 1

How should Christians handle the subject of music? As a young adult, I've been challenged to think about how music affects us, and by what standard we should measure our choices.

 "What is our authority regarding music? Is it our preference, or God's word? Music must reflect His beauty and not our lower passions." Jeff Pollard

It's long been understood, by extensive research, that music has profound influences on the brain and emotions. Also, music perpetuates a worldview. With that understanding, I think it's critical that we be wary of the influences we allow over us. 

"Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus." 2 Timothy 1:13

Think of your favorite song. You've listened to it over and over, memorized each note. It's stuck there forever. So too are lyrics, and its message, whether it be good or bad. 

Do we really ponder the meaning behind lyrics? Looking them up and studying them? 


"But why should I?" Somehow seeing the words makes their meaning hit home more, forcing you to confront the message more literally.

A snippet from the pop song 'Call Me Maybe:

Your stare was holdin',
Ripped jeans, skin was showin'
Hot night, wind was blowin'
Where you think you're going, baby?


The gist of the song is a girl looking for love and a kiss in all the wrong places. Yet another cliched example of "love at first sight." 

Another popular song:

One Direction 'Live While we're young:

Let's go crazy, crazy, crazy till we see the sun
I know we only met but let's pretend it's love
And never, never, never stop for anyone
Tonight let's get some
And live while we're young

One Direction: Kiss me: 
Tou-ch
You get this kinda, ru-u-ush
Baby say yeah, yeah, yeah, 
If you don't wanna, take it slow
And you just wanna, take me home
Baby say yeah, And let me kiss you

Oh baby, baby don't you know you got what I need
Looking so good from your head to your feet
Come a come over here

These three songs promote immoral intimacy. These guys aren't interested in love, just satisfying their hormones.

Do we ever stop to consider what it is we love so much about these people and what they sing? 

"For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete." 2 Corinthians 10:3-6

 I believe that allowing ourselves to be a part of the world's music is a direct way for us to inwardly live in the world, we're just not outwardly acknowledging it. 

*Disclaimer* I am not meaning to condemn all music nor judging anyone. We will look at discernment in part 2.