There are many influences out there in the world that compete for our attention. Listening is the primary way that all men and women receive information. For example, before literacy was common and before people developed the ability to transcribe or write, they told stories. In addition to story telling, it was also common to pass down history and events through the form of poetry and song.
What is my point? Where am I going? Well, I'll tell you: Be careful what you listen to and what you allow your children to listen to. Music and poetry (especially spoken word) can have a powerful influence on your thinking and interpretation of the world and your relationship with God.
Unfortunately, much of today's music is not consistent with biblical instruction. Today, many hip-hop artist and R & B singers sing songs that encourage fornication, lust, murder, elicit drug use, intoxication, and strife. Are we to listen to these songs? Are we to support people that promote the things our God hates and has severely punished and destroyed entire nations because of their involvement in such things? Are we heir destruction or abundant life? Has not Jesus come to redeem us and deliver us from such sin?
Friends, I am not saying that all music (including "worldly" music) is bad. What I am suggesting to you is that you listen to the content. What are the saying? What are they suggesting as "the thing to do"? The bible says the we must guard our hearts and beware of evil influences. Apostle Paul says that we should renew our mind daily and commit our way to the Lord.
Let us stop listening to music in who's content our God hates. God does not hate music nor musicians. He does, however, hate sin. Music that glorifies sin is wrong. Our very lives should be testimonies to God's saving power. The bible says that we ought to abide in Him and He in us. Would God listen to much of the music you listen to? Would God promote music that gives adults and kids bad ideas about sex, drinking, money, women, and etc? No. God would promote love above murder and revenge. He would promote marriage above consensual sex. He would promote being good stewards of the money He's allowed us to use and not spending it foolishly and lavishly to promote ourselves.
Who do you listen to? Does it glorify God? Does it agree with what God agrees with? Does it contain lyrics that suggest that sin is good and abstaining from such sins is bad? Is it peaceful or mean-spirited? God wants us to be more in tune to Him. God's calling you; He's speaking to you. Are you listening right now or is your mind consumed with worldly music and lifestyle.
Choose Jesus today as your Savior. Listen to God's quite voice (which means you must meditate and pray) and omit the "worldly" noises in your life.
I love you and so does our God. God bless you and keep you.
Happy Thanksgiving! Be thankful.
2 comments:
This summer when Zoe was visiting, I started to become very aware of the musical lyrics. In the past, I have been guilty of saying, "I just like the beat! I don't really care about the lyrics." But when a child starts to speak those lyrics, it becomes very clear what is being said! The question that I had to ask myself was, "Shouldn't you also care about what you are listening to as much as you care about what she is hearing?" Even when we don't make a conscious effort to listen to the lyrics, our flesh or spirit is being feed by the music. The question we need to ask is, "Who are you feeding today?" God's blessing to you also.
JASON, I AM IN TOTAL AGREEMENT WITH YOU IN THIS BLOG. HIP HOP HAS HAD A VERY NEGITIVE IMPACT IN THE URBAN BLACK COMMUNITY. HOW DO WE CHANGE THE NEGATIVE IMPACT THAT HIP HOP/R&B MUSIC HAVE ON US? THE WAY I SEE IT IS TO STOP LISTENING TO IT. THERE ARE VERY FEW PEOPLE WHO CAN LISTEN TO SOMETHING AND NOT LET IT INFLUENCE THEM. THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE ALLOW MUSIC TO HAVE MORE INFLUENCE OVER THEM THEN GOD AND HIS WORD. JUST IMAGINE HOW THE WORLD WOULD BE IF THEY LISTENED AND PAID MORE ATTENTION TO GOD VERSES HIP HOP/R&B MUSIC.
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