Music… A Gift From God!
I truly believe music is one of God’s most wonderful inventions! Seriously. The emotional catharsis I get from hearing/”singing” a good song is priceless. There is just something so powerful about someone else’s words rthymically expressing my feelings. When life is busy and noisy, a good song can help me tune into my feelings and frustrations and help me process them with God. I find it ironic though that not many songs from current Christian radio strike a chord in my heart. There are several secular songs that connect with me and several hymns and “church songs” that also do this.
Strangely though, at times I have tried to make myself listen to Christian radio. I usually end up feeling apathetic or depressed though. I scream inside, “Where is the emotion? Where is the dramatic music that brings me to that point of release.” After all, aren’t we Christians supposed to be confessing our sins and struggles and giving thanks to God daily? Then why are so many Christian songs about as exciting and emotionally raw as “If You’re Happy and You Know It Clap Your Hands?”
I heard a song the other day that opened the flood gates of hurt, anger, and disappointment I have experienced for years at the nasty mouth of one of my relatives. The song is about a guy-girl relationship and doesn’t even lyrically connect to my situation. But this one line hit me hard: “I don’t hate you.” It is repeated slowly and dramatically at the end of the song. It slowly and dramatically reached into my heart and told my brain what my problem was. I wanted to hate this person and not care about her opinion of me. I couldn’t do it though. I wanted to save her. I wanted to change her. After praying and struggling with God about it, I realize I want Jesus to save her and change her. All I can do is turn off Christian radio and tune in to Jesus… however non-religious that may look for me.
Thank you secular music for occasionally helping me be more self aware and ushering me into God’s kingdom through prayer and confession.
I LOVE IT!
This line has made my day: “…why are so many Christian songs about as exciting and emotionally raw as ‘If You’re Happy and You Know It Clap Your Hands?’”
Well done wife. Well done
I have to say I agree. I listen to only christian radio for the most part and usually 90.1. The reason I like them though is because it is the same style as the secular music I used to listen to. I too need something passionate and emotional to feel truly connected with God. There are weeks at church were we only play more upbeat and very fun songs, however, I often feel like I didn’t get the full experience of true worship if they don’t slow it down for at least one song that is more heartfelt. I know we are supposed to worship in everything we do, but music really helps me to experience that fully. Just my thoughts!
Great post Jill!
To me Christian music does come across pretty emotionless. I think it falls into the whole stereotype of what Christians think they have to LOOK like to other people. Kind of like what Don talks about with the whole country club church thing. They surely can not listen to anything other than “If your happy and you know it” stuff or they are looked down on by other Christians.
Poppycock! That’s what I say. I think it’s fabulous that we can get positive feelings from a secular song. That means non-Christians do to, since they don’t subject themselves to Christian music.
I don’t know.. I am probably rambling and not making sense, it’s been a brain melting last 24 hours. All I am saying is that music should flow through you, and make you feel all those emotions, and if you force yourself to listen to music just because you fit in that category means you are missing what music is supposed to be about. If I was born in Texas I wouldn’t listen to country just because everyone else does.
You are so right about Jesus speaking to us through other ways..even if it is secular music.
Hey, I love Christian music. I know I am a dork. I also love Christians who are not in a Christian Bands like Flyleaf. I also like secular music- especially when I want to go dancing… I’m tired of TobyMac… His stuff is the same old thing remixed. I try to find a balance and what I think is lyrical and spiritual…. if it is telling me do things that are not good- or have too much fun and or telling me to date this guy because he has money or suicidal than I am not going to listen to it. I am a fan of Chris Tomlin, Matt Redman and Tim Hughes ( a little bit) but I am also fan of Skillet, Counting Crows, Dashboard Confessional and Mandy Moore… I have my balance. Yes, some times Christian music is “Happy” sometimes it is cheesy. So does that mean I am a happy cheesy Christian? I’ll let God decide that and not for you to judge me.
Oh my gosh… I hope I didn’t offend you Tara. I really didn’t mean any of that to sound harsh. If you took it that way I apologize. I am a TERRIBLE writer, just ask Don. Some of my favorite bands are Christian, such as Blindside, As I Lay Dying and Norma Jean. I also really like Skillet. I was referring to the types of Christians who would look down on you even for liking Dashboard Confessional. I don’t think it’s right at all for anyone to judge anyone on what their tastes in music are. My good friend Ami loves Madonna and Blues Clues music..to each his own.
P.S. I will keep my opinions to myself from now on..seems I am always apologizing to someone.
Stef-
Don’t worry about it. I was just saying that some do listen to Christian music. I also listen to secular music. I try to keep a balance. I’m also the girl who likes to rock out. I see that people want to Christian music in a bubble and stomp on it. Or they keep Christian music away from them because it does sound cheesy. I am not a fan of a few Christian bands who are very contemporary. So I try to find the hard to find bands like Since October, Dizmas, Disciple (which Don hates, but who am I to judge him). We all come from different backgrounds and have different taste in music. I feel like I am always apologizing for the Christian Music Industry.
There are definitely some good Christian bands out there who are more pop/rock…in my opinion, it just seems that Christian radio is afraid to play their music. I also agree with Tara that it’s not healthy (or glorifying to God) to listen to music that glorifies sin and sets our hearts toward fulfilling sinful desires. There is a lot of secular music that does that… and a lot that doesn’t. Likewise, there is a lot of “Christian” music that helps me focus on Christ and a lot that does not. Thanks for sharing your opinions, peeps!