Music is powerful
I think we sometimes underestimate the power and influence of media in our lives. I believe that the media we consume constantly shapes our mindset and thoughts, and science backs me up. Movies, TV shows, social networks, music. Music is unique within them though. We constantly immerse ourselves in it, and unlike any of the others, we put it on repeat, devoting the lyrics to our hearts and repeating every word.
For a little over a year now, I have nearly exclusively listened to Christian music and found it far more enjoyable and fulfilling than consuming other genres. With my previous playlists, after listening to them for a while, I just found that I got tired and exhausted by the music. I enjoyed the songs, but they left me feeling a bit empty. When writing this blog, I started to dig deep into why my experience was this way, and I ended at the following conclusion:
It is all about the lyrics
It feels like most pop songs these days tend to be about a breakup, getting drunk or a regretful old memory. Sometimes even all three. Those lyrics just don’t resonate with me. I can’t connect with the song on a personal level. I concede that there is a large number of songs whose lyrics are clean and thematically acceptable, however, I still find myself in the same situation. So, what is different about Christian music? Christian songs, unlike the alternative, speak God-glorifying truths. They breathe life into our lungs and point us toward Him. Clean songs are just words and music combined, lacking the spiritual aspect. That’s where the difference is.
This is so impactful because we, as humans, were made to worship. Psalms 100 says
‘Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.’
Our experience is so fulfilling when we are doing what we were created to do. This summer I was at a camp in Rocksprings, Texas where I saw young men crying while kneeling on the floor when we worshipped at night. I highly doubt playing the top hit pop song would achieve the same results. Christian music brings us closer to God, and that encounter is transformative.
Should I only listen to worship music?
I am not convinced that we need to exclusively listen to Christian music. If you do, I think that is awesome. If you like to include other clean songs into your music mix every once and a while, then go for it! That is what I will often do. However, I would like to emphasize the word ‘clean’. This next statement is bold, and I don’t think everyone agrees with me even within the Christian community, but it is something I am convicted about:
If you are a Christian, songs that you listen to should be clean of profanity and thematic or suggestive lyrics that encourage something opposite from what that the Bible teaches.
Why do I believe this? In Matthew 15, Jesus explains one of His parables to the disciples. He says:
“Don’t you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them. For out of the heart come evil thoughts — murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.” (Matthew 15:17–19)
If you are signing along to a song that talks about sexual immorality, for example, I believe you are putting your heart in a dangerous position. Such words, even if being sung for fun, should not be coming out of your mouth as a Christian. Sadly there is a lot of songs whose melody I enjoy but the lyrical message makes me unable to listen to it. For the sake of my heart, I avoid those and just choose something else. There is such an abundance of music choices, and I can sacrifice a handful of songs for the sake of my faith and eternity.
What do I listen to then?
I have four main Christian playlists that I switch between. Linking them here for you to enjoy as well :) Click on the title to open them!
Life
(~300 songs)
All kinds of Christian songs, both upbeat and slow, to listen to throughout the day. Kind of the compilation of all the other playlists. This playlist is ideal for when you are unsure what you want to listen to. I use this one the most when driving.
Jesus Beats
(~100 songs)
Super upbeat Christ-glorifying songs, close to the style of pop songs or EDM. Perfect when exercising or when you need a bit of energy.
Worship Central
(~100 songs)
A large collection of worship music from different sources, easy to sing along to. Perfect for late in the afternoon/night or when you just want to worship.
Deep Worship Feels
(~20 songs)
A small subset of worship songs which at one time or another just hit differently. Perfect for when you need some hard truths spoken in your life or when you just want to be in the feels. A lot of these become camp worship classics.
Apart from those, I will often throw in some instrumental tracks, 50s music, and clean pop songs. However, the majority of my time is spent between those playlists.
I encourage you to include some Christian music in your song rotations. Choose songs that you enjoy and that speak to you. It does not have to be the sole thing you listen to, but I am confident that you will find it uplifting and renewing.
