Soundtrack to my life....

Do you listen to Christian music exclusively?  I remember a time in high school, when I tried to avoid all secular music, but the quality of Christian music was such an abomination (especially in the 80s) that I went back to my Alternative loving self.   I could go on and on about my Le Chateau wearing, New Order loving, high school persona, but as much as I loved those days, I’ve grown up now.  I love music, these days; I listen to all kinds of music – Christian music, pop music, rap music, and even country music (sometimes).  Music is a form of communication, an expression of worship.  If you’ve ever been to a great concert, you know how powerful it is to sing and dance with thousands of other people – it is a form of worship.  Music is a reflection of your mood, and music can change your mood.  Lately, I’ve been a really positive place, mentally, and I’m constantly being influenced by the music that I hear. Like I said earlier, I’m not listening to only Christian music.  But I do consider myself a Christian.  I’m a Christian who sometimes sings a “secular” song to God.  Is that weird? 

I believe many of the songs I hear on the radio can be applied to my relationship to God.  From Mumford and Sons to Pharrell, I sing, worship and breathe a prayer to God in the car while running my errands. So I’m wondering, is it wrong?  Do I need to look up the singer/songwriters beliefs before it becomes a moment of worship?  Can the intended meanings of lyrics control me in a satanic way?  Clearly I’m child of the back masking 80s (remember when your youth leaders played all of your favorite songs backwards and you got scared, so scared, that you burned all of your cassettes in a Nazi-like firestorm?) 

There is something in us humans that likes to assign credit.  We give credit to the architect of a building, the artist of a painting or the singer of a song (not even the songwriter in many cases).  Sometimes we are just lazy and credit the idea of giving credit “I heard this quote somewhere…” I’m a stickler for plagiarism, so I like to give credit to the person who said it first, who did it first – and really in my mind, the author of all music is God.  He didn’t just create everything in our world, he also gave us the ability to create – music, art, buildings, freeways, technology – all of the amazing things that “man” has created, GOD deserves credit for.  Sure, anything God made can be used for evil, and there are many inappropriate songs and lyrics out there, but I don’t believe the only music that can be in worship is playing on the local Christian radio station.

To walk with God, breathe him in/out all day, I need to have a verse or a song in my heart every moment. Constant worship requires that even the mundane moments, the everyday conversations and the soundtrack that plays in my head during life’s journey be brought back to him.   All of my daily interactions are not with Christians. I don’t know the religious affiliation with the person I smiled at while running at the lake or shopping at Costco.  But that interaction can still be a holy interaction, for where there is light, there cannot be darkness.  (1 John 1:5). 

Coldplay is playing in my heart right now. 

Today, I’m living in the light of the creation and the creative power that God has given each one of us.  And I’m enjoying His creativity to the fullest. 

Can you imagine if we used music as a soundtrack to the Bible? Here are a few of the favorites that run through my head:

Truth Faith by New Order for Joseph when his brothers sold him and he eventually reunites with them years later (Genesis 37 and 42)

Crazy in Love – by Beyonce and Jay-Z for David when he first met Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11)

When I Ruled the World – by Coldplay for that transition between King David and King Solomon.  David, like many people in power, had a hard time stepping aside for a new king.  (1 Kings 1)

I Will Wait – by Mumford and Sons for Ellen and James White during The Great Disappointment

Have you heard a song that could be a soundtrack to a Bible story? – share please, I’d love to hear that I’m not the only wacky one out here!