Jewells of Thought

Have you ever found yourself flat-footed with a preteen about lyrics versus actions from a rather beloved musician?

Music has always been my passion from the time I became a fetus listening in my mothers womb. I literally heard my Dad’s voice and Mom’s fingers every Sunday morning and evening and Wednesday nights. It was a part of me when I was born.

However, it took me a few years to realize the difference lyrics make to a song. Up until my teenage years I sang whatever sounded good because the melody was usually already stuck in my vocal cords. Somehow I am not certain what it was that challenged my thinking; something said by a preacher perhaps.

So now as an adult who has learned the lesson about singing songs with opposing scriptural messages; I am caught in between what I used to be and the young girl who hasn’t learned the lesson. The problem is I can’t control what she has already heard when she is not with us. The examples she is around are not giving her more context to what she should be firstly, appropriate for her age and secondly, good music without profanity and lurid comments.

Too many times lately, especially in the last 6 months, I have had to have her turn off her music just simply because I cannot condone listening to bad music with profanity. I happen to know there is music that doesn’t have that and I listen to that on a few different stations. Having this problem is something that is hard to deal with because I was her at one time; only I have never liked profanity in the music I listen to or perform.

This has been such a difficult scenario because no one else in her life enforces this sense of reasoning. Morals and protecting one’s youth and purity doesn’t matter anymore. It did when I was growing up as well as my brothers and our cousins. Unfortunately when there is only one portion of a family that goes to church and the other sides don’t; it’s amazing what gets through the cracks. It is really sad to know that having a church wedding was important to some people, but attending church afterwards was never an afterthought to the couple.

One of the songs I have contested with my niece is a popular song, but it absolutely drives me batty. The lyrics go against the idea of being saved and being a Christian. However, yesterday something happened I watched a Senate hearing, usually I only get to see the House hearings. Guess who was testifying? The man who wrote and sang the song my niece and her friend are continually singing.

Honestly, I didn’t know his story well at all I hadn’t even seen his face before. I had heard he knew well the plight of the addicted and that was it. This is so personal for me because I love music. She’s getting her popular musical ideas from people who don’t go to church. I don’t know if Jason Deford is saved, apparently this guy is literally just over a month older than me. We are of the same generation and the dichotomy could not be more different.

Yet he does have a story to tell. He may not give God fully the credit for kicking his addiction, but he should know the devil sure didn’t help him out of it. The Chairman of the Committee said his music has helped an innumerable amount of Americans; I pray he has made a delible impact in lives for good. Maybe I have become too frigid in my stance and yet I have also learned words matter if I am going to sing something I want them to matter.

To me God is not a jukebox to put quarters in to get favors. When I hear those words like favors with God it frustrates me. God doesn’t just want us to come to him when we have a problem. He is so much more than that to me and to those who believe on Him and are truly saved.

This is the conundrum though how to show our faith in Christ while not judging others yet teaching lessons to our young kids about words and how they are used to help us and be used against us. No one else is being the Jesus my niece needs to see besides us, her one side of the family. If we don’t no one will. I don’t like being the adult in the room all the time, but God gave us roles to fill and when we don’t the addiction problem finds a way into those gaping holes.

Do you have these discussions? Or do you have children that don’t have to deal with divorce and its effects on the entire family? Popular culture versus the Bible, God’s Holy word… there are always decisions to make. Who is making the decision for the kids in your life?

If we don’t have a standard to commit to, we will surely fall for anything.