An Ear-ful

I have a confession: sometimes I like bad music.

Not for the message, not for the words…just to soak up some addicting rhythms. It’s one of those guilty pleasures that I want to be more intensely convicted of, but I know it won’t happen overnight.

Now, I’m not saying that music with good rhythms is inherently evil. There are some good “clean” tracks, but honestly, many of them are not particularly Christ-pleasing. Not most of the ones I was listening to last week, anyway.

Take Jason Derülo, for example. Artistically, he is one of my favorites! But how can I listen to “Whatcha Say” and enjoy it, when I wouldn’t listen to a loser boyfriend who was cheating on me and crawling back with only pathetic excuses? Why would I listen to this (below) when I am happily married and a firm supporter of strong, healthy relationships?

Girl, tell me whatcha said (said)
I don’t want you to leave me
Though you caught me cheatin’
Tell me, tell me whatcha said (said)
I really need you in my life
Cuz things ain’t right, girl
Tell me, tell me whatcha said (said)
I don’t want you to leave me
Though you caught me cheatin’
Tell me, tell me whatcha said (said)
I really need you in my life
Cuz things ain’t right

Cause when the roof caved in and the truth came out
I just didn’t know what to do
But when I become a star we’ll be living so large
I’ll do anything for you
So baby whatcha say!

Or Sean Kingston’s “Fire Burning”?  It’s kinda fun…if you don’t listen to the lyrics and realize that a girl’s promiscuous dancing is majorly turning some guys on?  Perhaps I don’t respect myself either?

That body is a masterpiece
The order is one in every hundred years
But ain’t no doubt I’m  taking it home, home…

Or LMFAO’s “Party Rock Anthem”? Besides the fact that their band name riddled with crudities, this popular track isn’t an improvement. Yay for body flaunting, right…

Party rock is in the house tonight
Everybody just have a good time
We gonna make you lose your mind
We just wanna see ya shake that…

And then there’s David Guetta who features Akon on the gym workout favorite “Sexy Bitch”–a title which even has to be censored on YouTube. If you’re not paying attention to what you’re listening to, then you don’t realize this is going into your head:

The way that booty movin’
I can’t take no more
Have to stop what I’m doin’  so I can pull up close
I’m tryna  find the words to describe this girl
Without  being disrespectful

Damn, girl
Damn, you’s a sexy bitch, a  sexy bitch
Damn, you’s a sexy  bitch, damn, girl
Damn, you’s a  sexy bitch, a sexy bitch
Damn, you’s a sexy bitch, damn girl

I was going to censor this, but I changed my mind because reading it is offensive. And I want to be offended by it. I find these words terribly disrespectful, and I don’t want to condone this.

I can’t live a Christ-pleasing life and listen to music that doesn’t please Him. I can’t be telling others that Jesus is my Defender and my Rock, while accepting music that tells me to rock my body and surrender it to any sexual invitation.

I know I am worth more than my sexuality.

And I know my life should reflect that in all aspects–music included.

As Christians, we are called to live a life of purity. This is an area of purity that I need to improve, and constantly dumping dirty words into my life is not proving profitable…

In Philippians, Paul teaches that we are to think about things that are right and true and pure and praiseworthy–and I can’t honestly say that for these songs.

Maybe this all seems ridiculous, but if simply changing a radio station strengthens my relationship with God and my testimony to others…why not?

“So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.”
– Galatians 5:16-17

“Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.”
– Philippians 4:8

“Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.”
– 1 Timothy 4:16