Staying Pure: Music

mm1I really value good, clean music. First of all, who doesn’t love music? Music can be a great way to relax and unwind, and can be common ground between friends. But music can be very harmful too. There is so much out there that just pollutes the mind and causes us to develop an insensitivity to the things that hurt us spiritually. So, when I find a good song, it gains a spot on my mental list of favorites. I know how hard it can be for teens to stay away from the popular entertainment sources, but we are called to be different––and that’s an honor! Why should we be cautious to keep our minds pure? Read Romans 12:2, Matthew 5:8, 1 Peter 2:9, Philippians 4:8, and Colossians 3:2. Today I want to mention some of my favorites songs and groups, in hopes that you will always be in search of pure entertainment––to keep your thoughts pure, to be an example to others, and to please God!

I often wonder what expression would be on the face of the apostles if they were hanging out with the youth of today, and one of today’s “Top 40” songs came on. Not every song is bad, but for someone who has not been exposed to certain types of music (or someone who has made a commitment not to listen to impure music), it is a shock to hear some of the lyrics that are on the radio. The older I get, the more disciplined I get with myself about what I listen to. I can no longer listen to a single station on the radio without having to change it within a maximum of 10 minutes!

It seems like the world just accepts whatever message songs have, whatever vulgar lyrics, and whatever implication. We as Christians hear these songs (and know good and well that they do not please God) but continue to listen to what everybody else listens to. We cannot do this any longer. The quicker people run away from temptation, the quicker they can run into God’s protective and loving arms. He knows what happens when we fill our minds with sinful things––and He doesn’t want us to! So what can we do? How can a Christian teen get away from those songs that trash our minds? I have a few tips that I hope will help.

  • mm2Keep CDs of songs that have a clean, positive message on hand. (Make mix CDs!) If you drive, keep those CDs in the vehicle so you will not be tempted to listen to inappropriate songs that may be on the radio. (I Cor. 10:13)
  • If you have an iPod, mp3 player, or CD player, load it down with music that makes you smile (and is clean!) and take it with you when you go places where you cannot control the music, so that you always have a backup.
  • When your friends play songs that you know are not right, explain to them in a calm and loving way why you would like them not to play that music around you. If they don’t respect you, then you probably should not be running around with those people, because they will affect you in a negative way. (I Cor. 15:33; 2 Cor. 6:14)
  • Talk to God about your concerns. Ask Him to give you the strength and courage to stand up for what you know is right! He will help you purify your mind, if you are truly seeking to please Him first. (Matthew 6:33; 1 Peter 5:7)

Some of my favorite artists who have a lot of good, clean music are:

-Red Shepherd (alternative/calm)
-Josh Turner (country)
-The Ambassadors, Cornerstone, Essence (acappella)
-Rascal Flatts (country)
-Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver (bluegrass)
-Switchfoot (alternative/rock)
-Reliant K (alternative/rock)
-Diamond Rio (country)

By Hannah Smith

Comments

  1. Hannah, I’m glad you wrote this article because we really need to be careful what we hear. Just like the song says, “Be careful little ears what you hear”. There’s a reason for that. I have heard some people say that they listen to the tune not the lyrics. The problem with that is the subliminal message is still heard by our minds whether we think so or not. It is imperative that we, as Christians, feed our minds with pure and holy thoughts. Philippians 4:8; “….whatever things are pure……meditate on these things”.

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