So Justin brought sexy back. Apparently it was missing. Either way, I thought this was a discussion worth having as Christians:

As a songwriter, it amazes me the amount of discussions I seem to get thrust into concerning what is appropriate and what is not when it comes to the music our generation chooses to listen to.

“Is that song a Christian song?”
“Well are the guys in the band Christians?”
“Is this song about God or the lead singer’s girlfriend?”

Let’s back up a little and look at the concept of creation. God, the inventor of the universe and everything in it did this crazy little thing by creating a means for humans to express our love and devotion to him called music.

God’s gift of music existed long before the record industry’s attempt to make the word “Christian” a genre in the late 70’s.

It beckoned Beethoven to compose worship-symphonies his ears would never get a chance to hear.

It strengthened both kings and shepherds long before Christ ever walked the earth as man.

It crept its way into the souls of slaves longing for liberation from their oppressors in ancient Egypt.

So it seems to me that God created music to be good and we are to rejoice in that truth.

The problem inevitably arises when man perverts the good things of God.

It’s actually a lot like sex.

Sex is something God created as a beautiful description of His love for humanity. The kind of passion and intimacy two people experience with each other during intimacy is God’s way of saying about the realities of His kingdom, “It’s kind of like that…but WAY better.”

When people are united with each other through marriage, the act of sex is as worshipful to the Creator as a thousand choir members singing His praises.

However, people have counterfeited this incredible act of worship, building entire industries around its perversion,  removing the gift from the box and merely selling the wrapping paper.

Sound familiar?

We’ve done the same with music, both Christian and non. We’ve constructed corporate empires and have acquired profit with little respect for the quality or content of the art.

Navigating pop-culture today is all about bravely embracing the possibilities of truth in dark places while having the courage to weed out the lies.

It’s the ability to be moved to worship by the lyrics “we’re still waiting on the world to change” while recognizing what “artistry” like this is doing to a culture of broken men and women: “You mother %^&#’s watch how I attack, If that’s your girl you better watch your back, Cause she’ll burn it up for me and that’s a fact.”

So when drawing the boundaries of what you should or should not listen to, ask yourself “what story is being relayed to me? Is it a story that communicates the gifts of God (beauty, peace, hope, love, joy)? Is it a story that confronts the reality of our fallen world? (sorrow, regret, pain, conflict)?. Above all, does it tell the truth?

God created all things…and declared them good. Look for the good amongst the lies and when you find it, rejoice**

**to the married people reading this, this could mean, but is not limited to bringing your sexy back.