What's Your Groove?
I think it would be safe to say that everyone enjoys music. Well, almost everyone. I suppose there are a very few people that grew up completely without music and never learned to appreciate it, but just about everyone on earth enjoys music. Every culture has its own variety that it has developed--whether it be the Mongol chants of Asia, the pulsing rhythms of Africa, or the myriad of styles brought about by western culture.
What you listen to as a songwriter is very important. Your ears are a gate to your spirit, and what is in your spirit is going to be revealed in the songs that you write. "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Matthew 12: 34)." Don't worry, I'm not going to bash any particular style--I think almost any style can be used to glorify God, although all styles are not condusive to all situations. However, there are some guidelines to determine the spiritual value of your listening material. They could be inone of three categories.
1) Music that is spiritually harmful. A steady diet of music that promotes drugs, sex, alcohol, and ungodly living is certainly going to tear you down spiritually. This kind of music feeds the flesh and stirs it up to do unholy things. Stay away from it!
2) Music that is spiritually neutral. This is music that doesn't necessarily feed the flesh, but it doesn't necessarily feed the spirit, the real you, either. Listening to Mozart or Beethoven is not, on its own, going to make you spiritually weak. However, too much of this spiritually neutral music can also be harmful because it can take away from spending time with God. It could become a weight, as described in Hebrews 12:1. You need a ballance--don't lose focus on God for any reason--and that includes music!
3) Music that is spiritually uplifting. This is the best kind of music. Ephesians 5:19 tells you to "speak to one another in psalms and hymns...singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. This is music that glorifies God either by direct praise and worship or by quoting the Word of God.
I'll probably write some more on this subject in my next post, but for now, what's your goove? Is what you're listening to glorifying God, or is it just fluff? Remember, what you put in your heart is what will come out.
Until Next Time,
Tim Heider
What you listen to as a songwriter is very important. Your ears are a gate to your spirit, and what is in your spirit is going to be revealed in the songs that you write. "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Matthew 12: 34)." Don't worry, I'm not going to bash any particular style--I think almost any style can be used to glorify God, although all styles are not condusive to all situations. However, there are some guidelines to determine the spiritual value of your listening material. They could be inone of three categories.
1) Music that is spiritually harmful. A steady diet of music that promotes drugs, sex, alcohol, and ungodly living is certainly going to tear you down spiritually. This kind of music feeds the flesh and stirs it up to do unholy things. Stay away from it!
2) Music that is spiritually neutral. This is music that doesn't necessarily feed the flesh, but it doesn't necessarily feed the spirit, the real you, either. Listening to Mozart or Beethoven is not, on its own, going to make you spiritually weak. However, too much of this spiritually neutral music can also be harmful because it can take away from spending time with God. It could become a weight, as described in Hebrews 12:1. You need a ballance--don't lose focus on God for any reason--and that includes music!
3) Music that is spiritually uplifting. This is the best kind of music. Ephesians 5:19 tells you to "speak to one another in psalms and hymns...singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord. This is music that glorifies God either by direct praise and worship or by quoting the Word of God.
I'll probably write some more on this subject in my next post, but for now, what's your goove? Is what you're listening to glorifying God, or is it just fluff? Remember, what you put in your heart is what will come out.
Until Next Time,
Tim Heider
posted by Tim Heider at 7:29 PM
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