Motown Sounds and the Glory of God

 

Even a child makes himself known by his acts, by whether his conduct is pure and upright. Proverbs 20:11

Motown music is cleaning music at our house. The beat is face-paced, has (generally) happy endings, and the familiarity moves me along with any deep cleaning project.

I did not come to faith in Christ until my late thirties and this is the music I grew up on. I didn’t discover “worship music” until I had memorized most of the Motown Sounds.

This morning as I started some Spring cleaning I turned Pandora to “Motown Sounds Radio.” The work waited while I sang every word to the first couple of songs (into my imaginary microphone). Every word of a lot of these songs is etched into my mind. The music starts and I start singing.

I know many Christian kids who think it is perfectly fine to listen to any genre of secular music they want. Parents, I was reminded/warned this morning as I sang those words, that every song they learn is etched on their brains. Secular music is fine, if it is edifying and “worthy.”  In Psalm 119:37 the Psalmist asks God, “Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways.” This must apply to what we hear, as well.

As parents, it is our job to teach and train our children (those the Lord has entrusted to us) to discern what music is edifying and uplifting compared to that which leads to worthless thinking.

I think differently than I did when I was not a Christian, so that even in the Motown sounds I hear some questionable lyrics that I used to think were going right over my head (under my radar, actually). I also hear some references to God and to His sovereignty, though, admittedly, they are rare.

As our children mature, we give them more liberty in the music they listen to.  A measure for testing their maturity in choosing music is their maturity in the faith. Paul said, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God” (Colossians 3:16) .”

Are our children spiritually mature enough to choose their own music without counsel? What about us?

If the Word of God is dwelling in us – and not just the words to the music of the day – then, the possibility of discernment is greater. As parents (and grandparents) we need to be discerning about what music is “worthy” of our time and engagement, and recognize those around us who are also being exposed to it.

Whether we think so or not, it is engaging our minds, and the minds of those around us. What our minds accept, our hearts adopt.

What kind of music (and TV) are the children in your home being exposed to?  It is being etched on their minds and hearts.  How does it glorify God?