Do you use music? Or does music use you?

Jenna and I were eating out last night when she noted that, at this particular Arby’s, I always sing the songs. They’re the secular songs from an earlier era before I switched to Contemporary Christian music. They’re embedded in my memory.

I don’t even have to think about them. They just come out of my mouth.

So I need to be careful.

As Prince and I sang When Doves Cry in between bites of roast beef, my mind went back to how many times I listened to his Purple Rain album and Morris Day and the Time. And how many times I watched the movie Purple Rain. [Disclaimer: Not a good movie. Do not watch it.]

But it was the music. The music drew me in.

And it kept me there to say things I didn’t mean. Over and over.

I don’t want to do that.
I don’t want music to use me that way.

I’m thankful now that I can keep my radio tuned to Christian stations where the odds are significantly higher that I can sing Truth.

And I’m very thankful that I can sing songs with my church that echo Biblical truths and are often direct quotes from Scripture itself.

Lyrics DO matter.

A catchy rhythm is NOT enough.
Both heart and head need to be in tune if I’m going to glorify God.

The more I know about the Lord, the more I want Him to be the subject of my songs. And the more He fills me when I praise Him, the more I want to learn about Him.

Mind and heart belong together. Strong, passionate desires for God flow from and encourage the faithful, thoughtful study of God—his nature, character, and works.

We’re deceived when we think we can have one without the other. God intends us to have both.

If our doctrine is accurate but our hearts are cold toward God himself, our corporate worship will be true but lifeless.

Or if we express fervent love for God but present vague, inaccurate, or incomplete ideas of him to those we’re leading, our worship will be emotional but misleading—and possibly idolatrous.

Neither option brings God glory. 

~ Bob Kauflin, Worship Matters
               Chapter 3: MY MIND: WHAT DO I BELIEVE?

Instead of singing things that make no sense to me or, even worse, are blatantly false about my reality in Christ’s kingdom, like:

Touch if you will my stomach
Feel how it trembles inside
You've got the butterflies all tied up
Don't make me chase you
Even doves have pride

How can you just leave me standing?
Alone in a world so cold? 
Maybe I'm just too demanding 
Maybe I'm just like my father too bold 
Maybe you're just like my mother
She's never satisfied
Why do we scream at each other
This is what it sounds like
When doves cry
~ Prince
from When Doves Cry

I want to sing God-honoring truth:

He became sin
Who knew no sin
That we might become His Righteousness
He humbled himself and carried the cross

Jesus Messiah
Name above all names
Blessed Redeemer
Emmanuel
The rescue for sinners
The ransom from Heaven
Jesus Messiah
Lord of all

All our hope is in You
All our hope is in You
All the glory to You, God
The light of the world
~ Chris Tomlin
from Jesus Messiah

I don’t want music to use me.
I want to use music...
to please Him.

Sing what you mean and mean what you sing.

* * *

How often do you consider what lyrics come out of your mouth?

What helps you stay focused on the words?