Stop Your Half-Hearted Singing.
Shush! Do you even know what you're singing? đ
âYeah, you know who I'm likin'
Way before I liked them, duh
Cause you liked them firstâŠâ
The above are lyrics from a musical show I watched and loved, Julie and the Phantoms. The particular song here was sung by the protagonist of the show, Julie, when she got in a fight with her best friend and wanted to appease her.
Well, I was singing this song some days ago and when I got to this part of the song, thought, âIf I had a best friend and we ever had the same taste in men, it'd be creepy.â That's my thought; Julie obviously thought it was cute.
What's the point of your story, Faith?
Well, I'm getting there. See, I usually analyze songs quite a lot and it's a little out of comfort for some close to me. (Hehe! Sorry, guys. You'll get used to it.) This started when a friend of mine put out a post sometime agoâor did she mention it in a meeting we had? I can't rememberâthat it's important to pay attention to the lyrics of songs we sing. She mentioned this in the context of Gospel songs, but I've extended the application. However, if you were to ask me, I don't think I'm doing too much.
I was listening to a sermon by Apostle Emmanuel Iren and he said a lot of believers lie in worship because they sing without understanding or sing what they don't mean. I'll explain. You see, what a lot of believers do in worship is sing and ride on emotionalism. They cry, roll on the floor and sometimes even bawl their eyes out, but once the music ends, it's over-and-out, tears wiped and right back to where they started. âIâll love You forever, Lordâ but do you mean it? Really?
Music has impact and every lyric by the songwriter is intentionally curated. It's why I'm all for Christocentric songs and songs that speak the Gospel. Recently, I've found myself singing hymns from my secondary school with intentionality and better understanding, and many times, I've had to exclaim to my sister what gems those hymns are. Other times, I just am in wonder. The truth is, those hymns never changed, my approach to them did. And if more believers did this now, there'd be great change.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying crying in worship is awful. If anything, I think it's a beautiful thing. Here's what I'm saying: zoom in on the lyrics. Let the lyrics wash over you, opening your mind to Who God is, what He's done and the message of the Gospel. If you cried while you did this, you'd be crying because you have an understanding and not because the pianist is playing on the right key or the drummer tried out a new skill that made the waterworks flow.
This applies to what we know as praise songs, too. When you do this, you know what song is Scripture-based and what song is justâŠmusic.
What of secular songs?
While I don't think a newsletter is the place to fully address such a topic as you should be a part of a local church, Scripture says, ââŠdeath and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.â (Proverbs 18:21 NKJV)
âWords kill, words give life; theyâre either poison or fruitâyou choose.â
Proverbs 18:21 MSG
As a believer, you know there's no cherry-picking what part of Scripture to follow; Second Timothy chapter three verse sixteen should be your anchor. There are secular songs and there are worldly songs. Certain secular songs are clean and can be sung/listened to. However, not every one is for you.
There are certain songs by my favourite artistes that I've refused to sing just because I can't relate with those experiences. For example, I grew up with a dad, don't have an upside-down past with smoking and whatnot, and some other things these people sing about. However, the artistes sing these songs with the aim of helping others going through the same thing they experienced to heal.
In summary, what I'm trying to say is that you should begin to sing mindfully. Don't just sing because of the emotions it stirs in you or the melody of the music, sing because they make meaning. And I guess the question isn't always: âIs this song safe to sing or not?â It should be: âWhat does it do to me? Is it edifying?â
Recommendations:
Overcoming fear, anxiety & depression - Ezinne Zara
Wonder - Bethel Music
Call me out, please!!! Recently, there was something in me that honestly started missing some songs I'd ditched a while back. Some of them, I went back to download to satisfy my perky ears. Oh well, not until I stumbled on a podcast and this woman shared that when she hears her children listening to something crazy or vulgar, she and her husband will go ahead to print out the lyrics of the song and go through them with their kids line after line. And then, the song just makes sense (or doesn't đ). Man, I was convicted! I made it a point of duty to do the same if the temptation comes again lol. Thank you for sharing, Faithy. You're off to a great start on here! Cheering you on all the wayđ.
Beautiful read! I love it. I remember when Pastey said that too, because it hit me. There are so many songs I've sang mindlessly because of the lyrics, the beat or maybe I just liked the artists.
But once I realized and reflected on them, my eyes were opened to a deeper understanding of what the artist was trying to pass across - exalting God and it just hits more.
For me, I cry when I can't hold myself because this God, He's just too good. I can't help myself but be in awe and in wonder.
Love the balance you struck, Faith.
And NO, you're not doing too much.
I believe you can't say you're a follower of Christ and you decide to not be mindful of the things you're listening to. These things have more impact on us than we think so, thank you for sharing đ