There. I said it.
Now, before you go and string me up on the church awning, let me explain.
I've always enjoyed upbeat, make-you-wanna-dance music.
Today's music has moved from the reflective and angst-ridden music of Kurt Cobain and Alanis Morissette to the DJ booths and nightclub feel of Swedish House Mafia and Calvin Harris. I love it! House music just makes me feel good. I believe that music is therapeutic. I listen to music to create a mood or to inspire. Why on earth would i want to listen to music about pain? Everybody has pain and disappointment. Why do I want to be reminded of it through my headphones?
So, I tend to listen to the radio and secular music.
Now, being a christian dad trying to raise godly teenage daughters, this puts me in a unique and sometimes awkward position. Because, I do love today's musical style, the message of today's music is far from godly.
Today's music is riddled with profanity (which I still don't understand). It's all about the hook-up. It's degrading to women and no one seems to wanna grow up. Case in point:
Forever Young by Jay Z.
Young Forever by Nicki Minaj.
Live While We're Young by One Direction.
We Are Young by fun.
Young Forever by The Ready Set.
Young, Wild and Free by Snoop Dogg.
Here's to Never Growing Up by Avril Lavigne.
Die Young by Ke$ha.
Today's music seems to push out of the boundaries of maturity, responsibility and respect and celebrate the offensive, the immature and the me-ism attitude of life in the 21st century. Although the beat is good, the message is hard to listen to. Which brings me to my point.
I was driving down the road with my daughters the other day when a Ke$ha song came on. The name of the song was Blow and we were be-boppin' along as usual. Here's what we heard:
Backdoor cracked we don't need a keyWe get in for freeNo VIP sleazeDrink that Kool-Aid, follow my leadNow you're one of usYou're comin with me
It's time to kill the lights andShut the DJ downTonight we're takin overNo one's getting out
Now what (what?)We're takin controlWe get what we wantWe do what you don'tDirt and glitter cover the floorWe're pretty and sickWe're young and we're bored
It's time to lose your mind andLet the crazy outTonight we're takin names causeWe don't mess around
Not wanting to let the teachable moment get away from me, I asked the girls to talk a little about what Ke$ha was singing about. Groans ensued.
Me: So, what's she singing about?
Daughters: Ugh. Dad, can we just listen to the song?
Me: Nope. Indulge me.
Daughters: (heavy sighs)
We talked about Ke$ha's need to get away from her life. She wanted a place she could go with the people she loved and trusted and just let her hair down and party. Life can be pretty hard. Having that place to go and forget is a common theme of today's music. We just want a place to go, forget our pain and enjoy the moment with people we love.
Then, my oldest daughter revealed the truth of it all.
Daughters: Dad, it kinda sounds like what heaven is gonna be like.
Angels began to weep.
I had done it!
I had trained my daughters to not merely listen to music, but to see the message in it and how it relates to our spiritual lives!
At that moment, my daughters came to realize that what the world is looking for, CHRIST OFFERS TO US. Jesus knows that this is life is pain. It wasn't the plan God put in place, but it's the reality we live in.
We are all searching for that place to get away from our pain and disappointment. We all want a place where that stuff doesn't exist. We want to hang with our friends, experience the complete freedom of letting go and not having to worry about "life stuff".
God has a place like that for us. It's called Eternity. He's placed it in our hearts. Everyone of us. Even the Ke$has of the world. We don't want to grow up because Jesus himself said
“Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." - Matthew 18:3
May we continue to mature in Christ-likeness, but may we never grow up.
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