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Your Child and the Pop Culture
Your Child and the Music Media
One of the toughest things to do when it comes to contemporary music is to be levelheaded and fair. It’s tough for teenagers, because they’re trying to establish their own, identity; and sometimes that means, "If Mom and Dad and teacher and pastor don’t like it, the I love it." And it’s tough for Mom and Dad and teacher and pastor, because they’re alarmed by what they see happening in the upcoming generation. In the search for the cause of it, all those people with the weird clothes and strange music offer an easy target - "It’s their fault!"
It’s tough to know how to deal with the issues. But as Christians we have to deal with them, if we’re going to help our children carry out their Lord’s command, "Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God" (1 Corinthians 10:31).
The beat
One prominent feature in almost all contemporary music is a strongly rhythmic nature. It’s undeniable that the appeal of a "beat" in music is mainly a physical appeal - just watch how even tiny toddlers will bounce and sway in time to rock music. As with anything that is physically enjoyable, there is always the danger of getting into a mind-set where our bodies’ desires control us, instead of vice versa. On the other hand, it would be a mistake to condemn a style of music just because it has strong physical appeal. After all, Jesus redeemed our bodies as well as our souls.
Sexy lyrics
Another area of concern with contemporary music is a preoccupation with sex. Listen to almost any popular music station and you’ll find something like one song in every four talks about sex, the idea usually being something to the effect that if you care about someone, you go to bed with that person, that "love" equals sex. A lot of contemporary music promotes extramarital sex; but is it any different from the attitudes toward sex that are depicted and glamorized on TV? How many movies have you seen lately that depict chastity as something that genuine, normal people practice? Not that this excuses the immorality in the music media; but at the same time, we wouldn’t want to be using a double standard, condemning immorality in our children’s music while ignoring it on our TV.
The performers’ image
Popular music is never performed in a vacuum. The lives and personalities of the performers are linked with the music being performed. The advent of music videos has enhanced this by keeping the performers’ faces in front of the listener. If the performers are decent role models, this can be a good thing. But performers often project an image contrary to Christianity.
There’s a real danger here of going overboard. Just as professional wrestlers give a phony image of themselves as bloodthirsty savages bent on vengeance and mayhem, so a lot of music performers, to make sure they get noticed, project a bizarre, bigger-than-life, and often shocking image of themselves as "bad boys", sometimes even going to the extent of using satanic imagery. This is certainly something that deserves our condemnation. At the same time, it would be a mistake not to recognize that we’re dealing with some carefully constructed illusions, so that we end up treating a sleazy publicity tactic as if it were a reality.
Look for real solutions, not easy ones
Christian rock performer John Fischer has said, "It’s a waste of time and energy to tell young people not to listen to rock music." But when faced with the risks that go along with contemporary music, that’s precisely what many well-meaning Christians attempt to do. There are many anti-rock crusaders around, who promote the message that "rock is sin" and hold mass record burnings. Their material is generally full of misinformation, rumor and downright silliness, such as the "fact" that our subconscious minds are capable of picking up hidden messages recorded backwards into rock music.
Unfair and ignorant judgments of contemporary music put us in danger of losing credibility with our children. We could easily leave them thinking, "My parents and teachers live on another planed! They have nothing to say to me." This attitude could carry over into other more important areas - like what we say to our children about their life with God. Rather than risk alienation, let’s work on communication:
Listen to the music your children listen to: Tune in their stations, and examine their recordings. (But don’t snoop! Having the courtesy to request permission will earn respect with teenagers.)
When you hear something that disturbs you, ask questions, try to understand.
If your children are still young, work on appreciating music with them. Introduce them to music that is good art and has a good message. By giving them enjoyable recordings when they’re young, and supervising their purchasing when they get a little order, you can help them develop discriminating tastes.
Encourage older children to set up guidelines for music listening and purchasing. Ask them where they think the lines can be made on what is acceptable, and what they as Christians would consider unacceptable.
Be aware of, and make your children aware of, Christian contemporary music. Many larger cities have radio stations that have Christian contemporary music, and many Christian bookstores will let you listen to sample tapes in the store. Don’t expect doctrinal perfection, and don’t necessarily promote it as a steady diet; but it is a refreshing and often deifying alternative.
Some topics for discussion
What makes your favorite music appeal to you? Are there legitimate faults that people find with any of it, or is it basically just a matter of individual taste?
Can things like drugs and promiscuous sex be dealt with in music without promoting them, or in a way that even warns against them?
Would a Christian contemporary music workshop or concert at church or church school be useful and appreciated, or would it cause more trouble than it’s worth?
Rock music tends to cause excitement rather than tranquillity. Is there such a thing as "right" or "wrong" moods, "Christian" or "non-Christian" moods?
One final recommendation: Promoting love and interest in Jesus and in things that have to do with him will be far more effective than trying to promote hatred for any type of music.
Prayer
Jesus, our Creator, you have made us human beings with the gift of creativity, and you have brought us the gift of music. We have often misused and neglected your gift; please forgive us for that. Help us and our families to do everything to your glory, and let this include our involvement in music. In your name. Amen.
The Family of God series is copyright © 1985 Northwestern Publishing House. and is published under the auspices of PACE (Partners Advancing Christian Education), Wisconsin Lutheran High School Conference, Milwaukee, WI. Reprinted by permission.
Northwestern Publishing House
1250 N 113th Street
Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA 53226-3284
Phone: 1-800-662-6022
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