on music

     It has the power to manipulate our emotions so easily, and so profoundly.  Anybody who's ever watched clips from movies overdubbed with a different soundtrack can attest to that - suddenly Back to the Future is a gay romance, The Sound of Music is creepy horror, or Wizard of Oz is a drug trip.  Okay, maybe that last one isn't so far-fetched, but I'm sure you get the point.

Now, churches have had hymns to point people to God pretty much forever, but I want to discuss for a bit how songs can affect people spiritually.  Combining a little of the previous two posts, on innocence and orthodoxy, I think one can see that "Christian" music (especially CCM) is an area that shows the worst bits of both.  What has come to be thought of as acceptable music, good and truly "Christian" music, "uplifting" music... it's safe, boring, steeped in religious language, and bad.  Mostly bad.  Thus it is with a little irony that most people who listen to it do so because they think it keeps their kids innocent and on the right path.  And if any musician should happen to break the rules of the listeners' orthodoxy, they are cast out forever, and their music is no longer "Christian."

But that's backwards.  A Christian who makes music is a Christian musician, whether or not their song is on K-Love.  And while I grew up with and have a soft spot for some CCM personally, calling bad music good (and good music bad) does a disservice to all involved: kids, musicians, even your own sense of taste might be called into question.

     I've discovered that the songs that have most affected my spiritual growth were ones that recognized hardship and the ways the world is broken.  These can be written by Christians or not, of course, and the effect can be via the music or lyrics or both - I have a friend, for instance, whose theory is that good songs will have vocalizations that aren't words.  It is that sort of resonance with the spirit that can really cause a song to stand out.  Lyrics are the easiest to cite on this blog, though I may post videos later:

"You got a minute for your son, father?  We need to talk.  I'm so tired of trying to run, father - let's take a walk." - not CCM

or

"One man come, he to justify, one man to overthrow... in the name of love." - not CCM

or even 

"Tell me there's a logic out there.
Leading me to better prepare
For the day that something really special might come.
Tell me there's some hope for me.
I don't wanna be lonely
For the rest of my days on the earth.
Oh..!!" - also not CCM

     What it comes down to is an expression of the human condition, and our deepest, often unspoken, fears and desires.  Getting these out there, whether it is the Holy Spirit understanding our wordless groans, or singing along in the car, is healthy and leads us to a deeper life.  Having some musician put into words what you were really trying to say, and emotionally what you were really feeling about it... it can bring healing to a dark place, and insight to a stuck situation.  Plus, it just feels great, tearing up at Les Mis, or talking back to 2pac ("We DO have a black president!  Wish you could be here to see it").  Listening to music that explicitly reminds us that God is great has value, of course, but music that has been down to the depths with us and seen us back out again... I think that's really what it's for.

*Bonus points if you already recognized the lyrics above, but just in case:  DMX, U2, Weezer.