How Christian Songs Shape Us
Exploring the Impact of Christian songs on us
The Christian music industry has grown significantly in the last few decades. Every week, new songs are being written, composed, produced, and released. However, few of these make it to the top of the charts. Reaching the top has become the goal of every Christian artist.
Now, it is good to excel and be recognized by others; however, if that is the sole purpose of creating a song, then there’s an issue. To make it to the top of the charts, new music is written and produced, but in this process, the Bible is often butchered. The result: Although many of the Christian songs today have good music, sadly, their lyrics contain incorrect theology.
Let me first define what I mean by Christian songs. After that, we’ll examine how a song impacts us. Then, we will see how a Christian song can shape our faith both positively and negatively.
What do I mean by Christian Songs?
Christian songs are those written by Christian artists with the Bible as their base. It is as simple as that. The aim of any Christian song is twofold: to glorify God and to edify His people. If a song fails to accomplish either of these criteria, then most likely it does not fall under the category of a Christian song.
Should these songs mention God/Christ? Preferably, yes. However, some argue that just like the book of Esther, which despite not mentioning God, is still considered one of the canonical books of the Bible, a song, even though it does not explicitly mention God, Jesus, or the Bible, can be considered a Christian song.
However, in my opinion, which I’ve expressed earlier, a song can have great music and amazing lyrics, but if it does not glorify God or edify the church (i.e., God’s people), then it cannot be considered a Christian song.
How Does a Song Impact Us?
Any song can leave an impact on us. A good song can have a positive impact, while a bad song can leave a negative one. Mostly, if not always, we are impacted by the lyrics of the song more than its music. Therefore, the song's lyrics must be carefully evaluated before we listen to it repeatedly.
We all know by now that anything heard multiple times can have a lasting impact on us. This is because repetition is how we learn anything and everything. It is through repetition that a child learns to walk, talk, and perform daily chores. It is through repetition that we learn to read, write, and express our thoughts. It is through repetition that we remember things for extended periods.
Every song is made to be heard repeatedly. That’s why every music player has a ‘repeat’ button. When a song is heard multiple times, on a loop, it is not just remembered but internalized. Ultimately, that song becomes a part of us, shaping how we react and behave.
We are fully supported by donors like you. So, if you enjoy reading such posts, consider financially supporting us!
GooglePay: elvischika@oksbi
PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/ElvisChika007
How Christian Songs Shape Us
There’s a song called ‘Words’ by Hawk Nelson. The pre-chorus of the song is like this:
Words can build you up
Words can break you down
Start a fire in your heart or Put it out
This is very practical. Our words can make a significant difference. Therefore, this song advises us to ensure that we use them correctly. I believe the basis of this song is James 3, which talks about the importance of words. The chorus of this song goes like this:
Let my words be life
Let my words be truth
I don’t wanna say a word
Unless it points the world back to you
Through this song, we are encouraged to examine what and how we use words in our day-to-day lives. This song leaves a positive impact on us. Thus, (according to me) even though it does not explicitly mention God or Jesus, it falls under the category of Christian song.
On the other hand, let’s examine Cory Asbury’s ‘Reckless Love’. While the music of the song is good, the lyrics portray wrong theology.
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights ‘til I’m found, leaves the 99
Joshua Pelletier writes, “If anyone reads these passages [The Parable of the Lost Sheep, found in the Gospels of Matthew 18:10-14 and Luke 15:1-7] and thinks the shepherd (who represents God) is being reckless by leaving the ninety-nine, or that the passage would convince sinners to think of God’s love as being reckless, then they have misunderstood the passage. There is nothing reckless about what the shepherd did. The shepherd, with his foreknowledge, acted deliberately. Thus, we have good reasons for believing that exegeting the Lost Sheep as teaching that God’s love is reckless is incorrect.”1
Now, imagine if you had heard this song a million times on repeat. You would be wired to believe such a wrong theology, thinking that “God’s love has no concern for how I live my life as His love is reckless.” Hence, the music we listen to greatly shapes us, our faith, our theology, and our entire belief system.
In conclusion, revisit your old favorite Christian songs and ensure that the lyrics portray an accurate picture of the Bible. Make sure that the lyrics glorify God and edify you. Do the same with new songs suggested by your music players!
God bless!
https://ratiochristi.org/reckless-love-theological-review/.