Tonight, we start a new series on music. In this short
series, we are going to look at the importance and value of music, and we are
going to examine some of the songs that are currently influencing our students
lives. This series is not intended to be a critical attack, but it will
encourage critical thinking. Why are we listening to it? What are we listening
to? Is it even artistically good? Is it true? Does it encourage my faith? Are just
some of the questions we will consider.
Music is a mysterious thing. Why are we even drawn to it? It
has been shown that listening to music produces similar levels of dopamine in
our brains that eating, sleeping and sex produce. I guess you can say that we
have an appetite for music. Each person’s desire for it may vary, but 70-85% of
teenagers today say music is “very important” to their life.
Sometimes music communicates thoughts and fears in ways that
the student cannot figure out how to express themselves. Sometimes it is an
escape from reality, pain or stress. Sometimes it encourages a healthy way to
process things and at other times it can prevent healthy growth.
Changing Times
Remembering when I was a teenager, I did not pay attention
to lyrics or evaluate the message I was listening to. It was a social thing I
did, a way to connect to friends and fit in. Growing up in a censorship home, it
became a rebellious thing I did, sneaking music from my parents to get my fix. I
remember hiding cassette tapes in the center counsel of my car so I wouldn’t
get in trouble.
I used to have to go to the local music store to buy music,
or listen to the radio hoping my favorite songs would come on so I could press
record on the cassette player. We had our boom boxes and Walkmans, but access
was definitely limited. Only my most rebellious friends had albums that had
Parental Warnings on them.
Today, online streaming apps have given unfettered access to
every genre imaginable and quick access to favorite songs. Some teens spend the
majority of the day with earbuds in listening to music. It’s a vital part of
their day, but what and how is that influencing them?
Influence is the key word here. Not all secular music is
bad. Not all “Christian” music is good. Censorship doesn’t promote an engaged
mind, but unfetter access without boundaries can lead to a polluted mind. How
do we create a healthy balance? By listening to music with our students and
talking about it with them. And that’s what I hope will happen through this
series.
I’ve handed out surveys for the students to fill in and
write down songs they are listening to now. Over the next few weeks we will
draw from that list. So tonight we will start with:
HØLDING ØN TØ YØU –
TWENTY ØNE PILØTS
TWENTY ØNE PILØTS is
a duo from Columbus, OH that has been making an impact on the music scene since
2009. Although it is not a Christian band, Tyler Joseph has said he is a
Christian and there are echoes of his faith throughout his music.
TWENTY ØNE PILØTS is
an alternative rap (not sure how else to describe their style) band that wants
to use eclectic music and profound lyrics to make you think about life and your
current struggle. They are not afraid to bring up tough topics, but they do so
in a real way where listeners resonate with their questions and relatable
struggles.
HØLDING ØN TØ YØU is
no exception. With some bright synths sounds and a steady beat, Tyler hits the
ground running with a profound confession of taking back control from thoughts
that have kept him down. There’s a recognition that the negativism was leading
him astray and so he says, “not any more, flesh out the door.”
He’s skeptical of
himself and recognizes how quickly he moves from being open to the positive but
turns to being closed. The question arises, who is the “You” he is signing to? For
he cries out, “You should take my life, You should take my soul.” It seems to
be a cry out to God for redemption.
The chorus brings up
the “You” is surrounding him everywhere and that he is wrestling with his
thoughts on God (sounding down the mountain
range of the left-side brain). The chorus seems to be an acknowledgement of
God and the work God is doing to bring life into focus.
The second verse
gets real, as if he wasn’t real already. He brings up thoughts of depression
and suicide, “the windowsill looks really
nice, right?” and brings hearers in with the inclusive “It probably happens at night, right?”. Those
who struggle with depression and/or suicidal thoughts would resonate with these
things. This can be a scary topic, but the next few lines is Tyler’s appeal to
change their thinking.
“Fight it, take the pain, ignite it
Tie a noose around your mind
Loose enough to breath fine and tie it
To a tree tell it, you belong to me, this
ain't a noose
This is a leash and I have news for you
You must obey me”
He’s challenging the listener to stand firm, to recognize
that they can take control of their thoughts and bring them into submission.
They do not have to allow their depression, the lies they believe, the fears
they have, the insecurities that prevent them from moving on to hold them back.
As I listened to this song several times a few passages in
Scripture came to mind.
2 Corinthians 10:3–6
[3] For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war
according to the flesh. [4] For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh
but have divine power to destroy strongholds. [5] We destroy arguments and
every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought
captive to obey Christ, [6] being ready to punish every disobedience, when your
obedience is complete. (ESV)
For the Christian, we have the Word of God that illuminates
the battle being waged in this song. It’s a spiritual battle and we need to
fight it with divine power given to us by God. The depression, lies, fears and
insecurities are strongholds the enemy has been slowly building little by
little in our hearts. We need to destroy his arguments by comparing the lies to
the truth about who God is, what God has done and what God promises for us.
Paul says in Corinthians something similar to what Tyler
Joseph said in his song, “take every thought captive to obey Christ” (compare
to Tyler “tie a noose around your mind”). This is the discipline of recognizing
the need to control our thoughts, to teach our minds to come into submission to
the truth. It is a difficult task, which is why Joseph says, “fight it, take
the pain, ignite it.”
Thankfully, in Christ we have the Holy Spirit to guard our
hearts and aid us in this difficult task. He will empower us with His strength to
overcome.
1 Peter 5:6–10
[6] Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of
God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, [7] casting all your anxieties
on him, because he cares for you. [8] Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your
adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to
devour. [9] Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of
suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. [10]
And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has
called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm,
strengthen, and establish you. (ESV)
Look at how Peter calls to us to take our anxieties to
Christ. He telling us not to allow our worries, our fears, our depressive
thoughts to keep us down, but to take it to the One who cares for us.
We need to recognize that there is a real enemy that is
polluting our thoughts. He’s described as a roaring lion seeking someone to
devour. When we allow ourselves to be slave to our thoughts we are in a
weakened position and will succumb to the temptation of the evil one. But we
are to RESIST him and being firm in our faith, hold on to Christ.
As I listen to Tyler and Josh’s melodic expressions, again
and again I hear the reverberation of these passages calling us to be clear
minded, to recognize the enemies tactics, and to bring our thoughts into
submission to Christ. I applaud TWENTY ØNE
PILØTS for their efforts and I appreciate their talent. Any time I listen to
this song, I will think about these verses and be encouraged to never give up,
but to resist and Hold on to you, Jesus
(added by me).
No comments:
Post a Comment