If I told you about the kind of music I listened to in middle school you would probably laugh at me- so get ready to laugh. My top three artists would have probably been DMX, 2pac, and Ma$e. I always said if I became a rapper I would probably go by my initials (NAS) but then NAS busted into the scene and ruined that plan. My CD collection was full of albums that my parents would have taken away if they knew (and this might be how they are finding out). There really wasn’t anything wholesome about the music I listened to unless you count the prayer and “spiritual” song DMX had on all of his albums.
At that time, my life reflected what I was listening to. The words I spoke could be labeled with the same parental advisory that was on many of the CDs I owned. I also had a bad temper and was easily angered. At the time I didn’t think much about it, but now that I look back there was a lot of stuff in those songs I really had no business listening to or singing along with. I can still think of a line from a DMX song that makes me sick to my stomach. I won’t go into details, but it was gross.
How much does what we allow into our life have an impact on us? I would say a lot. Philippians 4:8 says, “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” The stuff we allow into our life can have a huge influence on us. This goes way past music and into every area. I knew people who said they had encounters with demons, yet they would make sure they watched all the latest horror movies that came out.
Now please don’t take this the wrong way and think that I am saying that secular music and those things are inherently evil. I just think it is a good idea to check what you are feeding into your life. If you ate at McDonald’s everyday, you would be overweight and unhealthy. If we aren’t feeding our spirits healthy stuff, we will be spiritually unhealthy.
In my next post, I’ll dive a little deeper into this subject. Stay tuned!
until next time…
(photo courtesy of flickr.com/photos/denimdave)