Heard It in a Love Song

When I was a youth pastor one of my favorite lessons was one I taught on media. I shared with the youth that they needed to pay attention to what they were watching and listening to. I said I thought that media (movies, tv, songs) could be divided into three categories as they related to Christian faith: explicitly Christian, reflecting values counter to Christian values, or supportive of Christian values without being explicitly Christian. I used music to illustrate the point because it tended to be the most portable and I really like music.
The Raspberries, “Go All the Way” was used to illustrate a song that contained values counter to Christian values.
I used a song from a band called, Second Chapter of Acts to illustrate a song that is explicitly Christian. I don’t think this band is around any more but I have two of their albums on vinyl.
I used the U2 song, ‘Pride: In the Name of Love” to illustrate a song that was not done by a group that billed itself as Christian (though Bono is Christian and talks about his faith) but had values that were in keeping with Christian faith.
The basic message was pay attention to what you take in. You don’t need to just listen to Christian music, but if all you’re watching and listening to counters Christian values, that has an effect on your heart, mind, soul. My own listening tastes tend toward music that is often consistent with Christian values (though not always – I like The Raspberries song), but is not “Christian music.”
I thought about this last night while on a treadmill in a hotel in Nashville where this week I am at meetings for the United Methodist Committee on Faith and Order and General Board of Higher Education and Ministry. The evening devotion was a read from Psalm 121, an expression of trust in and celebration of God’s care. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in. As I was on the treadmill listening to my iPod Shuffle, among the songs I heard were:

The Rascals, “Groovin’”
Leo Sayer, “You Make Me Feel Like Dancing”

Both these songs are celebrations of the goodness of life. Neither mentions God, but I can add God’s presence.
Heard it in a love song, can’t be wrong (The Marshall Tucker Band).


With Faith and With Feathers,

David