Music Vibes: Christian Edition

“there was a song that I was just hearing “ponmo”, “ponmo”, I asked my friend and when he told me the meaning of “ponmo”, I was like, this is serious “ponmo”.
I know someone who stopped wearing belt because he was like “no belt gang”. The idea behind “no belt” is being in prison, you know in prison, they don’t put on belt...
someone once shared that he had started watching porn after he watched a music video. At this point, he was still struggling with it. It started when he was in primary school and at the time he was sharing, he was working and still struggling with something that came up from a music video...”

TWTsBlog: Why do you listen to music in the first place?

Guest: I listen to music because music is life and it energizes my spirit, my soul, my body. Music is a form of exercise.

TWTsBlog: I listen to music because its my “go-to” thing, I use it to pray, play, vibe… music is my thing.

Guest: Does that mean that you listen to sad music also?

TWTsBlog:I used to listen to sad music before but I kinda stopped. I would say my “go-to” music is gospel music because it tends to speak to my soul more and in this our day and time, you have gospel music that actually speaks to almost every aspect of life. Christian music has a way of reaching you on the inside and they add more to you.
Have you noticed how Christian music has changed over time? Especially in the use of musical instruments.

Guest:Basically, everything is changing according to times and seasons.

TWTsBlog: What I really like about it is that, it is not that the music is getting sinful because when we listen to the lyrics, they still speak very strongly to the soul. Can you remember in the bible, when the wall of Jericho came down, those people knew music better than us. Although the kind of music has changed, the truth, the power behind the music is still there, the spirit of God is still in it and because we now have more instruments coming in has not watered it down in any way. What kind of contemporary music do you listen to?

Guest: I believe these songs have a way of finding themselves into our brain when we keep listening to the lyrics over and over again. Even though I’m not good at putting lyrics of songs into my head there’s still a line that would stick to my brain. So, if I’m not listening to these bad, bad words, I may find myself using slangs from them in conversations.

TWTsBlog: Its popular, people say that the kinds of songs we listen to actually affects our personality, sometimes affects our actions, the way we talk. What’s your view?

Guest: Let’s say you call yourself a Christian and all, the songs you have on your phone are worldly music. Worldly music in the sense that even the music, let’s say your pastor is around you and your phone is about to ring and you’ll just be like let me just put this thing on vibration. Have you witnessed that scene before? Any music you are listening to, I believe you shouldn’t be scared if you call yourself a Christian, even if your phone should ring amidst brethren, you should know that there’s no big deal.

There’s a way music has a way of finding itself into our body system, when you keep hearing it, our sense organs are working together and before you know, you begin to speak it out, act it out.

TWTsBlog: We would agree that it affects our personality but it depends on how much time you are giving to it. Although, there are some songs that it doesn’t depend on how much time we put into it but that we shouldn’t even be listening to it in the first place.
Do you know any songs like this?

Guest: An example, there was a song that I was just hearing “ponmo”, “ponmo”, I asked my friend and when he told me the meaning of “ponmo”, I was like, this is serious “ponmo”.

TWTsBlog: I know someone who stopped wearing belt because he was like “no belt gang”. The idea behind “no belt” is being in prison, you know in prison, they don’t put on belt. So, you know there’s like this dropout thing that’s now going around like its not about… This person that actually sang this song went to university. You are a young person, you have not started university buy you are like who school pay? No belt gang… haaa…

Are there specific things that you find in a song and immediately you know that I’m not supposed to be listening to this?

Guest: : I believe that’s why we have the spirit man that talks to us on things. There’s a level of relationship you get to with God and you know that… your spirit will just be telling you “No”, this is not right. Immediately you have that unrest, just know that, that song you are listening to is not right.

TWTsBlog: There are some things specifically in a song that already you know, you should not be listening to it. Examples are:
A song strongly promoting immorality
A song that promotes boasting, being prideful
A song promoting profanity
Have you always filtered your songs?

Guest: I can’t really say I’ve really changed.

TWTsBlog: I haven’t always being like this, as a teenager I sang everything with my classmates.

Guest: Actually, this thing is about the mind. There are sometimes you just want to dance, to express yourself in the presence of God and probably, maybe you use to listen to contemporary music before and this particular dance has stuck to your brain and before you know it you are dancing already. Will you now condemn that person? This social media is serious, we need to be careful as Christians, there’s a way it influences the mind whether positively or negatively.

TWTsBlog: This point is very valid and sensitive, it brings us back to what we mentioned earlier in this conversation. Songs have a way of finding themselves into our brain when we keep listening to the lyrics over and over again. A line here or there would stick to the brain. So, we may find ourselves using slangs from them in conversations or even bringing the dances into the worship of God. You are right, social media influence is serious and as Christians, we need to be careful on what we spend our time on and how much of some content we allow ourselves be exposed to whether by listening or watching.

I listened to someone once share that he had started watching porn after he watched a music video and he saw something then he had a desire to know more. At this point, he was still struggling with it. It started when he was in primary school and at the time he was sharing, he was working and he was still struggling with something that came up from a music video.

In social events, weddings, convocations, anniversaries, how do you react to songs you may not be okay with?

Guest: It’s a social gathering, you are not the DJ. In a case like this, I try to distract myself, talk to someone.

Last Words

Guest: Whatever is not edifying your body, your spirit, your soul, whatever you have unrest about, please avoid it and don’t do it, it has a way of influencing your soul.

TWTsBlog: In our generation, we are being called to being intentional about the kind of songs we listen to. We can do gospel music, of course this is good because it edifies our soul, it gives honor to God. Also, when we do contemporary music, this is where sensitivity is required. Many of us know the things that please God, we can keep these things at the back of our minds and be intentional about it, everything is step by step.

I hope you found this insightful. Please share with someone that needs to read it.

Much love! Besos!!