You guessed right…it doesn’t exist. But we are commanded in Scripture to be balanced in every area of our lives, which includes music. Philippians 4:5 reads, “Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.” I’ll put on the brakes for a second so we’re on the same page.
A huge issue we face not just as listeners to music but—I believe—as human beings is the natural tendency we have to pendulum-swing. I’m convinced that this is because humans are prone to extremes…we are intrigued by things that are unusual, not the things that we are used to. This is why some trends get so much hype. Our contemporary world culture is simply geared towards the “next big thing”…the flashy…the latest. We want the newest, best thing. And we want a lot of it!
Well, how does this apply to music (and I mean all music we listen to, not just the sacred stuff)?
As it is commonly said, Music is the language of emotion. If a person were able to express their emotions fully in sound, music would be the natural result. Mere words cannot carry the meaning and weight that a song can.
This is why people tend to listen to music that either matches their current emotion or their desired emotion. Alternatively, people listen to music that creates in them a feeling they consider (rightly or wrongly) to be positive. Here is where the problem lies: humans are bad at balancing their emotional diet. Music is powerful! And it has the ability to arouse feelings and passions in you, whether those feelings and passions are Biblically sound or not. This is where things get sticky, because a lot of songs are completely fine to listen to…in measure. And this applies the whole scope of media.
Think with me here. If I am exercising, I may listen to songs with a stronger rhythm to get my heart rate going (you have to be careful here…and I’m always against the Rock Beat unequivocally), but I’m not going to make songs with a stronger rhythm the only thing I listen to. I’m probably not even going to make it the majority of what I listen to. I don’t always need my heart racing and my emotions intense if I am to let “the peace of God rule in [my heart]” (Colossians 3:15). On occasion, I may listen to a love song (Let me throw in a disclaimer here: I am not necessarily recommending, condoning, or condemning any genres or songs here…I’m just using them as examples…) but I’m not going to make that the majority of what I listen to. If I’m single and always listening to love songs, my mind and emotions are going to be filled with longing for a partner, instead of focusing on Christ and His calling for me. If I’m in a relationship or married, I have to be even more careful that the music is stirring up the right passions in me so my love stays pure. If I’m sad, I may listen to a song that resonates with how I feel, but I’m not always going to listen to sad music! Someone shouldn’t have to take my headphones off to get me to smile!
Why can’t I just listen to what I feel like listening to? Because of this simple principle:
Input = Output.
Before you shoot, I’ll qualify that statement by saying that the severity/level of the output does not always equal the input. The output may take on a very different form that would lead a person to believe that the input had nothing to do with the output. But if you read discerningly between the lines, you can see the truth. What goes in comes out in some form. The Apostle Paul told the church at Galatia, “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting” (Galatians 6:7-8). If you plant Godliness, you will reap Godliness; if you plant unrest, you will reap unrest; if you plant drama, you will reap drama; if you plant longing, you will reap longing; if you plant sadness, you will be depressed; if you plant false ideas, they will play out in your life and show that they don’t work; if you plant confusing messages, you will end up confused. In measure, many songs are fine…they fit whatever context they’re in (which I’m taking as a given does not violate your conscience or your life of holiness as a believer (see 1 Peter 1:14-16). But you need to be discerning as to how much of a certain emotion you are exposing yourself to, and whether it is even acceptable to the Lord to be exposing yourself to it at all.
Then what should be the majority of my listening as a believer who values holiness and staying close to Jesus? The answer: sacred worship music. This simply means music you know is set apart for the worship of God. It’s music that is separated from the world to God. You can look at this article for a deeper understanding of sacred music.
Why does that need to be the majority of my listening? Because of the principle! If Input = Output, and I want to live a life which reflects the values of my King, I’m going to have a diet dominated by things that encourage me to live that life. The immediate emotions I feel aren’t going to determine what I feed myself emotionally and spiritually. My spiritual needs will come first. And doing so, I will expect that God’s law of sowing and reaping will take effect, and I will see the positive impact of Scripture’s influence on my life and the lives of those around me.
Some practical tips for being balanced in your music diet:
- Never too much of one thing. Salt is great. It adds flavor to a dull meal. But too much salt, and I’ll have a heart attack.
- Track how your relationship with God and others is impacted after you listen to that music.
- Make sacred worship music the majority of your listening.
- Most importantly, stay open to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Follow your conscience, and always follow Scripture.
It’s simple, but it’s important: everything in moderation. Balance.
