Passing Our Music Values on to the Next Generation – Part 2

Passing Our Music Values on to the Next Generation – Part 2

            Unwise choices in music and cultural blind spots in the fine arts should not be equated with a young person’s relationship to Christ.  Parents should not make statements like, “If you ever really come to know the Lord, you won’t even like that music”.  Knowledge of biblical principles concerning music choices and likes and dislikes of styles of music are acquired skills not instantaneous gifts of the Spirit to the born-again Christian.  Christian purity and maturity are not one in the same.  A Christian musician may make unwise choices concerning music ministry as well as secular music selections and still be honestly trying to bring his or her life under the Lordship of Christ.  It seems that we are much more able to accept the fact that a Christian has made some very unwise credit card decisions than we are able to accept unwise music decisions.

            How do we catechize our young people concerning music?  First of all pastors, parents, music ministers, and Christian music educators should study music in the Bible thoroughly.  Since there are over 600 references to music in the Bible, there is much to be gained from a study of Bible music.  Remember that II Timothy 3:16-18 reminds us that, “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.”  Second, all people who work with young people (and children) must study music seriously.  Millennial young people are knowledgeable; therefore adult Christians who work with them must have more than a passive knowledge of music and musicing if they are going to have an effective ministry.