Does it really matter what I listen to?

Lately I have been thinking about this topic and decided to do a little reading on the subject, just to see if it really does matter what I listen to. Here is what I have found.

First, let's just look at something that can be easily seen in a group that we know listens to a lot of music. Yes, you always see them with their IPODS and MP3 Players, and talking about the latest artist. That is right, teenagers. Can you look at a group of teenagers and honestly say that they are not affected by the lyrics. In a lot of cases you can look at some kids and identify the kind of Music that they listen to. Young men with their straight brimmed ball caps, and saggy pants and you would guess Rap. Then you see a young man or woman wearing a carhart jacket, and tighter pants with a john deere hat and you would guess Country Music. Meanwhile, there are men and women who have multi colored hair, lots of piercings, with black clothes and dangling chains, and you would probably say heavy metal and punk music.

Now, these same people would probably tell you that they are not affected by the music that they listen to. You see, the funny thing is, that they really do not believe that it has, even though it has influenced their very appearance. These are just superficial,  but, if this is the effect that the music has on their appearance, just imagine what the same music is doing to their mind. Constantly hearing music that objectifies women, about alcohol and drugs, about violence, death and suicide, and then look at the very lives that teens are living, and it does not take much looking to see where their very music bleeds through into reality.

It is a shame that such a thing could be prevented. I pray for these young people daily, that God would place a guard at the ears and eyes of these young people. God Help them face the world that they live in.

Are you just part of the crowd?

Recently I was reading about the woman with the issue of blood. This woman had done everything she could on her own to get well and finally in a last ditch effort decided that her only hope was to just touch Jesus. However, those that surrounded Jesus (the crowd), was an obstacle for this woman. Fortunately, she had the want to to get better. She pushed through the crowd and touched Jesus, and she received her healing.

Lets look at this in today's terms, sometimes, people who come in contact with our churches who are really hurting. We do not know their back story or the details of their lives and I have seen where the members, the saints if you will can act like the "crowd" and be a hindrance to people who just need to touch Jesus.

First off, let me clarify what I mean by church. I do not mean the building that we gather in to worship and hear the Word. What I am referring to is the living breathing church body. The people of God. The Crowd.

Our actions, our conversation, our demeanor all can help a person or hinder people from coming into contact with Jesus. Are we part of the problem or part of the solution? When people look at you are you an obstacle that they would have to overcome, or are you a help?

I pray that each and every person who reads this looks at their life to see whether or not they are being a real benefit to the furtherance of the Kingdom of God, and are willing to act upon what they see. Also, I hope that anyone who reads this, and has seemed to push against the crowd, having a hard time to get any real answers, feel free to email me. I would love to talk to you about the things of God. My email is mailman9394@roadrunner.com. I am looking forward to hearing from you! God Bless.

J.M.
Youth Pastor
Cardville United Pentecostal Church