A Soundtrack to Our Lives

I have a friend whose dream job would be to choose the musical soundtrack for movies, but for me I think it would be pretty easy to choose the soundtrack of my own life.

Today, I was looking at my itunes Library, which has far too many songs. I don't listen to every song everyday and some I haven't listened to in years. So, today I decided to move past the music that I've recently purchased and go back. I started listening to songs I know I haven't heard for years. I'm no psychologist or shrink, but I'm willing to bet that music has a special connection to memory. Because, so often, I'll here a song and it takes me back to another time and place. Over the years, I've gained an appreciation for all types of music, so no matter where I am or what I'm doing, if the radio is on, chances are I'll be reminded of the past. Some songs evoke painful memories (Tennessee Flat Top Box by Rosanne Cash), others remind us of happier times (She's Everything by Brad Paisley). Others make us wish we were still 16 (Never Gonna Feel that Way Again by Kenny Chesney). Still others remind us of how far we've come (Don't take the Girl by Tim McGraw).

I know some of us like to think that music is the invention of men and women who, long ago, found a new avenue to express themselves. But there must be something in the heart of God that hemorrhages music. For at least several thousand years, people have expressed songs to and about God. A large portion of Scripture is devoted entirely to music. And when we are truly in love with God, something inside of us can't help but sing. Music involves both words and emotions. And like I said, music just brings back memories. It's also funny that while it's so hard for us to remember what we had for breakfast yesterday, each one of us has memorized countless song lyrics that even after not hearing a song for years, we can still sing along.

The people in the Bible sang to remember what God had done in their lives. In the same way that music can take us back to a different time and place in our own lives, music can also take us back to things that God has done in our lives and throughout history. Moses song to commemorate the Israelites passage through the Red Sea (Exodus 15). David sang on just about every occasion about everything going on in his life (Psalms 1-41). Mary sang about being chosen to give birth to Jesus (Luke 1:46-55). Even Paul encouraged the early church to use music to teach others about Jesus (Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16).

Each new generation must put the acts of God in their own language and in their own style. I think this is what the Psalmists are talking about when 5 times they speak of "Singing a new song to the LORD." Or when Isaiah speaks of "singing a new song" when prophesying of the coming Messiah (Isaiah 42:10). No music that gives glory to God should ever be considered bad, even if it doesn't fit into the broad category entitled "Christian Music." Men and women were created to create, and when we use our creative abilities in writing music, we naturally glorify God even if we don't mention His name. Christians who live godly lives and also happen to be musicians glorify God in more ways than just their music. So-called "Christian artists" who write music to make money and don't live out their songs in daily life, bring no glory to God no matter how many times they mention Jesus.

Far too many people define worship in terms of music, but worship is far more than that. In the Bible worship is a verb. Music does help to remember why we worship God, and when our hearts are pure, it helps us to bring out emotions that evoke worship, but singing a song for the sake of singing it is not worship. Music teaches us about God and helps us to remember what God has done and what He is doing. And God is not done in history. There are still many songs still to be sung and many more still to be written. God is constantly working in our lives giving us more and more to sing about. So let us worship God with our lives and sing songs to remember who He is and what He's done!