Songs Speak to Generations- What Would Songs Speak For You?

Songs speak millions to people. They have to. In this digital age, the songs, the music, the TV shows, and the movies shape the way this society behaves, its values, beliefs and hopes, dreams and darkest secrets. These mediums can speak volumes to people that a lecturer standing at the front of the lecture hall cannot. Not to take anything away from professors and teachers; these days information is spread like a wild virus. And the internet is a tool for that. And right now, students and young people around the world will leave that era of ‘freedom’, ‘university life’ with one thing in mind. Not necessarily how this lecturer impacted so much on their life. Yes, that can happen. But what I truly believe, is that people will leave that stage of their life, thinking; ‘This song, or this show, or this movie, impacted me so much, that I could realise that there’s more to life than just living this mundane 9-5 day in a day out life, that there was something more that I could do, to impact today’s generation and the next generation to come!’

Songs are a gateway into something out of this world. Songs can speak about anything. They can become the ultimate moment in someone’s life where they can help in the darkest moment where not even their parents can. A lot of pressure on the song, then- but on a serious note; I truly believe that music can and will change lives. Many people can testify to this, that writing a song gives you permission to talk about anything, and any topic is almost expected. Sometimes songs talk about superficial things like boys, girls, relationships, sex, drugs and rock’n’roll. But what makes songs all the more special are the other side of them, the side that doesn’t talk about the ‘normal’ topics, but the ones that no society talks about- hope, life, death, relationships with each other and with the maker of the universe, the hope that we have in Christ, and the hope that we know, that the Lord God will have the ultimate plan for our lives, that we are not alone in the pit of our despair, that God will hold us together and that we are not alone in this world. These topics, speak to the listener. Much deeper than a droning lecture, sometimes these 3 or 4 minute tunes can change a life, and the realisation can occur that no matter what, we are loved by our family, our friends, and because of this, we can come to the Father, just as we are. This realisation can turn a person, one step away from spiralling destruction, towards hope and light. Songs have the power to restore, build up, encourage, and to give people hope in the hopeless of situations.

Sometimes we can fall into a certain trap that all Christians fall into. We begin to read Christian books, watch Christian films, listen to Christian music, but before you know it, we're more interested in the person, than the God behind the person. You listen to a certain artist, because you like the band, you like their music, rather than the God behind them. You buy their CD's, because of the reputation of the artist, rather than the songs that they sing and who it's sung about. You listen specifically to Louie Giglio DVD's because 'It's Louie Giglio', but don't buy John Piper DVD's, because it's not Louie; even if the message is said better, or if that's what you needed to hear, yet bypassed because of your tastes. We compartmentalise and categorise, and only read certain books, watch certain movies, hear certain songs, because, sadly, of the person rather than the God. I know that that is what some people do, and when they look at themselves, and when they comment and counteract and say ‘But I don’t do that!’; think again. I know I’m susceptible to fall into that trap of glorifying the artist, rather than the God who inspired them- who doesn’t? We’re all human. But that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t be able to strive to be like Christ.

Songs, are great, and they are a great source of strength and hope when things are going tough, but we must always look back to Christ. We must always draw from The Well, rather than a well. A song can change a generation. But a song with a meaning behind it, a cause that is much bigger than ourselves, bigger than time and space, that is all about eternity, can rock the world to its core, and can affect the mindset of those who sing it. When we join and realise the power of God-shaping songs, nothing is impossible. If God is for us, then who can be against us? When all is said and done, the one goal that we have is to praise the God who laid down His life for us. And I know that for as long as I live, my heart will sing, ‘how great is our God’! Will yours?