Articles
How Much Does Popular Culture Affect Us?
Someone shared an article with me recently that raises a question we all need to ponder. The article was by Caleb George from the Powers Ferry Road church in Marietta, Georgia. I pass along his findings and comments for your consideration.
“In March of 2014 I analyzed the moral content of what at that time were the 40 most popular country songs. (Here) are the results of that study:
* At least 40% included sexual themes; rarely, if ever, is this presented in the context of marriage. Cf. Colossians 3:5-6.
* 40% had bad language. I’m only including ‘cuss’ words here. Cf. Ephesians 4:29.
* 50% presented drinking and other substance abuse in a good light. Cf. 1 Thessalonians 5:6-8.
* 10% glorified illegal activity (speeding, trespassing, et al). Cf. Romans 13:1-7.
* At least 10% presented a very warped or negative view of Christianity. One song generalized good-ole-boys as ‘Cussing on them Mondays, Praying on them Sundays.’
Maybe some ‘glass-is-half-full’ people are still saying, ‘Hey, that’s not too bad. None of the categories is over 50%.’
But the cumulative effect is not good: only 27.5% of the 40 most popular country songs this month did not include any objectionable content. In other words, as we listen to country music on the radio, we may hear one clean song out of every four songs that are played.
Even that one song is not likely to make us want to be better people, or to develop meaningful relationships or to live morally better lives. But a few probably do meet that goal. Miranda Lambert’s ‘Automatic’ encourages ‘waiting your turn’ and reminisces about the days when ‘Staying married was the only way to work your problems out.’ Dierks Bentley’s ‘I Hold On’ mentions the way his faith and his mate’s love sustain him. He talks about the value of the relationship between a father with his son and pledges fidelity to his mate. Hunter Hayes’ ‘Invisible’ is written to a young person who’s having to endure feeling like an outcast. These were the only three songs out of the 40 which I felt had any significant meaning. If someone’s motivation for listening to country music is the desire to hear meaningful songs, they are looking for biscuits in a slop bucket.
What is the conclusion? I don’t believe all music or entertainment has to be really thought-provoking or motivational. But what is the standard? How do we decide whether something is valuable enough to enter our mind, the temple of God? Honestly I have fallen so short in this area. I’ve been careless and as a result I’ve been corrupted. Maybe you’re there too. We can change … We can be selective, and we’re going to have to be … Here’s the Holy Spirit’s will for us: ‘Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things’ (Philippians 4:8).”
