Music Theory

I have a theory, a music theory. Granted it is just a theory. I am not trying to pass it off as a “thus sayeth the LORD” thing. You won’t find it in the Bible; though it isn’t unbiblical, it is what we call, “extra-biblical.” It lines up with the Word, but it isn’t in the Word. Comprender? If you don’t like my theory, it won’t bother me. Likewise, I trust that my theory won’t bother you.

So anyway… Here’s my theory: Music is like food. (I know! Deep, right?!)

Yes, my theory is that music is like food, and this is how:

First of all, I believe it is important to realize that when you listen to music, you ingest it like food and it becomes part of you. It affects the way you feel and behave. Because music affects what you dwell on and what you think about, it works its way into other aspects of your life and has the power to shape your thoughts and emotions. Ever experience overhearing a song that was popular during a bad patch in your life? How did hearing it affect how you felt? What about a song that was popular at a point you consider a great time?

I know that for me, there was a time in my life when I struggled with depression. I gravitated to listening to my parents’ old Carpenters records and before I knew it, I was practically suicidal! The Lord convicted me that if I was to change the way I was feeling, I needed to change what I was ingesting. Does that mean I must run with my hands clapped over my ears every time I hear Karen Carpenter singing “Desperado”? Of course not. Why not? Because it isn’t my regular diet.

The second aspect of my theory is this: Music is like food in that you must have a healthy diet. To my way of thinking, there are three types of music: the healthy, the popcorn, and the toxic. Some music is really good for you; it’s almost like eating lean meat and healthy fruits and veggies. Most Christian music is what I would call healthy fare.

Some food is what I call popcorn. Popcorn is unique because it is fun to eat, but really offers no value. If you ate popcorn exclusively, you would not be a healthy person, but there is really nothing wrong with having it every once in a while. Popcorn music is the same way. It’s fun! It’s entertaining, but it will add little to nothing to your wellbeing. There is actually quite a bit of Christian music that is popcorn, it’s not just the secular stuff. It’s not that it’s bad; it’s just that it’s rather pointless. Go ahead and enjoy it! But don’t let it fill you up to the point that you no longer want the real food.

Other food is toxic. It will actually cause you harm if you ingest it. It may look like simple shellfish on the surface, but beware the reckless consumption of it. Some music is just the same. It is shaping your mind in a way that is contrary to the Word of God and you begin to buy into its faulty philosophies more and more.  Believe it or not, there is even some Christian music that falls into this category. If it runs contrary to the Word of God, why are we consuming it?

The other way that music is like food is this: Few of us are skillful enough to make our own music all the time, so we end up “eating out” often. We are depending on other people to make our “food” for us. Having had a friend or two in the food industry and hearing their horror stories, this always gives me pause. Have those who are preparing what you’re about to eat washed their hands? Are they sick? Can you trust them not to spit in your soup? Oftentimes, with music, we gulp down whatever is put before us without consideration for who is behind the music we are taking in.

So there you go! That’s my music theory! Bon Appétit!

“Continue to work to reject the form that this world tries to sculpt you into and experience the metamorphosis that happens when you allow God to sculpt your mind and make it like His.” Romans 12:2 (paraphrased)