Music and the Youth

Can music influence your behaviour?

Preacher: Lay Reader Michael Munene (AYO, Cathedral Archdeaconry).

Theme: Be Transformed.

Lesson: Music and the Youth.

Date: 9^th August 2018.

Place: Cathedral Archdeaconry camp at Ihururu Academy.

Romans 12:2

Facts About Music

Music has the power to influence people's behaviour. For instance, when you listen to music for entertainment you enjoy and portray happiness. The youth are influenced by music in different ways. To the youth, music is used for identity. Groups of people are associated with certain genres of music then their behaviours are influenced by that music. For instance, reggae is associated with Rastafarians, and the Rastafarians behave in a similar manner, in line with the reggae music. In the same way, country music is associated with cowboys.

The youth also use music depending on their gender. Ladies use music to soothe themselves during loneliness. To ladies, music is used to reflect their emotions. Men, on the other hand, use music for stimulation. Men listen to songs while doing other things with the songs acting as a stimulant. A good example is when working; most men listen to songs then go with the rhythm as they work. This practice is also used by men in the villages when digging their shambas.

Statistics have also associated music with certain behaviour. For instance, rock lovers have been reported to have a high likelihood of committing suicide. The message in music can also influence the behaviour of the audience. For instance, the violent messages in rap music contribute to violence among individuals. These are some of the ways in which music influences the behaviour of the youth.

Contemporary Christian Music

The Christian songs sung today are very different from those sung in the past. Do a comparison of the current gospel musicians and their music in Kenya and the gospel musicians who performed in the recent past. A sharp contrast exists. The message in the purported Christian music today cannot be compared to that in the past. The cause of this shift is the desire of the youth to have fun and at the same time be closer to God. The current Gospel musicians use beats and words that attract the youth and make them enjoy then include several phrases or stories from the Bible. As much as the youth get entertained by this music, it is not right because it blends the secular world with Christianity. The youth now mistake deeper beats for a deeper relationship with God. The problem has even worsened when the youth bring the same music to the church. There are many cases where the youth in the church want to replace the hymns with contemporary Christian music, claiming that hymns are either old-fashioned or only good for the elderly members of the congregation.

The Solution

The purpose of music is for the well being of the whole body. The music used in the church, for instance, must target the well being of the whole body. As a youth, you must also ask yourself whether the music you listen to makes you grow [either spiritually or even socially]. Personal preference should also not take precedence at the expense of the word of God. Subordinate personal preference for the sake of the harmony of the body of Christ. Do not fight against the songs selected for the worship of God in the church.

All Christian songs must ascribe glory to God, otherwise, they are secular songs. The songs sang by Moses, Mary, and other people in the Bible ascribed glory to God; we must follow suit. Lastly, music in the church is meant to draw us closer to God. The hymns sang in the church, for instance, contain messages from the Bible intended to bring people closer to God. No music should be sung in the church if it does not bring the congregation closer to God. When all these points are put into consideration, the worship of God through music will be Godly. The youth will also know the right music to listen to for their nourishment.