At The Risk Of Being Nostalgic, Music Really Shaped Me

I think I am officially “old”. I know, age is relative, but it hit me the other day when I was talking to a friend about when Angela and I moved back from New Zealand in 1997 and he responded, “I wasn’t even born yet”! Well, that stung. It reminded me that I am a child of the late 70’s and 80’s. I grew up in Southern California and loved my church friends and much of the freedom I had (although too much at times) to run around our neighborhood with friends. I also have fond memories of the impact of Christian music upon me. This is at the peak of time during the “worship wars” and when drums and certain beats in church were seen as demonic. Thankfully, I wasn’t a part of one of those churches. Instead, I was deeply influenced and shaped by the music I listened to.

I can remember listening to my first Christian rock vinyl record laying on the living room floor using my mom’s record player. It was Undercover. And it was the album title “God Rules” that gave me a beginning understanding of God’s sovereignty.

Shortly after that album came probably the most impactful band, The Altar Boys with their song, “Life Begins At The Cross”. It was that song that inspired me to get that title tattooed on my leg as a young adult.

I can also remember driving with my friend, Matt Bridgeford, in his white Toyota truck with the windows down blaring Keith Green, “He’ll Take Care Of The Rest” and, “I Can’t Wait To Get To Heaven” from his tape deck. (A very different genre from the Christian rock I also enjoyed.) I love the hard-hitting lyrics that still speak to me today.

On the complete opposite side of Christian music genre from Keith Green was The Crucified. I think it was the first concert Angela and I went to together where she got to see me crowd surf and mosh. (It was also her last Crucified concert sadly to say.) I was introduced to Galatians 2:20 through them. Songs like, “Back To The Cross” (I suppose we can’t add this into our songs, right Scott and Heather?) and “Pillars Of Humanity” had such an affect. They also inspired the rest of my leg tattoo with the cross and thorns.

I feel like I would not be loyal to the other bands that really shaped me and my faith without mentioning: The Lifesavors, Steve Camp, Rich Mullins, Whitecross, Petra, Newsboys, and Steven Curtis Chapman to name a few.

My point is not so much a journey down memory lane – as enjoyable as that is for me – but to point out how important music (and my inputs) were to my faith and walk with Jesus over the years. Like Proverbs says, Proverbs 13:20 – "Walk with the wise and become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm." Or 1 Corinthians 15:33, “Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.” Although 1 Corinthians draws out the negative impact of bad company, I have found the inverse to be true: good 'company'—in the form of the lyrics and artists I listened to—strengthened my character and kept my faith grounded.

What we take in can greatly shape us – more than we realize. I thank God for bringing the bands into my life when He did, for I was so mold-able and needed solid input. It was a great tool the Lord used.

Held Abundantly By His Grace,

Pastor John