in all i do, i honor you

Recently I've been thinking about my lifestyle being one of worship, and how that applies to the media I hear, watch, and read. I don't think it's necessary to listen to only Christian music, only watch movies with a Christian message and only read Christian books, but I do think that the messages portrayed should be good and uplifting. What triggered these thoughts was something that happened to me. Some friends and I went to the beach, and on the way home, we were listening to my iPod. I wasn't choosing the songs we were listening to, someone else was. But then they started playing a song that was definitely less clean than those I normally listen to. In fact, I don't think I'd ever really listened to that song on my iPod before. The only reason I had it on my iPod was because I'd gotten it for free from iTunes awhile ago. But nevertheless, it was on my iPod. And I was kind of...ashamed, I guess, to be associated with a song like that. If Jesus had been sitting in that car, that song would never have been played. So, I did a purge of my iTunes library. Actually, that's too strong of a word. That really was the only song on my iPod that I wouldn't listen to with Jesus there. But I went and deleted it and looked through all of my music to make sure it was all honoring to God.

I know a lot of Christians who listen to and love the song I just deleted from my iPod. It's a popular song, and it's really catchy. But the words are praising a lifestyle I would never live, and the girl who sings it is, frankly, kind of odd in an immoral way. And I know a lot of people wouldn't struggle at all listening to songs like that. I don't struggle, actually. But I feel that I would want God to be able to scroll through my list of songs and be pleased. Also, I want my life to be consistent for others - both my fellow Christians and those who don't know Jesus - to see.

You might read this and think, "wow, deleting one song? big deal." But to me, it is a big deal, because what I'm dealing with is my attitude towards Christ and my reputation with others, as I'm representing Jesus.