What do they have to sing about?

This time of the year, I watch a lot of football on television. Even when I am not interested in the particular teams participating in a game, I just like the mood, sounds, and movement of football. It is beautiful to me. Some people love ballet or opera, but to me football is high art.

Many people seem to agree with me on this matter. TV ratings are higher for football than almost any other type of programming. There are now more SuperBowl parties than New Years Eve parties. The SuperBowl trails only Thanksgiving day for the most amount of money spent on food. Even the first game of the season is something to celebrate. Prior to the opening game we can now expect to see  analysts, famous bands, and other celebrities attending the opening game pre-game show, which usually takes longer than the game itself.

I was reminded recently about one such opening game pre-game show that I watched with my son.  One of the bands in the star-studded lineup was Aerosmith.  While Aerosmith was playing in full Rock Star Mode, my son asked me if they were Christian. I chuckled a little. I don’t know for sure the details of their faith, but I never really thought about them as Christian.  To my nine year old son, this seemed like a plausible question. In fact most of the bands that we enjoy watching are Christian bands. My son has attended concerts by Third Day, Toby Mac, The David Crowder Band, and many others.

After I told him that I did not think that Aerosmith was a Christian band he asked me a question that I will never forget: What do they have to sing about? Wow, that is a tough question.  What do non-Christians have to sing about? Disappointment, anguish, drugs, failed relationships, sexual innuendo. The topics found in most secular music are pretty insignificant and bleak.  To answer my son’s question, “What do they have to sing about,” I answered, “not much.” I believe that God gave us the ability to sing so that we could sing praises to Him. Praising God for his greatness, and for loving us, and saving us is about the only thing really worth singing about.