My daily scripture reading recently walked through the words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, chapter 7 of the Gospel of Matthew, day by day. The very end of the sermon is the admonition to build our house on the rock, not on the sand. Almost immediately, I could hear the little song about “the wise man built his house upon the rock … the foolish man built his house upon the sand.” I chuckled at the memory, but then it became a sobering thought. The practice of seeking wisdom and good theology contained in that song has lived with me for decades. I could even recall some of the hand motions I learned with that song! I felt a small bit of shame for looking down my artistically trained nose at such a silly little song.
Many of us have childhood memories of artistic activities that we carry into the present and recognize as having shaped us spiritually and artistically. Maybe it was a story we acted out, a drawing we created, or sign language that further expressed a song we were singing. Children, like all people, have preferred learning styles. For some, learning takes a cognitive form, so hearing or reading is how things are absorbed. For others, like me, touching, hearing, creating, and other artistic expressions imprint learning and memory into my heart and mind. How often have some of us said, “I’m a visual learner”? And, assuming most of us are musicians, we likely have a string of songs that form a path of memories we have walked.
After reading and talking with people about Gen Alpha (approximately ages 1–15), I’m astounded by the artistic, embodied, and interactive ways they prefer to learn and express themselves. I could be Gen Alpha! Some of the highlighted characteristics include creativity, visual storytelling, hands-on participation, imagination-driven approaches, embodied practices, multisensory experiences, and interactive activities. When I read this list, it brings both wide-open opportunity and thoughtful responsibility directly into focus. For those of us making musical choices for Gen Alpha, we are operating in the sweet spot of their learning and expression. We don’t want to miss this important, formative factor!
Many studies have examined the impact of the arts on the formation of our thoughts and actions. There are college degrees and certifications in areas such as art therapy, dance therapy, and music therapy. These fields have proven effective in helping people live well, including those with special physical and emotional needs and those who are older and struggling with memory loss. Studies indicate higher retention when we draw a picture, sing a song, or move around the room to emphasize a topic of interest and focus. Another study showed that students involved in musical activities, such as singing in a choir or playing in the school band, tended to score higher on the SAT. Every parent thinking about college scholarships for their children should place their children in musical groups – do it now, and fast!
We who make choices for the children we serve must never forget that we are making life-forming decisions that will last a lifetime, much like the “wise man and foolish man” Sunday school song from my childhood. Lady Bird Johnson, President Lyndon Johnson’s wife, famously said, “Art is the window to man’s soul.” I would take it one step further and suggest that art is the window to our spiritual soul as well, in very deep and wide places. When we transfer the power and wonder of the arts into worship, we should remember that we are working with powerful tools, especially music. It’s easy to overlook that power and treat it lightly at times, since, like all good things, it can be abused or trivialized. So when we choose music for children and worship, we should pause and prayerfully remind ourselves that our choices are shaping hearts and minds. We are giving children a language to express their worship to God, which is our highest calling – offering our musical thoughts in an upward focus to the ear of God.
I was reminded of the formative power of music not long ago while rehearsing a group of children preparing to record Holy Is the Lord. They are children from the church I attend – regular kids. At one point during a rehearsal, a girl in the front row raised her hand and asked, “Dr. Ed, what does ‘holy’ mean?” That was an amazing moment not to be missed. I stopped the rehearsal, and it became a meaningful opportunity to teach a little practical theology. The song was the catalyst for a spiritually formative discussion about both the holiness of God and our need to be holy – set apart by our faith and trust in God. Another song, Guide My Feet, led to a substantive discussion about prayer. Not only can we pray to God for guidance, as the song states, but there are also prayers expressing praise, gratitude, confession, and – a big word – supplication. We discussed how the songs we sing can be our actual prayers, not only our spoken words – which was quite a revelation to the singers. Guide My Feet became the core of a discussion about why and how we pray. What a teaching moment!
Most of you will likely nod in agreement with the principles I have addressed here. I know I’m preaching to the choir. You know and have practiced these principles over and over; I hope I’ve put into words things you have thought about in every rehearsal and worship service. My reminder is this, and I’m preaching to myself as well: when making musical choices for children, let’s not just pick any song, but remember the eternal impact these choices create. A song is just the start, and once you’ve made a great choice of a piece of music, prepare your thoughts to enhance that song – perhaps a scripture, a prayer, a picture or action, or another song that can be sung in response.
May we all look beyond the song to impress on young Gen Alpha hearts and minds the artistic and spiritual principles they will remember not only for the next performance or a lifetime, but even for eternity.
Amen.
