For Youth Ministers:
The Use of Rock Music in Ministry

            Most Church ministers no longer listen to rock music; even youth ministers have “mellowed out” with regard to their favorite music.  But there is no doubt that the youth we minister to in our parishes or schools are “into” some form of rock music, whether we define it as rap, heavy metal, or top 40.  Consequently, a minister to youth must deal with rock music in some way.
            “Dealing with it” happens in many different forms.  Many ministers dismiss it as evil or “devil-centered,” produced for the purpose of misleading youth.  Consequently, they “talk it down,” condemn it, or simply ignore it. Other ministers will substitute what has come to be known as “Christian rock” in its place and interest the youth with the “sound” of rock, but using words with a Christian message.  (I believe that Christian rock is good; it simply has not met my purposes.)
            I propose that rock music can be used in a positive way.  Almost any song that is released will have a message that is in touch with what young people experience or know about.  Certainly then, to direct what the young people listen to with a specifically Christian message in mind can be most effective.
            There is no doubt that the youth will know the music.  Beginning already in the seventh grade, junior high and high school young people will listen to two or three hours of rock music every day.  The “top ten” are played over and over on the radio, so that any song which is “hot” will be known, almost word for word.  Young people practically live with stereophonic sound, whether in the car or in their rooms, and by far the choice of music will be some form of rock.
            Rock music is an expression of an art form.  As such, it is neither good nor bad.  How it is used, of course, will constitute its morality. Entertainment is good, dancing is good, background music is good.  Indeed looking at the words for positive expressions of better living is good. Conversely, however, music used as a cult to Satan, as a “come on” to suicide or sex or to enhance the psyche for drug use is certainly bad.  Most rock artists do not have good or bad “side-effects” of their music in mind as they sing and produce it.  Their bottom line, as the bottom line in any media, is money.  Anything that will enhance the making of money, whether using outlandish make-up, bizarre behavior, or suggestive actions, is the concern of practically all rock artists.
            Since the rock song is an expression of an art form, neither good nor bad, it can be used to accomplish one end or another.  I believe rock music can be used for the good end of getting across a Christian message. Every song in some way will have a definite message concerning life, and since Jesus and his followers deal with life, I believe that Scripture can always be “tied into” the message of a song.
            Therefore, Scripture plays an essential part in this website. However, the young person, in general, will not make that connection.  The application of a Scripture passage and its further ramifications in light of the song is the job of the minister.  My interest in writing this text is to make this job as easy as possible for the parish or youth minister.
            First of all, before we get into the actual use of the rock meditations, may I offer some general guidelines for ministers as they work with rock music.  These come from the University of Hard Knocks, mistakes I have made, mistakes I have seen others make as they attempted to be “with it” in their use of rock music with young people.
            1.  Generally speaking, the young people know more about rock music than the minister does.  Consequently, the minister must be aware of the facts they use.  “Making up facts” for the sake of a better argument only turns off the youth, especially when the made-up facts tend to tear down an artist or group.
            2.  Most young people do not listen to all the words of every song. They will listen to recurring phrases and refrains, but many of the words, as for the adult, are difficult for them to understand.  To use a song for discussion, one must have a good idea of its meaning, even if all the words cannot be used.
            3.  Some specific subject can be adapted for any given song.  A little imagination can go a long way.  In the rock meditations that make up the major portion of this website, the minister will see sometimes that I “stretch” some meanings of the words to make a point I feel is important.
            4.  The best songs to use are current ones.  Most songs will be taken from a CD that will top the charts for several weeks.  In general, the young person must be familiar with the song if the minister is to make a point with it.  The songs on the website have been chosen because either the song was so popular that everyone will remember it, even if it is a couple of years old, or the artist or group is a popular one and even if the youth do not remember the song well, the artist or group will be known.
            5.  Prepare for the use of the song.  A song played “cold” at a youth presentation will lack insight and the minister may miss a teachable moment.  Using the rock meditations with the songs given here together with the insight of the individual minister will achieve a very strong positive effect.  (Of course, youth ministers can become so good at this that they can write their own!)
            6.  Be professional in the equipment that you use.  Young people are accustomed to music played with professional quality: good sound equipment, beginning on cue, etc., are all part of achieving the desired effect.
            7.  Shortening the songs by only playing a portion of them or by talking over some of the closing verses can be effective, but ministers must watch that they do not “ruin” the song by talking too much.
            8.  The use of rock music and Scripture is only one means of enhancing a lesson.  I believe it should be used often, but I also believe it can be used too much.  In general, two songs during a presentation is a good guide unless it is a special presentation on the music itself.
             9.  I believe the minister who uses rock music with young people will gain a certain insight into “their music” that can enable the minister to talk with the parents of the youth a little easier.  Parents, in general, do not understand their young people’s attraction to rock music and a parish minister who uses it is the perfect person to explain it.  Young people need “advocates”: there must be ministers who are willing to accept the responsibility of “defending” the good things that youth do.  Rock music can be used in a good way and ministers who do it should be willing to explain it to parents.
              10.  Finally, the use of music as described here will eventually give the minister enormous insight into the mind of the young and thus become “credible” in their eyes.  When that achievement happens, then real teaching can happen.  The minister will have an “in” with the young enabling the minister to be no less than a person who can shape the minds of today’s young leaders ... and tomorrow’s presidents.