When my wife and I were expecting our first child, we read some good advice. "When baby starts on solid food, start him on vegetables first. That way he will acquire a taste for good things before you introduce sweet things." We tried it and it worked! Well, at least, my kids like veggies. My mother says that we just have unusual children. Probably a little of both are true!

If it is true that "you are what you eat," it is equally true that you are spiritually what you ingest spiritually. And music is one way that we feed our spiritual natures. Thus, the musical "food" that your children partake of will develop a taste for what they will want as adults. As I studied hymnology, my teachers kept pointing out a trend. The children’s music of one generation became the church music of the next generation. I am living proof of that truth. I love to sing the songs of Ron Hamilton and Frank Garlock in church. But that only stands to reason since I grew up a Patch the Pirate junkie!

When Laura was little, she sang "I Love Broccoli" with enthusiasm. And she didn’t even realize the irony of the song is that most kids DON’T like broccoli! Most of the young people in our church are the same way. They partake of our good, spiritually nutritious music at Tri-City and don’t even care that most Christian teens and younger folks are supposed to hate the old hymns and gospel songs and are singing trite "7-11 music" instead. (Seven words, sung eleven times!) Hallelujah! That is as it should be!

If children really are our most precious resource, than we will be concerned about their spiritual diets. "It’s just a phase" and "I can’t make him take in good things" attitudes will be recognized as spiritual child abuse. Rather, a musical diet in which lyrics are rich in the Word of God and balanced by essential Bible truths will be their staples. Music that speaks to the spiritual nature of man will be primary in their musical choices. Then any fun music they like can be enjoyed in moderation. And enjoyed guilt-free!

Through careful guidance and gentle persistence, we can insure that the next generation will be musically fit and spiritually healthy servants for the Savior.

David Stertzbach II, B.A.
Music Pastor