Theology of Music

I'm going to attempt to write about the most theologically influential songs that have impacted the way I think about God, life, and church.
I encourage you to listen to the song and make your own conclusions. I also encourage you to think about the most influential songs you have heard and why they are important to you?

Background: I like good lyrics even if the music leaves something to be desired. So, I guess I'm not a purist when it comes to the actual sound... I really like the poetry of lyric and how it moves me to see God in a new light.

The first song I want to focus on is:
BAD by U2 on the album: Wide Awake In America:

If you twist and turn away
If you tear yourself in two again
If I could, yes I would
If I could, I would
Let it go
Surrender
Dislocate
If I could throw this
Lifeless lifeline to the wind
Leave this heart of clay
See you walk, walk away
Into the night
And through the rain
Into the half-light
And through the flame

If I could through myself
Set your spirit free
I'd lead your heart away
See you break, break away
Into the light
And to the day

Oooh oooh, oooh oooh, oooh oooh oooh...

To let it go! And so fade away
To let it go!
And so fade away
I'm wide awake
I'm wide awake
Wide awake
I'm not sleeping, oh no, no, no

If you should ask then maybe they'd
Tell you what I would say
True colors fly in blue and black
Blue silken sky and burning flag
Colors crash, collide in blood shot eyes

Oooh oooh, oooh oooh, oooh oooh oooh...

If I could, you know I would
If I could, I would
Let it go

This desparation
Dislocation
Separation
Condemnation
Revelation
In temptation
Isolation
Desolation

Let it go
And so fade away
To let it go, oh yeah
And so fade away
To let it go, oh No
And so fade away
I'm wide awake
I'm wide awake
Wide awake
I'm not sleeping oh no no

The idea behind the song for me is my role as a pastor. The decision that we make is what we are going to hold onto to define us. To be alive is to be awake... If I could answer all the questions people have, I would refuse, if I could make it all go away (especially the pain in your lives, i would refuse...

Each of us must choose what we are going to hold onto... we must also choose what we are going to let go of... the pain each of us experiences is palpable... the question is wether we are going to let it define us, or if we are going to let it go...

We are invited to let go of what we cling to to define us, and cling to love that will define us.

I have chosen to let go of the pain of the past in order to experience freedom and I believe that happens only through Jesus who is the Christ...

What is God calling you to let go of?

What defines you?
This desparation
Dislocation
Separation
Condemnation
Revelation
In temptation
Isolation
Desolation?

Could it be that Love defines you?

rock on
cv