Friday, May 11, 2007

So Let Mercy Come...





This work by Linkin Park is absolutely stunning to me. One of my favorite hobbies is figuring out the lyrics and meanings to songs. Music, like nothing else seems to have a power over people, artists can put great depth of world view in these pieces of art, and many people simply eat it up because of the beat. Like the snazzie guitar rift is the honey we put on our peas. This seems to be a mixed blessing, at its worst self induced brainwashing?

The song "What I've Done" in itself is darn catchy! I like the haunting piano, the beat that makes you want to bang the head that doesn't bang, and the vocalist belts. Besides all that, the subject matter is put across very personal. This is a man speaking about his own downfalls, he is looking for redemption and release from guilt. And yet he's not sure it will, work "Cause I clean this slate with the hands of uncertainty."

It's interesting then, to me, that the video put together has such a larger scope; Nazis, Vietnam, Famine, Oil spills, Fat people, Starving people, the whole video screams "Look how screwed up we are." It reminds me of Romans chapter 8 -I know this is long, but oh it's so good.

I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God.

We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

I was speaking with my friend Erik about this, and he pointed out that many people, especially here in the northwest would say "Alright, see, that's whats wrong" and then presume to be the answer. For someone to come to the conclusion that they're apart of the problem is a huge leap.

So then how should I look at myself? If I was a fatalist it'd be easy to retire to the fact that the world is screwed, and I'm just a WASP... where's my retirement plan? What should I say? Now that "what I've done" has been exchanged for Christ's righteousness? Aren't I supposed to be about the Kingdom? Am I suppose to have the answers?

How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie pop...?

And... by the way... This song actually speaks to me, this song seems to have a shred of truth, its seems honest also. Why don't I hear stuff like that on K-love? In my experience, I have better luck talking about the truth of God with some one who'd listen to this than many people I know who listen to K-love. *sigh*

Grace and Peace

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow, I so agree. That song is meaningful.

Eric said...

Music has a tremendous power to communicate beyond an idea. It can be used effectively to convey emotion and feeling, conviction. It can be a strong medium for speaking truth.

I have always enjoyed this about music, and have lamented when it is not used effectively. Like klove. They, at best, express partial truth. Much is ignored in the name of being uplifting.

This is obviously not what the gospel is about. Christ was not about making people feel good. Remember the Caananite woman? In order to make a point, Jesus said:"It is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs." [Matt 15:21-28]

The mission of Christ was complex, it changed the world, and I don't want to try and simplify it. But, at the core, it was about truth. Uncompromising.

Linkin Park may not have professed Christ (I don't know whether they have or not) but they have expressed truth. The truth of what they are thinking and feeling. The truth of what they have observed, their burdens, if you will. They have not manufactured them for the sake of fitting a certain "style".


This is what klove misses. You can't compromise truth, even to encourage. What you end up with is a cheap gospel.

A said...

It's an interesting mix of hubris and humility, if you take the lyrics as a whole. And, as you said, darn catchy. :)

Anonymous said...

good article... send it to me I'll post it on my blog where I already have your link @ nuehoven@yahoo.com from Nate at bohemianprose.wordpress.com