19 Mar
Sidewalk High
After 31 years I had to learn how baby semi’s are made the hard way…. from the streets
23 Sep
An Old Book Misread?
One of the reasons that this blog exists is due to the fact that I love
Set Your Goals - Mutiny 2006
music, all kinds of music for that fact and always have. Those of you that know me know that I spent a handful of years playing in touring bands. As I progress in my life and in my Christian walk my love for music has not decreased at all, actually as I find myself spending more time studying the Bible and other things my love and appreciation for music has grown due to the fact that I am actually spending less time listening to music, so when I do listen it is like cake being passed around at a diet camp..I shove as much in as I can. However as this journey continues I find myself looking at some of the music I listen to and the messages that are being advanced in a more analytical way. I believe that with mainstream, music (art and entertainment in general) there is an increasing assault on the things of God. I feel that there is another side of the story that deserves to be contended for. Another way of looking at it. I know growing up I was shaped by the bands I listened to and the movies I watched. If someone had a record deal or appeared in a movie that was automatic credibility in my book, regardless of the ideas they were putting forth. Now not everyone is like this, however a lot of people are. So with that in mind I wanted to start this blog for a multitude of different reasons, one of those reasons was to have a medium available for me to analyze and critique some of my favorite bands, and while I may admire there talent and style I have disagreements about the message they are putting forth. Some of these bands may actually have friends of mine in them, so it is nothing personal, just a review of their message in light of a Christian worldview.
The first selection comes from one of my favorite bands in a while. As I get older it is becoming harder and harder for me to find bands that really excite me. However the San Francisco based band “Set Your Goals” has been able to catch and hold my attention for a few years now. The album “Mutiny” released in 2006 contains a song entitled “An Old Book Misread” which takes issue with the Bible & Christianity. Written by their vocalist Jordan Brown “An Old Book Misread” wrote this in response to the way he was brought up and the objections he ran into when he started questioning Christianity (according to an interview posted on 02.08.2007 at rockfreaks.net ). After reading his interview I would agree that forcing your beliefs upon anyone is never a good idea, and will almost always leave a bad taste in the mouth of the other person. With that being said I do believe there is a difference between sharing and forcing. While this is an incredibly catchy and high energy song I would like to address the lyrical content.
Verse 1
False hope handed down, spun all around,
with ignorance from past generations.
How many times and with how many rhymes?
How many twisted endings for you, for you to realize?
It’s not for you to say what every heart should pay.
Another body and soul that isn’t your own.
Get off my back, this was never salvation for me.
So, keep it away.
Chorus
I don’t feel a thing, can’t make believe i do.
It’s something I don’t need.
It’s something that you do and I respect you.
Turning that page, turning that page in an old book misread.
Verse 2
Twenty something rows back, now offer up your souls
at the drop of a single white robe.
All things foretold but, do you really know what?
Mans worst creation has got you, you in its hold.
I refuse to stand, I refuse to stand for organized crime.
Organized crime comes in more forms than one,
and your god is no exception.
Chorus
I don’t feel a thing, can’t make believe I do.
It’s something I don’t need.
It’s something that you do, and I respect you.
Turning that page, turning that page in an old book misread.
Verse 3
If I’m not being clear this right here is about
my disgust with the way I was almost brought up.
I’m taking it back, my piece of mind.
We’ll leave it at that.
In ’83 a lamb was led for many years until it’s head began to swell.
It did explode with reasons to think on it’s, to think on it’s own.
Chorus
I don’t feel a thing, can’t make believe I do.
It’s something I don’t need.
It’s something that you do, I respect you.
Turning that page on an old book misread.
I don’t feel a thing, can’t make believe I do.
It’s something I don’t need.
It’s something that you do, and I respect you.
Turning that page, turning that page in an old book misread.
An old book misread
The first verse already deals you a hand that this is a false hope that has been handed down with ignorance from past generations. However I believe just the opposite that Christianity was handed down by great minds starting with Paul who was a first rate Jewish scholar of his day and had extremely educated and thoughtful contributors through the ages like Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, John Calvin..etc. etc. I think the statement that this was passed down through ignorance can only be made by some one who has not dug into the history of the Christian faith. I would also agree with the lyrics here that it is not for us as individuals to say what every person should pay or do, however as Christians we should not be depositing what WE think others should do, rather we should be pointing to what Jesus’ instructions are.
In the chorus there is a valid message here that I think echos what the Christian view is and that is if you don’t agree with what someone believes you still respect that person. That carries out the idea that the person and thier ideas are somewhat separate. I can disagree with a persons beliefs or ideas but still respect that person. To that I agree, however in the last line in the chorus he states that this is an “old book misread”. If he knows it is read incorrectly, then he is stating that there is a ‘correct’ way to read this book. I would be interested to know his idea of the correct way of reading this book and how he arrived at this conclusion.
In the second verse Jordan seems to questioning if all of the prophetic claims of Christianity were really foretold. In response to that I believe there is a long list of prophesy if one were inclined to spend some time looking into it. One recommendation would be to check out my blog post about the Destruction of Tyre, or the prophetic claim by Jesus that after him false Christs will come (Matt 24:24 For false Christs and false prophets will appear..) One doesn’t have to survey the land for too long before seeing that the Jesus Christ promoted by Evangelical Christians, Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, Scientology, Islam..etc..etc.. are not the same Jesus, and you do not have to be and expert in comparative religions to understand that these all cannot be true at the same time. That is a prophetic fulfillment in our time right there. These are just a couple, there is so much more evidence of prophetic fulfillment available if you are hungry enough to research it for yourself. Later in this verse man’s worst creation which I am assuming is religion is brought up. I will agree that religion in some sense of the word is not a good thing, in fact Jesus spent a majority of his time preaching against “religion” if by religion you mean following what men say. Jesus railed against the Pharisee and the Sadducee who where the “religious” men of that time that had strayed from preaching God and preached the traditions of men. However that is where Biblical Christianity and religion part ways. Biblical Christianity is so much more than following men, it is true 100% real relationship with God, free communication with Him, response to prayers, evidence of His existence in our lives. While it is true that some religions use God as a wayof controlling people and money similar to organized crime that is not to say that Jesus is not who he says he is.
In the third verse we are let in on a bit of Jordan’s past and it is unfortunate he was not allowed to think on his own as Christianity is a faith that requires reason. In the Bible (Acts 17:11) when the Bereans encountered Paul’s message regarding who Jesus was and his death and resurrection they did not believe it on blind faith, instead they went back to the scriptures (the Old Testament in that time) and researched the prophetic messages about Jesus and came to believe in him by their own research and evidence that they had found. The really interesting thing about this is that the Bible states that the Bereans were more “noble minded” for doing their research and then believing. There are many other verses along with this one in the Bible that call for us to do the research, think for ourselves, and seek after God, instead of blindly following what we are told.
Through this it is my goal that you are not turned off by a bad church experience you once had, or because of a rude overbearing belief forcing Christian that you disregard who Jesus is. I would hope that you would not throw out the baby with the bathwater or so to say. Instead I ask that you would do your research about Jesus and ask Him if He is really who he says he is. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you.
While this was written to the Israelites during their eviction from Israel, I believe it is true to this day. God tells us that, “You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.” Jer. 29:13 Continue reading
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