Music- All for Glory

It's an oft repeated criticism. How can loud, raucous music glorify God? How can songs that do not even mention' God' bring glory to God?

We don't seem to come to the right answers because we don't ask the right questions. What does it mean to bring glory to God? I'm glad to say my perspectives on music as an instrument for God's glory have broadened over the years.

Our Lord is God of the church and also of the world. He calls out people to be His own, to be separate from the world, yet, He asks them to let their light shine while they are living in the world. We are called to be the salt and the light of the world. To permeate the world we live in, and slow its decay by being the salt and dispell the darkness by being the light; all the while retaining our identity as children of God and standing up for God's standards without compromise or shame.

Our heart breaks for what breaks His. We share His concern for the poor, the oppressed, the voiceless, for justice, for social reform. These are good fruits of the outworking of the gospel. So, it's wonderful and scriptural when a band or an artist speaks out on socio-political issues. What their songs reflect are their concerns for God's world. Some bands may have found their calling and fulfillment in songs with evangelistic themes. Some lean towards social action and reform. Either way, as Christians,we all are called to be witnesses, whatever our profession. When we recognise men as having an intrinsic worth because they are made in the image of God, it must reflect in our good works, in our works of art, in our sciences and in our songs. Yes, indeed, music offered up for glory!

The Chronicles of Narnia

I had never been into fantasy movies. Maybe Prince Caspian will change that. It is the second in the 'Chronicles of Narnia' series of seven books by the renowned Christian thinker and writer C. S. Lewis. And I wanted to watch the movie only because of the great writer. I was not disappointed.

There was never a dull moment in the movie. The characters are funny and endearing. Aslan, the lion, comes to the rescue of the Narnians and the kings and queens of Narnia (Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy) in trying circumstances, when their faith was tested and they could not see Aslan. He is the only character to appear in all of the seven books and presents Christian metaphors on various occasions throughout the series. According to the author, he is not an allegorical portrayal of Christ, but rather a different, hypothetical, incarnation of Christ himself: "If Aslan represented the immaterial Deity, he would be an allegorical figure. In reality however, he is an invention giving an imaginary answer to the question, 'What might Christ become like if there really were a world like Narnia and He chose to be incarnate and die and rise again in that world as He actually has done in ours?' This is not allegory at all."

In the end, Aslan tells Peter and Susan that they are now too old to return to Narnia and all four of them go back to earth. In this backdrop the song ' The Call' plays and the stage is set for future events with the words "No need to say goodbye". I cannot end this review without appreciating "This is Home" sung by Switchfoot; which is full of longing.

The plot is rivetting, the themes noble and the visuals splendid. All in all a wonderful movie.

Involvement

I have often wondered why many of us and our churches aren't in the forefront of social concerns. The evangelicals of the 18th and 19th centuries, both in Britain and America were immersed in the preaching of the gospel along with being involved in socio-political issues. The confusion over the Christian role in modern society calls for deeper study and action. We must indeed take an active part in social service and go beyond, to social action. John Stott in his book 'New issues facing Christians today' illustrates social action by the example of people being attacked on the Jerusalem -Jericho road. Good Samaritans reaching out to the battered travellers, fulfill an immediate need and provide social service. While being important, social action would go beyond and seek to eliminate the root cause by working to provide better lighting on the road and take some measures to tackle armed robbery. These days, I pray, God raises up more people who would influence policy-making in our beloved land.

So, then we are without excuse, to be a part of social service, social action and social reform. While each one's specialist calling and ministry may differ, we are all called to serve, as the Body Of Christ. Jesus went about preaching and teaching...healing and doing good works. We must share His compassion for the poor, the needy and the oppressed. "Is that not what knowing Me is about?" the book of Isaiah puts a disturbing question.

Jesus Himself left the comfort of heaven and came down among us, sharing and entering into the lives of the poor, the destitute, the fatherless, the homeless, those in need of comfort or a timely word. Service to the less-privileged must result from the understanding that all human beings have an intrinsic worth because they are made in the image of God. Man is body and soul. We believe in the transforming, life-changing power of the Gospel and also reach out to meet the practical needs of those we minister to. We must share Christ's heart for the suffering, be willing to step out of our safety nets and not be content with our own private fellowships of like-minded people ; lest we turn our church into a social club, where people with a common interest meet.

God is sovereign. He is God of the church as well as of the nations. Let us not make the same mistake Israel did, when they changed the sovereign, all-powerful, supreme, living God into an exclusive deity. A tribal God in the ark of the covenant.

Evangelism and good works must go hand-in-hand. Life-transforming faith produces good works, best illustrated by Jesus' example of the sheep and the goats on the day of judgement. A good work done for the least one, in the name of Christ, Jesus considers as being done for Him. A poem writen by a homeless lady who went to a bishop for help, who promises to pray for her, goes thus:

I was hungry
and you formed a humanities group to discuss my hunger.
I was imprisoned
and you crept off quietly to your chapel and prayed for my release.
I was naked,
and in your mind you debated the morality of my appearance.
I was sick,
and you knelt and thanked God for your health.
I was homeless,
and you preached to me of the spiritual shelter of the love of God.
I was lonely
and you left me alone to pray for me.
You seem so holy, so close to God
but I am still very hungry-and lonely-and cold.

I must be willing, then, to get my hands worn for service.
(Recommended resource: John Stott - New issues facing Christians today).

An ode to Switchfoot

Favorite band? Kids in college 'clued in' to the music scene greet newbies with this question to determine if they are worthy of inclusion in their club.

Though I've preferred, not having favorites, (wonder if you can start a sentence with 'though'), Switchfoot, comes closer than any I've ever had. If memory serves, the first song I heard was 'Meant to live', which I think, was also when they met with large-scale success. I listened to the entire album soon - 'The beautiful letdown' and the songs were anything but.

I liked the refreshing, clean sound and Jonathan Foreman's raspy, throaty vocals. Amazing, I thought. I found the lyrics to be reflective, deep, yet simple. And when he crooned,

"Maybe redemption has stories to tell,

Maybe forgiveness is right where you fell.

Where can you run to escape from yourself?

Where you gonna go?

Salvation is here.."

I knew I'd say 'Switchfoot', if someone ever asked.....