The Eubarist: Oh spotless Lamb, this is my jam!

Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything. I didn't make that up, that was Plato. It's true though. There is something special about music. It can bring people together, it can heal, it keeps a record of culture, and no revolution is complete without its own music. Human experiences more basic than, and transcending, the possibilities of language can be represented in music. I made that one up, not bad, huh? Of course, I find experience of God to be one of those special things about being human that is too big and too good to describe accurately with mere words. People throughout the ages have agreed and so they have made beautiful music about God. When such music really hits you and reminds you of an experience of God that you too have had, the correct response is to say "Oh spotless Lamb, this is my jam!"

Christian scripture is pretty unambiguous about music: it's a really good thing. For example, there is a whole book of the Bible that is just song lyrics. It's called Psalms. The book is full of songs to God, complete with some musical notation, for people to sing. These songs run the gamut of emotions from lament and intense anger to euphoric praise and thankfulness. If you are like me, you have certain songs or artists that are perfect for different emotions. When I'm angry, I hit up hardcore metal. When I have been heartbroken, it's all about Roy Orbison. When I'm just plain sad, Emmylou Harris is the one. When life rocks and I'm excited to be alive, Bruce Springsteen is my man.

The Psalms are like this too. There are Psalms that are all about loving God and being totally pleased with God's vibes. But there are also psalms that talk about being angry with God. There are songs about feeling betrayed by God. You know, real talk. When you were 13 and mad at your parents and at your school and at the world, Good Charlotte was there to tell you it was ok to feel that way. The Psalms are there, partially, to tell us that it's ok to be mad at God sometimes. But when we come back around to remember what God is really like, the Psalms are there to help us give voice to our love and adoration. In fact, the Psalms also encourage us to create our own musical expression.

This baby found his jam

Psalm 150 tells us to "praise Him with trumpet sound; praise Him with lute and harp! Praise Him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise Him with sounding cymbals; praise Him with loud crashing cymbals! Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!" Those are pretty clear instructions. We are supposed to get out there and make music however we can. I know for a fact that if the scriptures had been written today, they would include "Praise Him with shredding guitar; praise Him with massive freakin' pipe organs!" At least, that's how I would write it.

There is even more exhortation to enjoy music in the New Testament. Paul wrote to his friends in Ephesus saying "be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and playing to the Lord in your heart." How beautiful is the idea of addressing one another in song? Instead of talking normally, we should sing joyfully. It would either be very beautiful or it would be like a weird musical. Never let a theater kid get hold of that verse...

I'm sure that this was not Paul's vision. Instead, I think he recognized that by encountering other people in music it is possible to encounter a deeper, more honest part of them. Experiencing music with other people gives you the opportunity to experience that part of their being, the transcendent and deep part, that music touches. This builds strong community bonds around people's love of God, which lives at the center of their being.

Music and community. These things go hand in hand. I think immediately of the rich musical tradition developed by slaves in the American South. These songs were a part of the group identity and sense of mission that strengthened enslaved people through trials and persecution. The earliest Christians, Jesus' followers, also sang together as a part of their group identity. Mark 14:26 tells us that "when they had sung a hymn, they went to the Mount of Olives." That is to say, before they went to the dark garden in which Jesus would be betrayed, they gathered and sang together. One last song before their good friend is arrested and killed.

One more song!

There is one thing about music that never appears in scripture. It never says that any of the music was any good. It doesn't have to be. Music, in the Christian tradition, is not for entertaining people, it is for praising God. Music is not about skill, it is about a relationship.Do you have a mouth? If so, then you can sing and if you can sing, you can be musical. Get out there and make music, for yourself and for God.

Great God Music

No recipe this week, instead I'll leave with some of my favorite Godly music. Even if you are not a believer (thanks for reading anyway!) I encourage you to open yourself to the beauty of this music.

1) Arvo Pärt: Credo from Berliner Messe

In my opinion the most beautiful piece of music ever written.

2) Mahalia Jackson: Onward Christian Soldiers

The Queen of Gospel. A bombastic, hands in the air anthem.

3) Sufjan Stevens: Holy, Holy, Holy

This guy is a star in the indie world and a faithful Christian.

4) Leigh Nash: Come Thou Fount

The lady from Sixpence non the Richer. Surprise! They were a Christian band.

5) Iris Dement: Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

Makes me cry.

6) Bifrost Arts

A gorgeous and hip song.

7) Stryper: Calling on You

Oh yeah. Christian hair-metal. Neither hip nor beautiful but amazing.

Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp! Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe! Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals! Let everything that has breath praise the LORD! Praise the LORD! - See more at: http://www.prayers-for-special-help.com/bible-verses-about-music.html#sthash.67dwTyFM.dpuf

2 comments:

AlexNovember 10, 2013 at 9:56 PM
DUDE! Great piece! Btw I never got a chance to mention this, but someone totally unrelated at the Newman House found your blog last semester and reads it all the time. We were talking the other day and they mentioned The Eurbarist, and I was like "...say what now!?"

Keep it up :) You're in my prayers, as always.

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Oh spotless Lamb, this is my jam!

2 comments: