Article from the dust cover of In Another Land LP.
Once...there was a tune and everyone knew how it went, but as time went by, people began to forget, until at last no one could remember.
(The Tune, 1971 by L. Norman)
From the discovery and development of music by Jubal (Genesis 4:21) and the psalms of David up until modern time, music has been used to worship, praise and proclaim the majesty of God. Today, most of us think of the hymns as holy songs - both the melody and the lyrics written as a direct inspiration from God. We think of the hymns as totally separate from secular music, but in reality, when many of the traditional hymns were first composed, they represented the sound of their day, just as "Jesus Rock" might represent the sound of today.
In 1524, then Martin Luther borrowed popular drinking song melodies and grafted Christian lyrics onto them, he outraged his spiritual colleagues and no doubt gave new ammunition to his critics; but today these same songs, such as "A Mighty Fortress Is Our God" and "Away In A Manger" are considered among the Christian classics.
THE MODERN CONFLICT
A young boy complains to his father that most of the church hymns are boring to him because they are so far behind the times. His father becomes angry and states that "the hymns are good enough for your Grandfather and me, and they will serve you just as well". But the teenager says that not only are the tunes boring, but the words are meaningless ... the songs are just too old fashioned. Putting an end to the discussion, his father says to him, "Well, if you think you can write better hymns, then why don't you?" The son says that he will. He goes to his room and writes his first hymn.
The year was 1690, the teenager was Isaac Watts, and the hymn was "Behold the Glories of the Lamb". During the next few years he wrote other songs. "We're marching to Zion", "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross", and "Joy to the World" are among the almost 350 hymns he created. The lyrics were his own but sometimes the melodies were similar in origin to Luther's ... seized from the streets or from popular theatre.
THE ORGAN IS REPLACED BY DRUMS
A few centuries later, William Booth was moved to update the music of the church. Only, instead of writing all new songs, he rewove the fabric of religious music by discarding the organ and the piano, and in their place putting trombones, trumpets, tambourines, drums (drums??!!!), tubas, piccolos, clarinets etc. and the took this menage a brass out into the streets. His marching Salvation Army Band disguested and outraged many of the Christians in his day, but he was confident that Christian music should be taken where it was conspicuously absent ... to the people ... and played in a fashion that non-Christians could understand.
Music is a powerful and spiritially persuasive art form. The young shepherd boy David soothed the tormented mind of King Saul with his songs, and his lyrical psalms are still among the most poetically uplifting that we have. The music of the teenager Isaac Watts supported the large envangelistic thrust of his day. William Booth took his band out into the streets and reached thousands that had been overlooked by the religious community. His music and message helped harvest the soul of many a businessman as well as the skid row mendicants. And these are but a few examples from Christian church history.
CRITICS BE CAREFUL
The lesson is clear, or should be. Continually embracing the current musical forms to present the Christian message, religious music has again and again become relevant to a contemporary world that would accuse it of being outdated. Today, the new Christian music (Jesus Music, Jesus Rock, etc.) is accessible common ground between the religious and secular world. With the advent of the vinyl 45 and the non-stop disc jockey, music has become the second language of the youth. It has the power to lead or mislead. Just as it once influenced the misdirection of the youth into drugs and campus revolution, it can be (and is being) used to proclaim in a modern tongue a message that is almost 2,000 years old.
UNHOLY VESSEL?
There are some who wrongly feel that contemporary rock music is a satanic, destructive force and is not conductive to communicating the gospel. Some feel that the innate sensitivity and nobility of quieter musical forms, such as "classical music" is more calming and more appropriate for religious worship. This is not necessarily true. They are overlooking the fact that much of classical music, opera, etc. relies on murder, jealousy and immorality for their themes. When Igor Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring" was first performed on May 29, 1913, at the Theatre des Champs Elysees, the audience rioted and tore up the seats and curtains of the theatre. Yet, classical music can no doubt be used to glorify God when it chooses to. Handel did it with "The Messiah".
SPEAKING THE LANGUAGE
Music is one of the most strategic art forms we have today. It is more widely popular than literature, theatre, cinema, poetry, or any of the other art forms. It is also the most portable. Radios fit into back pockets, cassette players weigh less than a text book, and almost every car has a radio. Most people have access to some kind of a record player. And for many, the live concert has become the height of social excursion ... a place where you can not only see your favourite group, but be with your best friends and somehow feel close to the forty thousand other people seated around you.
Today, Christian writers like Andrae Crouch, Randy Stonehill, Malcolm and Alwyn, and Steve Camp are redefining the cultural context of Christian music and often find themselves facing the same resistance that Luther, Watts, Booth and others have had to face. Innovation and creative direction are not always appreciated, because they are both often misunderstood. But the critics of modern Christian music should keep in mind that today's young Christians may be writing the hymns of tomorrow.
Larry Norman
January, 1975
by Larry Norman
What is ART? God is the Creator of our World, Our Universe. His art is LIFE. He has made a visible world around us, full of detail and complexity, and He has lavished the same intricate care on the world outside of our periphery. High in the mountains where men seldom walk, God has always given rich colours and delicate perfumes to each flower He has made. He didn't smudge the definition, forget to cluster the priapic pistil with pollen kissed stamen simply because explorers and their sherpas might not see them.
Deep in the ocean where the pressure-per-square-inch prevents any man's eyes from watching, unseen and uncategorized fish-things enjoy their life cycle in God's gaze, particulate, fluorescent, soft-boned and shimmering in gilled glory, not for the approval of man but for God's pleasure.
Life is God's art. God has rendered His art in our universe in three dimensions; revealed Himself to us in the Trinity, Given man the triune aspects of body, spirit, soul; set us in motion on the planes of time, space and matter, bonded our entities with the protons, neutrons and electrons; translated matter catalystially into energy through proteins, carbohydrates and fats; supported our life on land, air and sea with food, oxygen and water.
He has given to man an woman a child, and the three perceptive senses of touch, sight, and sound. While textbooks errantly include taste and smell and scientists debate the presence of quarks and balck holes, God moves on and doesn't move at all. He is the Alpha, The I Am, and the Omega; The Past, The Omni-Present and The Future.
There were three crosses on that hill. One man was perfect, one man repented of his imperfection, and the third man embraced his sin in wilful death lock, unrepentant. Christ spent three days in the grave. He broke the gates of death and arose, sealing the resurrection, redemption, and salvation for the cause of our body, spirit and soul. Now we have good, great reason to walk in faith, hope and love in this three dimensional realm He fashioned for us. One third of the angels fell and the other two-thirds stand against them in the strength of that majority, while God sustains us as we wrestle not against flesh, or blod, but against spiritual principalities; that wickidness ascribed to high places.
What is the art of man? It is sufficient as a pale copy of God's visible Creation. No painter ever brushed, colored, and shaped at his canvas with any original vision. No sculptor molded the clay, chisled the marble, or smelted the metal with any unimaginable result. We are God's unbound art, His Creation. Let us reflect this in our own art; His Love, His Mercy, His Forgiveness.
East Berlin, 1990
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Study in Romans Chapters 5 + 6
Romans 5
Faith Triumphs
1 Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, (A) we have peace [a] with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (B) 2 Also through Him, we have obtained access (C) by faith [b] into this grace in which we stand, (D) and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, (E) but we also rejoice in our afflictions, (F) because we know that affliction produces endurance, (G) 4 endurance produces proven character, (H) and proven character produces hope. 5 This hope does not disappoint, (I) because God's love has been poured out in our hearts (J) through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Those Declared Righteous Are Reconciled
6 For while we were still helpless, at the appointed moment, (K) Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. 8 But God proves (L) His own love for us (M) in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us! 9 Much more then, since we have now been declared righteous by His blood, (N) we will be saved through Him from wrath. (O) 10 For if, while we were enemies, (P) we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, [then how] much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by His life! (Q) 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (R)
Death through Adam and Life through Christ
12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, (S) and death through sin, (T) in this way death spread to all men, (U) because all sinned. [c] 13 In fact, sin was in the world before the law, but sin is not charged to one's account when there is no law. (V) 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin in the likeness of Adam's transgression. (W) He is a prototype of the Coming One. (X)
15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if by the one man's trespass the many died, how much more have the grace of God and the gift overflowed to the many by the grace of the one man, (Y) Jesus Christ. 16 And the gift is not like the one man's sin, because from one sin came the judgment, (Z) resulting in condemnation, but from many trespasses came the gift, resulting in justification. [d] 17 Since by the one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life (AA) through the one man, Jesus Christ.
18 So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act there is life-giving justification (AB) [e] for everyone. 19 For just as through one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, (AC) so also through the one man's obedience (AD) the many will be made righteous. 20 The law came along to multiply the trespass. (AE) But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more, (AF) 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, (AG) so also grace will reign (AH) through righteousness, resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6
The New Life in Christ
1 What should we say then? (A) Should we continue in sin in order that grace may multiply? (B) 2 Absolutely not! (C) How can we who died to sin (D) still live in it? 3 Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized (E) into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? (F) 4 Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, (G) in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead (H) by the glory of the Father, (I) so we too may walk in a new way [a] of life. (J) 5 For if we have been joined with Him in the likeness of His death, (K) we will certainly also be [b] in the likeness of His resurrection. 6 For we know that our old self (L) [c] was crucified with Him (M) in order that sin's dominion over the body [d] may be abolished, (N) so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, 7 since a person who has died (O) is freed [e] from sin's claims. [f] 8 Now if we died with Christ, (P) we believe that we will also live with Him, 9 because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, (Q) no longer dies. Death no longer rules over Him. (R) 10 For in that He died, He died to sin once for all; but in that He lives, He lives to God. 11 So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin, (S) but alive to God in Christ Jesus. [g]
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey [h] its desires. 13 And do not offer any parts [i] of it to sin (T) as weapons for unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God, (U) and all the parts [j] of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness. 14 For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under law (V) but under grace. (W)
From Slaves of Sin to Slaves of God
15 What then? Should we sin because we are not under law but under grace? (X) Absolutely not! (Y) 16 Do you not know that if you offer yourselves to someone [k] as obedient slaves, (Z) you are slaves of that one you obey (AA) —either of sin leading to death (AB) or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But thank God that, although you used to be slaves of sin, (AC) you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching you were entrusted to, (AD) 18 and having been liberated from sin, (AE) you became enslaved to righteousness. 19 I am using a human analogy (AF) [l] because of the weakness of your flesh. [m] For just as you offered the parts [n] of yourselves as slaves to moral impurity, and to greater and greater lawlessness, so now offer them as slaves to righteousness, which results in sanctification. 20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free from allegiance to righteousness. (AG) [o] 21 And what fruit was produced [p] then from the things you are now ashamed of? (AH) For the end of those things is death. (AI) 22 But now, since you have been liberated from sin and become enslaved to God, (AJ) you have your fruit, which results in sanctification (AK) [q] —and the end is eternal life! (AL) 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (AM)
Faith Triumphs
1 Therefore, since we have been declared righteous by faith, (A) we have peace [a] with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (B) 2 Also through Him, we have obtained access (C) by faith [b] into this grace in which we stand, (D) and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3 And not only that, (E) but we also rejoice in our afflictions, (F) because we know that affliction produces endurance, (G) 4 endurance produces proven character, (H) and proven character produces hope. 5 This hope does not disappoint, (I) because God's love has been poured out in our hearts (J) through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Those Declared Righteous Are Reconciled
6 For while we were still helpless, at the appointed moment, (K) Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For rarely will someone die for a just person—though for a good person perhaps someone might even dare to die. 8 But God proves (L) His own love for us (M) in that while we were still sinners Christ died for us! 9 Much more then, since we have now been declared righteous by His blood, (N) we will be saved through Him from wrath. (O) 10 For if, while we were enemies, (P) we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, [then how] much more, having been reconciled, will we be saved by His life! (Q) 11 And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation. (R)
Death through Adam and Life through Christ
12 Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, (S) and death through sin, (T) in this way death spread to all men, (U) because all sinned. [c] 13 In fact, sin was in the world before the law, but sin is not charged to one's account when there is no law. (V) 14 Nevertheless, death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin in the likeness of Adam's transgression. (W) He is a prototype of the Coming One. (X)
15 But the gift is not like the trespass. For if by the one man's trespass the many died, how much more have the grace of God and the gift overflowed to the many by the grace of the one man, (Y) Jesus Christ. 16 And the gift is not like the one man's sin, because from one sin came the judgment, (Z) resulting in condemnation, but from many trespasses came the gift, resulting in justification. [d] 17 Since by the one man's trespass, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life (AA) through the one man, Jesus Christ.
18 So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act there is life-giving justification (AB) [e] for everyone. 19 For just as through one man's disobedience the many were made sinners, (AC) so also through the one man's obedience (AD) the many will be made righteous. 20 The law came along to multiply the trespass. (AE) But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more, (AF) 21 so that, just as sin reigned in death, (AG) so also grace will reign (AH) through righteousness, resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 6
The New Life in Christ
1 What should we say then? (A) Should we continue in sin in order that grace may multiply? (B) 2 Absolutely not! (C) How can we who died to sin (D) still live in it? 3 Or are you unaware that all of us who were baptized (E) into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? (F) 4 Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, (G) in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead (H) by the glory of the Father, (I) so we too may walk in a new way [a] of life. (J) 5 For if we have been joined with Him in the likeness of His death, (K) we will certainly also be [b] in the likeness of His resurrection. 6 For we know that our old self (L) [c] was crucified with Him (M) in order that sin's dominion over the body [d] may be abolished, (N) so that we may no longer be enslaved to sin, 7 since a person who has died (O) is freed [e] from sin's claims. [f] 8 Now if we died with Christ, (P) we believe that we will also live with Him, 9 because we know that Christ, having been raised from the dead, (Q) no longer dies. Death no longer rules over Him. (R) 10 For in that He died, He died to sin once for all; but in that He lives, He lives to God. 11 So, you too consider yourselves dead to sin, (S) but alive to God in Christ Jesus. [g]
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body, so that you obey [h] its desires. 13 And do not offer any parts [i] of it to sin (T) as weapons for unrighteousness. But as those who are alive from the dead, offer yourselves to God, (U) and all the parts [j] of yourselves to God as weapons for righteousness. 14 For sin will not rule over you, because you are not under law (V) but under grace. (W)
From Slaves of Sin to Slaves of God
15 What then? Should we sin because we are not under law but under grace? (X) Absolutely not! (Y) 16 Do you not know that if you offer yourselves to someone [k] as obedient slaves, (Z) you are slaves of that one you obey (AA) —either of sin leading to death (AB) or of obedience leading to righteousness? 17 But thank God that, although you used to be slaves of sin, (AC) you obeyed from the heart that pattern of teaching you were entrusted to, (AD) 18 and having been liberated from sin, (AE) you became enslaved to righteousness. 19 I am using a human analogy (AF) [l] because of the weakness of your flesh. [m] For just as you offered the parts [n] of yourselves as slaves to moral impurity, and to greater and greater lawlessness, so now offer them as slaves to righteousness, which results in sanctification. 20 For when you were slaves of sin, you were free from allegiance to righteousness. (AG) [o] 21 And what fruit was produced [p] then from the things you are now ashamed of? (AH) For the end of those things is death. (AI) 22 But now, since you have been liberated from sin and become enslaved to God, (AJ) you have your fruit, which results in sanctification (AK) [q] —and the end is eternal life! (AL) 23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (AM)
Friday, October 24, 2008
The Sovereignty of God: Introduction By A.W. Pink
THE SOVERIEGNTY OF GOD by: A.W. Pink
INTRODUCTION
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Who is regulating affairs on this earth today—God, or the Devil? That God reigns supreme in Heaven, is generally conceded; that He does so over this world, is almost universally denied—if not directly, then indirectly. More and more are men in their philosophizing and theorizing, relegating God to the background. Take the material realm. Not only is it denied that God created everything, by personal and direct action, but few believe that He has any immediate concern in regulating the works of His own hands. Everything is supposed to be ordered according to the (impersonal and abstract) "laws of Nature". Thus is the Creator banished from His own creation. Therefore we need not be surprised that men, in their degrading conceptions, exclude Him from the realm of human affairs. Throughout Christendom, with an almost negligible exception, the theory is held that man is "a free agent", and therefore, lord of his fortunes and the determiner of his destiny. That Satan is to be blamed for much of the evil which is in the world, is freely affirmed by those who, though having so much to say about "the responsibility of man", often deny their own responsibility, by attributing to the Devil what, in fact, proceeds from their own evil hearts (Mark 7 :21-23).
But who is regulating affairs on this earth today—God, or the Devil? Attempt to take a serious and comprehensive view of the world. What a scene of confusion and chaos confronts us on every side! Sin is rampant; lawlessness abounds; evil men and seducers are waxing "worse and worse" (2 Tim. 3:13). Today, everything appears to be out of joint. Thrones are creaking and tottering, ancient dynasties are being overturned, democracies are revolting, civilization is a demonstrated failure; half of Christendom was but recently locked-together in a death grapple; and now that the titanic conflict is over, instead of the world having been made "safe for democracy", we have discovered that democracy is very unsafe for the world. Unrest, discontent, and lawlessness are rife every where, and none can say how soon another great war will be set in motion. Statesmen are perplexed and staggered. Men’s hearts are "failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth" (Luke 21:26). Do these things look as though God had full control?
But let us confine our attention to the religious realm. After nineteen centuries of Gospel preaching, Christ is still "despised and rejected of men". Worse still, He (the Christ of Scripture) is proclaimed and magnified by very few. In the majority of modern pulpits He is dishonored and disowned. Despite frantic efforts to attract the crowds, the majority of the churches are being emptied rather than filled. And what of the great masses of non-church goers? In the light of Scripture we are compelled to believe that the "many" are on the Broad Road that leadeth to destruction, and that only "few" are on the Narrow Way that leadeth unto life. Many are declaring that Christianity is a failure, and despair is settling on many faces. Not a few of the Lord’s own people are bewildered, and their faith is being severely tried. And what of God? Does He see and hear? Is He impotent or indifferent? A number of those who are regarded as leaders of Christian-thought told us that, God could not help the coming of the late awful War, and that He was unable to bring about its termination. It was said, and said openly, that conditions were beyond God’s control. Do these things look as though God were ruling the world?
Who is regulating affairs on this earth today—God, or the Devil? What impression is made upon the minds of those men of the world who, occasionally, attend a Gospel service? What are the conceptions formed by those who hear even those preachers who are counted as "orthodox"? Is it not that a disappointed God is the One whom Christians believe in? From what is heard from the average evangelist today, is not any serious hearer obliged to conclude that he professes to represent a God who is filled with benevolent intentions, yet unable to carry them out; that He is earnestly desirous of blessing men, but that they will not let Him? Then, must not the average hearer draw the inference that the Devil has gained the upper hand, and that God is to be pitied rather than blamed?
But does not everything seem to show that the Devil has far more to do with the affairs of earth than God has? Ah, it all depends upon whether we are walking by faith, or walking by sight. Are your thoughts, my reader, concerning this world and God’s relation to it, based upon what you see? Face this question seriously and honestly. And if you are a Christian, you will, most probably, have cause to bow your head with shame and sorrow, and to acknowledge that it is so. Alas, in reality, we walk very little "by faith". But what does "walking by faith" signify? It means that our thoughts are formed, our actions regulated, our lives molded by the Holy Scriptures, for, "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Rom. 10:17). It is from the Word of Truth, and that alone, that we can learn what is God’s relation to this world.
Who is regulating affairs on this earth today—God or the Devil? What saith the Scriptures? Ere we consider the direct reply to this query, let it be said that, the Scriptures predicted just what we now see and hear. The prophecy of Jude is in course of fulfillment. It would lead us too far astray from our present inquiry to fully amplify this assertion, but what we have particularly in mind is a sentence in verse 8—"Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion and speak evil of dignities." Yes, they "speak evil" of the Supreme Dignity, the "Only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords." Ours is peculiarly an age of irreverence, and as the consequence, the spirit of lawlessness, which brooks no restraint and which is desirous of casting off everything which interferes with the free course of self-will, is rapidly engulfing the earth like some giant tidal wave. The members of the rising generation are the most flagrant offenders, and in the decay and disappearing of parental authority we have the certain precursor of the abolition of civic authority. Therefore, in view of the growing disrespect for human law and the refusal to "render honor to whom honor is due," we need not be surprised that the recognition of the majesty, the authority, the sovereignty of the Almighty Law-giver should recede more and more into the background, and that the masses have less and less patience with those who insist upon them. And conditions will not improve; instead, the more sure Word of Prophecy makes known to us that they will grow worse and worse. Nor do we expect to be able to stem the tide—it has already risen much too high for that. All we can now hope to do is warn our fellow-saints against the spirit of the age, and thus seek to counteract its baneful influence upon them.
Who is regulating affairs on this earth today—God, or the Devil? What saith the Scriptures? If we believe their plain and positive declarations, no room is left for uncertainty. They affirm, again and again, that God is on the throne of the universe; that the sceptre is in His hands; that He is directing all things "after the counsel of His own will". They affirm, not only that God created all things, but also that God is ruling and reigning over all the works of His hands. They affirm that God is the "Almighty", that His will is irreversible, that He is absolute sovereign in every realm of all His vast dominions. And surely it must be so. Only two alternatives are possible: God must either rule, or be ruled; sway, or be swayed; accomplish His own will, or be thwarted by His creatures. Accepting the fact that He is the "Most High", the only Potentate and King of kings, vested with perfect wisdom and illimitable power, and the conclusion is irresistible that He must be God in fact, as well as in name.
It is in view of what we have briefly referred to above. that we say, Present-day conditions call loudly for a new examination and new presentation of God’s omnipotency, God’s sufficiency, God’s sovereignty. From every pulpit in the land it needs to be thundered forth that God still lives, that God still observes, that God still reigns. Faith is now in the crucible, it is being tested by fire, and there is no fixed and sufficient resting-place for the heart and mind but in the Throne of God. What is needed now, as never before, is a full, positive, constructive setting forth of the Godhood of God. Drastic diseases call for drastic remedies. People are weary of platitudes and mere generalizations—the call is for something definite and specific. Soothing-syrup may serve for peevish children, but an iron tonic is better suited for adults, and we know of nothing which is more calculated to infuse spiritual vigor into our frames than a scriptural apprehension of the full character of God. It is written, "The people that do know their God shall be strong and do exploits" (Dan. 11:32).
Without a doubt a world-crisis is at hand, and everywhere men are alarmed. But God is not! He is never taken by surprise. It is no unexpected emergency which now confronts Him, for He is the One who "worketh all things after the counsel of His own will" (Eph. 1:11). Hence, though the world is panic-stricken, the word to the believer is, "Fear not"! "All things" are subject to His immediate control: "all things" are moving in accord with His eternal purpose, and therefore, "all things" are "working together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." It must be so, for "of Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things" (Rom. 11:36). Yet how little is this realized today even by the people of God! Many suppose that He is little more than a far-distant Spectator, taking no immediate hand in the affairs of earth. It is true that man has a will, but so also has God. It is true that man is endowed with power, but God is all-powerful. It is true that, speaking generally, the material world is regulated by law, but behind that law is the law-Giver and law-Administrator. Man is but the creature. God is the Creator, and endless ages before man first saw the light "the mighty God" (Isa. 9:6) existed, and ere the world was founded, made His plans; and being infinite in power and man only finite, His purpose and plan cannot be withstood or thwarted by the creatures of His own hands.
We readily acknowledge that life is a profound problem, and that we are surrounded by mystery on every side; but we are not like the beasts of the field—ignorant of their origin, and unconscious of what is before them. No: "We have also a more sure Word of Prophecy", of which it is said ye do well that ye "take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts" (2 Pet. 1:19). And it is to this Word of Prophecy we indeed do well to "take heed," to that Word which had not its origin in the mind of man but in the Mind of God, for, "the prophecy came not at any time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake moved by the Holy Spirit." We say again, it is to this "Word" we do well to take heed. As we turn to this Word and are instructed there, we discover a fundamental principle which must be applied to every problem: Instead of beginning with man and his world and working back to God, we must begin with God and work down to man—"In the beginning God"! Apply this principle to the present situation. Begin with the world as it is today and try and work back to God, and everything will seem to show that God has no connection with the world at all. But begin with God and work down to the world and light, much light, is cast on the problem. Because God is holy His anger burns against sin; because God is righteous His judgments fall upon those who rebel against Him; because God is faithful the solemn threatenings of His Word are fulfilled; because God is omnipotent none can successfully resist Him, still less overthrow His counsel; and because God is omniscient no problem can master Him and no difficulty baffle His wisdom. It is just because God is who He is and what He is that we are now beholding on earth what we do—the beginning of His out-poured judgments: in view of His inflexible justice and immaculate holiness we could not expect anything other than what is now spread before our eyes.
But let it be said very emphatically that the heart can only rest upon and enjoy the blessed truth of the absolute sovereignty of God as faith is in exercise. Faith is ever occupied with God. That is the character of it: that is what differentiates it from intellectual theology. Faith endures "as seeing Him who is invisible" (Heb. 11:27) : endures the disappointments, the hardships, and the heart-aches of life, by recognizing that all comes from the hand of Him who is too wise to err and too loving to be unkind. But so long as we are occupied with any other object than God Himself, there will be neither rest for the heart nor peace for the mind. But when we receive all that enters our lives as from His hand, then, no matter what may be our circumstances or surroundings—whether in a hovel, a prison-dungeon, or a martyr’s stake—we shall be enabled to say, "The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places" (Ps. 16:6). But that is the language of faith, not of sight or of sense.
But if instead of bowing to the testimony of Holy Writ, if instead of walking by faith, we follow the evidence of our eyes, and reason therefrom, we shall fall into a quagmire of virtual atheism. Or, if we are regulated by the opinions and views of others, peace will be at an end. Granted that there is much in this world of sin and, suffering which appalls and saddens us; granted that there is much in the providential dealings of God which startle and stagger us; that is no reason why we should unite with the unbelieving worldling who says, "If I were God, I would not allow this or tolerate that" etc. Better far, in the presence of bewildering mystery, to say with one of old, "I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because Thou didst it" (Ps. 39:9). Scripture tells us that God’s judgments are "unsearchable", and His ways "past finding out" (Rom. 11:33). It must be so if faith is to be tested, confidence in His wisdom and righteousness strengthened, and submission to His holy will fostered.
Here is the fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief. The unbeliever is "of the world," judges everything by worldly standards, views life from the standpoint of time and sense, and weighs everything in the balances of his own carnal making. But the man of faith brings in God, looks at everything from His standpoint, estimates values by spiritual standards, and views life in the light of eternity. Doing this, he receives whatever comes as from the hand of God. Doing this, his heart is calm in the midst of the storm. Doing this, he rejoices in hope of the glory of God.
In these opening paragraphs we have indicated the lines of thought followed out in this book. Our first postulate is that because God is God, He does as He pleases, only as He pleases, always as He pleases; that His great concern is the accomplishment of His own pleasure and the promotion of His own glory; that He is the Supreme Being, and therefore Sovereign of the universe. Starting with this postulate we have contemplated the exercise of God’s Sovereignty, first in Creation, second in Governmental Administration over the works of His hands, third in the Salvation of His own elect, fourth in the Reprobation of the wicked, and fifth in Operation upon and within men. Next we have viewed the Sovereignty of God as it relates to the human will in particular and human Responsibility in general, and have sought to show what is the only becoming attitude for the creature to take in view of the majesty of the Creator. A separate chapter has been set apart for a consideration of some of the difficulties which are involved, and to answering the questions which are likely to be raised in the minds of our readers; while one chapter has been devoted to a more careful yet brief examination of God’s Sovereignty in relation to prayer. Finally, we have sought to show that the Sovereignty of God is a truth revealed to us in Scripture for the comfort of our hearts, the strengthening of our souls, and the blessing of our lives. A due apprehension of God’s Sovereignty promotes the spirit of worship, provides an incentive to practical godliness, and inspires zeal in service. It is deeply humbling to the human heart, but in proportion to the degree that it brings man into the dust before his Maker, to that extent is God glorified.
We are well aware that what we have written is in open opposition to much of the teaching that is current both in religious literature and in the representative pulpits of the land. We freely grant that the postulate of God’s Sovereignty with all its corollaries is at direct variance with the opinions and thoughts of the natural man, but the truth is, we are quite unable to think upon these matters: we are incompetent for forming a proper estimate of God’s character and ways, and it is because of this that God has given us a revelation of His mind, and in that revelation He plainly declares, "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts" (Is. 55:8,9). In view of this scripture, it is only to be expected that much of the contents of the Bible conflicts with the sentiments of the carnal mind, which is enmity against God. Our appeal then is not to the popular beliefs of the day, nor to the creeds of the churches, but to the Law and Testimony of Jehovah. All that we ask for is an impartial and attentive examination of what we have written, and that, made prayerfully in the light of the Lamp of Truth. May the reader heed the Divine admonition to "prove all things; hold fast that which is good" (1 Thess. 5:21).
INTRODUCTION
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Who is regulating affairs on this earth today—God, or the Devil? That God reigns supreme in Heaven, is generally conceded; that He does so over this world, is almost universally denied—if not directly, then indirectly. More and more are men in their philosophizing and theorizing, relegating God to the background. Take the material realm. Not only is it denied that God created everything, by personal and direct action, but few believe that He has any immediate concern in regulating the works of His own hands. Everything is supposed to be ordered according to the (impersonal and abstract) "laws of Nature". Thus is the Creator banished from His own creation. Therefore we need not be surprised that men, in their degrading conceptions, exclude Him from the realm of human affairs. Throughout Christendom, with an almost negligible exception, the theory is held that man is "a free agent", and therefore, lord of his fortunes and the determiner of his destiny. That Satan is to be blamed for much of the evil which is in the world, is freely affirmed by those who, though having so much to say about "the responsibility of man", often deny their own responsibility, by attributing to the Devil what, in fact, proceeds from their own evil hearts (Mark 7 :21-23).
But who is regulating affairs on this earth today—God, or the Devil? Attempt to take a serious and comprehensive view of the world. What a scene of confusion and chaos confronts us on every side! Sin is rampant; lawlessness abounds; evil men and seducers are waxing "worse and worse" (2 Tim. 3:13). Today, everything appears to be out of joint. Thrones are creaking and tottering, ancient dynasties are being overturned, democracies are revolting, civilization is a demonstrated failure; half of Christendom was but recently locked-together in a death grapple; and now that the titanic conflict is over, instead of the world having been made "safe for democracy", we have discovered that democracy is very unsafe for the world. Unrest, discontent, and lawlessness are rife every where, and none can say how soon another great war will be set in motion. Statesmen are perplexed and staggered. Men’s hearts are "failing them for fear, and for looking after those things which are coming on the earth" (Luke 21:26). Do these things look as though God had full control?
But let us confine our attention to the religious realm. After nineteen centuries of Gospel preaching, Christ is still "despised and rejected of men". Worse still, He (the Christ of Scripture) is proclaimed and magnified by very few. In the majority of modern pulpits He is dishonored and disowned. Despite frantic efforts to attract the crowds, the majority of the churches are being emptied rather than filled. And what of the great masses of non-church goers? In the light of Scripture we are compelled to believe that the "many" are on the Broad Road that leadeth to destruction, and that only "few" are on the Narrow Way that leadeth unto life. Many are declaring that Christianity is a failure, and despair is settling on many faces. Not a few of the Lord’s own people are bewildered, and their faith is being severely tried. And what of God? Does He see and hear? Is He impotent or indifferent? A number of those who are regarded as leaders of Christian-thought told us that, God could not help the coming of the late awful War, and that He was unable to bring about its termination. It was said, and said openly, that conditions were beyond God’s control. Do these things look as though God were ruling the world?
Who is regulating affairs on this earth today—God, or the Devil? What impression is made upon the minds of those men of the world who, occasionally, attend a Gospel service? What are the conceptions formed by those who hear even those preachers who are counted as "orthodox"? Is it not that a disappointed God is the One whom Christians believe in? From what is heard from the average evangelist today, is not any serious hearer obliged to conclude that he professes to represent a God who is filled with benevolent intentions, yet unable to carry them out; that He is earnestly desirous of blessing men, but that they will not let Him? Then, must not the average hearer draw the inference that the Devil has gained the upper hand, and that God is to be pitied rather than blamed?
But does not everything seem to show that the Devil has far more to do with the affairs of earth than God has? Ah, it all depends upon whether we are walking by faith, or walking by sight. Are your thoughts, my reader, concerning this world and God’s relation to it, based upon what you see? Face this question seriously and honestly. And if you are a Christian, you will, most probably, have cause to bow your head with shame and sorrow, and to acknowledge that it is so. Alas, in reality, we walk very little "by faith". But what does "walking by faith" signify? It means that our thoughts are formed, our actions regulated, our lives molded by the Holy Scriptures, for, "faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Rom. 10:17). It is from the Word of Truth, and that alone, that we can learn what is God’s relation to this world.
Who is regulating affairs on this earth today—God or the Devil? What saith the Scriptures? Ere we consider the direct reply to this query, let it be said that, the Scriptures predicted just what we now see and hear. The prophecy of Jude is in course of fulfillment. It would lead us too far astray from our present inquiry to fully amplify this assertion, but what we have particularly in mind is a sentence in verse 8—"Likewise also these dreamers defile the flesh, despise dominion and speak evil of dignities." Yes, they "speak evil" of the Supreme Dignity, the "Only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords." Ours is peculiarly an age of irreverence, and as the consequence, the spirit of lawlessness, which brooks no restraint and which is desirous of casting off everything which interferes with the free course of self-will, is rapidly engulfing the earth like some giant tidal wave. The members of the rising generation are the most flagrant offenders, and in the decay and disappearing of parental authority we have the certain precursor of the abolition of civic authority. Therefore, in view of the growing disrespect for human law and the refusal to "render honor to whom honor is due," we need not be surprised that the recognition of the majesty, the authority, the sovereignty of the Almighty Law-giver should recede more and more into the background, and that the masses have less and less patience with those who insist upon them. And conditions will not improve; instead, the more sure Word of Prophecy makes known to us that they will grow worse and worse. Nor do we expect to be able to stem the tide—it has already risen much too high for that. All we can now hope to do is warn our fellow-saints against the spirit of the age, and thus seek to counteract its baneful influence upon them.
Who is regulating affairs on this earth today—God, or the Devil? What saith the Scriptures? If we believe their plain and positive declarations, no room is left for uncertainty. They affirm, again and again, that God is on the throne of the universe; that the sceptre is in His hands; that He is directing all things "after the counsel of His own will". They affirm, not only that God created all things, but also that God is ruling and reigning over all the works of His hands. They affirm that God is the "Almighty", that His will is irreversible, that He is absolute sovereign in every realm of all His vast dominions. And surely it must be so. Only two alternatives are possible: God must either rule, or be ruled; sway, or be swayed; accomplish His own will, or be thwarted by His creatures. Accepting the fact that He is the "Most High", the only Potentate and King of kings, vested with perfect wisdom and illimitable power, and the conclusion is irresistible that He must be God in fact, as well as in name.
It is in view of what we have briefly referred to above. that we say, Present-day conditions call loudly for a new examination and new presentation of God’s omnipotency, God’s sufficiency, God’s sovereignty. From every pulpit in the land it needs to be thundered forth that God still lives, that God still observes, that God still reigns. Faith is now in the crucible, it is being tested by fire, and there is no fixed and sufficient resting-place for the heart and mind but in the Throne of God. What is needed now, as never before, is a full, positive, constructive setting forth of the Godhood of God. Drastic diseases call for drastic remedies. People are weary of platitudes and mere generalizations—the call is for something definite and specific. Soothing-syrup may serve for peevish children, but an iron tonic is better suited for adults, and we know of nothing which is more calculated to infuse spiritual vigor into our frames than a scriptural apprehension of the full character of God. It is written, "The people that do know their God shall be strong and do exploits" (Dan. 11:32).
Without a doubt a world-crisis is at hand, and everywhere men are alarmed. But God is not! He is never taken by surprise. It is no unexpected emergency which now confronts Him, for He is the One who "worketh all things after the counsel of His own will" (Eph. 1:11). Hence, though the world is panic-stricken, the word to the believer is, "Fear not"! "All things" are subject to His immediate control: "all things" are moving in accord with His eternal purpose, and therefore, "all things" are "working together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose." It must be so, for "of Him, and through Him, and to Him are all things" (Rom. 11:36). Yet how little is this realized today even by the people of God! Many suppose that He is little more than a far-distant Spectator, taking no immediate hand in the affairs of earth. It is true that man has a will, but so also has God. It is true that man is endowed with power, but God is all-powerful. It is true that, speaking generally, the material world is regulated by law, but behind that law is the law-Giver and law-Administrator. Man is but the creature. God is the Creator, and endless ages before man first saw the light "the mighty God" (Isa. 9:6) existed, and ere the world was founded, made His plans; and being infinite in power and man only finite, His purpose and plan cannot be withstood or thwarted by the creatures of His own hands.
We readily acknowledge that life is a profound problem, and that we are surrounded by mystery on every side; but we are not like the beasts of the field—ignorant of their origin, and unconscious of what is before them. No: "We have also a more sure Word of Prophecy", of which it is said ye do well that ye "take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts" (2 Pet. 1:19). And it is to this Word of Prophecy we indeed do well to "take heed," to that Word which had not its origin in the mind of man but in the Mind of God, for, "the prophecy came not at any time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake moved by the Holy Spirit." We say again, it is to this "Word" we do well to take heed. As we turn to this Word and are instructed there, we discover a fundamental principle which must be applied to every problem: Instead of beginning with man and his world and working back to God, we must begin with God and work down to man—"In the beginning God"! Apply this principle to the present situation. Begin with the world as it is today and try and work back to God, and everything will seem to show that God has no connection with the world at all. But begin with God and work down to the world and light, much light, is cast on the problem. Because God is holy His anger burns against sin; because God is righteous His judgments fall upon those who rebel against Him; because God is faithful the solemn threatenings of His Word are fulfilled; because God is omnipotent none can successfully resist Him, still less overthrow His counsel; and because God is omniscient no problem can master Him and no difficulty baffle His wisdom. It is just because God is who He is and what He is that we are now beholding on earth what we do—the beginning of His out-poured judgments: in view of His inflexible justice and immaculate holiness we could not expect anything other than what is now spread before our eyes.
But let it be said very emphatically that the heart can only rest upon and enjoy the blessed truth of the absolute sovereignty of God as faith is in exercise. Faith is ever occupied with God. That is the character of it: that is what differentiates it from intellectual theology. Faith endures "as seeing Him who is invisible" (Heb. 11:27) : endures the disappointments, the hardships, and the heart-aches of life, by recognizing that all comes from the hand of Him who is too wise to err and too loving to be unkind. But so long as we are occupied with any other object than God Himself, there will be neither rest for the heart nor peace for the mind. But when we receive all that enters our lives as from His hand, then, no matter what may be our circumstances or surroundings—whether in a hovel, a prison-dungeon, or a martyr’s stake—we shall be enabled to say, "The lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places" (Ps. 16:6). But that is the language of faith, not of sight or of sense.
But if instead of bowing to the testimony of Holy Writ, if instead of walking by faith, we follow the evidence of our eyes, and reason therefrom, we shall fall into a quagmire of virtual atheism. Or, if we are regulated by the opinions and views of others, peace will be at an end. Granted that there is much in this world of sin and, suffering which appalls and saddens us; granted that there is much in the providential dealings of God which startle and stagger us; that is no reason why we should unite with the unbelieving worldling who says, "If I were God, I would not allow this or tolerate that" etc. Better far, in the presence of bewildering mystery, to say with one of old, "I was dumb, I opened not my mouth; because Thou didst it" (Ps. 39:9). Scripture tells us that God’s judgments are "unsearchable", and His ways "past finding out" (Rom. 11:33). It must be so if faith is to be tested, confidence in His wisdom and righteousness strengthened, and submission to His holy will fostered.
Here is the fundamental difference between the man of faith and the man of unbelief. The unbeliever is "of the world," judges everything by worldly standards, views life from the standpoint of time and sense, and weighs everything in the balances of his own carnal making. But the man of faith brings in God, looks at everything from His standpoint, estimates values by spiritual standards, and views life in the light of eternity. Doing this, he receives whatever comes as from the hand of God. Doing this, his heart is calm in the midst of the storm. Doing this, he rejoices in hope of the glory of God.
In these opening paragraphs we have indicated the lines of thought followed out in this book. Our first postulate is that because God is God, He does as He pleases, only as He pleases, always as He pleases; that His great concern is the accomplishment of His own pleasure and the promotion of His own glory; that He is the Supreme Being, and therefore Sovereign of the universe. Starting with this postulate we have contemplated the exercise of God’s Sovereignty, first in Creation, second in Governmental Administration over the works of His hands, third in the Salvation of His own elect, fourth in the Reprobation of the wicked, and fifth in Operation upon and within men. Next we have viewed the Sovereignty of God as it relates to the human will in particular and human Responsibility in general, and have sought to show what is the only becoming attitude for the creature to take in view of the majesty of the Creator. A separate chapter has been set apart for a consideration of some of the difficulties which are involved, and to answering the questions which are likely to be raised in the minds of our readers; while one chapter has been devoted to a more careful yet brief examination of God’s Sovereignty in relation to prayer. Finally, we have sought to show that the Sovereignty of God is a truth revealed to us in Scripture for the comfort of our hearts, the strengthening of our souls, and the blessing of our lives. A due apprehension of God’s Sovereignty promotes the spirit of worship, provides an incentive to practical godliness, and inspires zeal in service. It is deeply humbling to the human heart, but in proportion to the degree that it brings man into the dust before his Maker, to that extent is God glorified.
We are well aware that what we have written is in open opposition to much of the teaching that is current both in religious literature and in the representative pulpits of the land. We freely grant that the postulate of God’s Sovereignty with all its corollaries is at direct variance with the opinions and thoughts of the natural man, but the truth is, we are quite unable to think upon these matters: we are incompetent for forming a proper estimate of God’s character and ways, and it is because of this that God has given us a revelation of His mind, and in that revelation He plainly declares, "My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts" (Is. 55:8,9). In view of this scripture, it is only to be expected that much of the contents of the Bible conflicts with the sentiments of the carnal mind, which is enmity against God. Our appeal then is not to the popular beliefs of the day, nor to the creeds of the churches, but to the Law and Testimony of Jehovah. All that we ask for is an impartial and attentive examination of what we have written, and that, made prayerfully in the light of the Lamp of Truth. May the reader heed the Divine admonition to "prove all things; hold fast that which is good" (1 Thess. 5:21).
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Planetarium Study #1
Matthew 7
Judging Others
1"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
6"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.
Ask, Seek, Knock
7"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
9"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
The Narrow and Wide Gates
13"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
A Tree and Its Fruit
15"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
The Wise and Foolish Builders
24"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
28When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
Judging Others
1"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.
3"Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.
6"Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and then turn and tear you to pieces.
Ask, Seek, Knock
7"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.
9"Which of you, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.
The Narrow and Wide Gates
13"Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.
A Tree and Its Fruit
15"Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them.
21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
The Wise and Foolish Builders
24"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
28When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Larry Norman Interview in Straight circa 1984
One would think that five years after his first appearance at Greenbelt, the army that followed him around site in '79, the hordes who turned up for the seminar he didn't do and the hysteria that greeted his 'surprise' appearance would be nowhere in sight. After all there's only been one widely released album in nine years. Nine years! And he's hardly this year's model - no funny haircut (well ...), no synthesizer, nobody would notice. One would think. But there they were. Probably the biggest seminar crowd of the week-end for his 'conversation' with Stewart Henderson. I.C.C. sold more of that tape than any other. Five hundred copies of four 'new' albums he brought with him soon became crisp blue notes in the Greenbelt Shop. Even our interview cross legged on Greenbelt grass at the top of The Fringe attracted a crowd. Normaniacs to a man. Larry Norman is a new man reflecting that for a period of years he walked around on another planet but has just returned to earth. He was only visiting ... In April this year he married Sarah, formerly Randy Stonehill's wife and a mutual victim of the triple marriage breakdown which shook and probably irrevocably split the Solid Rock record label in the late seventies. They seem as happy together as the teenage sweethearts they were. So long ago ...
Larry Norman, the new man, is relaxed. No sign of paranoia. He's a stimulating conversationalist, quite widely read and healthily disdainful of 1984 America. He still gets extremely edgy with journalists - convinced they're hostile when they only want to know. Ten minutes into our interview he was regretting his comments and reversing the tape. His moving recollection of a profound mystical experience which, I've never told any one before, could have walked out of a Charles Williams' novel with its frightening colour and drama. But next to his Nightmare songs the artist was never seen so clearly tangled up in his art, nor the art so tangled up in the life of the artist. A week later he told me, freely quoting from Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer that Mark Twain could have written my story ... all his characters keep getting lost and not knowing where they are. Larry is lost and found.
Larry Norman is deeper than you know. The reason that for so long he has been a rash on the face of the Church is because people keep scratching on the surface.
When I first proposed this interview to the powers that be one person was adamant that there was no point because you had not been creative for seven or eight years. How do you react to that kind of comment?
Well that's true I died about 7 or 8 years ago but I got better.
We've only seen one album on general release in that time Something New Under the Son.
Well sometimes when a man's wife leaves him for half a dozen other men he doesn't notice but I noticed and it killed me.
Did it drive you back into yourself and away from everybody else?
No it drove me closer to the Cross. It made me creative in a different way but I never released a record. I try not to bleed in public. I try not to sell my blood, I wrote those songs for me. I have about eight, maybe nine new albums if you count a live album of mostly new songs, already recorded just sitting in my house waiting to be released but I don't really know any companies to release them through. I've never been really good in the business side of it. I haven't had a problem with creativity but I've never had the business side of it together.
You mean someone to 'market' you?
I've always thought that perhaps 'marketing' your self is not as pure as creating something to say. To go around flogging yourself and selling yourself, it's something that I can't do. I can't even be happy about finding a manager to do it - you know if I think it's evil for me to do it, would it be right for me to find somebody else and say I'll hire you to do the evil? I just think 'selling' is not as pure as just communicating, so I'm quite pleased for something like Greenbelt to happen where they're not particularly selling anything.
In many respects you're like the senior citizen of Christian rock and roll. As you survey the present state of what they call 'contemporary Christian music' are you pleased or disappointed with how things have progressed since Upon This Rock?
I'm pleased with what's happening in England and Europe. I just heard of Barinov in Russia But I'm not totally thrilled about the commercialisation of Christian music in America. Moms and dads own the bookshops and run the radio stations so they're not going to play real, raw ideas on the radio. Amy Grant won't offend your grandmother so she'll get radio airplay because your grandmother will send money to hear more Amy Grant which means the radio station will break even another year. When the dollar becomes your major concern - how do we get the most money out of our radio listeners? - then you start playing music for the people that give their money.
Three years ago you said Christian music usually meant sloppy thinking, dishonest metaphors and bad poetry. You said I've never been able to get over the shock of how bad the lyrics are. Is that still the case?
Now I'm too content with my life to be poetic and glib - let other people figure out what's wrong.
You couldn't care less?
It's not that I couldn't care less - I care more. But because I care more I see that there's more evil and if don't pinpoint what's wrong with this tiny insignificant experience or that one - we have a great world all around us - how about all the people that are preaching that don't have a guitar. Why can't I be more uplifting and draw people's attention to Billy Graham and how precise he is every time he preaches. It doesn't matter if he has an old sermon or a new sermon - every time it's different. Every time it gets me. In fact what if Christ said There's some more people that haven't got the message I'll die again, and he came down and we said Wait a minute, not the Cross - you did that before, come on do something new. Oh and before you die could you and Peter stand over here, I'd love to get a picture of you together. Could you sign this Living Bible I just got?.
Christians working in the musical arts seem to divide into two groups. The vast majority record on Christian labels, play mostly to Christian audiences and their music often appears to be only a vehicle for their message - not justifiable on its' own terms. The second grouping, and by far the smaller number, consist of individuals and bands who record with secular record companies, play in regular rock venues and clubs and offer a wide socio-political commentary as a reflection of their faith rather than a sermon in every song - people like Cockburn, T-Bone, the Violent Femmes and U2. Now you don't seem to fit into either category exactly but you seem to have started off in the second and gone back to the first.
I peaked too early In '66 I signed to E.M.I. and by '74 I'd had nine years in secular music preaching the gospel and nobody ever noticed that. But now if somebody gets signed to a secular label or even gets a commercial on TV and they're a Christian, everybody flips out - Praise the Lord - one of us slipped over into the enemy lines. Well that's silly. For that matter every time a person get drunk he's doing something secular. It's not whether you're on a secular label or a gospel label, it's are you being brave, are you saying the Truth, or are you trying to be commercial, are you trying to be popular? I think things are turning around and people have decided that they quite like me even if I am an old fossil. Somebody once said to me who's your favourite rock-group? and I said My favourite concert would be listening to William Buckley Jnr. and Malcolm Muggeridge discuss G.K. Chesterton. I'd still say it
Buckley Jnr., Muggeridge and Chesterton are your three favourite authors and are all Roman Catholics - is there anything in that?
Most young evangelical or Protestant Christians won't understand this but when you get older and you want to enter into a literary tradition and you want some chat that hasn't a lot of popular nonsenses thrown in to inflate it - you end up thinking gee, the Catholic Church. Despite their fascination with Mary and believing that she has the keys to get you out of Hell and into Heaven, there's a long historical tradition of thoughtfulness in the Roman Catholic Church - and you've got to say that there's not much intelligent intellectualism going on in the mainstream evangelical Protestant Church.
Do you like the mystical tradition in the Catholic Church?
Well I wish that Protestants were aware of the mysticism of the Old Testament, the symbolism ... because I'm aware of it. But I'll never become a Catholic because I refuse to give my name to Mary to put in the Book of Life. I don't mind if Malcolm (Muggeridge) say's he's a Catholic - I know he's more than a mere Catholic and I hope we all become more than a mere Baptist, or a mere Presbyterian or a mere evangelical. I've entered into the mysticism without wanting to. I almost died once and I didn't know I was dying because I'd been unconscious for so many days. And a light came down from the ceiling. I saw a hole in the roof and I was afraid that I'd get wet if it rained, and I was afraid I wouldn't be able to move. As it got closer I realised it wasn't a hole in the roof, it wasn't the sun coming through - there was a beam of light coming down and it went into my head and it sucked my body up out of the bed, or I guess it sucked me out of my body - I never did see my body I went up through into the sky for a long way I didn't even realise that maybe I was dying until I felt them singing. I felt people and angels praising God and then I got afraid that I was dying and I guess I chose not to go to Heaven. Either that or God wanted me to work some more and He sent me back. I keep writing about it, you know my nightmare songs, that's what they're about
I fell through a hole in Heaven
I landed back on earth.
I don't think I was disobedient because I was willing to die. I've never been afraid of death. When I was little I was beaten up so many times that I just didn't care - I felt if I died I'd get out of this place. But I won't know for sure if I was afraid of dying or if He wasn't finished with me yet but for some reason He wanted to show me.
Some time ago you said that you didn't like to get your mind polluted by the TV, cinema and radio. To me that seemed a little strange for in the early days you were one of the few Christians who actually knew anything about the mainstream culture. For a long time you were the only one to touch the world and the Church.
Well people used to tease me and say Oh, you're a Christian Bob Dylan and then when Dylan became a Christian in my Bible study they'd say to him Oh you're a secular Larry Norman.
Do you know Dylan?
Not really well. I'd been through several life-times in music and so had he. He'd come out of folk, the early Woody Guthrie, and then went through protest and then went through rock. So he's had several life-times of music and my early music was a lot different from my late 60's music, and then my early 70's music was a lot different from my late 70's music and my music now. (Originally) I wanted either to be a missionary or a schoolteacher and I never wanted to be in showbusiness because I thought that show business was evil. You play in a club and people would smoke and drink and take drugs backstage and girls would be backstage. Is that where a Christian should be? When I got older I thought Yes, this is the war, this is the battlefield, get in there and take your sword with you and fight a good battle.
Have you come away from there now?
No. No. The Christians don't go to clubs when I sing in clubs. I don't tell them. In fact now I'm thinking of going with a new name into pubs so that nobody knows who I am.
Is it right to say that your songs now are less social commentary and more pilgrim's progress?
No, I think my songs now are more social commentary except when you're young you think society is conceptual, that it's 'WAR' and 'RIP OFF's' and the 'ESTABLISHMENT'. When you get older you realise that the real social commentary is lust and greed and bitterness and revenge against your old friends. That's where the real social problems lie. Why do you think wars are fought? It's not because one country hates another country. Maybe its because one King is angry with one President because they need help. They need some grain and they're willing to give you some petroleum for some grain but you're getting your petroleum from their enemy and so they hate you because you're making their enemy stronger so that your enemy can strike you. I think that's what wars are. Sin is sin. There is no sophisticated, high tech sin ... it's all just silly, greedy, selfish, snotty sin.
Your stage performances are characterised by an unusual amount of talking and this year you were keen to be interviewed in a seminar at the Festival. Is there something you've got to say that can't be expressed in song?
A lot of things can't be expressed in songs, a lot of things. Songs are very fragile, flimsy little three or four minute devices - that's why I write a lot
Are there some things too complicated to get in a song?
A lot of things. Probably the most important things are.
Bruce Cockburn says that he hopes people see Christianity is an alternative through his songs. Is that your emphasis?
I might say the exact same thing. I hope to give people a credible, a truthful and a possible alternative hope - Christ is a hope. Shouldn't we be living our lives to show people that there is an alternative, another way to live and that the way we're living is a reliable hope.
I wanted to mention Dylan - what do you think of Infidels as an album?
I love it.
Do you like the way its more ambiguous than before?
I don't think it's ambiguous - do I like the way it's more artful?
Yeah, maybe that's the word.
I like him reaching more for allegory and parable but I thought Slow Train Coming was the finest gospel album ever written. I'll never write one as good as that, He'll never write one as good as that, - nobody will. It touched me in every area. You know men in conflict, like Dylan was when he was dying to self and becoming a Christian are very interesting. And because he wrote that album when he was a baby in his crib, but he had a lot of knowledge from the world, it was an album that he can never reproduce. He can never re-experience those songs. I first heard it over here in '79 and all weekend I was on a cloud. I thought This is the greatest album I've ever heard. We were all afraid that he would be overly affected by the evangelical simplicity of American mindlessness and write an album that wasn't really worth his gift for poetry. That album is like a prayer, it's a beautiful prayer, a social communion. It's a communion for all the disenchanted people that are angry.
Going back to the parallel between your career and his, it strikes me that Infidels is like So Long Ago the Garden where the references to Christianity are oblique but the atmosphere is Christian.
That's a fair comment So Long Ago the Gardon is a description of the loss; Infidels is a message to those who have been unfaithful to God and chosen against Him. I left the Church and T-Bone left the Church about the same time. You know there was a Christian up in Canada who had a travel agency business. He was selling tickets to come to Los Angeles and my Bible-study was a guaranteed point of interest He would take them to Disney land and he'd come by my Bible-study I was wondering why all these people were just knocking at the door and coming in ... it was because he was selling them tickets.
In retrospect you don't feel the Garden album was clear enough, particularly your Nightmare?
Well, I'm not the best judge of all my material. I mean Malcolm Muggeridge doesn't like Jesus Rediscovered very much but you know to some people that was a powerful book. But I will never again go so heavy-handed with lyrics like Nightmare.
On stage on Saturday night you commented about the fact that Jesus is going to return and then suggested that Christians should not be concerned about 'the Bomb'. You said Christians shouldn't bother going on peace marches for example. I thought your logic was fatalistic - Jesus is coming back why bother doing anything?
But I didn't say that
You did.
I specifically said that the Bible says Christ is coming back to earth and a lot of us are afraid of the world being blown up. But if Christ is coming back there's going to have to be an earth for him to come back to. Then I said we shouldn't all be so concerned about peace marches and things because there will be no peace. If you go on a peace march thinking that The human voice will be heard and The weight of the human spirit shall topple the government and their bombs with them ... it won't work, its idealism.
I agree that Jesus will return to 'a world', but if 'the bomb' doesn't destroy a world it could destroy a nation.
And it could destroy a lot of us in it.
Shouldn't Christians march against that?
I think we should proclaim Christ. If you're gonna preach against the Bomb also preach against prostitution, drugs, pride from the pulpit - preach against all evils. But I understand the intent of a young person wanting to march against the evils of the world. If you're not a liberal by the time you're twenty you haven't got a heart. If you're not a conservative by the time you're forty you haven't got a mind.
Larry Norman, the new man, is relaxed. No sign of paranoia. He's a stimulating conversationalist, quite widely read and healthily disdainful of 1984 America. He still gets extremely edgy with journalists - convinced they're hostile when they only want to know. Ten minutes into our interview he was regretting his comments and reversing the tape. His moving recollection of a profound mystical experience which, I've never told any one before, could have walked out of a Charles Williams' novel with its frightening colour and drama. But next to his Nightmare songs the artist was never seen so clearly tangled up in his art, nor the art so tangled up in the life of the artist. A week later he told me, freely quoting from Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer that Mark Twain could have written my story ... all his characters keep getting lost and not knowing where they are. Larry is lost and found.
Larry Norman is deeper than you know. The reason that for so long he has been a rash on the face of the Church is because people keep scratching on the surface.
When I first proposed this interview to the powers that be one person was adamant that there was no point because you had not been creative for seven or eight years. How do you react to that kind of comment?
Well that's true I died about 7 or 8 years ago but I got better.
We've only seen one album on general release in that time Something New Under the Son.
Well sometimes when a man's wife leaves him for half a dozen other men he doesn't notice but I noticed and it killed me.
Did it drive you back into yourself and away from everybody else?
No it drove me closer to the Cross. It made me creative in a different way but I never released a record. I try not to bleed in public. I try not to sell my blood, I wrote those songs for me. I have about eight, maybe nine new albums if you count a live album of mostly new songs, already recorded just sitting in my house waiting to be released but I don't really know any companies to release them through. I've never been really good in the business side of it. I haven't had a problem with creativity but I've never had the business side of it together.
You mean someone to 'market' you?
I've always thought that perhaps 'marketing' your self is not as pure as creating something to say. To go around flogging yourself and selling yourself, it's something that I can't do. I can't even be happy about finding a manager to do it - you know if I think it's evil for me to do it, would it be right for me to find somebody else and say I'll hire you to do the evil? I just think 'selling' is not as pure as just communicating, so I'm quite pleased for something like Greenbelt to happen where they're not particularly selling anything.
In many respects you're like the senior citizen of Christian rock and roll. As you survey the present state of what they call 'contemporary Christian music' are you pleased or disappointed with how things have progressed since Upon This Rock?
I'm pleased with what's happening in England and Europe. I just heard of Barinov in Russia But I'm not totally thrilled about the commercialisation of Christian music in America. Moms and dads own the bookshops and run the radio stations so they're not going to play real, raw ideas on the radio. Amy Grant won't offend your grandmother so she'll get radio airplay because your grandmother will send money to hear more Amy Grant which means the radio station will break even another year. When the dollar becomes your major concern - how do we get the most money out of our radio listeners? - then you start playing music for the people that give their money.
Three years ago you said Christian music usually meant sloppy thinking, dishonest metaphors and bad poetry. You said I've never been able to get over the shock of how bad the lyrics are. Is that still the case?
Now I'm too content with my life to be poetic and glib - let other people figure out what's wrong.
You couldn't care less?
It's not that I couldn't care less - I care more. But because I care more I see that there's more evil and if don't pinpoint what's wrong with this tiny insignificant experience or that one - we have a great world all around us - how about all the people that are preaching that don't have a guitar. Why can't I be more uplifting and draw people's attention to Billy Graham and how precise he is every time he preaches. It doesn't matter if he has an old sermon or a new sermon - every time it's different. Every time it gets me. In fact what if Christ said There's some more people that haven't got the message I'll die again, and he came down and we said Wait a minute, not the Cross - you did that before, come on do something new. Oh and before you die could you and Peter stand over here, I'd love to get a picture of you together. Could you sign this Living Bible I just got?.
Christians working in the musical arts seem to divide into two groups. The vast majority record on Christian labels, play mostly to Christian audiences and their music often appears to be only a vehicle for their message - not justifiable on its' own terms. The second grouping, and by far the smaller number, consist of individuals and bands who record with secular record companies, play in regular rock venues and clubs and offer a wide socio-political commentary as a reflection of their faith rather than a sermon in every song - people like Cockburn, T-Bone, the Violent Femmes and U2. Now you don't seem to fit into either category exactly but you seem to have started off in the second and gone back to the first.
I peaked too early In '66 I signed to E.M.I. and by '74 I'd had nine years in secular music preaching the gospel and nobody ever noticed that. But now if somebody gets signed to a secular label or even gets a commercial on TV and they're a Christian, everybody flips out - Praise the Lord - one of us slipped over into the enemy lines. Well that's silly. For that matter every time a person get drunk he's doing something secular. It's not whether you're on a secular label or a gospel label, it's are you being brave, are you saying the Truth, or are you trying to be commercial, are you trying to be popular? I think things are turning around and people have decided that they quite like me even if I am an old fossil. Somebody once said to me who's your favourite rock-group? and I said My favourite concert would be listening to William Buckley Jnr. and Malcolm Muggeridge discuss G.K. Chesterton. I'd still say it
Buckley Jnr., Muggeridge and Chesterton are your three favourite authors and are all Roman Catholics - is there anything in that?
Most young evangelical or Protestant Christians won't understand this but when you get older and you want to enter into a literary tradition and you want some chat that hasn't a lot of popular nonsenses thrown in to inflate it - you end up thinking gee, the Catholic Church. Despite their fascination with Mary and believing that she has the keys to get you out of Hell and into Heaven, there's a long historical tradition of thoughtfulness in the Roman Catholic Church - and you've got to say that there's not much intelligent intellectualism going on in the mainstream evangelical Protestant Church.
Do you like the mystical tradition in the Catholic Church?
Well I wish that Protestants were aware of the mysticism of the Old Testament, the symbolism ... because I'm aware of it. But I'll never become a Catholic because I refuse to give my name to Mary to put in the Book of Life. I don't mind if Malcolm (Muggeridge) say's he's a Catholic - I know he's more than a mere Catholic and I hope we all become more than a mere Baptist, or a mere Presbyterian or a mere evangelical. I've entered into the mysticism without wanting to. I almost died once and I didn't know I was dying because I'd been unconscious for so many days. And a light came down from the ceiling. I saw a hole in the roof and I was afraid that I'd get wet if it rained, and I was afraid I wouldn't be able to move. As it got closer I realised it wasn't a hole in the roof, it wasn't the sun coming through - there was a beam of light coming down and it went into my head and it sucked my body up out of the bed, or I guess it sucked me out of my body - I never did see my body I went up through into the sky for a long way I didn't even realise that maybe I was dying until I felt them singing. I felt people and angels praising God and then I got afraid that I was dying and I guess I chose not to go to Heaven. Either that or God wanted me to work some more and He sent me back. I keep writing about it, you know my nightmare songs, that's what they're about
I fell through a hole in Heaven
I landed back on earth.
I don't think I was disobedient because I was willing to die. I've never been afraid of death. When I was little I was beaten up so many times that I just didn't care - I felt if I died I'd get out of this place. But I won't know for sure if I was afraid of dying or if He wasn't finished with me yet but for some reason He wanted to show me.
Some time ago you said that you didn't like to get your mind polluted by the TV, cinema and radio. To me that seemed a little strange for in the early days you were one of the few Christians who actually knew anything about the mainstream culture. For a long time you were the only one to touch the world and the Church.
Well people used to tease me and say Oh, you're a Christian Bob Dylan and then when Dylan became a Christian in my Bible study they'd say to him Oh you're a secular Larry Norman.
Do you know Dylan?
Not really well. I'd been through several life-times in music and so had he. He'd come out of folk, the early Woody Guthrie, and then went through protest and then went through rock. So he's had several life-times of music and my early music was a lot different from my late 60's music, and then my early 70's music was a lot different from my late 70's music and my music now. (Originally) I wanted either to be a missionary or a schoolteacher and I never wanted to be in showbusiness because I thought that show business was evil. You play in a club and people would smoke and drink and take drugs backstage and girls would be backstage. Is that where a Christian should be? When I got older I thought Yes, this is the war, this is the battlefield, get in there and take your sword with you and fight a good battle.
Have you come away from there now?
No. No. The Christians don't go to clubs when I sing in clubs. I don't tell them. In fact now I'm thinking of going with a new name into pubs so that nobody knows who I am.
Is it right to say that your songs now are less social commentary and more pilgrim's progress?
No, I think my songs now are more social commentary except when you're young you think society is conceptual, that it's 'WAR' and 'RIP OFF's' and the 'ESTABLISHMENT'. When you get older you realise that the real social commentary is lust and greed and bitterness and revenge against your old friends. That's where the real social problems lie. Why do you think wars are fought? It's not because one country hates another country. Maybe its because one King is angry with one President because they need help. They need some grain and they're willing to give you some petroleum for some grain but you're getting your petroleum from their enemy and so they hate you because you're making their enemy stronger so that your enemy can strike you. I think that's what wars are. Sin is sin. There is no sophisticated, high tech sin ... it's all just silly, greedy, selfish, snotty sin.
Your stage performances are characterised by an unusual amount of talking and this year you were keen to be interviewed in a seminar at the Festival. Is there something you've got to say that can't be expressed in song?
A lot of things can't be expressed in songs, a lot of things. Songs are very fragile, flimsy little three or four minute devices - that's why I write a lot
Are there some things too complicated to get in a song?
A lot of things. Probably the most important things are.
Bruce Cockburn says that he hopes people see Christianity is an alternative through his songs. Is that your emphasis?
I might say the exact same thing. I hope to give people a credible, a truthful and a possible alternative hope - Christ is a hope. Shouldn't we be living our lives to show people that there is an alternative, another way to live and that the way we're living is a reliable hope.
I wanted to mention Dylan - what do you think of Infidels as an album?
I love it.
Do you like the way its more ambiguous than before?
I don't think it's ambiguous - do I like the way it's more artful?
Yeah, maybe that's the word.
I like him reaching more for allegory and parable but I thought Slow Train Coming was the finest gospel album ever written. I'll never write one as good as that, He'll never write one as good as that, - nobody will. It touched me in every area. You know men in conflict, like Dylan was when he was dying to self and becoming a Christian are very interesting. And because he wrote that album when he was a baby in his crib, but he had a lot of knowledge from the world, it was an album that he can never reproduce. He can never re-experience those songs. I first heard it over here in '79 and all weekend I was on a cloud. I thought This is the greatest album I've ever heard. We were all afraid that he would be overly affected by the evangelical simplicity of American mindlessness and write an album that wasn't really worth his gift for poetry. That album is like a prayer, it's a beautiful prayer, a social communion. It's a communion for all the disenchanted people that are angry.
Going back to the parallel between your career and his, it strikes me that Infidels is like So Long Ago the Garden where the references to Christianity are oblique but the atmosphere is Christian.
That's a fair comment So Long Ago the Gardon is a description of the loss; Infidels is a message to those who have been unfaithful to God and chosen against Him. I left the Church and T-Bone left the Church about the same time. You know there was a Christian up in Canada who had a travel agency business. He was selling tickets to come to Los Angeles and my Bible-study was a guaranteed point of interest He would take them to Disney land and he'd come by my Bible-study I was wondering why all these people were just knocking at the door and coming in ... it was because he was selling them tickets.
In retrospect you don't feel the Garden album was clear enough, particularly your Nightmare?
Well, I'm not the best judge of all my material. I mean Malcolm Muggeridge doesn't like Jesus Rediscovered very much but you know to some people that was a powerful book. But I will never again go so heavy-handed with lyrics like Nightmare.
On stage on Saturday night you commented about the fact that Jesus is going to return and then suggested that Christians should not be concerned about 'the Bomb'. You said Christians shouldn't bother going on peace marches for example. I thought your logic was fatalistic - Jesus is coming back why bother doing anything?
But I didn't say that
You did.
I specifically said that the Bible says Christ is coming back to earth and a lot of us are afraid of the world being blown up. But if Christ is coming back there's going to have to be an earth for him to come back to. Then I said we shouldn't all be so concerned about peace marches and things because there will be no peace. If you go on a peace march thinking that The human voice will be heard and The weight of the human spirit shall topple the government and their bombs with them ... it won't work, its idealism.
I agree that Jesus will return to 'a world', but if 'the bomb' doesn't destroy a world it could destroy a nation.
And it could destroy a lot of us in it.
Shouldn't Christians march against that?
I think we should proclaim Christ. If you're gonna preach against the Bomb also preach against prostitution, drugs, pride from the pulpit - preach against all evils. But I understand the intent of a young person wanting to march against the evils of the world. If you're not a liberal by the time you're twenty you haven't got a heart. If you're not a conservative by the time you're forty you haven't got a mind.
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