for it as Jesus said — can be isolating . It often comes with a recognition that church can easily become political in the wrong ways while missing the right ones . The politics of Jesus and the prophets before him are the politics of mystics and revolutionaries . They do not belong to modern partisan divides , and they both inspire and discomfort all kinds of people . But the beautiful thing is that they can unite people beyond their earthly factions as well .
I once had a strange experience while with a group of church friends at lunch . A few different conversations were going on , but at my corner of the table , I was talking about Isaiah and other prophets I ’ d been reading . I was listing the things Isaiah levels as charges against both politicians and religious leaders — literally just relaying the same language I had read in the Bible earlier that week . But as I did , the table got increasingly quiet . I suddenly became aware that 1 ) everyone had joined the conversation at my corner of the table , and 2 ) not everyone was comfortable with it .
When I finished my sentence , one of my friends said , somewhat dismissively , " Oh , now we ' re getting political .” To which I replied , " No , we ' re getting theological ."
I know , and I get it . Our religious culture can be super awkward about this stuff . We need to have the conversations anyway . All “ politics ” ultimately speaks to is the organizing principle of a people . The church is a people . And the theological and political dimensions are colliding all around us all the time , beyond any governments and parties . From Jesus ’ triumphal entry lampooning a Roman coronation ceremony , to the opportunities we have today — in our lives and in our songs — to provide commentary , tell the truth , and chart a better course .
IN OUR NATIONS , IN OUR CHURCHES We will overflow with a critique of the Powers That Be , and a call to a better trajectory . A call to justice , that what is right may prevail .
Refusing the move of justice is antithetical to serving God , and the worship of God . Those who seek to honor God chase down justice in their societies . Whatever we do for “ the least of these ,” we do for Jesus . Our songs must reflect that . Our songs must reflect that which we value .
As I mentioned in the column last month , even as someone who ’ s become sensitive to these ideas , I have less experience putting them into practice than I ’ d like . I have wondered if others feel the same pull that I have felt . The same prayerful intuition about the state of things . And what I ’ ve said in this series is the beginning of a conversation that I hope others will join .
Engaging the writing of worship songs from the prophetic vantage and dimension has never been trendy in modern worship music . Perhaps it never will be . But we can dream .
Where does all of this lead us as songwriters ?
MOVING FORWARD … 1 ) We are going to need songs that aren ’ t necessarily for everyone to sing , but are certainly for everyone to hear .
I grew up calling them “ ministry songs .” I see less and less of them in services . The same is even true of Christian radio , which began pivoting toward congregational music more and more over the past 20 years . But sometimes the greatest impact music can have is when it isn ’ t for everyone to sing along with . And some songs reach a better place of meaning and meditation without being congregational . Of course , I think prophetic truth-telling needs to find its way into our congregational music as well , but it ’ s worth mentioning that we can have a musical moment of worship without needing to have everyone singing .