Jesus Songs
This really has nothing to do with this site (except that its the kind of thing that causes the watch doggies to go into seizures) but I was planning out my sermon series for Easter, and I was toying with the idea of what entrance music would be appropriate for Jesus after the resurrection (or if you want to think of it this way, what could be playing on the soundtrack during/after the resurrection). The idea here is to capture the kind of moment that it is. The song doesn’t have to be completely relevant (as in some of the lyrics may not quite fit), but it should set the proper mood/feeling of the moment. This can be for the resurrection itself, or the appearances Jesus made afterwards. I only have two stipulations:
1. The song needs to be well known enough that people will generally be familiar with it.
2. Provide some explanation.
Anyway, here’s what I have so far. Some of these are weak, which is why I’m coming to you for help.
I Won’t Back Down – Tom Petty
This one gets in just for the theologically correct lyric “you can stand me up at the gates of hell but I’ll stand my groundâ€.
Back in Black – AC/DC
Mark Driscoll describes Jesus at the second coming as an ultimate fighter. Totally sweet, and he’s got a tattoo. The balls to the wall attitude of this song is perfect. It lets everyone know that the man is back in town.
The Man Comes Around – Johnny Cash
The solemn nature of the song, combined with the large quantities of scripture makes this one a must have on any resurrection playlist. The line, “There’s a man coming round taking names, and he decides who to free and who to blame†would be enough all by itself, but the man in black doesn’t stop there, the entire song is shot through with paraphrases and direct quotes from scriptures, all wrapped up in the considerable talents of Johnny Cash.
If It Be Your Will – Leonard Cohen
I’m not sure there’s a song more appropriate for Jesus than one that expresses complete and total obedience.
It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)
This one seems pretty self-explanatory, Jesus defeats death, and crushes sin, Satan is ultimately defeated, and the Kingdom of God bursts forth into the world. Why wouldn’t Jesus feel fine?
August 10th, 2007 at 9:51 am
I’m impressed you’re working on Easter already!
August 10th, 2007 at 9:58 am
Kevin,
Sadly I’m not such a gifted preacher that I can throw something together at the last minute and have people not point and laugh.
August 10th, 2007 at 10:00 am
The Cross, by Prince - a beautiful song about the importance of the cross.
August 10th, 2007 at 10:01 am
Also… some others, but not necessarily fitting the “Easter” theme, but definitely fit under “worship.” I started a “Sunday Worship” category awhile back on my blog that did the same thing, that I often didn’t give any commentary - just posted the lyrics. You can read through them here.
But some of the best are:
- Eye of the Needle, from Divine Comedy - another beautiful song… about the hypocrisy in church, specifically in the context of wealth - the best line: “The cars in the churchyard are shiny and German, Distinctly at odds with the theme of the sermon”
- Let it Ring, by Amy Ray of the Indigo Girls - about hate and bigotry
- Wild Mountainside, by the Trashcan Sinatras - a song about the beauty around us.
Go read they lyrics. Listen to them if you can. All are by people who would not necessarily call themselves Christians.
August 10th, 2007 at 10:05 am
I would just play The entire X&Y CD by Coldplay.
August 10th, 2007 at 10:08 am
Last minute nothing, if you where planning Christmas you’d still be way ahead of the game
I’m only up to about Halloween!
August 10th, 2007 at 10:15 am
Well I don’t have everything filled up just yet. I still have a few weeks that needs to be filled, but I like to have the calendar dependent ones taken care of ahead of time.
August 10th, 2007 at 11:31 am
Lenny Kravitz: The Resurrection.
August 10th, 2007 at 11:36 am
Let the Day Begin - The Call
August 10th, 2007 at 12:36 pm
“He Arose” or “Christ the Lord is Risen Today”…oh, wait a minute. Those are hymns and you said “…The song needs to be well known enough that people will generally be familiar with it.” My mistake.
August 10th, 2007 at 1:07 pm
my vote goes to “Momma Said Knock You Out” by LL Cool J…
“Don’t call it a comeback…I’ve been here for years…”
August 10th, 2007 at 1:07 pm
Keith,
What, no cracks about my hair? I almost didn’t recognize you.
August 10th, 2007 at 1:22 pm
Nope. No “hair cracks.” I’m trying to turn over a new leaf–fewer personal attacks and more sarcasm. Actually, I was–to quote Joe Martino–”speechless” when I read this. Hopefully, I’ll recover soon.
Good luck er, uh providence with that Easter theme. (You know us Calvinists don’t believe in luck.)
August 10th, 2007 at 1:24 pm
As a good Calvinist, do you agree with infant baptism?
August 10th, 2007 at 1:41 pm
Keith,
I doubt you have a good grasp on Arminian theology either. Don’t worry, I don’t blame you for that oversight, I blame God for willing your ignorance on the matter.
August 10th, 2007 at 2:06 pm
Matt: No, I don’t “agree with infant baptism”…I don’t agree with you either, but that’s never stopped me from posting here and you or someone else jumping all over it. (Isn’t this fun?!)
Tim: you know me all too well–being the good personal friends we are and all, you know EXACTLY were I stand, because I know you have “personally contacted” me…otherwise you would never assume to make such a statement. 8^)>
August 10th, 2007 at 2:08 pm
I’m sure you wouldn’t blame me for that, you’d have to blame God for willing it to happen.
August 10th, 2007 at 2:15 pm
Tim: sounds like you’re finally starting to get it!
August 10th, 2007 at 2:17 pm
Yes, and its quite freeing. No more blame for me!
August 10th, 2007 at 2:20 pm
Keith,
since you are a self professing Calvinist… why bother with all of this? I mean, God will save who he wished and none will be lead astray, right? Then why put SO much effort into attacking “false teachers” when they are ultimately futile?
I mean, who gives a rip if somone does a frickin’ Broadway show for Easter… God will save the people in the audience that he wants to. I have always wondered this.
August 10th, 2007 at 2:46 pm
Are you guys mature enough to receive a non-judgmental view from a loving fundamentalist? OK, I’ll chance it.
I do not believe Jesus would accompany His return with any secular music. And since I would choose either something from Hillsong or He’s Alive or along those lines. But if you really press me, I believe He would come with music made and composed in heaven and sung by a heavenly choir with the redeemed participating.
And Nathan, as the elder of the bunch, “frickin” offends some of us. So you cannot drink wine in front of me or say “frickin” since I am the weaker brother.
And Nathan, I love you my brother!
August 10th, 2007 at 3:57 pm
Assuming God saves people attending an Easter broadway show…
“For God chose the foolishness of easter bunnys, ACDC, and b***s to the wall attitude of music to save those who would believe.” 1 Hesitations 1:21
Seriously Nathan, the reason I put much effort into attacking “false teachers” (attacking is such an ugly word!) is simple: for the sake of The Name. I hate to see God’s name associated with and/or maligned by the silliness that goes on in the name of “church.”
I think Daniel 9 is a great prayer, showing Daniel’s concern (among other things) for the Name of God and that it be revered, and not associated with a sinful people. I don’t see referring to Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection as “b***s to the wall” as being reverent. I also don’t understand the mentality that is willing to associate Christ’s sacrifice with songs written “by people who would not necessarily call themselves Christians.” (Dave’s comment)
August 10th, 2007 at 4:06 pm
People do get saved at Easter pageants sometimes. I believe there is so much Christian music that we don’t need to dip into the secular bag.
Nathan is a little linguistically loose, but he has a heart for Christ. I volunteer to be the linguistic sargeant at arms. Whenever someone uses questionable language I will call my oldest son, a weightlifter at 280 lbs., to administer some baptist deliverance. It comes complete with the laying on of hands and the rod of Moses!
August 10th, 2007 at 4:08 pm
when did I use questionable language?
August 10th, 2007 at 4:12 pm
Yeah, I thought the “balls to the wall” line was not appropriate for this site.
August 10th, 2007 at 4:12 pm
I apologize if I offended anyone with the language in my earlier post. Sincerely.
August 10th, 2007 at 4:15 pm
Look everybody, followers of Jesus having a loving, respectful communication with each other. And Nathan reacts with the Spirit of Christ. Wasn’t this supposed to be the template?
August 10th, 2007 at 4:20 pm
Keith,
How did you make the jump from a movie, which requires mood music, to the real thing, which I suspect won’t have much in the way of what we would recognize as music. At least not in the way we think of it now, or in the way we use them to set moods in movies.
Also, Keith, keep in mind that as you attack these “false teachers” you are opposing God Himself, since He willed for them to do exactly that.
The same could be said with this post.
Also, referring to a returning Christ as balls to the walls isn’t disrespectful, (And in fact I didn’t refer to Christ in that way, but rather the song in question) in fact, its a better description than most I’ve heard and people in our culture will understand it a lot better than pretty much any term I’ve read or heard elsewhere.
August 10th, 2007 at 4:22 pm
Matt,
That’s a better argument than that its disrespectful.
August 10th, 2007 at 4:30 pm
I am the weaker brother and I am offended, so you guys have to stop. I love being the weaker brother!
August 10th, 2007 at 4:32 pm
That’s not quite how it works Henry. You have to believe its a sin and be tempted to engage in it. Are you tempted to go out and start saying “balls to the walls”?
That’s not to say an offended brother is of no consequence. Its just not quite the clear cut “you have to stop now” that a stumbling block would provide.
August 10th, 2007 at 4:41 pm
OK, Tim. Help me out here. What “movie?” If you’re going to insult me, you’ve got to dumb it down!!! (It must have been God’s will that you are smarter than me.)
August 10th, 2007 at 4:43 pm
No, but it makes me want to punch you, and that is sin unless God directs me. So see, you must stop!
August 10th, 2007 at 4:45 pm
Tim,
You’re missing the tongue-in-cheek here with Rick…
As for secular vs. ’sacred’ music, I think there is often a thin line between the way we define the two, and I’m not all that certain the distinction is helpful (for many reasons delved into previously here). However, were this my sermon, I would probably choose a style prior to searching for music, and with the style strive for balance somewhere between ACDC and Sandi Patti so as to have the impact desired without causing undue stress with having to explain to my aunt why I was playing Ozzy Ozbourne when U2 may have sufficed
August 10th, 2007 at 4:56 pm
Keith,
The exercise is to create a soundtrack for a hypothetical second coming/resurrection movie/dramatization. Not to imagine what will be playing when the actual second coming hits, although I see with the way I worded how it could be miscommunicated. Originally I wrote this with a pro-wrestling tie-in (which is where the entrance music comes from), and apparently when I adapted it for this audience didn’t quite word it as clearly as I might have. The idea is to take something familiar that a secular audience would know and apply certain aspects of it to the resurrection/second coming. Don’t worry, I forgive God for all the offenses he’s willed for you to commit.
Chris L,
I suspected that might be the case, and now I feel a bit silly, especially after his latest post. You’re also right that there is a line that has to be walked there (sweet, a Johnny Cash reference) as far as taking it as offensive. I agree the AC/DC choice probably is the most offensive one there, but I was hardpressed to find another song with teh proper attitude for when Christ comes back in power.
August 10th, 2007 at 6:32 pm
Whew! Thank goodness…I thought I’d missed something.
I’ll let Him know that you forgive Him; He and I are pretty tight! I’ll also let Him know that Tim says “peace out” to the Big Guy!
August 10th, 2007 at 6:41 pm
Keith,
He probably already knows since he willed me to forgive him for the sins he willed you to commit.
Kind of makes me wonder why he went to all the trouble of creation in the first place.
August 10th, 2007 at 6:54 pm
Tim: Did He actually KNOW it or did He just look into the future and see it as a possibility? He might see you forgive Him, but later you might use your free will and change your mind–which means He possibly would have accepted an apology that really isn’t going to happen. No need in wasting an apology. You’re not a puppet, you know!!
August 10th, 2007 at 7:13 pm
Tim said: Kind of makes me wonder why he went to all the trouble of creation in the first place.
I know!!! Do you want me to tell Him what a waste of time it was, or do you want to tell Him yourself? He really should have known this whole human race thing was going to turn like bad cabbage!! Guess He didn’t see that one coming. Tsk, tsk.
August 10th, 2007 at 7:22 pm
I just can’t help it, but it goes to the heart of God. God continues to purposely populate hell Himself. If indeed God is knowingly creating non-elected humans then He Himself is willing that many should perish, and God Himself is populating hell with souls.
That is of course if He has decided not to save them as well as create them sealed in hell from birth. I just do not see that as God’s heart (see the cross and do not change the obvious meaning of world).
August 10th, 2007 at 7:39 pm
How did this turn into a conversation of “Foreknowledge”?
LOL!
iggy
August 10th, 2007 at 7:43 pm
Iggy - What are you trying to be, the dialogue sheriff??
Caught ya!
August 10th, 2007 at 7:47 pm
I just thought it was really funny! A thread on “songs that represent” Jesus…
I thought it would turn more toward secular/sacred discussion… LOL!
Cracked me up…
Blessed,
iggy
August 10th, 2007 at 9:05 pm
Ah Keith you’re so cute when you limit God to a place in time.
August 10th, 2007 at 9:33 pm
Tim: Well, “cute” is my middle name.
Iggy: Nathan and Tim started it! But…MAYBE…God WILLED IT! Yeah, that’s the ticket!
Sorry, I didn’t respond very quickly. God willed that I work on my Sunday School lesson…entitled “I’m Relevant, You’re Relevant…All God’s Chirren Is Relevant.”