There were two things that happened last night at the Grammys that relate (sort of) to Baptist 21. First, Coldplay won 3 Grammys for the song and the album “Viva La Vida.” Baptist 21 has previously engaged the meaning of this song (and album). You can read that post here and see how these themes from Coldplay ultimately are explained in Jesus Christ. Second, Flame, who was previously interviewed by Baptist 
21, was nominated for a Grammy (though he did not take it home last night). You can access a post and interview with Flame at Baptist 21.
Baptist 21 will continue to engage culture and highlight faithful brothers and sisters who are using cultural means to engage the world with the Gospel. Stay Tuned…
J.A.
I guess I just lost my husband / I don’t know where he went
So I’m gonna drink my money / I’m not gonna pay his rent (Nope)
I got a brand new attitude / And I’m gonna wear it tonight
I wanna get in trouble / I wanna start a fight
[chorus]:
So so what? / I’m still a rock star
I got my rock moves / And I don’t need you
And guess what / I’m having more fun
And now that we’re done / I’m gonna show you tonight
I’m alright, I’m just fine / And you’re a tool
So so what? / I am a rock star
I got my rock moves / And I don’t want you tonight
[bridge]:
You weren’t there / You never were
You want it all / But that’s not fair
I gave you life / I gave my all
You weren’t there / You let me fall
Pink’s song “So so what” has become so popular that it is literally played almost every hour on radio stations. There are many reasons for the song’s popularity, and one of those reasons is that the message resonates with people. Pink sings this song as a song of retaliation against her ex-husband from whom she’s just been divorced. She wants him to know that she is not hurting one bit. She is still a rock star. Her life is still great. He’s an idiot and she wants him to know it. He let her down. He wasn’t there for her. He did her wrong, but now she’s doing great!
There are many songs that have similar messages: Carrie Underwood “Before he cheats,” Taylor Swift “Should’ve said no,” Toby Keith, “How do ya like me now,” etc. Songs like these resonate with many because they know what it is like to be wronged. They know what it is like to be let down, abandoned, or cheated on by a spouse (or boyfriend or girlfriend). They know the pain and nastiness of divorce. When we are wronged there is always a tendency within every one of us to get the person back. Some live by the motto, “I don’t get mad. I get even.” Some retaliate to get even by leaving, some by violence (Louisville Slugger to a car headlight), some by gossip (i.e. Taylor Swift’s “Picture to Burn”), and some by a life well lived… Pink is retaliating by living a life that makes others, including her ex, jealous. He is just Pink’s ex, but she is still a rock star! There is something deep within all of us that wants to crack a smile at this kind of retaliation. We understand it. We believe that wrongs need to be made right. We believe that someone who hurts another should get what is coming to them. We especially believe this when WE or someone we love is the one who is wronged.
The Gospel speaks to our need for wrongs to be made right (payback). The reason we long for justice is because we are made in the image of God who is just. God will repay evil. God says, “Vengeance is mine. I will repay” (Rom 12:19). While our desire to see wrongs made right and evil punished is a part of our sense of justice because we are made in God’s image, our desire to be the executor of that vengeance by holding a grudge, gossiping, or retaliating in some way is sinful. We are putting ourselves in God’s place as the arbiters of justice. We do this because in those moments we do not believe God is just. We don’t believe he will get the person back who has wronged us. The Gospel message is that God did not turn a blind eye to evil and abuse and sin, either done by us or done to us. Instead, God poured out ALL of his just wrath against sin on His Son. Jesus took God’s just wrath in the place of sinners. That means that sins done to us by others are not let go as if they are not big deals. The person who wrongs you is either an unbeliever who will remain an unbeliever and be punished forever for his sin in hell, or he (or she) is or will become a believer in Jesus and his sin was paid for in full at the cross. You and I don’t need to execute justice because it has been executed already. When we hold the grudge or retaliate or say to them “how do you like me now,” it is because we don’t really believe that the cross of Jesus is sufficient to cover all sin and we don’t believe Hell is real.
We have a sense of justice, and that is why songs like Pink’s “So so what” and movies like the Count of Monte Cristo appeal to us. We love to see wrongs made right. We love to see evil repaid. We love to see evil people get what is coming to them. We love these things, but what repels us is when we are called to trust another to deal with the abuse done to us or called to repent in order that judgment not come upon the evil we’ve done. Pink is finding her satisfaction in the fact that her rock star status means she has won in this relationship breakup. That satisfaction has an element of truth (as well as sin) because it comes from a heart that longs for justice. My prayer is that her satisfaction will be found instead in a man “who, when He was reviled did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed to Him who judges righteously” (1 Peter 2:23).
J.A.
[podcast]http://www.baptisttwentyone.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/flame-interview.mp3[/podcast]We had our hip hop concert, dunk and 3 point contests Friday November 21st. Many young men and ladies showed up for the evening’s activities. They got to see some very competitive basketball. They also heard a great concert from hip hop artist Flame. The crowd, made up of mostly lost people, was hesitant at first, but he won them over by the end of the evening. Many got into the music. All got to hear Flame tell his testimony and give a clear and powerful articulation of the Gospel. Several signed cards indicating that they had questions and wanted to speak with someone about spiritual issues further. After the event I got a chance to interview Flame/Marcus Gray. He has become a friend and a brother in Christ whose ministry I greatly appreciate. We had a conversation about his background, hip hop and the Gospel, how he composes songs and many other things. I hope this interview is helpful to us as we continue to think about issues of missiology, contextualization and what it means to be Baptist in the 21st century.
J.A.
Early last summer some of my staff and I were on an Acts 17 mission driving around our community observing the culture. There are several churches in our area that are trying very similar things in ministry and outreach to reach very similar people. But, during our drive we noticed a segment of the population who is largely neglected. They were 19-29 year old young men who play basketball nearly every single day, wear baggy clothes strategically placed to show off inked skin, work (or don’t work) part time to support various addictions, go from relationship to relationship sometimes producing children, and are heavily influenced regardless of race by hip hop music. These men, we recognized, may be directionless now and lacking maturity, but in reality they are the future of our community. They are in desperate need of being rescued by King Jesus and maturing into a manhood that is more about biblical masculinity than a macho bravado and locker room mentality. We decided that we were going to try our best and go after these guys.
What did we do? We started an open gym night in an amazing gym facility that God has provided at our campus. We began to have 20 or so guys showing up every week with whom we were building relationships. Then, we began to plan and promote a community 3 on 3 tournament. The event was a huge success. We had over 150 people in attendance. That meant more relationships and more chances for Gospel witness because since then we have been having at least 50 guys show up for each week’s open gym. What was the next step?
When we took that drive back in the summer and observed this sub-culture we recognized immediately two predominant things that interested them: basketball and hip hop music. We knew that we had the facilities and guys who could connect with these young men through basketball. We said, “This is out there but what might really be cool is a hip hop service of some kind with open gym afterwards…” But, we said we are as far from hip hop as anybody can be. Then, Ronnie Parrott, our student minister and contributor at Baptist 21, told me that he knew of a Christian rapper who goes to Boyce College. He is really good. He is with Cross Movement. His name is “Flame”. He is nationally known and travelled. He is theologically sound and lyrically talented. He uses hip hop as a medium to communicate Gospel theology. His last two albums, “Our World Fallen” and “Our World Redeemed,” have walked listeners through the Grand Story of Redemption. So, we decided to approach him and get his counsel on how to use hip hop to reach out to some of these guys. We began a friendship with him, and he was extremely gracious in giving ideas on what this might look like. We tossed around all kinds of ideas from concerts to hip hop services. We decided that we would begin the basketball events to meet people, develop relationships, etc. Then, we would begin to incorporate hip hop. So, our next step/event is this Friday night November 21. We will be hosting off-campus at a community center gym a hip hop concert with 3 point and dunk contests plus free food. Flame will be there to entertain and share his testimony with these guys.
There has been a lot of discussion lately in evangelical circles about contextualization, which mediums can be redeemed, what mediums can be used to communicate the Gospel, etc. Even the issue of Christian Rap has become quite popular. Dr. Russell Moore interviewed Flame on the Albert Mohler Radio Show. They discussed the merits of using hip hop as a Christian medium. Both Mark Driscoll and the Worship Pastor at Mars Hill recently interviewed Lecrae, another Christian artist with Reach Records who has everything from hip hop albums to a curriculum through the Pauline Epistles to manhood studies. You can download all of these interviews on itunes.
I would like to hear from you. What do you think about Christian Rap? Do you think Hip Hop, with all of its baggage and connotations, can be used as a medium that faithfully communicates the Gospel of King Jesus to lost young men? What would be your opinion of incorporating elements of hip hop in a worship service? Let me know.
If you want more info on the event this Friday go to www.comingtothevalley.com
J.A.
This post is a little different from some of our normal posts, but it does fit with the vision and purpose of Baptist21. The church needs to be able to interact with the culture in which it lives and ministers. We need to have winsome answers for the questions they are asking. This will help us engage culture with the Gospel, because we will be able to move from something they know (i.e. lyrics from a song) to something they do not know (the Gospel).
“Viva La Vida” is Coldplay’s most successful song ever. It was their first chart topping song in both the US and Great Britain. The song is of great interest to many, not least because of the quality of the artistry, but also because of the lyrics themselves. Here are the lyrics to the song who‘s title literally means “long live life”:
I used to rule the world Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning I sleep alone Sweep the streets I used to own
I used to roll the dice Feel the fear in my enemy’s eyes
Listen as the crowd would sing “Now the old king is dead, long live the king”
One minute I held the key Next the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand
(Chorus)
I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringing Roman cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can’t explain Once you’d gone there was never
Never an honest word That was when I ruled the world
It was a wicked and wild wind Blew down the doors to let me in
Shattered windows and the sound of drums People couldn’t believe what I’d become
Revolutionaries wait For my head on a silver plate
Just a puppet on a lonely string Oh, who would ever want to be king?
(Chorus)
I hear Jerusalem bells a-ringing Roman cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can’t explain I know St. Peter won’t call my name
Never an honest word But that was when I ruled the world
(Chorus)
Hear Jerusalem bells a-ringing Roman cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can’t explain I know St. Peter WILL call my name
Never an honest word But that was when I ruled the world
A variety of interpretations have been proposed for this song, and here are a few of them (this list is of the most quoted, not exhaustive): 1) The Catholic Church: some say that this song is about the decline of the Roman Catholic Church. At one point the church was the major world power, but it has now fallen from grace and is seen by many as an “unholy“ institution. Keys to this view are the references to: the keys (Matt. 16), St. Peter, Roman Calvary Choirs, and Missionaries (perhaps the Crusaders). Apparently, the band developed the album while touring Latin American and Spain, some of the most densely Catholic places on Earth. 2) Napoleon / King Louis XVI / French Revolution: because of the artwork on the album and some of the references to beheading, many believe it refers to events from the time of the French Revolution. Some think it refers to the death of Napoleon. One person asked, “Who else had the potential to ‘rule the world’?” He ruled and held power over his enemies, but then he fell. He is going to lose his head to the guillotine. Others think it can refer to the beheading of Louis XVI and the “sound of drums” alludes to his approach to the guillotine, while revolutionaries wait for his head. 3) Chris Martin or anyone’s fall from grace: some think it is simply about how he [others] once had power or dreams when he [they] was [were] younger, but they’ve all escaped him [them] now that he’s [they’ve] gotten older.
So, what does it mean?
Let me state upfront that I do not believe there can be certainty on this question. The band has not told us, though they have given some clues. Given the themes of the song and the album, I would like to offer an explanation that sees this song as fitting in the biblical storyline of dominion, life and death in the Cosmos itself. That does not mean that I believe the writer consciously wrote the song to fit in the biblical storyline, though certainly he does intentionally include much biblical imagery. Rather, I think he is discussing things that are in every human heart: fear of death and love of life.
The song is about a man with power who loses everything, even his own life. It fits well in the biblical story of the fall of humanity (Adam in particular) from its (his) status as king over the cosmos into the curse of death. Also, I think the Bible bears out the fact that this storyline is played out in the lives of all of Adam’s children, so even though the writer may have been describing himself or someone else, all of humanities’ stories fit in this larger story.
God created Adam to “rule the world,“ including the “seas,” but Adam fell from power when he (and Eve) obeyed the voice of the serpent (Satan, cf. Rev. 12). Now, he sweeps the streets he used to own. He is a slave not a king. He used to wield power over his enemies and had the responsibility to tend the garden and crush the serpent’s head, but he did not do it. Now, he is a dead king, and there is a new king, Satan, over the World (cf. Eph. 2). One minute he had the keys of the kingdom, then his kingdom collapsed because it was on shifting sand (cf. Matt. 7). In the first chorus, we see that when he ruled the world there were honest words, but since then there are not honest words anymore (reference to sin?). It is astonishing that he went from being God’s vice-regent over the world to what he is now. The revolutionaries of Satan, sin, death, the principalities and powers wait for his head/death. He is a sinner doomed to death who will not be granted access to God’s Kingdom. But, it appears that in the last chorus he says that Peter will call his name, and there is hope of a reversal of his fortunes. Humanity may not be doomed after all.
Given the depressing picture of the song, it is ironic that he titles it “Long Live Life.” Perhaps he believes Life will ultimately triumph over Death. Indeed, the entire album, which is called “Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends,” is dealing with the themes of life and death. Some of the titles to the tracks are: Life in Technicolor, Cemeteries of London, Lost!, and Death and All His Friends. Some of the lyrics include: “For the curses to be broken,” “I see God come in my Garden but I don’t know what he said for my heart wasn’t open (another reference to Eden?),” etc. The track entitled “42” includes lyrics about there being something more than death and a hope in life after death. He begins by stating that maybe the dead are not dead and they live on in our memories, but then it seems something more is going on when he says, “Time is so short, and I’m sure, there must be something more…You thought you might be a ghost. You didn’t get to heaven but you made it close…” In the final song the singer says, “I don’t want to follow death and all his friends.”
When interviewed in Q magazine about the line in Viva La Vida about knowing St. Peter won’t call his name, Chris Martin said this, “It’s about… You’re not on the list. I was a naughty boy. It’s always fascinated me that idea of finishing your life and then being analyzed on it. And this idea runs throughout most religions. That’s why people blow up buildings. Because they think they’re going to get lots of virgins…That is the most frightening thing you could possibly say to somebody. Eternal damnation. I know about this stuff because I studied it. I was into it all. I know it. It’s still mildly terrifying to me. And this is serious.” Regardless of how much meaning Chris Martin intended with all of the biblical imagery he placed in these songs, what is clear is that he is wrestling with the issues of life, death and judgment. Our consciences ultimately condemn us all (cf. Rom. 1-2). The fear of death and judgment is common to all (cf. Rom. 5; Heb. 2). Losing everything, including power and riches, before an ultimate death in which you can take nothing with you is the lot of every man. It is ironic that a singer who from all appearances has everything would recognize this fact better than some in our churches who’s love of money is choking them (cf. Mark 4). Indeed, we need to understand that it profits nothing to gain the whole world and lose your life! It should not surprise us that pop culture will write on these things in ways that intersect with the biblical storyline. There is a grand meta-narrative of which ALL humanity is a part and tries to find ways to make sense of it all.
The conclusion to that Grand Story that makes sense of reality is something that I hope Coldplay and others will find. There is a reversal to Satan’s dominion and the reign of death. His name is Jesus. Humanity failed to rule the world and put all its enemies under its feet (cf. Gen. 1-3; Psa. 8). But, Jesus has succeeded as King over the Cosmos and is having all his enemies put under his feet (Psa. 110; Heb. 2). Humanity brought death into the world. Jesus suffered death and then overcame it through resurrection from the dead (Heb. 2; 1 Cor. 15). Those who are found in Him will not follow Death and all his friends! They are freed from this fear of death that held them in bondage. They will be raised from the dead by their King to fulfill God’s intention for humanity in ruling the world! We live in a culture where the fear of death and the love of life fills our songs, our sitcoms, and our movies. We have an answer for those fears and we have hope for the longings. The answer is more than a message. The answer is a person who is the Resurrection and the Life (John 11:25). Viva La Vida! Long Live the King!
J.A.
*Recommended Reading:
NT Wright, The Resurrection of the Son of God (it spends a lot of time dealing with these themes and is a very important book)
