South Hills Church Community

Celebrity Deathmatch who wins?

I'm kidding, but I wanted to start this blog on a lighter note. 

I was listening to both of the guys songs this week and the musical parallel between generations and genres of music struck me like the stinger of an angry bumble bee.  In 1994, in my opinion, 2pac released his greatest song, "Changes", a positive twist to the undeniable issue of culture and racism in America. The bipolar rap artist identified the struggle as the bridge repeats "That's just the way it is; things will never be the same." Now from a logical stand point his lyrics serve with no consistency, but the song seems to have an underlying statement. The chorus and bridge reflect that there is a serious need for a change in people.

He attacks something bigger than any city, any nation, and any religion; He attacks the character of people. "Let's change the way we eat, let's change the way we live, let's change the way we treat each other, so it's on us to do what we got to do to survive." Again identifying with the struggle of relationships, differences, and all around closed mindedness.  A refreshing message from a unlikely messenger... 12 years later in 2006 a man from a completely different genre and, more importantly, a completely different decade comes John Mayer in "Waiting on the World to Change." John has the same message with a different tune and different lyrics. John Mayer identifies with the same struggle. We call what they sing "everyday life." We can all identify the day to day struggle, from a personal stand point, and as a result we get caught up in songs like these after a hard 9-5 Monday, jamming out on the way home from work. My question is, how often do we identify the struggle beyond just a global perspective but from a eternal perspective. Each decade produces a new artist with the same message, Marvin Gaye "What's Going On", Michael Jackson (I know I know but it's relevant), "Heal the World", 2pac "Changes", John Mayer "Waiting on the World to Change."

Each song reveals a problem but an unfortunately, there seems a lack of strength and confidence to find any solution. I wonder what the purpose of identifying a struggle is with out ever providing a solution. John Mayer sings "We see everything that's going wrong in the world and also lead it, we just feel like we don't have the means to rise above and beat it." It's almost as if lyrically the artist's hands are reaching out the entire song, only to end with nothing tangible to grab on to. We all sing along to the songs, but to what degree do we understand them. I would even ask the question to what degree does the artist understand them. You can't understand what you can't explain and this world has so many issues we can't explain. For example, explain the reason behind 1/3 of the world dying from starvation, or better yet justify spending free time blogging on myspace with a fast speed internet connection and digital cable in the background while millions struggle to find their daily meal (that directed at me, I got carried away, sorry.)

We understand that there's a problem and we want to feel like there is something to be done. I agree there is something to be done but the solution (which none of these brilliant artists were able to publicly identify through their music) is unobtainable by humans. No human will ever SOLVE these issues in their etirity. This is not to discourage those who dedicate their lives to. I admire your heart, but the SOLUTION lies only in the blood of Jesus. People's greatest need is neither food, nor is it a roof to sleep under. People's greatest need is in truth and an eternal hope for the life to come. A tomorrow that doesn't hav the struggle that 2pac and John Mayer sang about. I am inspired by their perspectives on the problem but why would none of them use their talents to provided any means to identifying a solution. It seems to me that we can all accept the struggle, but to name faith in Jesus as a solution is far outside coulture's comprehension. The solution is Jesus, and I will put faith in that.