Christmas, John Stuart Mill, and Jesus

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"God and evil", being morally worse, Christmas, cross, death, freedom, it was a war, John Stuart Mill quote, pointers

Christmas, John Stuart Mill, and Jesus

While reviewing some personal items, I read again several lines by John Stuart Mill (1806-1873).  In his work “The Contest in America”, published in the Harper’s New Monthly Magazine of April 1862, Mill addressed some of the public thinking during the Civil War in the United Sates.  Mill’s article included his famous lines:

“. . .war, in a good cause, is not the greatest evil which a nation can suffer.  War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things: the decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks nothing worth a war, is worse.. . . A man who has nothing which he cares more about than he does about his personal safety is a miserable creature who has no chance at being free, unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.”

Perhaps you wonder what Mill’s statement has to do with Christmas.  It has much to do with Christmas – the real “why?” of Christmas, not the syrupy reasons that barely even touch the edges of the real reason.

Christmas celebrations over the past 2000 years, and in a multitude of social contexts, have taken many forms and practices.  We are far removed from the first Christmas!!  We will do well to ponder why celebrate the birth of Jesus.  We will do harm to ourselves if we fail to ask the deep question, “Why did the Son of God take on flesh in the first place? And why, in the second place, did Jesus die?  Mill points to the answer, even if what he said was in the context of the deadly War between the States in the 1860’s.

Jesus, the incarnated Son of God, came to earth to take part in a war.  It is true that He held infants in his arms. Yes, He gave a hungry multitude their fill of fish and bread.   But, His reason for being on the Earth in the first place was related to the war between good (God) and evil (Satan).  It was a war “in a good cause”, that of freeing humanity from the bonds of moral evil and restoring humanity to God’s family.  This war ultimately cost the innocent Jesus his life, as he bore the “ugly” murder of crucifixion.

Jesus, born to die – it is, admittedly, ugly.  But, as Mill states, it would have been even more ugly if Jesus would have thought that nothing was worth His death!!!  Although not referring to Jesus when he wrote it, Mill’s point is appropriate.  If Jesus would have cared more for His personal safety than the spiritual freedom of His murderers and their sympathizers, Jesus would have been a miserable creature “with no chance at being free, unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.”

But, Jesus was free.  He was noble.  He knew that there was something worse than dying in the war for humans’ salvation – It would have been morally worse for Him to not die!!

This, my friends, is taking us deeply into the Why of Christmas.  The original Christmas was the necessary first step to His victory over what is even worse than dying for the sins of others. That worse thing? to not die for the sins of others!!!

 

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Only One Forever . . . Joyce

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"anniversaries", Air Supply, caught by surprise, Creator and Redeemer, earthly contentments and longings for eternity, Joyce, memories, pointers

Four years.  Memories of the past; longings of the future.  Four years in which meanings have taken on new twists.  Songs carrying nuances not considered before, such as the song “Only One Forever.”  Now and forever are not so disconnected as I once imagined.  We can be inhabitants of both “now” and “forever” simultaneously in a way similar to having more than one role at the same time, such as being both a father and a son simultaneously.  They are not mutually exclusive.

Four years ago today, Joyce took flight from the “now” to the “forever.”  It was the natural progression for her.  At some point, it will be natural also for me.  And, we will both be joined in the forever that is marked by God’s presence.  The now gives way to the forever.  The now that we sense here points us on toward the forever that is to come.  And, the now in its “pointing” function is telling us, “live now with the forever perspective.”

The pointers and their objects form one portrait; either without the other would leave us unstable or unsatisfied.  In this case, the “now” creates the longing and the “forever” will bring the satisfaction.

And, so we have symbols, signs, and predictions.  We have miracles, fantasies, dreams, warnings, and earthly contentments.  We experience loves that don’t fail, promises that are not broken, steeled commitments that don’t crumble, and faithfulness till death.  These things are real.  They also lead us on toward the “forever” and its connection with our loving Creator and Redeemer, as well as with His waiting children.

Sometimes the pointing signs catch us by surprise. Sometimes they remind us of other signs that have guided us along our path.  Thus it was when I first heard “Only One Forever” by Air Supply.   As you listen, thank the Lord for the signs He sends our way, regardless of the means or the messenger.  Here is the link (grooveshark.com/#!/s/Only+One+Forever/2fmnbm?src=5) , and here are the lyrics.

There has to be a place for you and me
Where we can sleep and waters still run deep
And you’re the one that sails into me
And you’re the one whose lips are silent
You’re the one that always said
There’s only one forever
It brought us both together,
There’s only one forever.

You said to me, just give me honesty
And in return, I’ll build your sanctuary
Long ago, that path was chosen
How could we not fall in love
Remember when we always said
There’s only one forever
It brought us both together
There’s only one forever.

You’re the one that sails into me
You’re the one whose lips are silent
You’re the one that always said
There’s only one forever
There’s only one forever
It brought us both together
There’s only one forever.

Thanks, Neil, for pointing the way in Play Me

Tags

'Play Me', analogies, analogies that are multiplies / bundled / priortized, beautiful music, God the Creator, music pointing the way, Neil Diamond, pointers, saving grace, thorny and narrow road

Is the Biblical list of analogies for how God relates to us, and how we relate to Him, an exhaustive list?  It certainly is very large. We see a shepherd and his sheep. A healer and the sick person, the slave / servant and the master, the king and his subjects, the lost and the seeking / finding one, the one in danger and the rescuer, the one on a journey and the guide, the one in the dark and the one with the light.  We are called to be God the Father’s children, to be the bride of Jesus the groom, to be ambassadors of the King.  Are there more?  I assume you could come up with more Biblical analogies that point to particular facets of our relationship with God.

It appears inescapable that God is too much, and so are we humans, to be completely encompassed by one term, one metaphor, one analogy, or one descriptor.  They have to be multiplied, bundled, and prioritized.  Such is the Creator God and such is His creation.

Those thoughts were working through my mind this morning during my physically and spiritually beneficial jog.  The song, and the analogy, that nailed it for me was “Play Me”, sung by Neil Diamond.  Take a few minutes to listen to this musical gem at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rLfj76DhX-Y&feature=fvsr

Here are the lyrics:

She was morning and I was night time
I one day woke up to find her lying
Beside my bed; I softly said
“Come take me”
For I’ve been lonely in need of someone
As though I’d done someone wrong somewhere
I don’t know where come lately

You are the sun, I am the moon
You are the words, I am the tune
Play me.

Song she sang to me
Song she brang to me
Words that rang in me
Rhyme that sprang from me
Warmed the night
And what was right
Became me

You are the sun, I am the moon
You are the words, I am the tune
Play me.

And so it was that I came to travel
Upon a road that was thorned and narrow.
Another place. another grace
Would save me

You are the sun, I am the moon
You are the words, I am the tune
Play me.

Note two items.  The first is that in the analogy both the tune and the words are needed, but the words carry the message on the means of the music.  What a beautiful analogy of the relationship between God and humans.  God the Word, spoke the human tune into being, and He described us as good.  And, in Diamond’s lyrics his desire is the humble one of being a beautiful tune carrying the words.  He doesn’t seek to replace the words, but to be played for the sake of the words.

Secondly, note the last stanza, where the man/woman scene gives way to a new one.  The “pointing” feature of music again comes to our attention.  As the girl was the word and the fellow was the tune to be played, now the fellow is on a thorny and narrow road (he can’t get much more into Jesus imagery than that, can he?)  But, he can!  The road is in another place, with another grace, a grace that would save him.

So, we have the gem of a beautiful piece of music (the tune and words of “Play Me”), that in turn raises the analogy of another set of tune and words (the girl and the fellow), that finally points to an even further state of affairs – a grace that saves in midst of a thorny and narrow road.

Thanks, Neil, for giving to us beautiful music, a fascinating three step progression of thought, and a fruitful pointer to our gracious God and Savior.  And, to interiorize it, we say to God, “Play me.”

Again, “Thank you, Celine, this time for ‘Nature Boy’ “

Tags

Celine Dion, Christianity and love, love and be loved, music pointing the way, nature boy, pointers, the Apostle Paul, there is forgiveness

Previously I have referred to Celine Dion’s music, especially concentrating on the lyrics, or a part of the lyrics.  Such is the case with “She may be unaware”, “God or Baby, or Both – Celine sings for us” (both listed in the Music Related Category)

In this post, I return to Celine’s music, focusing on her rendition of “Nature Boy.”  It is a hauntingly beautiful piece.  As you listen (click here – www.youtube.com/watch?v=IaF_cLXKTW8),  you can follow along with the lyrics:

There was a boy… a very strange enchanted boy.
They say he wandered very far, very far over land and sea.
A little shy and sad of eye but very wise was he.

And then one day, one magic day he passed my way.
And while we spoke of many things, fools and kings,
This he said to me, “The greatest thing you’ll ever learn
Is just to love and be loved in return.”

And then one day, one magic day he passed my way.
And while we spoke of many things, fools and kings,
This he said to me, “The greatest thing you’ll ever learn
Is just to love and be loved in return.”

Not knowing the composer, I am not certain about the final expression, The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return. It does, however, seem to me that “nature boy” is laying out a simple recipe for living well – love and be loved.  Again, as in other posts, we have the case of a song being both a statement in and of itself, as well as a pointer to something even beyond. . .

Does it make sense to think that the opposite of love (hate) is the key to good living?  No.  Who could affirm, without experiencing cognitive dissonance, that there is a higher morality than one built on, or that flows out of  love?  No one.

There is a reason Christianity, in spite of all the failings of its adherents (individually and corporately), is known as a religion of love.  It is true that the John 3.16 verse (God so loved the world . . . ) frequently seen at football games, is mocked by those who think it is out of place, is naïve, or is simply not true.   Nonetheless, the primary written source for Christianity is replete with its citations of the preeminence of love among the virtues.  For example, and these are just a very few . .

— Now abides faith, hope, and love.  The greatest of these is love. (the apostle Paul)

— ‘You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ “This is the great and foremost commandment. “The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  (Jesus)

— Let us love in deed and truth with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. (the apostle John)

— There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear (the apostle John)

— A friend loves at all times. (Solomon)

— Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. (Jesus)

Just because our source book lauds the virtue of love, it doesn’t guarantee that all who categorize themselves as Christians are paragons of love.  Likewise, it would be foolish to pretend that only Christians know what love is.  For centuries, human experience has corroborated the place of love among the virtues.  And this brings me back to Celine’s music.  It is “nature boy” who says that “The greatest thing you’ll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.”

There is the pointer – that we look for, and long for, the scenario when loving and being loved is natural. To the degree that love becomes the natural modus operandi, life on this planet will be more satisfying, more harmonious, less stressful, more productive, more caring, more honesty.   And when we fall short of perfect love, there is forgiveness, and there is finally heaven.

Keep singing, Celine.  .

Simon and Garfunkel – The Only Truth I Know Is You

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"Kenny Rogers", a greater reality, Celine Dion, Kathy's Song, music, on the other side of the road sign, pointers, Simon and Garfunkel, The only truth I know is you

Perhaps you have read other Stertin pieces that refer to music, such as the June 11, 2012 post “God or Baby – Celine sings for us” or the March 23, 2012 post “Kenny Rogers, Ruyb, and Jesus”.  If you haven’t checked them out, I invite you to read them and listen to the linked music.

For this post, I turn to another song; it may be familiar, especially if you are acquainted with Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel music (such as the famous “Bridge Over Troubled Waters.)  As is the case with “Bridge Over Troubled Waters, and with the two pieces mentioned in the previous paragraph, the piece for this post also goes beyond its inherent musical beauty.  It is a song that includes a great big arrow, points beyond itself to an even bigger reality.  The piece to which I refer is Paul Simon’s “Kathy’s Song”, sung by Art Garfunkel with Paul Simon on guitar.  To listen, click www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FE6JTtCLK0.   Here are the lyrics if you want to read the as you listen.

I hear the drizzle of the rain; like a memory it falls …..Soft and warm continuing, tapping on my roof and walls

And from the shelter of my mind, through the window of my eyes …..I gaze beyond the rainy streets to England where my heart lies.

My mind’s distracted and diffused; my thoughts are many miles away….. They lie with you when you’re asleep, and kiss you when you start your day

And a song I was writing is left undone.  I don’t know why I spend my time  writing songs I can’t believe, with words that tear and strain to rhyme

And so you see I have come to doubt All that I once held as true. ….. I stand alone without beliefs.  The only truth I know is you

And as I watch the drops of rain weave their weary paths and die ….. I know that I am like the rain – There but for the grace of you go I

I don’t need to convince you that what you have just heard is a tremendous love song.  It is a song I wish I could have been able to sing to Joyce.  But, of course, she would have appreciated Simon and Garfunkel’s musicality much more than mine!!  Nonetheless, the “big arrow” in the lyrics comes in the next-to-last verse, reaching the arrow’s tip with, “The only truth I know is you.”

I assume that since Art Garfunkel dedicates this song to his wife, Katharine, “the only truth I know is you” refers to his wife.  It may be that Kathy is the one who brings to Art such things as surety, integration, and cohesiveness.  Art may see in Katharine such gracious acceptance that if it weren’t for her, Art’s life would be as meaningless and fleeting as the rain drops rolling down the window pane to be lost in a little puddle of water.

It also may be that as much as Art is elevating Kathy to the level of being “the only truth I knows”, he is in his own mind paying her the epitome of compliments.  I don’t begrudge what Art is doing; I wish I had the artistic ability to compose such music.

Nonetheless, to keep “the only truth I know is you” from transforming Kathy into an idol, the arrow needs to point even beyond Kathy.  Let’s allow Kathy the dignity Art is giving her.  Let’s allow them both to rejoice in the experience of graciousness that leads Art to say that “without you, I would be nothing.”

But at the same time, after all is said and done, God the Father, Son, and Spirit is the only One to whom the arrow can categorically point.  Once that is recognized, the arrow has accomplished its ultimate purpose.  We can then join in the last two verses of “Kathy’s Song” to voice an enduring attitude of repentance and trusting commitment as we “look” at God:

And so you see I have come to doubt all that I once held as true . . . I stand alone without beliefs. The only truth I know is you . . . 

And as I watch the drops of rain weave their weary paths and die . . . I know that I am like the rain . There but for the grace of you go I

Christmas and some lines from John Stuart Mill

Tags

"God and evil", "John Stuart Mill", cross, death, freedom, pointers

When reviewing some personal items earlier today, I again read several lines by John Stuart Mill (1806-1873).  In “The Contest in America” published in the Harper’s New Monthly Magazine of April 1862, Mill addressed some of the public thinking during the Civil War in the United Sates.  The article included Mill’s famous lines:  “. . .war, in a good cause, is not the greatest evil which a nation can suffer.  War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things: the decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks nothing worth a war, is worse.. . . A man who has nothing which he cares more about than he does about his personal safety is a miserable creature who has no chance at being free, unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.”

You may wonder what Mill’s statement has to do with Christmas.  I suggest that Mill is pointing to the “why?” of Christmas.

Christmas celebrations over the past 2000 years have taken a multitude of forms and practices.  Certainly we are far removed from the first Christmas!!  Consequently, we do well to ponder why celebrate the birth of Jesus.  We harm ourselves if we fail to ask the deep question of why the Son of God took on flesh in the first place.  Mill points to the answer, even if what he said was in the context of the deadly War between the States in the 1860’s.

Jesus, the incarnated Son of God, came to earth to take part in a war.  It was the war between good (God) and evil (Satan).  It was a war “in a good cause”, that of freeing humanity from the bonds of moral evil and restoring humanity to God’s family.  This war ultimately cost the innocent Jesus his life, as he bore the “ugly” murder of crucifixion.

Jesus, born to die – it is ugly.  But, as Mill states, it would have been even more ugly if Jesus would have thought that nothing was worth His death!!!  Although not referring to Jesus when he wrote it, Mill’s point is appropriate.  If Jesus would have cared more for His personal safety than the spiritual freedom of His murderers and their sympathizers, He would have been a miserable creature “with no chance at being free, unless made and kept so by the exertions of better men than himself.”  But, Jesus was free.  He was noble.  He knew that something was worse than dying in the war for humans’ salvation – It would have been morally worse for Him to not die!!

This, my friends, is taking us deep into the Why of Christmas.  The original Christmas was the necessary first step to His victory over what is even worse than dying for the sins of others, that of not dying for the sins of others!!!

 

She may be unaware, but . . . .

Tags

"truth in music", Celine, pointers

She, as countless others musicians, has not made a name for herself by singing overtly Christian music.  I have no idea of what may be her religious thoughts, convictions, or commitments.  Nonetheless, some of the lyrics of her music intrigue me.  They do so because of the various points of resonance they have with basic (read that “essential”) truth about human experience and aspirations.  By the way, the “she” in this case is Celine Dion.

A caveat before going further — The comments in this post are not meant to be a carte blanche statement that if Celine has sung something, it is by definition a “take it to the bank” affirmation of truth.  Why should we expect that of anyone, since even we ourselves don’t achieve that level of truth telling?

Of the 99 Celine Dion songs on my IPod, spread over the three languages of English, French and Spanish, she continues to impress me with her remarkable voice and great interpretative skills.  But, what is on my mind as I write this post is how true to life are some of the lyrics.  By “life” I mean both life with God and authentic human life.

Allow me to illustrate the point referring to I Surrender (it is available on various albums, such as “A New Day Has Come”.)  It is available, of course, on YouTube in various formats.  The following superimposes lyrics over photos of Celine, and is very intelligible.  www.youtube.com/watch?v=AshJi7fBbww&feature=related

There is so much life I’ve left to live and this fire’s burning still

When I watch you look at me, I think I could find the will

to stand for every dream and forsake the solid ground and

give up this fear within of what would happen if they ever knew I’m in love with you.

Cause I’d surrender everything to feel the chance to live again.

I reach to you; I know you can feel it too.  We’d make it through.

A thousand dreams I still believe.  I’d make you give them all to me.

I’d hold you in my arms and never let go – I surrender.

 

I know I can’t survive another night away from you; you’re the reason I go on

and now I need to live the truth. 

Right now there’s no better time.  From this fear I will break free.

And I’ll live again with love, and no, they can’t take that away from me, and, they will see.

Cause I’d surrender everything to feel the chance to live again.

I reach to you; I know you can feel it too.  We’d make it through.

A thousand dreams I still believe.  I’d make you give them all to me.

I’d hold you in my arms and never let go – I surrender.

 

Every night’s getting longer, and this fire is getting stronger.

I’ll swallow my pride and I’ll be alive.  Did you hear my call, “I surrender all.”

I reach to you; I know you can feel it too. We’ll make it through.

A thousand dreams I still believe.  I’d make you give them all to me

I’d hold you in my arms and never let go – I surrender.

 

Right here, right now, I give my life to live again.  I’ll break free, take me.  My everything.

I surrender all to you

Right here, right now, I give my life to live again.  I break free, take me: my everything.

Yes, Celine is singing to a man whose love she is desperate to experience.  That doesn’t surprise us, does it?  But, we know there is a higher “Lover” whose character surpasses Celine’s man as the sun surpasses a candle.

With that said, let’s not forget that we humans can’t get any higher in our motives and actions than love.  Could we fault her for wanting to experience love?  No.  Could we wish her anything higher in human existence than to be “in love” with the most important One in all reality?  No.

The love of which she sings is inextricably linked to several key sentiments, attitudes and behaviors that coincide with basic Christian morality –  “Living again requires us to surrender the life we have been cherishing.  We surrender everything.  We swallow pride.  And, the result?  – We live again!!

I don’t know to what level Celine would take the truth of the lyrics.  But, in light of God’s love, the lyrics point to the great transaction of being awakened to a life-giving and life-freeing love by surrendering all we have considered dear to the Dearest One of all, whose love for us makes our cost look like chump change.

I Surrender is a beautiful contemporary song.  But, it is much more.  It is an example of items in our culture ultimately making sense because of their correspondence to the character of the Creator and His gift of life and love to us through our saving Lord Jesus.  It is an example of how life requires of us the great transaction of surrender to God and the resulting freedom that issues from His presence.

The apostle Paul could cite pagan philosophers.  Simon and Garfunkel can sing of the poets/philosophers writing on the subway walls.  Let’s not fear to cite the truth, even if it is partial, even if it is only a pointer, and even if it needs further elaboration.  The world may be in bad shape, but the hand basket still hasn’t arrived at its final destination.

Thanks, Celine.

They made a striking couple

Tags

pointers, wedding

The bride and the groom made a striking couple.  The many folk attending the wedding were clearly pleased to have been invited.  They paid tribute to a couple who, for all appearances deeply loved each other.  Yet, the wedding was pagan at the core.  Not decadent, but Godless.

I couldn’t help but wonder what I should have both been feeling and thinking, as well as about what I actually felt and thought about the ceremony.  What I actually felt and thought can be summed up in the word “sadness.”  I watched many people being happy to be in the shadows, living with a pointer, rather than with the reality that both casts the shadow and is that to which  the pointers point.  I overhead one person say, “What a happy night” as they took part in the festivities.  There was a lot of talk about love, and rightfully so at a wedding.

But, it was sad.  The love of which they talked was a human centered love, with the assumption that to be forever and completely loving lies within the natural human potential.  Sadly, and for many people unknowingly, the assumption is an illusion.  All the bride needed to consider was what happened to her parents, to see that human effort, as valuable as it is, and as important as human responsibility is, will not guarantee successful togetherness.

The ceremony included a rite in which the officiate with 5 ribbons tied together the hands of the bride and groom – the knot was being tied!!   But, after all was said and done, the attempt to ignore God was obvious, not recognizing that God has a way of not being ignored.

Will the newlyweds eventually learn that love includes repentance, asking and giving forgiveness, and finding out from God what is best for the other?  Will they come to the awareness that the life that God is willing to give includes our arranging our agenda around the well being of the other?  What will it take for them to gain the necessary knowledge of, and ability for, the love that originates in God?

Ironically, the wedding was held in an elegant and a prestigious museum, a beautiful place, a testimony to God’s gift of creativity and interpretation, although it does not directly point to God as the source of either.   The museum itself was a parallel to the wedding ceremony.  Both were tremendous pointers, but which were missed by most of those in attendance.  Yes, the evening at its deepest, was a sad one, which, of course, few seemed to sense.

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“On the other side of road signs”

Tags

music, on the other side of the road sign, pointers

“The other side of the road sign” was on my mind the other day.  Road signs are pointers toward what and where we want to go, or at least to what is ahead if we continue beyond the sign.  Road signs can warn us.  Road signs can encourage us.  In either case, they are valuable.

When listening to music about love, I am facing a road sign.  Of course, they are not infallible.  Nonetheless, they frequently tell me about the beauty that can come by both loving someone as well as being loved by someone.  And, of course, they also describe the pain that accompanies the cessation of love, whether by death or abandonment; even with that they are pointing.

But love music normally sets up love as a desirable state.  We are better for loving.  We are better for being loved.  Being loved gives us comfort, stability, joy, purpose, companionship, etc..  Loving does the same, assuming that our love is not being rejected.  As I said, love music is a road sign.  It is telling us what we can experience as we move down the road.

But, I need to take this a further step beyond love music.  We, the lovers and the loved, are also road signs to what lies beyond what and where we are.  Putting it in theological terms, we humans are part of the general revelation provided by God, revelation about God.  That is implicit in the Biblical teaching that we humans are images of God.  We have, as one of various functions of being images of God, the one of communicating truth about God to others.  Sometimes we are very conscious that people have learned from us.  Getting comments from students is always an encouragement when they refer to knowing God better due to a given course I have taught.

But, the person who was the most important “road sign” to the character of God was my wife.   Some things she taught me with words.  Many things she taught me with her behavior.  Here’s to the best road sign I have ever had.   And, here’s to the road signs that she was, but to which I still haven’t even arrived.

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