You Too

Two nights ago, I had the thrill of a lifetime when a wonderful group of friends from church sent Kristi and me to the U2 concert here in Milwaukee at the Bradley Center. First, a little background -- I have been a U2 fan since 7th grade when I found out that the cute 9th grader from another church youth group liked them, and so I went out and bought a tape the next day (their 3rd album "War") and proceeded to listen to it constantly for about 3 months until it broke. I can't remember the girl's name, but the mates from Ireland have remained close musical friends. Actually, when Kristi and I were in Dublin for a mission trip in college we made a pilgrimage to Bono's house and wrote our names on his garden door (don't worry, that is what everyone did and I hear he didn't mind!). Needless to say, I am a fan.

So having the chance to go and hear them and see them perform was a huge blessing (and a lot of fun too!).

What I love about U2 and I think the key to their staying power, is that they see music not just as an outlet for youthful aggression or a way to keep the party alive, but the belief that music has great power and purpose. The power of poetry set to music can change the world. This is not a new phenomenon. As you know, our own Psalter (the Psalm book of the Bible) is a music book, and has been THE music book for the church since the beginning. Truths put to music are easier to remember, they literally "sing" with praise and purpose. Think about how many songs from your youth you remember, and how few speeches or sayings have stayed locked up in your brain. Music, especially thoughtful, holy music, is a must for us.

And for me, U2's music is a song book for the soul. The first four songs off of "All That You Can't Leave Behind" are like an order of worship for me. "Beautiful Day" is the song of praise, "Stuck in a moment you can't get out of" is a call to confession, "Elevation" is an assurance of pardon, and Walk On (my favorite U2) is the sermon and our charge of hope that God will be with us, even in struggles.

Whether the text is overtly Scriptural (like "40" from Psalm 40 -- the closing song of Sunday night's concert), about the God we love and serve ("Yahweh" from How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb), or a protest against the injustice that surrounds us (like "Sunday Bloody Sunday" concerning the Troubles in Ireland), U2 infuses faith in Jesus and his crazy love for humanity, blends it with our responsibility to love our neighbors as ourselves, and tops it off with great music. There is no other band that I know of as intentional or with as far reaching influence as the boys from Dublin. I was thinking Sunday night that these are evangelists of love with far more weight and pull (sadly enough) than the church in 2005.

Of course, some will argue that they curse a little too much here and there. Others will not support their policies concerning debt relief in Africa, or complain that their arms are open wide to those whose sin is overt or whose views of God are less than what we consider orthodox.

But I can't help but think that their posture of love and embrace of broken humanity has a lot to teach me and the world we live in as disciples of Jesus. In a culture dominated by individualism, isolation, and blame, they embrace a world of community, responsibility for the least of these, and a belief that love covers over a multitude of sins. That sounds a lot like Jesus to me, and I would dare say they follow Christ closer than most of us churchgoers do.

Therefore, I see it as one of my jobs is to pray for these guys, that they might continue to stay true to their call, that they might seek Jesus at every turn, and that they might keep pushing on the issues of the day that break the heart of God (like poverty and the plight of AIDS in Africa).

And I will keep buying albums (and going to concerts too -- hopefully!), and find encouragement to do my part to change the world as well.

My favorite song from Sunday was "Where the Streets Have No Name," which was sung as the flags from African nations danced on the backdrop, and as a call for each of us to come along side them in their hour of need. My prayer is that I (and all of us) can continue to tear down the walls that hold us inside and keep touching the Flame of the Spirit in those places God yearns for us to go the most.


I wanna run,
I want to hide
I wanna tear down the walls
That hold me inside.
I wanna reach out
And touch the flame
Where the streets have no name.
I wanna feel sunlight on my face.
I see the dust-cloud
Disappear without a trace.
I wanna take shelter
From the poison rain
Where the streets have no name

Where the streets have no name
Where the streets have no name.
We're still building and burning down love
Burning down love.
And when I go thereI go there with you
(It's all I can do).

The city's a flood, and our love turns to rust.
We're beaten and blown by the wind
Trampled in dust.
I'll show you a place
High on a desert plain
Where the streets have no name

Where the streets have no name
Where the streets have no name.
We're still building and burning down love
Burning down love.
And when I go thereI go there with you
(It's all I can do).

AMEN