Faith Alone
I bought Bad Religion's album All Ages (released summer of 1995) in 1995 or 96. All Ages, named thusly because Bad Religion shows (typical of punk rock) were open to all ages as well as the fact the album captured all the years of the band, was kind of a weird concept because it was a greatest-hits album released fairly early in its career. But, it gave me an overview of the band's work and their unusual (to me, at the time) sound. I bought the album on cassette from a music store in the mall of the town I now live in. I recall driving home and being like, "What is this?" I had never even considered a band could sound like that. Truly, Bad Religion is the most intelligent and long-lived force in music, as far as I'm aware. I no longer follow them or buy their albums, but I did for many years. I saw them play many times. I knew the lyrics to most of the songs. I had bootlegs and rare live stuff. I chatted to its members on internet relay chat several times, especially when I was in college. I was captivated, fascinated, and definitely a fan. But, for me, Bad Religion (as the band members admitted) was just another bad religion. A bad religion is a belief system that doesn't work. The idea of punk rock was to get people to think for themselves instead of attaching themselves to systems of prescriptive thought. I didn't agree with everything the band said, but I definitely allowed myself to follow a belief system that didn't work.
Why would a self-professed Christian like a band like Bad Religion? That's what this post is about. I was going through a time of searching and questioning when I was in high school. There were things I'll keep to myself that made me question the road I was on. Like heartbreaks that turned me aside. They say the greatest argument against Christianity is Christians. That's probably true. I saw some things that really changed my perspective on my faith. And then I jumped the tracks and went down a disastrous road to ruin. How fun.
Faith Alone encapsulates the many questions I had. I recall being upset with God. How could He let me go through those things? How could He allow it? I had no idea why God allowed painful experiences for His people. And disappointments. It made no sense. Looking back, I see the tremendous forethought involved in those disappointments. I had no idea I was in danger. What I wanted wasn't the best thing for me. Unfortunately, I didn't stick around to have God's best and chose my own adventure instead, which ended in much more heartache than I could have imagined.
I should point out the two principal songwriters of the band have dim views on God. Greg is a scientist with a Ph.D., and science has no room for God in its present form. Brett is a Jew and Judaism is dead. I don't believe he was ever a practicing Jew. Perhaps in his childhood. His struggles with the concept of God can be seen in songs like Generator. He believed in but didn't know God, but I think he also described himself as agnostic. In any case, neither of them had a relationship with God.
Faith Alone was originally released on the album Against the Grain in 1990. Peter Finestone was the drummer and, though not the best (by his own admission), he made up for talent by sheer ferocity. I definitely tapped into the anger. (Most of my anger came from an abusive childhood, which I didn't realize then.) The song, long and kind of slow by punk rock standards, said what I was feeling, which was no one had the answers I was looking for. If I had been more patient, I would have had the answers had I kept walking with God. It was a hard lesson to learn over the ensuing years, but I learned it, nonetheless. Had I continued down the dark path I was on, I have no doubt I would not be alive now.
The lyrics mention Greenpeace and science, which Bad Religion also referred to as bad religions. All the things we pin our hopes on, if they are created by man, will fail. That was how I felt about organized religion when I was in high school. I wanted something that could change lives, and I didn't see that in most churches. I wanted to see the power of God. Still do. Faith alone wasn't enough. I wanted to see real answers. Later in life, I finally found the kind of relationship with God that allows for real change. But it started with me. Have you noticed when you bring something to God, say another person's problems or the world at large, God will say, "Thank you for bringing that to my attention. Let's start with you." And we sputter and point fingers and say the problem is out there. But God changes us first. I didn't realize that then. He needed to work on me first.
The world doesn't understand faith. How can you believe in something you can't see? First of all, that's a broad question. But plenty of things I can't see can be experienced in some way. Electricity, for example. We know how it works and can harness it, but the average person doesn't understand it beyond hitting a switch and having light. I don't have to understand all the hows and whys of God, but I know when I do this or that, He responds. He cares. That's the thing the world misses. They think God is some cruel taskmaster who just wants to punish people or throw them in hell. God is the most loving being in the universe (and beyond). I have to admit, the way I see God is different now from when I was a young man. I didn't have all my questions answered immediately, but when I brought them to God, He did indeed answer. Not always in that moment, unless I had a great need. But they were always answered.
I can't listen to this song now without cringing at my past. But I'm also thankful God rescued me out of so many miry pits. If your soul needs love, turn to God. If you need answers, they are available. If religion turns you off, ask God for something better. Something won’t budge in your life? Ask God to move it. We have not because we ask not. Life is short. We don't have much time. We can change the world if we follow Him. Let's do that.
Lyrics:
Heard a sermon from a creaky pulpit with no one in the nave
I paid a visit to the synagogue, and I left there feeling blame
No one can tell me what to do
They had not the capacity to answer me
What the world needs now is some answers to our problems
We can't buy more time 'cause our tender isn't valid
If your soul needs love, you can get consoled by pity
But it looks as though faith alone won't sustain us anymore
Watched the scientists throw up their hands conceding
Progress will resolve it all
Saw the manufacturers of earth's debris ignore another Greenpeace call
No one could tell me what to do
No one had the ability to answer me
What the world needs now is some accountability
We can't buy more time 'cause time won't accept our money
If your soul needs love you can always have my pity
But it looks as though faith alone won't sustain us anymore
What the world needs now is some answers to our problems
We can't buy more time 'cause our tender isn't valid
What the world needs now is some accountability
If your soul needs love, you can get consoled by pity
But faith alone won't sustain us anymore
Faith alone won't sustain us anymore
(Faith alone won't sustain us anymore)
***
This blog is four years old as of January 28. Thank you, anyone who followed along! From the pit of hell that was divorce to the ecstasy of loving the perfect woman to realizing just how much God loves me, it is all on display here as a sort of living diary. Another post will be along soon. I wrote quite a few lately.
Thank you for reading. And God bless.
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