Misundertanding and Sin and Special Music

Judges 2:11-13

Then the Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and worshiped the Baals; and they abandoned the Lord, the God of their ancestors, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt; they followed other gods, from among the gods of the peoples who were all around them, and bowed down to them; and they provoked the Lord to anger. They abandoned the Lord, and worshiped Baal and the Astartes.

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Take me to church
I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies
I'll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife
Offer me that deathless death
Good God, let me give you my life

"Take Me to Church" written by Andrew Hozier-Byrne from Hozier's "Take Me to Church" EP

The Israelites weren't the most faithful of people before, during, or after the days of the Judges. They wanted a Judge to keep them in line. Maybe that's so they wouldn't have to keep themselves in line. Well, when a bad Judge ruled, the people strayed. They would worship the Baals, the Astartes, and the Asharas. Nothing like a good fertility god or goddess to keep the spirit fruitful.

Hozier's song isn't about church as the Body of Christ. According to him it's about institutions that undermine natural parts of being human, though he adds that the church has a pretty big legacy about doing just that. As for the video, Hozier didn't want to make the direct visual connection to the church and violence against humanity, thus the anonymous hooligans. But let's face it, from the worship of the Baals to crucifying people for being who they are, the church's reputation is less than sterling.

But what does Hozier mean by "natural parts of being human." The song lyric begins with a woman singing about worshiping in the bedroom. Presumably lovers worshiping one another. As for me, I say let love rule! There is no law against love. "Worship" without God is a step too far, but within a holy, committed union, let lovers worship one another for in this God who is love rejoices.

The video though shows two men, no woman. What does God say about a committed gay relationship. Scholars split. I lean toward love. I reject pedophilia and pederasty, force is not love. A partner who is not old enough to know about a committed adult relationship cannot agree to be a part of an adult loving relationship. But as it pertains to gay or lesbian lovers, as for me, I say let love rule! There is no law against love. "Worship" without God is a step too far, but within a holy, committed union, let lovers worship one another for in this God who is love rejoices.

Recently, some youth have sung this song in church during worship. To what end? Praise is the only answer, but why this song? Is it the melody. I get that. It's a haunting song. Play it on the piano, sing it well, maybe a cello like he did on Saturday Night Live, and it's a great song. No wonder it was a killer on the charts. Is it the lyric? I hate to say it, but I may be one of the last people on earth who listens to lyrics so probably not. The video is gripping too, but does this video get shown in church? Do people love the chorus, the lyric you hear several times? The first line and the last two are worshipful in a traditional sense, but when you sing "I'll worship like a dog at the shrine of your lies/I'll tell you my sins and you can sharpen your knife," the point of that knife is pretty sharp. Is it as an act of shock or defiance that escapes a congregation filled with old people? Petulance will get you no where. (Believe me, I've tried.)

Well, here's a way to look at this within the Body of Christ, it's a sideways look at the lesson of Joseph. The lesson of Joseph was what his brothers meant for bad, God used for good. Hozier didn't mean ill for the church. That wasn't his point. So the lesson of Joseph doesn't apply. So whatever the singer intended, whether Hozier or the Youth Chorale, whatever they intended, use it. Hozier's "Take Me to Church" was never intended to be theology. It's a scathing indictment of people, humans who treat others violently, including the church. It's an indictment of sin, individual and corporate! If that works, use that. Is it a discussion on how gays and lesbians are treated? If you want to consider the video, use that. Is it something else, find it and use it.

Never forget, Israel kept being enslaved because they kept following bad Judges. Maybe that's a place to start. Violence in the name of the Lord is a lousy way to present the Lord to creation.