U2 Rocks It
By April Ibarra
My husband and I have had this ongoing conversation over the last few years about “Christian” music. I love DFW’s own 89.7 Power FM for edgy alternative/rock music. He would rather listen to KISS FM 106.1. He says “If it’s good enough to be good, it’ll be on secular stations.” I will only partially agree, but it does make me wonder about some openly Christian artists, like Lauren Hill, who aren’t played. P.O.D. was a regular on there years ago. I have never heard, however, U2, though they are the buzz in Christian circles.
Dr. Kreider from Dallas Theological Seminary did a Culture & Theology event at the Village Church (Highland Village) back in the fall, titled The Music and Theology of U2. There’s also the U2charist, which is an Episcopal effort to incorporate U2 into its liturgy. An Alabama professor says their new album is the most “thoroughly Christian project to date” (Josh Kimball, Christian Post). Just do a Google cross-reference with “U2” and “theology” and there are numerous hits.
What happened? I grew up with U2, absolutely loving them. And I was a complete heathen. How could these rock stars, musical poets, cultural icons, how could they be the inspiration to rewrite the hymnals for generations to come?
How? They engaged the culture. They cussed, they cross-dressed, they spoke about human rights, they smoked, and they looked like they cared about the world and the people around them. They didn’t only market themselves to other Christians, though that’s where their roots began. They brandished a true and sincere artistry, and they didn’t hide it under a bowl, but let it shine. I watched them on Dave Letterman last night and I’ll see them Friday morning on Good Morning America. And whatever words they speak will be enjoyed deeply by Christian and non-Christian alike.
April Ibarra has been involved in ministry for eleven years with a particular interest in strengthening and supporting the faith of women on a local and global level. She has a BA in Ministry, and is currently working on her Masters in Theology.
Tags: April Ibarra, U2
March 20th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
I was 15 when I first listened to Blood Red Sky and was blown away. I returned couseling at church camp and when the intensity of it got to me, I’d put on headphones and crank up Joshua Tree. It was a revelation to me as a teenager who grew up in church to realize that U2′s “40″ was Psalm 40 and to listen to them sing “gloria!”
The flip side is that I never listen to Xn radio. These days my fave is Michael Franti
September 23rd, 2011 at 11:21 pm
Dont get me wrong Im all for immigration reform but what the state of Arizona is now doing is wrong and draconian. Itll end up costing them far more than they could have ever envisaged in the end . Not only financially but also from a moral and legal standpoint.
November 16th, 2011 at 7:13 am
One of my big concerns was that there were so some things to read.