Tuesday, April 8, 2008

Simple Minds

Sanctify Yourself


While the group "Simple Minds" doesn't always conjure up visions of alternative music from the 1980's, all of their music isn't bubble gum pop music from that era. This particular song is probably considered more in the "pop" genre than alternative. However, I felt like this particular song would be a good one to think through Biblically. Here are the lyrics
Is this the age of the thunder and rage Can you feel the ground move 'round your feet If you take one step closer, it'll lead to another The crossroad above is where we meet I shout out for shelter, I need you for something The whole world is out, they're all on the street Control yourself, love is all you need Control yourself, in your eyes Sanctify yourself, sanctify Be apart of me, sanctify Sanctify yourself, sanctify Sanctify yourself, set yourself free In pictures of living, in bloodshot a vision Sweet miracles and strange circumstances I see the sun up, the showdown, the cool winds that blow down On the big beat that life-long romance is You've got a gun in your hand, you're making self plans Stay with me all through the night Control yourself, love is all you need Control yourself, open up your heart Sanctify yourself, sanctify Be apart of me, sanctify Sanctify yourself, sanctify Sanctify yourself, set yourself free You can't stop the world for a boy or a girl Sweet victims of poor circumstances But you can pour back the love, sweeping down from above Giving hope and making more chances Well, I hope and I pray that maybe someday You'll come back down here and show me the way Control yourself, love is all you need Control yourself, open up your heart Open up your heart Sanctify yourself, sanctify Sanctify yourself, sanctify Sanctify yourself, set yourself free
While there are many songs from Simple Minds that are referring to romantic love and all its struggles, this one isn't necessarily one. It actually appears to be a song that is struggling with making sense of a world that seems cruel "can't stop the world for a boy or a girl Sweet victims of poor circumstances". It is also dealing with one's attempt to be sanctified for the purpose of being connected with God "Santify yourself, sanctify be a part of me". The theme of love is the answer as well as further understanding from God "and I pray that maybe someday You'll come back down here and show me the way". This song also looks at the world as being in turmoil "In this age of the thunder and rage".
Does the Bible speak on such things:
#1. Is the world a hopeless round planet that is spinning out of control?
"He (Jesus) is before all things, and in Him all things hold together." Colossians 1:16
Jesus has a firm grip of control on what is happening in all creation, otherwise things would be out of control.
"Who has cleft a channel for the flood, or a way for the thunderbolt, to bring rain on a land without people, on a desert without a man in it, to satisfy the waste and desolate land and to make the seeds of grass to sprout?" Job 38: 25-27
Clearly from this passage God (who is addressing Job) knows what happens on the earth and has a mighty say on what will and will not happen.
#2. What does sanctification have to do with God?
A quick note about the word "sanctify": It means to set apart, make something holy (unique according to God's standards).
Anyone that tries to sanctify themselves to get closer to God will fail, God is the one who must sanctify them first.
"Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, no swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God." 1 Corinthians 6:9-11
One is sanctified, by being justifed in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ. After that, the Christian is in the process of continually being sanctified the rest of their days on the earth.
#3. Does God need to come back down to show us what to do? to explain how one becomes truly sanctified?
Understand that everyone is guilty of sin
"What then? are we better than they? Not at all; for we ahve already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin; as it is written, THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE; THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS, THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS; THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD, THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE." Romans 3:9-11
There will be judgement of sin
"and the sea gave up the dead which were in it, and death and hades gave up the dead which were in them; and they were judged, every one of them according to their deeds. then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire." Revelation 20:13-15
Jesus became the only acceptable payment for our sin
"For Christ did not enter a sanctuary made with hands – the representation of the true sanctuary – but into heaven itself, and he appears now in God’s presence for us. And he did not enter to offer himself again and again, the way the high priest enters the sanctuary year after year with blood that is not his own, for then he would have had to suffer again and again since the foundation of the world. But now he has appeared once for all at the consummation of the ages to put away sin by his sacrifice. And just as people are appointed to die once, and then to face judgment, so also, after Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many, to those who eagerly await him he will appear a second time, not to bear sin but to bring salvation." Hebrews 9:24-28
We must turn from a life infected with sin to trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ for our salvation
"The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the Gospel" Mark 1:15
"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life." John 3:16