"Jesus Christ" by Brand New

This past weekend, I was doing some reflecting, and my thoughts turned to my first bible study I had in Mount Clemens. Robbie, Emily, Melinda and myself read & discussed Walking on Water by Madeleine L'Engle. One of the many, many things I benefited from that time I spent with my friends was L'Engle's interesting perspective on what people define as "religious art". L'Engle argues that "[b]asically there can be no categories such as 'religious' art and 'secular' art because all true art is incarnational, and therefore 'religious.'" And "incarnation," in L'Engle's view, means "God's revelation of himself through particularity" (Amazon).

Anyways, awhile ago I was particularly struck by the song "Jesus Christ" by Brand New. Now this band is certainly not what many would define as a "Christian band", but the honesty of the words are compelling enough that I wanted to share them with many that probably have not heard the song. The lyrics and a random, non-official video are below.



Jesus Christ, that's a pretty face - the kind you'd find on someone that could save. If they don't put me away, it’ll be a miracle. Do you believe you're missing out? That everything good is happening somewhere else? But with nobody in your bed the night is hard to get through. And I will die all alone. And when I arrive I won’t know anyone.

Well, Jesus Christ, I’m alone again. So, what did you do those three days you were dead? Because this problem's gonna last more than the weekend. Well, Jesus Christ, I’m not scared to die. I’m a little bit scared of what comes after. Do I get the gold chariot? Do I float through the ceiling? Do I divide and pull apart? Cause my bright is too slight to hold back all my dark. This ship went down in sight of land. And at the gates does Thomas ask to see my hands?

I know you'll come in the night like a thief. But I’ve had some time alone to hone my lying technique. I know you think that I’m someone you can trust. But I’m scared that I’ll get scared, and I swear I’ll try to nail you back up. So do you think that we could work out a sign? So I’ll know it's you and that it's over so I won't even try. I know you'll come for the people like me. But we all got wood and nails - turning out hate in factories. Yeah, we all got wood and nails and we sleep inside of this machine.