Sufjan stevens is often criticized for writing "Christian" music, but here is a good example of why that isn't so... this song is about the loss of a friend but also, more importantly, how God can seem not to care about those who pray to him. Sufjan may well be a Christian but this is not christian music, which has at its core the desire to praise God; just music about how he feels... in other words, "music". I love that last line. I guarantee you will never hear that on an Amy Grant record.
thats the greatest thing about Sufjan, he's not romanticizing Christianity! its amazing, he has struggles just like any other man, and he wrestles with the circumstances god puts in his life, but instead of hate God, he writes his feelings and struggles out to better understnad the purpose of it all. he's a genious!! beautiful!!!!
thats the greatest thing about Sufjan, he's not romanticizing Christianity! its amazing, he has struggles just like any other man, and he wrestles with the circumstances god puts in his life, but instead of hate God, he writes his feelings and struggles out to better understnad the purpose of it all. he's a genious!! beautiful!!!!
Sufjan talked a bit in an interview about why his songs waver between offering Christian messages and humanist woes.
Sufjan talked a bit in an interview about why his songs waver between offering Christian messages and humanist woes.
Sufjan:
Sufjan:
"On an aesthetic level, faith and art are a dangerous match. Today, they can quickly lead to devotional artifice or didactic crap."
"On an aesthetic level, faith and art are a dangerous match. Today, they can quickly lead to devotional artifice or didactic crap."
"It’s not so much that faith influences us as it lives in us. In every circumstance (giving a speech or tying my shoes), I am living and moving and being. This absolves me from ever making the embarrassing effort to gratify God (and the church) by imposing religious content on anything I do."
"As for your question of faith (which I think has nothing to do with Dan’s statement): on a certain level you cannot separate art from faith, because it is our persuasions which drive us to create."
"Whether you are religious about politics or fashion (or saving the whales), you are still motivated by your convictions to participate in art. But I don’t think that means faith should necessarily prescribe art. In fact, this is a dangerous assumption, which often leads to music that is pedagogical, or a novel that is moralistic. As for our intentions, well, that’s all bunk. We may intend our music for one person or another, but who’s to say? I can’t decide who reads my novel or buys my record. Look what that did for Jonathon Franzen, who snubbed Oprah for liking his book. It’s an arrogant, imperialist motive to try to determine who will receive you and who won’t."
Sufjan stevens is often criticized for writing "Christian" music, but here is a good example of why that isn't so... this song is about the loss of a friend but also, more importantly, how God can seem not to care about those who pray to him. Sufjan may well be a Christian but this is not christian music, which has at its core the desire to praise God; just music about how he feels... in other words, "music". I love that last line. I guarantee you will never hear that on an Amy Grant record.
thats the greatest thing about Sufjan, he's not romanticizing Christianity! its amazing, he has struggles just like any other man, and he wrestles with the circumstances god puts in his life, but instead of hate God, he writes his feelings and struggles out to better understnad the purpose of it all. he's a genious!! beautiful!!!!
thats the greatest thing about Sufjan, he's not romanticizing Christianity! its amazing, he has struggles just like any other man, and he wrestles with the circumstances god puts in his life, but instead of hate God, he writes his feelings and struggles out to better understnad the purpose of it all. he's a genious!! beautiful!!!!
Sufjan talked a bit in an interview about why his songs waver between offering Christian messages and humanist woes.
Sufjan talked a bit in an interview about why his songs waver between offering Christian messages and humanist woes.
Sufjan:
Sufjan:
"On an aesthetic level, faith and art are a dangerous match. Today, they can quickly lead to devotional artifice or didactic crap."
"On an aesthetic level, faith and art are a dangerous match. Today, they can quickly lead to devotional artifice or didactic crap."
"It’s not so much that faith influences us as it lives in us. In every circumstance (giving a speech or tying my shoes), I am living and moving and being. This absolves me from ever making the embarrassing effort to gratify God (and the church) by imposing religious content on anything I do."
"As for your question of faith (which I think has nothing to do with Dan’s statement): on a certain level you cannot separate art from faith, because it is our persuasions which drive us to create."
"Whether you are religious about politics or fashion (or saving the whales), you are still motivated by your convictions to participate in art. But I don’t think that means faith should necessarily prescribe art. In fact, this is a dangerous assumption, which often leads to music that is pedagogical, or a novel that is moralistic. As for our intentions, well, that’s all bunk. We may intend our music for one person or another, but who’s to say? I can’t decide who reads my novel or buys my record. Look what that did for Jonathon Franzen, who snubbed Oprah for liking his book. It’s an arrogant, imperialist motive to try to determine who will receive you and who won’t."
adequacy.net/2006/09/interview-with-sufjan-stevens/
To wredfearn: I've been waiting for years to hear those words from another Christian. Thanks so much for posting that link!
To wredfearn: I've been waiting for years to hear those words from another Christian. Thanks so much for posting that link!
Less like Hillsong and more like Job. Brilliant
Less like Hillsong and more like Job. Brilliant
Guess you've never heard "Better than a Hallelujah". Jerk. Do some research before you make such pompous statements.
Guess you've never heard "Better than a Hallelujah". Jerk. Do some research before you make such pompous statements.
No they clearly haven't heard the song "Seven Swans"
No they clearly haven't heard the song "Seven Swans"
He said, "I am Lord, I am Lord, I am Lord" He said, "I am Lord, I am Lord, I am Lord"
He said, "I am Lord, I am Lord, I am Lord" He said, "I am Lord, I am Lord, I am Lord"
He will take you If you run He will chase you He will take you If you run He will chase you Because he is the Lord
He will take you If you run He will chase you He will take you If you run He will chase you Because he is the Lord
I think it's a deeply Christian song. There's nothing un-Christian about being angry at God, and feeling frustrated at God.
I think it's a deeply Christian song. There's nothing un-Christian about being angry at God, and feeling frustrated at God.
I performed this song at church. It's a great Good Friday song.
I performed this song at church. It's a great Good Friday song.