Music Monday

Revolutionary by Josh Wilson

When I first heard this song, I thought that this song needs to be heard by every human being on this planet.

The message is just gold and if we all would think this way and be challenged by this ONE song, this world we would be a different place. 

The judgement and cruelty that lives in this world leaves me speechless. This song especially makes me feel it can be about politics in the present time.

We live in such a toxic political climate in today’s time. Maybe thats why this song hit me on such a personal level, because politics today and how people act, treat each other, and talk so easily harsh words toward others, literally makes my heart feel like a thousand ton brick in my body. It saddens me how we so easily use our words as bullets to peoples characters. We have made it a “normal” thing for politics to be so “hateful” and a time to bash on others. But why?

Just like this song says, I think all of the time when I witness these exchanges,  when did we let kindness seem so revolutionary?

Opening Lyrics:

Maybe you’re not like me

Maybe we don’t agree

Maybe that doesn’t mean

We gotta be enemies

Maybe we just get brave

Take a big leap of faith

Call a truce so me and you

Can find a better way

We are all different, with different minds and different opinions. The truth is we are not going to agree on everything in life and on different issues. But like these lyrics say, that does not mean we have to be enemies with others. We can have respect for others thoughts/opinions because we are all human, we are all flawed, and we all have emotions behind the issues that we believe so wholeheartedly in. I believe there is a better way and we can find common ground with others, even we do not agree on something.

Pre Chorus Lyrics:

Let’s take some time, open our eyes, look and listen, yeah

And we’re gonna find we’re more alike than we are different, yeah

I feel you can take these lyrics as they are. If only we would be open to others and really listen without judgment in our hearts or a comeback ready, I believe we would see similarities in people more than differences.

Chorus:

Why does kindness seem revolutionary

When did we let hate get so ordinary

Let’s turn it around, flip the script

Judge slow, love quick

God help us get revolutionary

I love the chorus of this song. I think it hits me strong because it is so true. 

First I want to tell the true definition of the word revolutionary:

involving or causing a complete dramatic change.

It really describes an event or an action being dramatic, that many people may not do it.

Kindness, when experienced, really can turn your day around and make you feel connected to strangers.  Unfortunately though, I feel kindness has become revolutionary and most, not all, people do not go out of their way with their actions or words to be kind to others.

“When did we let hate get so ordinary?”

This lyric is so true and sad. Hate is a strong word. Sadly, hate in this world has become so ordinary. People are so quick to hate that person because of their political views, or hate that person because they are “different” than themselves. If we would all show less judgment and love people first, imagine how different our world would truly be.

Next Lyrics:

I’m turning the TV down

Drowning their voices out

‘Cause I believe that you and me

Can find some common ground

See maybe I’m not like you

But I’ll walk a mile in your shoes

If it means I might see

The world the way you do

Let’s take some time, open our eyes, look and listen

And we’re gonna find we’re more alike than we are different

These lyrics really make me feel like this song was written for politics. The media and the news are unfortunately mostly negative and if you watch it long enough, that negativity will latch onto you and breed bad feelings, hate, and being close minded, to others views/feelings.

Other people do have other views and we all can’t always agree with each other, but if we would sit there, judgment free with someone we do not agree with and have a real, human conversation with them, I believe we would find common ground and understand why they feel the way they do about certain things and topics.

Because we are all humans and each one of us, is made in the image of God. God loves the person you “hate” or dislike, just as much as He loves you. We all have purpose and worth. IF we all would walk a mile in someone else’s shoes, we would all understand each other a little better and the specific things we all face on a daily basis.

If we took the time, truly opened our eyes/hearts and listen to others, we would find we are all more alike than different, because we are all human beings and we all, regardless of race, where we live, status, or political views, have experienced the same spectrum of emotions in this lifetime. We ALL have a past, been through hard things and have a story, that can shape how we view things and how passionate we are about things. So why are we all against each other?

Chorus Repeats

Next Lyrics:

What would Jesus do

He would love first

He would love first, hmm

What would Jesus do

He would love first

Yeah, He would love first

So we should love first

 

Whenever I am faced with a challenge or an issue with someone, I try to be conscious and take a moment and always come back to that one question: If Jesus was physically here with me right now, what would He do?

Sometimes we could complicate things when the answer is really simple. In history, Jesus was one of the biggest, influential people during His time here on earth and even now as well. More influential than any president or leader we will ever have. So, let’s look to Him on how to act and who to emulate: 

Jesus would love first.

So we should as well. And believe me, I understand it is not always easy. Some people are really hard to love. We are not Jesus and we are human, living in a fallen world, so it can be difficult to always live that out with people. But I believe, that is why we should pray a little harder and more about this. As believers, we are called to not be of this world. We may live in it, but we are called to let Jesus do the work in us and emulate His character.

Jesus’s love is radical and it appears radical to most people because, if you said to someone to love and be kind to that person that you do not agree with or was unkind to you, people would look at you like you have five heads because loving like Jesus does, is extremely radical. Like Matthew 5:44 says, “But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you..” And the verse goes onto say, if you only those who love you, what reward will you get? Meaning, we are called to love the ones who do not like us and who seem unloveable. This is the powerful, radical love and essence of who Jesus is.

Ends with Chorus

Verses Incorporated in the Song:

“We love because he first loved us”  -1 John 4:19

“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.”  -Romans 12:2  (NIV)

“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him.” – Philippians 2:13 (NLT)

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.”  –James 1:19 (NIV)

I hope you give this powerful song a listen and I hope it challenges you and encourages you.

Most importantly, as we are in the midst of a heated time in our country with the election approaching, let’s all open up our eyes and listen, because I know we are going to find we are all more alike than we are different, like the song says.

I hope you have a blessed week!

All for Jesus,

Steph