spanisheyes
Forum Moderator, The Goal Is Soul
The Word according to U2: Irish band subject of clergy's sermons
By Erin Hemme Froslie
The Forum - 03/13/2004
Raised outside the church, the Rev. Shawnthea Monroe-Mueller remembers the moment Christianity began to look cool.
She counts watching U2's video "Gloria" as one of her first spiritual experiences.
Now the pastor at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Moorhead, she is one of two local pastors whose work is included in a collection of sermons inspired by the lyrics of the rock music phenomenon.
"Get Up Off Your Knees" was compiled by Cowley Publications in Cambridge, Mass. It includes the sermons of 23 preachers from England, Ireland, Canada and United States, who express perspectives from a wide range of denominations.
Monroe-Mueller references the song "One" and 1 Corinthians 13 in a Valentine's Day sermon on the nature of love.
The Rev. Jamie Parsley, assistant clergy at Gethsemane Episcopal Cathedral in Fargo, includes lyrics from "If God Will Send His Angels" in his sermon on prosperity.
Faith frequently finds expression in popular music. Whether it's Joan Osborne's "One of Us" or Depeche Mode's "Personal Jesus," theological thought can appear in the most unlikely places.
But as fans of U2 know, the band has consistently expressed faith through complex lyrics that can be interpreted in a number of different ways.
"Like Scripture, what they (U2) sing about bears repeated listening and reveals more, the more you listen," Monroe-Mueller says.
She points to "Elevation," a hit song off the band's 2000 album "All That You Can't Leave Behind."
The first time she heard it, Monroe-Mueller thought it was a song about a woman. The second time, a song about Jesus. Now she thinks it's a song about God speaking to humanity.
"I'm not saying U2 means it to be that way, but it's interesting enough to keep digging," she says.
Dipping into pop culture for everyday references is one way preachers can keep the Gospel message fresh for contemporary worshippers, both Parsley and Monroe-Mueller say.
What makes U2 such a powerful reference is its ability to witness without alienating listeners, they say.
Unlike Christian rock bands, this rock band is Christian, a not-so-subtle difference that has allowed its message to be enjoyed by both faithful and secular audiences.
"Their message is strong and powerful, but it's not so in-your-face that people push away from it," Parsley says.
In particular, singer Bono has used his prominence as a celebrity to challenge the Western world to express faith through social activism, whether it's fighting AIDS in Africa or addressing Third World debt.
"They (the band members) live faith out in a way that I want to live out my Christianity," Monroe-Mueller says. "It's not the first thing you notice, but it's key to who I am."
The collection of sermons in "Get Up Off Your Knees" isn't the only proof U2 is a lens through which some contemporary Christians view their faith. In January, a compilation of U2 songs covered by contemporary Christian artists was released.
Eugene Peterson, professor emeritus of spiritual theology at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, goes as far as to call U2 a prophet of the times. Like the prophets of old, the band makes the faithful look at God in a new light.
"Prophets confront us with the sovereign presence of God in our lives. If we won't face up, they grab us by the scruff of our necks and shake us into attention," he wrote in the foreword of the "Get Up Off Your Knees."
"Amos crafted poems, Jeremiah wept sermons, Isaiah alternately rebuked and comforted, Ezekiel did street theater," he wrote. "U2 writes songs and goes on tour, singing them."
About the book:
"Get Up Off Your Knees: Preaching the U2 Catalog." Edited by Raewynne J. Whiteley and Beth Maynard. Published by Cowley Publications, Cambridge, Mass. $14.95 paperback. Available at Zandbroz Variety in Fargo.
By Erin Hemme Froslie
The Forum - 03/13/2004
Raised outside the church, the Rev. Shawnthea Monroe-Mueller remembers the moment Christianity began to look cool.
She counts watching U2's video "Gloria" as one of her first spiritual experiences.
Now the pastor at First Congregational United Church of Christ in Moorhead, she is one of two local pastors whose work is included in a collection of sermons inspired by the lyrics of the rock music phenomenon.
"Get Up Off Your Knees" was compiled by Cowley Publications in Cambridge, Mass. It includes the sermons of 23 preachers from England, Ireland, Canada and United States, who express perspectives from a wide range of denominations.
Monroe-Mueller references the song "One" and 1 Corinthians 13 in a Valentine's Day sermon on the nature of love.
The Rev. Jamie Parsley, assistant clergy at Gethsemane Episcopal Cathedral in Fargo, includes lyrics from "If God Will Send His Angels" in his sermon on prosperity.
Faith frequently finds expression in popular music. Whether it's Joan Osborne's "One of Us" or Depeche Mode's "Personal Jesus," theological thought can appear in the most unlikely places.
But as fans of U2 know, the band has consistently expressed faith through complex lyrics that can be interpreted in a number of different ways.
"Like Scripture, what they (U2) sing about bears repeated listening and reveals more, the more you listen," Monroe-Mueller says.
She points to "Elevation," a hit song off the band's 2000 album "All That You Can't Leave Behind."
The first time she heard it, Monroe-Mueller thought it was a song about a woman. The second time, a song about Jesus. Now she thinks it's a song about God speaking to humanity.
"I'm not saying U2 means it to be that way, but it's interesting enough to keep digging," she says.
Dipping into pop culture for everyday references is one way preachers can keep the Gospel message fresh for contemporary worshippers, both Parsley and Monroe-Mueller say.
What makes U2 such a powerful reference is its ability to witness without alienating listeners, they say.
Unlike Christian rock bands, this rock band is Christian, a not-so-subtle difference that has allowed its message to be enjoyed by both faithful and secular audiences.
"Their message is strong and powerful, but it's not so in-your-face that people push away from it," Parsley says.
In particular, singer Bono has used his prominence as a celebrity to challenge the Western world to express faith through social activism, whether it's fighting AIDS in Africa or addressing Third World debt.
"They (the band members) live faith out in a way that I want to live out my Christianity," Monroe-Mueller says. "It's not the first thing you notice, but it's key to who I am."
The collection of sermons in "Get Up Off Your Knees" isn't the only proof U2 is a lens through which some contemporary Christians view their faith. In January, a compilation of U2 songs covered by contemporary Christian artists was released.
Eugene Peterson, professor emeritus of spiritual theology at Regent College in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, goes as far as to call U2 a prophet of the times. Like the prophets of old, the band makes the faithful look at God in a new light.
"Prophets confront us with the sovereign presence of God in our lives. If we won't face up, they grab us by the scruff of our necks and shake us into attention," he wrote in the foreword of the "Get Up Off Your Knees."
"Amos crafted poems, Jeremiah wept sermons, Isaiah alternately rebuked and comforted, Ezekiel did street theater," he wrote. "U2 writes songs and goes on tour, singing them."
About the book:
"Get Up Off Your Knees: Preaching the U2 Catalog." Edited by Raewynne J. Whiteley and Beth Maynard. Published by Cowley Publications, Cambridge, Mass. $14.95 paperback. Available at Zandbroz Variety in Fargo.
