| Review
– The Rock Cries Out |
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Discovering
Eternal Truth in Unlikely Music
by Steve Stockman
Published by RELEVANTBOOKS
Spiritual Insights on the music of Bob Dylan, Kurt
Cobain, George Harrison, Radiohead, Joni Mitchell,
Jackson Browne, David Gray, Bruce Springsteen, Ani
DiFranco, Bob Marley, Lauryn Hill and Tom Waits.
Book review by Tom Gilbert
 The
title of this book, The
Rock Cries Out, was inspired by
an account in the Gospel of Luke. During Jesus’
triumphant entry into Jerusalem the people were
rejoicing and praising God. This embarrassed and
outraged the religious leaders and they demanded
Jesus rebuke his disciples. Instead, the Son of
Man replied that "if they keep quiet, the stones
will cry out." (Luke 19:40 NIV).
The inspiration for the book came from the songs
of several singer/songwriters who have proclaimed
a universal message about the human condition and
the need to do something about it. Not every one
of these artists may have answers and most do not
profess Christianity. Indeed, many of them may be,
like many of us, searching. Often the questions
are the important starting place.
The author, Steve Stockman (Walk
On: The Spiritual Journey of U2),
draws upon a wealth of material from a number of
music heavyweights. Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, David
Gray, Radiohead, Jackson Browne, Bruce Springsteen
and others are writing about issues that any Christian
must confront if they are to truly call themselves
a follower of Christ. That these messages in song
come from unlikely sources is a key point and one
well worth exploring.
The exciting thing for me in reading the book is
that I’ve been a life-long lover of music.
My many radio jobs opened me up to musical diversity.
Many a time I’ve pondered what the songwriter
was saying and even if I didn’t realize it
at the time God was often speaking to me through
those songs.
Stockman is careful not to read too much into the
source material. He’s not on a campaign to
make these secular artists saints. Indeed, we're
encouraged to look closely at the down-n-out-dirty-real-world
so easily ignored by most. However, he’s troubled
that so many good church-going folk don’t
seem to be paying attention to the issues that are
rightly raised in the songs from these modern-day
prophets (I use the term loosely – of all
the artists in the book Stockman gives the title
only to Bob Marley). I believe if we conducted a
“spiritual” taste test and asked people
to read some of the lyrics from the songs written
about in this book we’d probably come to the
same conclusions as the author.
Music is a powerful force. It, like all of the arts,
can be used for good or bad. However, God has made
it abundantly clear that He can use ALL things for
good. If you can find in the music of Kurt Cobain
(the singer/frontman for Nirvana who committed suicide)
the emptiness of self-centered living the writer
of Ecclesiastes also confronted or the need for
justice that Joni Mitchell, David Gray and Bob Dylan
have sung so well about and Isaiah, Amos and Jesus
proclaimed, then you, too will discover that God
is much bigger than our safe ideas about the Creator.
God will be heard and that includes discovering
eternal truth in places we don’t expect it.
Beyond spotlighting artists saying things we should
all pay attention to we also get a peek at the integrity
of these artists. Some have enjoyed a great deal
of fame, but certainly all must wrestle with the
capitalistic and materialistic demands of record
companies and societies. It’s a bold move
that Stockman would include Ani DiFranco in this
book, giving space to someone who is clearly walking
their talk. The fierce courage and passion she has
for her vocation is a challenge to us all, most
especially the Church establishment. And I find
that very Biblical.
Unfortunately, few contemporary Christian music
artists are addressing the big issues that the musicians
in The Rock Cries Out
are. It’s a fact I find somewhat troubling.
But, it’s no less an indictment than for any
believer who calls on the name of the Lord but refuses
to help his brother or sister in need.
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Scripture taken from
the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.Copyright
© 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society.
All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by
permission of International Bible Society.
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or services requires the prior written consent of
International Bible Society.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from
the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright
©1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House
Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189, USA. All rights
reserved.
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