The metal core music scene is one of such passion, brutal honesty, and heart that it compares to very few music scenes. It is a scene built lyrically on oppression, with timeless themes such as brotherhood, unity, overcoming obstacles, heartbreak, and overcoming discrimination. My heart lies within the hardcore and metal core scene, and it speaks to me in new ways every day. When I was a troubled teen, I found value in the songs as they gave me something to breath for, something to believe in. Now and since becoming a Christian in 2009, they still continue to give me something to live for and to further pursue my beliefs in.
We see this in scripture in Titus 1:12 whenever Paul quotes a Cretan poet. Also, we see this in Acts 17:28 whenever Paul quotes an Athenian poet. These poets original intent are probably not to make much of the kingdom of Jesus, but they are applied scripturally to biblical concepts to stir our hearts. So rad. I do this all the time.
The song “Brothers in Arms” is not written by a Christian band, but it is so powerful to me and strikes my heart chords. For the Fallen Dreams connects with their audience with simple lyrics that ring true.
“Where were you when I needed you? Time and time again, I see you slide your way through life, so make things harder on yourself. This is a test of what you’ve become, all that I ask of you is your blood in arms. This is a test of what you’ve become. It’s time to set this off. To set this straight. Where were you, when I needed you?”
Where were you, when I needed you?
Where were you when the Lord stirred your heart to do something and you were either absent minded or ran away? Yes the Lord is sovereign, and can/will do whatever he wants to do (Dan 4:35), but that should never be an excuse to not be introspective.
The first time I went to Dallas with Tyler and TJ was back in January during Haste the Day’s farewell tour with the Chariot and A Plea for Purging. On the way to this show a homeless man walked up to us as we were walking from our car and he began to talk to us. Up until this point, because of what I was taught culturally and by those around me, I just immediately erected a wall and disengaged.
This wasn’t the case for Tyler and TJ.
They immediately shook this guys hand, asked him for his name and heard his story. This man wanted some food and asked for money for it. I don’t remember if the brothers gave him money or not on that day in 2011, but either way I know that man was fed by the end of that night due to the generosity and love of TJ and Tyler.
I had never seen anyone treat a homeless man with respect.
Why would they?
Up until this point, I had heard Jesus’ words on loving the least of these but I had never applied them to my life.
In Matthew 25 Jesus said,
“Come here, you beloved, you people whom My Father has blessed. Claim your inheritance, the Kingdom is prepared for you from the beginning of creation. You shall be richly rewarded, for when I was hungry, you fed Me. And when I was thirst, you gave Me something to drink. I was alone as a stranger, and you welcomed Me into your homes and into your lives. I was naked, and you gave Me clothes to wear; I was sick, and you tended to My needs; I was in prison, and you comforted me.”
Matthew 25:34 (The Voice)
Then the righteous men Jesus was speaking to, the men who thought they had it all figured out asked Jesus when did they have the opportunity to feed him, to comfort him, to help him.
Jesus replied that “Wherever you saw a brother or sister hungry or cold, whatever you did to the least of these, so you did to me.”
Matthew 25:40 (The Voice)
Time and time again, I see you slide your way through life, so make things harder on yourself. This is a test of what you’ve become, all that I ask of you is your blood in arms. This is a test of what you’ve become.
James tells us to
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
James 1:2-4 (ESV)
The Lord tests his work in us to refine us, to polish us (Psalm 66:10, Psalm 139:23). He gives us opportunity to serve him and love him by loving not only Him alone, but loving He who created us by loving his creation. Loving others well (Mark 12:30,31).
Rob Bell once wrote in his book Sex God that the way we treat creation reflects how we feel about the Creator.
All that I ask of you is your blood in arms.
The Lord is calling us to make war against our flesh, against the enemy, and against the world that is against him. If you even look at why the Lord destroyed Sodom it wasn’t even primarily because of their sexual rebellion, but because they didn’t take care of the poor and needy.
This was the sin of your warped sister, Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, gluttonous, and lazy. She never gave help to the poor and needy.
Ezekiel 16:49 (The Voice)
That was the real starting point of this entire blog. I saw someone post that verse in Ezekiel last week and it really started to make me think. That if the real focus of the fall of Sodom was not alone sexual rebellion, but not taking care of the poor and needy, then where am I? Where am I when the Lord is needing me? When he is calling me to help others who are poor and needy, not just financially but also emotionally and spiritually.
We even see the church in Macedonia in the first century not only tithed financially and provided for disciples/apostles, but also provided time and prayer and emotional-spiritual support for their friends (2 Corinthians 8,9). They took care of them, and sewed into them because the Lord called them to and they loved those people.
I know this seems like a hodgepodge of scripture today but the real point of the matter is this, where were you when the Lord needed you? Are you so caught up within yourself that you can’t see outwards? Maybe struggling in your own flesh or sin that you can’t even help those around you? Are you the point of your life or is taking care of others the point? How does this play out? Financially, sure, but also spiritually. Prayer. Love. Encouragement. Support.
We’re in war right now. Yes, we walk from victory and not to victory, but even though we are in the aftermath of the already won war, we still deal with spiritual conflict consistently. Your brothers need your prayer, your love, your encouragement, your support. So where are you?
Where am I? Most of the time whenever I am speaking of these matters I am writing to myself, on things I need to hear and apply.
It’s time to set this off. To set this straight.
Let’s apply this. Keeping Christ the focus, following the water, and pursuing him first by loving those whom he told us to love. That whenever we see a homeless man on the street, we see a new friend. We learn their story and their name and try to take care of them whatever way we can. Whenever we see our friends at church or work or school, likewise. Not just take care of their financial needs, but primarily take care of their heart and spiritual needs. They need community and prayer and people to care for them.
They need you.
Yes, the Lord is sovereign over this, but I believe that he speaks through us, and sovereignly chooses to use us for his glory and his will.
If we are his body, let’s move these arms and legs. Let’s dance.
Let’s make a difference, ya’ll.
-J
