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The Answer

No, this isn't a post about Allen Iverson, one of the most dynamic scorers I've ever seen. It's about a song. As some of you may know, I strongly dislike CCM. The majority of the "artists" are untalented and an equal or greater majority write superficial lyrics that push a "feel-good" Christianity that I sometimes oppose and am never encouraged by. There are a few artists that rise above this, and even when I don't always agree with them theologically, represent a humble Christ-centered approach to Christian music combined with real musical talent.

Shane & Shane are one of those few artists that minister to me spiritually. I love a number of their songs, but my favorite is The Answer (video below). The guitar is awesome: subtle and layered, worth pondering further. The lyrics are the same. They have a simple message, that of God's love for us and ours for him, but it is expressed in a rich and biblical way. At the end of the day, it is God's love, nothing else that will save us. Our foremost task as Christians is two fold, to respond to God with love and to sacrificially give of ourselves to other. The world's desires and priorities, the pursuit of money, sex, power, security, and self-fulfillment are idols to which we must die. Our only security and our identity comes in Jesus Christ and our union with him, in our participation in his death and resurrection. Jesus is the answer that we have been searching for. It is only through him that we can experience true life both now and in the age to come. It elegantly captures what the Christian life is all about. Who we are in Christ and how we love him and others overshadows all other concerns. The Christian way isn't about getting all of the right answers, it's about knowing The Answer.

13And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love. (1 Corinthians 13:13 NRSV)




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