Walk On

I'm half way through my new book, "Walk On: the Spiritual Journey of U2." Steve Stockman, an Irish chaplain presents the world's greatest rock band in a new light. It details their constant struggle to live their lives and make their art in a way true to Christ's teachings, not some dogmatic, legalistic code authored by suit and tie-wearing south Baptist preachers.

I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
your young men will see visions.

Joel 2:28.

More than a window into their artistic process, I find the book a narrative of a group of Christ-followers on a great quest, to search through their teenage fairytale myths when their faith was young, to their cold confrontation with American evangelism and their plunge into Post-modern spirituality. Bono and company have battled so many of the things I have experienced. They have been bitten by many of the foes that have snapped my way. I am seeing Bono, a life-long hero do to his music, in a new light. And he’s even more of a guide now. Bono has a quote that sums up his theology of grace and the cross… and it’s beautiful.

“To me, faith in Jesus Christ that is not aligned to social justice- that is not aligned with the poor- it’s nothing.”

-Bono

"But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have them do to you.”

Luke 6:27-31

Imagine a world where the blacks in South Africa could learn to forgive and live alongside their white oppressors. Imagine a white government in Pretoria that could see a new South Africa with, by some kind of miracle, Nelson Mandela as president. Imagine that there could be a ceasefire in Northern Ireland where the paramilitaries would lay down their weapons and sit together in a new Northern Ireland government. Imagine if enemies could be loved.

Looking at his disciples, Jesus said:
"Blessed are you who are poor,
for yours is the kingdom of God.
Blessed are you who hunger now,
for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh.
Blessed are you when men hate you,
when they exclude you and insult you
and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.

Luke 6:20-22

Imagine if the hungry could be fed. Imagine if the meek could inherit the earth. Imagine a world where the first would be last and the last would be first. Imagine. Without the turbocharged engine of imagination, nothing can change in our world. God told His people that they would dream dreams and see visions.


Imagine another world and how it could be and how it could work and where to begin to put it together is where the kingdom begins.

Walk On p.82

We are the artists that paint the pictures of what tomorrow might hold. We envision the future. We strive ever more to reach out and touch those that Jesus called on us to reach; the poor, the lame, the sick, the orphaned, the downtrodden. It’s time, friends, to grab our brushes and start painting those pictures, of the kingdom to come. Imagine, all of us united together, what light we would shine in this darkened place.