P11: Beyond Belief

I had the opportunity recently to be able to listen to “my” music. “My” music being the 90’s Contemporary Christian / Christian Rock such as Rich Mullins, Michael W Smith, Steven Curtis Chapman, Geoff Moore & The Distance, Degarmo & Key, DC Talk, Petra, and more… and while listening to Petra for a while, while I knew the lyrics, they came to a new meaning for me. I realized it seems like the music of that time seemed to be more rooted in scripture than music today that is more of a story of what God has done or wanting to be done for us. Some songs that Petra did where almost direct quotes from Scripture. More recently I have been appalled at the Christian artists of today and their inexcusable behavior at the recent music awards, both Christian (if you call it that anymore) awards or even the secular music awards. I barely listen to music anymore, and when I do, its’s my 90’s music. I wanted to see that last Petra tour last year, but it just was not possible.

Sorry, I am getting off topic. I was listening to “Beyond Belief” by Petra and that song went along with what I have been talking about. Belief is just the beginning, and as they put it “We’re content to pitch our tent, When the glory’s evident, Seldom do we know, The glory came and went” … “There’s a higher place to go, Beyond belief”. Now I fully get that. Paul talked to the Corinthians about that in 1 Corinthians 31~3, they remained very fleshly stuck in just the belief and have not moved on to spiritual living. They accepted the covenant, had the party but where not living out what they accepted. Paul spends a lot of time discussing this across may of his books, namely talking about being dead to the flesh. Jesus has stern warnings that He gave to the Church in Ephesus in Revelation 2:1~7, they where doing good things, but not living spiritual lives. We need to get to belief, then move past it, and grow into a spiritual walk with Christ.

Now back when this was made, I was not that on board with the music. Actually when DC talk came out I grabbed my Bible and headed into the mountain and spent a lot of time digging through scripture to prove that their music style was wrong. Then after some time expressing my frustration in not finding anything, I was told that was legalism and that the Holy Spirit can work through them just as He can work through anyone. That started my decades long journey to today, leaving behind legalism and embracing a covenant lifestyle. Now I can see they where more right with their music that was stretching boundaries than those that criticized/judged them.

Anyway, if you have never heard the song Beyond Belief by Petra, here is the 90’s music video all in it’s wild hair and VHS quality, awesome car though… – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KY7jLQGHA0


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