Rock Band for Jesus

If you’ve spent much time in church, really in certain kinds of churches, you probably understand. And if you know anything about Redeemer, you know that it’s not one of those churches. Sometimes Jazz Band for Jesus, but that’s as far as it goes. And that’s totally fine. Jesus said in Luke 19:40 that, “If they (referring to his disciples) keep quiet the stones will cry out”. He means the rocks will cry out to worship him. That our praise of him matters, but he's saying here “I will be praised no matter if you do it or not and if you acknowledge me or not.  If you don’t, the rocks will.” So if the rocks will, I am fairly certain that it is irrelevant what type of music we use to worship him. We don’t need music at all. But if we are going to use music, I prefer the rock band.

Yes, emotion and depth can be expressed quietly, but it makes the most sense to me for them to be expressed loudly - with voices and with instruments. In the DR we went to a church that sang several songs that were originally written in English and translated into Spanish. The congregation might not even know that and it is really irrelevant anyway, but it at first really bothered me. I wanted to say, Spanish-speaking people can write beautiful music too! Why are you relying on things imported from the U.S.? It made me annoyed at my country that exports culture in every way possible and “ruins” other cultures. Annoyed for about 10 seconds. And then I thought, “I love this song. And it’s an awesome song. How cool that we can all sing the same words to God in different languages…and how cool that I actually understand this song!” Ha! And it became really beautiful to me. Beautiful because I know that language and music don’t matter to God, it’s the worship from our hearts that he wants.

Okay, so take a song translated from English, add 400 Peruvians singing with their whole hearts, and a rock band. It equals pure joy. Do you know the song, “You Never Let Go” by Matt Redman? If you do, here it is in Spanish. Sing it out loud. It just might give you joy in your heart, too. 

Aunque yo esté 
en el valle de la muerte y dolor 
tu amor me quita todo temor... 

y si llego a estar en el centro de la tempestad, 
no dudaré,porque estás aqui. 

Y no temeré del mal 
pues mi Dios conmigo está 
y si Dios conmigo está 
de quién temeré? 

No,no me soltarás 
en la calma o la tormenta 
No,no me soltarás 
en lo alto, en lo bajo 
No,no me soltarás 
Dios nunca me dejarás. 

Puedo ver la luz 
que se acerca 
al que busca de ti, 
glorioso Dios. 

Y terminarán los problemas y mientras llega el fin 
viviremos conociéndote a ti 

Y no temeré del mal 
pues mi Dios conmigo esta, 
y si Dios conmigo está 
de quién temeré? 

No,no me soltarás 
en la calma o la tormenta 
No,no me soltarás 
en lo alto, en lo bajo 
No,no me soltarás 
Dios nunca me dejarás. 

Puedo ver la luz 
que se acerca 
al que busca de ti 
y terminarán los problemas. 

Mientras llega el fin 
voy a alabarte, 
voy a alabarte solo a ti. 

Y puedo ver la luz que se acerca 
al que busca de ti 
y terminaran los problemas. 

Mientras llega el fin 
voy a alabarte... 

No,no me soltarás 
en la calma o la tormenta 
No,no me soltarás 
en lo alto, en lo bajo 
No,no me soltarás 
Dios nunca me dejarás.

And in case that made no sense to you, here it is in English.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death
Your perfect love is casting out fear
And even when I'm caught in the middle of the storms of this life
I won't turn back
I know you are near

And I will fear no evil
For my God is with me
And if my God is with me
Whom then shall I fear?
Whom then shall I fear?

(Chorus:)
Oh no, You never let go
Through the calm and through the storm
Oh no, You never let go
In every high and every low
Oh no, You never let go
Lord, You never let go of me

And I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
A glorious light beyond all compare
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
We'll live to know You here on the earth

(Chorus)

Yes, I can see a light that is coming for the heart that holds on
And there will be an end to these troubles
But until that day comes
Still I will praise You, still I will praise You

(Chorus 2x's)