I heard this Billy Joel song on the radio the other day on the way home from work. It had been a while since I'd heard it. For better or for worse, my mind often goes to work analyzing things (although I've really cut back on thinking about things too much), and I really had a quite a time thinking about this song. Just wondering if any of your thoughts line up with mine (or not)!
Although my thoughts were somewhat extensive, I'll be brief here. The chorus goes, "We didn't start the fire, it was always burning since the world's been turning. We didn't start the fire, no we didn't light it but we're trying to fight it."
What a simple chorus, but just watch me complicate it! They say that art is interpreted by the viewer/listener/hearer/beholder, and judging from the all words in the verses of this song, I've interpreted "the fire" as all the things that mankind has done over the years... both good and evil.
And so... I would say that "the fire" was started when Adam ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. From that perspective, I would say that "we" (all humans) didn't start "the fire," but it came through the one man, Adam. However, every single person has contributed to "the fire" (living from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil).
And so my question is... are "we" (the human race) trying to fight it? Is it up to "us" to make things right. Can we make things right? (By "right," I'm not talking about fixing the world's woes. I'm talking about restoring mankind to the tree of Life rather than living by the knowledge of good and evil)!
I say "no," because the "fight" has already been fought and won! There's still a lot of good and evil in the world, but the fight that was necessary to get us out of living under the curse of that tree has been won and we're now able to go back to the tree of LIFE, rather than living by the tree of the knowledge of good and evil!
I know I could do a sermon here, or a series of sermons, but I'll simply ask if what I've said so far stirs any thoughts in you? Do you think I'm utterly mad? ;)
Either way, it's still a fun song!
Billy Joel - We Didn't Start the Fire
========> Very interesting post Joel.
ReplyDeleteThe Song to me seems to indicate an observation that humans have inherited this pretty screwed up evil world - in a sense a statement/observation: 'don't blame me...I didn't design it, I simply inherited this dump' You and I know why it is screwed up thanks to our forefathers going back to Adam. We know Satan is a father of all lies and a destroyer. Hardly a builder.
"And so my question is... are "we" (the human race) trying to fight it? Is it up to "us" to make things right. Can we make things right? (By "right," I'm not talking about fixing the world's woes. I'm talking about restoring mankind to the tree of Life rather than living by the knowledge of good and evil)!"
=====> back in my seminary days and if I recall it correctly; those in Christ are called to partnership to restore this world (the lost) back to Him. This could be seen as a fight because Jesus did say that in this world we will have troubles. Paul talked about suffering when it came to his Christian activity. Scripture also talks about armour - someone's duking it out somewhere (giggle).
"I say "no," because the "fight" has already been fought and won! There's still a lot of good and evil in the world, but the fight that was necessary to get us out of living under the curse of that tree has been won and we're now able to go back to the tree of LIFE, rather than living by the tree of the knowledge of good and evil!"
=======> Yes the victory is here - sort of that tension seen frequently in the Kingdom...'Yet, but not yet'. The victory is here but not fully seen - in a sense we are living the movie that has played out but we are only halfway through. We know the guy gets the girl at the end of the movie and they live happily ever after. Ex. Kind of like being seated in the heavenlies as we still mush around on this mudball called earth.
I believe we partner in Christ's victories in our lives. He does the work we are the ones in the earthsuits along for this restorative work of bringing the lost home to Abba. As for scope...I would love to save the world, right every wrong, but it will not happen. At best it is that old analogy of the thousands of starfish being washed up on the beach. A young lad is throwing some back into the sea one at a time. A critic comes to the lad and says he ought not bother with them...he can't possibly save them all. The lad is content in saving one at a time and making a huge difference to just that single starfish he rescued.
So much for the ramble.
No you are not mad - just madly in love with Him (Jesus).
Postal Pastor of Belmontistan
~8)
back in my seminary days
ReplyDeleteWell, you see, therein lies your problem, my east-of-the-border* bro and friend. :) Ha ha... Just kidding!
Really, you've very eloquently hit the heart of the big picture, which is not that there's simply a final movie in which the guy gets the girl but that we're actually in the movie, partnering with the guy to get the girl. (I'm not putting it quite so eloquently).
The angle that I was coming from is that the world itself ("we" in the song) is powerless to save itself, although people in the world tend to think it's up to humanity to save humanity.
But yep indeed, when some of "us" are
crucified to the world and the world to us, and become joined together with the Savior of the world ("the guy"), we become part of the army that is battling to rescue the girl.
*Did you know that you're only 1 degree north of me? I discovered this when I started to begin planning for the trip I never took there this past autumn. :) And yes, I worded that correctly. I started to begin, but I never did actually get around to beginning to plan the trip. ;)
Most cool bros. Keep on party'n in the free world...giggle...you are very much in His Spirit.
ReplyDelete~8)