It starts off with some pronounced piano keys hammering an ominous prelude – not too unlike a great Elton John track from the ’70s. Then the words gently jump right into your rib cage, not mincing words, but taking one gentle step at a time:
“Have we failed again?
Talking about the love of God
and judging those who need it most…??
It’s utilizing the emotional power and impact of music and confronting an apathy that is wrong. It’s like punching someone in the gut, but asking permission before it happens. It’s not every day that an artist is able to create something so powerful, so loving and convicting and passionate. It’s a moment in Christian rock’s history that we can be extremely proud of (if you don’t have a problem using a word like “pride” to describe one of your own emotions). Steve Camp hit the nail on the head with this song. It was part of an album called Justice that had a few really powerful and (I don’t like to throw this word around, but) prophetically-edged tunes on it. (Spin these sometime: “Playing Marbles with Diamonds,” “Don’t Tell Them Jesus Loves Them,” “Living Dangerously in the Hands of God” and Camp’s cover of the Larry Norman classic, “Great American Novel.”)
He hit a raw nerve and made a point that the worldwide church could not and cannot afford to ignore. We should be a living body that responds to pain and suffering with mercy and practical help. Our Master made it clear that when we helped “the least of these” that we are ministering to Him. It’s a practical example of love to help a fellow human being. Now imagine being on your deathbed and lonely, forsaken by all the human beings around you, getting condemnation for the lifestyle associated with a disease that’s attacking your flesh. At a time when the church could have (and surely was in some humble un-showy out-of-the-public-eye cases) and should have been the first responders to the scene.
It’s a classic scenario of letting go of judgment in favor of a greater need. When your child gets wounded doing something unlawful, do you rush to his side and chastise him for his behavior? Or do you tend to his wounds and love on him?
I’m not sure I would have chosen the “We Are The World” gang chorus at the end, but perhaps the subject matter – AIDS and the indictment that the church was not responding to those suffering – was so big that it warranted such an approach. It’s not really a “We Are the World” forced chorus, though. Perhaps that’s too critical of a statement. It’s got some black gospel soul (which I would have turned up a few degrees to shake things like a live performance would bring), but it sounds watered down a little in the mix. I can imagine being in a room where these singers go off and keep going with no urgent pressure to end the song any time soon. It’s got a legit soul grip to it. Before the gang comes in, there’s a nice sax solo.
…Oh, these afflicted ones
They feel their lives just fade away
Left to face the end alone!So we say a prayer for their need
Afraid to touch, to hurt, to bleed(chorus)
Do you feel their pain, has it touched your life?
Can you taste the salt in the tears they cry?
Will you love them more than the hate that’s been?
Will you love them back to life again?We should feel the shame
Allowing fear to close our minds
These are lives we can’t ignore!Oh, don’t turn away!
Will you see Jesus in each of them?
These are souls He suffered for!There is hope for them, open up your heart
There is grace for them, or do you think they’ve gone too far?(chorus)
Empty eyes and lonely souls
Starving for love and crying for hope!
Jesus said, “Bring them unto Me
I’ll make them whole, I can set them free!”Will you care for them, or let them go alone?
Will you lend a hand or will you cast a stone?
This song brings me to my knees inside almost every time I hear it. Just typing these words out is hard to do without feeling deep sorrow and a passionate response. I know that I can’t be the only one that’s moved by this song. It’s got qualities all about it that are just too deep, too powerful and too mesmerizing to just be a little ole’ favorite song of mine. This is a classic. Sometimes I’m humbled and so full of gratitude for the art that some people create. This is one of those moments.
I promised Andrew Beaujon (author of Body Piercing Saved My Life) a mixtape of the best Christian rock songs of all time. A 77s tune here, a Vengeance Rising song here. This tune should be on that thing. I need to make that thing someday.
This is one of my favorite installments in HM Magazine – “Classic Moments in Christian Rock History.” I try my best to deliver a textual snapshot of a moment in time where the whole world should have stopped to take this in and appreciate something great.
Join us next time for a look at The Crucified’s song, “The Crucial Moment.”
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