I don’t listen to a lot of “contemporary Christian music.” And that might sound strange, coming from a guy who made a living playing music. Yes, I’ve listened to (and I sang) a lot of songs over the years. Just not so much now. Because there’s something I look for in music that I just don’t often find.
So much contemporary Christian music is feelings. Not facts.
I’ll share one example. And I don’t mean to pick on him, because he’s probably a real nice guy. But I just discovered a song, by Matthew Sweet, called “Unplanned.” I couldn’t tell you another song by Mr. Sweet. But I’ve heard his breathy style before, and…oops…I’ll stay away from that rabbit hole.
Anyway…
Matthew’s song says…
“I’m looking at a masterpiece.
And I’m staring at a work of art.
I’m listening to a symphony
In every beat of your tiny heart.
You used to be a choice to make.
But now I think you’ve chosen me
‘Cause I see ten fingers, ten toes,
Two eyes and I know this is meant to be.”
And it’s fairly apparent he’s singin’ about his baby.
Matter of fact, in the video for the song, there’s a clip of a pregnant woman’s ultrasound. So, Matthew’s showing how obvious it is that pregnancy means there’s a human baby inside that woman. And that’s a great thing. Because that tiny baby, forming in the womb, IS a masterpiece. A work of art.
But then he sings, “…I know this is meant to be.”
And that’s a feeling. Not a fact.
Because it implies that what’s happening was planned. And you might think I’m being too picky. Maybe it’s just a figure of speech he’s using to illustrate how his mind has been changed.
OK. But then Matthew continues that idea in the chorus…
“Oh I don’t believe in accidents.
Miracles, they don’t just happen by chance.
As long as my God holds the world in His hands
I know that there’s no such thing as unplanned.”
I’d like to address those lyrics line by line.
If you’re a Christian, how could you not believe in accidents? Especially when Jesus, Himself, says they happen. And, by definition, miracles are rare. So, a baby isn’t a miracle. And things DO happen by chance. Again, Jesus, Himself, said they do.
Here’s a tough one, even for Christians. God does NOT hold this world in His hands. Not currently. And again, Jesus tells us that. Three times! He WILL rule this world one day. But He currently does NOT rule. And the evidence should be as clear as the daily news.
And the last line, in the chorus of Mr. Sweet’s song, once again implies that everything is/was planned. But that’s absolutely not true.
Your righteous, loving Creator did NOT plan the course of history.
Yes, he does have A PLAN. But not infinite plans for the infinite potential directions billions of lives could go each and every day. God is infinitely more brilliant than that. He’d never design men and women, in His image and likeness, only to have to plot out their every move. That would be what marketers call “make work.”
No, God designed us to be able to think. And work. And build things…on our own. Because He’s like the ultimate, dazzling, loving father. It brings Him joy to see what you come up with. At least until you come up with ways to ignore and even remove Him from your life.
If you currently find yourself with that attitude, my suggestion is to change your mind. Because you CAN change your mind. And you CAN change the course you’ll take for eternity. Where you’ll end up, forever, hasn’t already been planned.
Yes, there IS such a thing as unplanned. Heaven or hell, for you, is unplanned. Until you choose. And don’t just make a plan to choose. Choose now.
Because, as Elvis sang all those years ago, “Tomorrow may be too late. It’s now or never…”
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