As far as music and chord progressions go, “Pressure” is one of my favorite Billy Joel songs. The synthesizer melody line appeals to me. And his slightly off-the-beat lyrics fit the music very nicely. Being a keyboard player, Billy Joel was certainly on my radar. But it appears he doesn’t fully understand (and maybe doesn’t even care about) the pressure force he’ll face one day not so far away.
Yeah, I appreciate his musical accomplishments, but they could all amount to less than nothing.
And it doesn’t make me feel good to say that. In fact, it makes me sad to point out the potentially eternal shortcomings of such a gifted singer songwriter. But, according to a website that tracks celebrity atheists, here’s what Billy said about Jesus…
“Well, I wasn’t raised Catholic, but I used to go to Mass with my friends, and I viewed the whole business as a lot of very enthralling hocus-pocus. There’s a guy hanging upon the wall in the church, nailed to a cross and dripping blood, and everybody’s blaming themselves for that man’s torment, but I said to myself, “Forget it. I had no hand in that evil. I have no original sin Theres no blood of any sacred martyr an my hands. I pass on all of this.”
I can almost feel the pressure force building as I read that quote.
Doesn’t say much for that Catholic church, if that’s all a person gets out of a visit there. And it doesn’t say much for the person who visits the church and doesn’t look into the actual message more deeply. But so what. Who needs “a guy hanging on the wall in the church” when you’ve got yourself. Right?
And that’s apparently how Mr. Joel feels about it. At least if the lyrics in “Pressure” are an indicator.
“Don’t ask for help, You’re all alone
Pressure
You’ll have to answer To your own
Pressure”
And, of course, no self-respecting atheist feels complete until he attempts to ridicule those who’d dare believe and have faith in their Creator. Like these lines in “Pressure” –
“I’m sure you’ll have some cosmic rationale
But here you are with your faith
And your Peter Pan advice”
The cool thing about the Christian faith is, it isn’t (and certainly doesn’t have to be) just some esoteric, “cosmic rationale.” Because the evidence for creation is literally everywhere on planet Earth. In fact, it’s literally everywhere IN planet Earth.
For example, excess fluid pressure (since we’re on that topic)
In case you haven’t noticed, or you just don’t track such things, there’s a lot of gas, oil, and water pressure underneath the surface of the Earth. And that might not seem like a big deal. But here’s the point. If those fluids had been trapped under there just 10,000 to 100,000 years ago (let alone millions of years) they would have leaked out a lot more. And there wouldn’t be such high pressure levels.
That’s reason number 73, out of the astronomical and physical sciences section in Walt Brown’s book, and it’s another indicator that the Earth is young. I’ll leave you with this parody of Billy Joel’s lyrics…
The oil and gas still under underground
Pressure
Push through the crust and all around
Pressure
So sad you trust your selfish argument
And put your faith all in you
And ignore God’s sacrifice.
Stay tuned,
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