Theology from Green Day: Surrender

Posted by Troy | Filed under Faith, Music

Surrender.

A theme predominant in the New Testament.

One of which I’ve been acutely aware for a long time—and equally aware of my own inability to do so.

Funny in a way that even the act of surrendering is something I attempt to do in my own strength.

At least whenever I reach a point of saying “I surrender” (even though I’m probably not surrendering all as the hymn implies)

I know I’ve surrendered just a little bit more.

Not enough… I know… but I’m not completely self aware yet (never will be)… and with more awareness of myself, the more I can find ways to relinquish that false sense of control I seem to have over those newly realized compartments of my life.

I imagine the idea of biblical “surrender” must be confusing to those outside of orthodox Christianity (or even evangelicalism) because we tend to think of surrender as a negative. Always a giving up to some sort of oppression or attack.

Maybe that is why I have such a difficult time surrendering my will or control (imagined or otherwise) over to God.

Because it feels like giving up… defeat.

In reality it’s not defeat at all… but the only true path to victory.

Surrender. Not to a vengeful enemy or oppression, but to loving embrace…

A friend commented yesterday on Green Day’s “21 Guns” performance at the Grammy Awards show this year saying “Green Day may be one of our best theologians today.”

It is a great statement of how often we must be in defeat in order to understand the freedom that comes in surrendering to God.

Funny that just last week I heard someone frantically call for this song to be skipped (deeming it “inappropriate”) when it inadvertently played along with the background music as the kids were filtering out of children’s church…

If only they’d known it might have been the healthiest dose of truth the kids got that morning.

21 Guns

Do you know what’s worth fighting for?
When it’s not worth dying for?
Does it take your breath away
And you feel yourself suffocating?

Does the pain weigh out the pride?
And you look for a place to hide?
Did someone break your heart inside?
You’re in ruins

One, 21 guns
Lay down your arms, give up the fight
Throw up your arms into the sky, you and I

When you’re at the end of the road
And you lost all sense of control
And your thoughts have taken their toll
When your mind breaks the spirit of your soul

Your faith walks on broken glass
And the hangover doesn’t pass
Nothing’s ever built to last
You’re in ruins

One, 21 guns
Lay down your arms, give up the fight
Throw up your arms into the sky, you and I

Did you try to live on your own
When you burned down the house and home?
Did you stand too close to the fire
Like a liar looking for forgiveness from a stone?

When it’s time to live and let die
And you can’t get another try
Something inside this heart has died
You’re in ruins

One, 21 guns
Lay down your arms, give up the fight
Throw up your arms into the sky