Dylan and the General Assembly The Courage To be Change Makers
I've just spent the last hour watching a programme on BBC Channel 4 all about the life and times of Bob Dylan. It made me cast my mind back to the first time I heard about Dylan. I think I was in 2nd year at Secondary School. I was talking about music to a classmate, I think it might have been Sam Elder. He told me about this singer called Dylan. He said he was a poet and that he had something to say. As the General Assembly meets this week would the average teenager feel that the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland had something to say about their lives?
Back in the 60s I was unashamedly known as a Christian at school and I think I probably came over as a bit seriously minded Perhaps Sam felt that I'd appreciate the biblical sentiments in Dylan's songs. However he got the message, he knew Dylan believed " The Times Were Changing"
Tonight listening to the programme I was reminded of the power and influence of music. I have no doubt that Dylan changed the mindset of my generation or as some people believe he was a prophetic figure raging against the evils of capitalism and mindless state organised violence. The truth is I think people projected that description on to Dylan and i also think he found it a heavy burden to carry.
I recalled how good the feeling was in those days to be young and feel you can and need to make a difference in the world . I'm sure that many young people still have these same feelings and I hope those of us who are getting older never pour cold water over their enthusiasm. The greatest quality to bring about change in any organisation is enthusiasm. Yes I know we need many more qualities no doubt, but enthusiasm releases then potential of others to bring about change. I believe the Church needs to display such confidence to the world around. Our confidence in the Gospel can surely bring about change, when we allow ourselves to become the agents of change.
As a young Christian I truly believed that that we could change the world. Looking back however I can also see that I often missed the point that Dylan was singing about. I was more interested in talking about faith rather than putting faith into action. Its interesting to see how musicians have been used over the years to raise awareness that finally brings about change. Many years were to pass before another musician by the name of Bob would challenge me to move from merely talking about gospel charity to begin to be pro-active in bringing about gospel change through social action. Geldof in the mid 80s talking about the Ethiopian famine challenged me to do more. I think this evening was a reminder to me that each one of us can be the change but we need to step up to the plate and take on board the challenges.
As I write it is the eve of another General Assembly in Edinburgh. Over the next week many words will be spoken, but the greatest example of all will be that which is displayed in deeds of love. Proclamation Gospel is only ratified in the life and example of believers. It is my prayer that as the church meets for fellowship and encouragement and also to disentangle some very difficult points of view that we don't miss this point. Lets make sure that we don't mistake talking about things as being the same as actually doing things.
Here's a song Iain Jamieson and myself wrote a few years ago while thinking about the challenges facing Christians inside and outside the church. How can we be relevant and faithful. Click on the orange title and you'll hear the song.
01 feel Shut Out
Feel shut in
And I feel shut out
Give up
Can't say now
And I won't say when
Lonely
And its funny how the busiest life
Can feel so dammed empty
And I tell you now this empty soul heart is aching
For you let your children
Walk away from your door
For everyone that walked
There is a million more
You talk of your programmes visions and dreams
And I just want to scream
Have you room for love
Have you space for me
For I'm not like you you see
Don't want no walls around me
Break them down
Feel kicked in
And I feel kicked out
Hurting
Can't Forgive
Can you forgive
Sorry
And its funny how the busiest life
Can feel so dammed empty
And I tell you now this empty soul is aching
For you let your children
Walk away from your door
For everyone that walked
There is a million more
You talk of your programmes visions and dreams
And I just want to scream
Have you room for love
Have you space for me
For I'm not like you you see
Don't want no walls around me
Break them down
I feel talked out
And I feel talked down
Useless
I can't get by
Its all a front
Help me
And its funny how the busiest life
Can feel so dammed empty
And I tell you now this empty soul is aching
For you let your children
Walk away from your door
For everyone that walked
There is a million more
You talk of your programmes
Visions and dreams
And I just want to scream
Have you room for love
Have you space for me
For I'm not like you you see
Don't want no walls around me
Break them down
Copyright Bogle/Jamieson
