Yesterday I talked about finding the sacred in the secular. Today, I want to give an example of what I mean, while getting to the point of this post. My current favourite band is Breaking Benjamin, and I can’t really recommend them to my Christian brethren, though there are many fans of theirs that are Christian; BB is alternative rock, secular, and like to add in the occasional (well placed) curse word. However, Ben (Benjamin Burnley, lead singer) writes music that hits people on different levels, and encourages fans to find their own meanings to their songs.
One of the reasons that I like this band is their ability to capture certain emotion, and I don’t just mean when they’re screaming at the top of their lungs (which they occasionally indeed do, to very good affect). And, I don’t just like them for the themes that their songs make me conjure up, though that is part of it. Sooner or Later, a song off their We are not Alone album, makes me think of Jesus and His position as King, and as a Lion, and of life and death without Him. Now, to make this perfectly clear; I do not think this was Ben’s intent in any way, shape, or form (the song is more a self-reflection style song, and they are not a Christian band, although we know Mark and Chad believe, and ex-band member Jeremy); however, this is what certain verse make me think about.
Sooner or Later
…You’re like an infantile
I knew it all the while
You sit and try to play me
Just like you see on TV
I am an oversight
Just like a parasite
Why am I so pathetic
I know you won’t forget
These lines call to mind the way Jesus is often portrayed by TV preachers; like He’s standing head bowed, hat in hand knocking on your heart’s door, begging, for His own sake, to be let in out of the cold. He’s also portrayed like a sure-fire celestial slot machine; a genie-type wish granter. On the other hand, legalistic TV preachers often portray Him as a cosmic killjoy. These images, that make me personally ill, stick in the minds of non-believers, and it definitely affects how they think about Him and even how they think about Christians.
People, even some believers, like to think of Christ as a Lamb, which He is; what they don’t like to dwell on is the fact that He is the Lion as well. He is both suffering servant and conquering King, He brings mercy and forgiveness but also a sword of truth… in fact, I read a non-Christian’s write-up about The Chronicles of Narnia in which Aslan, a lion, is the Christ-figure. The writer bemoans the fact that a lion is used; says it doesn’t fit Jesus’ character…he’s apparently never read the Bible, or he’s listened to too many of the “preachers” this song makes me think of.
…Just call my name
You’ll be ok
Your scream is burning through my veins
We are promised in scripture that whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. All it takes to get the relationship going is for us to call upon Him with a true desire to know Him better in our hearts. When we do, He hears us, and wants that relationship too. One of the images I love to mull over is the idea that we are called sheep in the Bible…and sheep need a shepherd, ours just happens to be a Lion, full of power and protection for those that call upon Him, and He indeed should be a point of fear to those that come bringing trouble to His sheep.
…Sooner or later, you’re gonna hate it
Go ahead and throw your life away
Driving me under leaving me out there
Go ahead and throw your life away
These lines make me think of what will come to pass if someone dies still rejecting God and Christ, unfortunately, and also not to let those image of Christ being peddled on TV stick in your mind; learn of Him on your own, through scripture. If someone doesn’t come to Him, and embrace eternal life, they are in effect, throwing their lives away. Most humans, believers and non, and I really mean this, strive to make their way through life the best way they know how. Many people try to leave the world a better place than they found it…but in essence all of that, without Christ, won’t wind up having a permanent effect. Even those that don’t believe in anything acknowledge that; our short lives are over far too soon, and we will all probably be forgotten within two or three generations…but, with Christ, our lives find their true meaning, ultimate fulfillment, and we carry on after death, even to a new Heaven, and a new Earth.
Why is it such a bad thing to deny Christ…the next lines in the song change “Throw your life away,” to “Throw my life away.” By denying Christ, we are basically spitting on His life, and His death. He suffered horribly, and died so that we might live, and if we deny Him, we deny His life. The next go around, the lines get changed to “Throw our life away…” which is ironic, because the name of the album, as I mentioned is “We are not Alone,” God is with us, for sure, and the relationship He offers is such a close one, He offers to be with us in good times and bad, that He will never leave us nor forsake us…imagine throwing that relationship in the garbage… I love the power, and emotion in Ben’s voice, and the music to underscore the idea of a Person in the position of power, again, just in my own thoughts.
I have two main points in this post; first, just because something is indeed labeled “secular” doesn’t mean we can’t pull something out of it to add to our spiritual lives, we just have to be careful and follow the Holy Spirit’s lead. And Second, Jesus isn’t a pushover. He’s not a beggar. He’d not only the Lamb, but also The Lion. In Him, God’s Mercy and Justice meet, and He displays both God’s love and His power to mankind. Whatever the preachers push on TV, and there are some good ones alongside the bad, don’t forget the seek Him one-on-one and through the scriptures and really learn about Him.
For anyone interested, here’s Breaking Benjamin’s video for Sooner or Later at youtube:
18 Comments
July 29, 2008 at 12:00 am
Thanks for the blog. I found it while looking for info on Breaking Benjamin as my son (11) has been exposed to one of the songs through a friend and the soundtrack to Halo2. I told him I’d check out what i can on BB.
I am a repentant religious person who continues to find more and more of God’s touch in most everything, or at least the longing for God in most of everything, including this song. One could totally argue that Marilyn Manson’s work has some wonderful arguments for Christ if we proof-texted his music, or were mature enough to look at it in light of man’s need and desire for God.
That being said, I am personally wrestling with guiding my son through the process of seeing God in the secular without necessarily rubber stamping the secular as a word from God. Not looking for you to answer the question, just letting you know of the wrestling match.
A question I do have is, in this journey, I’ve come across the band “Three days Grace.” I think Ben was wearing a t-shirt of theirs in a photo. Anyway, what do you know of that band and/or the context of the name “three days grace?”
Keep finding Jesus in the margins bro.
Rog
July 29, 2008 at 12:40 am
Roger, first of all, welcome to the blog, and thanks for the comments!
Yes, Breaking Benjamin (BB) did write the song for Halo (Ben, the lead singer is a huge Xbox fan, and plays online all the time). I’m sure it is hard to make certain decisions as to what to let your kids listen to or not…some of BB’s songs I would probably consider too mature, and the lyrics too “intense” for someone so young, but that is in general of course (Ben’s fond of the F-bomb in some of his lyrics).
I also agree with you about artists and their work…sometimes I do think they let out a longing for God, even if they profess not to believe in Him, which can be sad.
One thing you might be able to do with BB is read the lyrics of their songs, and maybe let him download only those you approve of, as some of their songs are “clean,” yet have that rough alternative sound.
Three Days Grace is a band that BB has toured with in the past, and they are definitely not a Christian band. Three Days Grace refers to the grace period that businesses and banks usually gives to customers…many people (me included) think of Christ when they first here the name, but alas, they didn’t mean it that way. I don’t know much about that band, as I’ve never listened to them intently or studied their lyrics.
Regardless, it is interesting to dig into “secular” material to find hints of God amidst it all…once you come to see the world and humans from a spiritual perspective, it’s hard to shut off that type of analyzing.
Grace and Peace,
) in Christ,
Your Sis (
Kliska
August 18, 2009 at 3:19 pm
is it a satanic band??? read this and tell me
I see nothing in your eyes, and the more I see the less I like.
Is it over yet, in my head?
I know nothing of your kind, and I won’t reveal your evil mind.
Is it over yet? I can’t win.
So sacrifice yourself, and let me have what’s left.
I know that I can find the fire in your eyes.
I’m going all the way, get away, please.
[Chorus:]
You take the breath right out of me.
You left a hole where my heart should be.
You got to fight just to make it through,
’cause I will be the death of you.
This will be all over soon.
Pour salt into the open wound.
Is it over yet? Let me in.
So sacrifice yourself, and let me have what’s left.
I know that I can find the fire in your eyes.
I’m going all the way, get away, please.
[Chorus:]
You take the breath right out of me.
You left a hole where my heart should be.
You got to fight just to make it through,
’cause I will be the death of you.
[Bridge]
I’m waiting, I’m praying, realize, start hating.
[Chorus:]
You take the breath right out of me.
You left a hole where my heart should be.
You got to fight just to make it through,
’cause I will be the death of you.
August 19, 2009 at 2:57 pm
No, I think I’ve talked to that fact; I don’t think they are a Satanic band in the least, though they are secular. Dance with the Devil is an interesting one to break down too. Breath, the song you quote here, seems to be about a bad relationship with another person.
October 7, 2008 at 6:30 pm
[...] when we turn to God in faith. Was this Ben Burnley and the band’s intention; hardly. Again, my blatant disclaimer; Breaking Benjamin is NOT a Christian Band, far from it. Most fans agree [...]
October 14, 2008 at 10:13 pm
Thanks for the info! However, I was wondering if the symbol that they have on alot of their T-shirts/posters mean. The one on the tombstone in (So cold) Thanks!
October 15, 2008 at 2:55 am
Many mistake it to be a simple Celtic knot, but actually it is 4 “B’s” interlocked for Breaking Benjamin; two B’s mirrored north and south, two B’s mirrored East/west (just to describe it visually…many times they rotate the symbol 45 degrees; so, on a compass the B’s would be NE, SE, SW, NW.)
December 1, 2008 at 6:32 am
Excellent insight into the undertone of various artists longing for Christ, even if they themselves are unaware of it!
I have wondered, like some of you, if BB lead singer, Ben Burnley, is a Christian. So many of the lyrics in his song lead me to believe that he may have been at one time or maybe is just seeking Christ for the first time. Either way, I hope he finds the “Big Guy!”
December 30, 2008 at 4:01 am
What about their song “Blow me away”? The one that is used on the video game “Halo”. It talks about going to heaven. Also their song “Away”, they Talk about how God is the only way.
December 30, 2008 at 1:35 pm
They have several lyrics that imply certain things, but sometimes people (songwriters) just love to play with the imagery because it is so powerful. Ben helped the (Christian) band Red out on a song, and it will be interesting to hear what it’s all about.
January 11, 2009 at 4:14 am
Thank you so much for the blog! As a teennanger who absolutely loves Breaking Benjamin, but at the same time a deeply religious person, I have been wondering whether their songs particularly the one’s in the album “Phobia” are alright to listen to. I particularly like the tunes of “Evil Angel” and “Dance with the devil” and they just happen to be the one’s that are At least partially religious in nature.
1. Evil Angel: Who is the evil angel? Is the song anti or pro God? Am I worshiping the devil when I sing this song?
2. Dance with the devil: Is it anti or pro satanic?
I also love the song “had enough” and I try to turn the volume off whenever they say the “B” word Its kind of an “in your face” song and it would be really mean if you would actually say those things to people! But what helps make this song cool-as a religious person- is imagining that he is talking to satan. The lyrics “you had to have it all, well have you had enough? you greedy little b^^^^^^^ you will get what you deserve” are so fitting! Can you tell me more about the song?
thank you so much and I hope that you will help me with this,
btw. how do you know all this stuff about “BB”? I am looking all over the internet for information and can’t really find anything. You are so much help.
January 11, 2009 at 9:14 pm
Eric, welcome to the blog! I hope to be able to blog about a new BB album soon…but the guys are still in the writing phase. To answer your last question first, I go to The Shallowbay; shallowbay.com and read the forums. As for some of the stuff about the band; I read their “thank you’s” in the albums…they can be very telling, and just generally keep my ears and eyes open for any hint of BB news.
I too have wondered about some of their song meanings, and I believe that term “Evil Angel” can be seen to mean anything outside of God, that people turn to and worship that are really bad for them; drugs, other people, alcohol, money, power, etc… Notice that the title implies that the angel being spoken about in the song is evil, and not good. When the song talks of imaginary friends, it isn’t making fun of religious folk, it is actually a literal meaning in my opinion; people hooked on drugs/alcohol/etc… usually hang out with people that support the habit, that don’t really care for the person at all; hence they are imaginary friends, nothing but lies and crooked wings.
Oh, yeah, I made a post on it over at the ‘bay…here it is, “Ok, adding my thoughts. At one point, I believe it was discussed (in another thread, or even message board) the connections between this song and possible drug use. I do believe Ben is familiar with Biblical imagery and uses it regularly, but in this case I think that he was using certain biblical themes for an analogy to addiction.
While those that see religion as a myth, or a false POV think that the line that references “imaginary friends” as a putdown to religion, if one reads it with the drug reference in mind, the “imaginary friends” line takes on a whole new meaning. In the case of the whole song, from the singer’s POV, they are searching for a savior, but they find betrayal, and lies, etc…. Many look to drugs/alcohol to save them, and it winds up making everything worse, but as an addict, they feel the drug helps them survive in the world.
From a Christian perspective it hits me as a melancholy song about someone looking for redemption/salvation in all the wrong places (instead of Christ, for instance), realizing it, and slipping away…after all, the singer recognizes he’s calling on an evil angel, one of the fallen, instead of one of the good variety. Anywho, just some extra thoughts.”
As for Dance with the Devil, it is anti-devil IMO; “I believe in you, I can show you that; I can see right through all your empty lies.” To me, it shows from the POV of the “character” in the song, they do indeed believe the Devil is real, and knows that he is indeed a liar. In the same breath, it is someone that knows that they are going into a sticky situation (and apparently “taking someone else there with them” in a metaphorical sense), a situation that may start “flirting” with evil if they aren’t careful; almost as though they are giving up hope.
For “Had Enough,” it is funny that you say that, because I tend to think of telling off Satan too!
I’ve not heard/read Ben’s reason for the song, though he tends to not disclose that so that people can take different things away from it; to make it mean something to them, which is why I’d hope he’d never mind me speculating, and using their songs to discuss religion.
Of course, on a lot of this, my religious spin probably isn’t what Ben intended at all, but it’s just how I (or we) interpret the song because I’m a Christian. I love the emotion in the songs, and some of them just tend to line up in my mind with certain emotions I’ve gone through in my Christian walk…some of their stuff can have me crying from the emotional impact as I think about what the song means for me as I do with “Medicate” and the idea of the prodigal son (or in my case daughter), and the continuing struggles we have against sin. As for listening to their music in general; pray about it and see how the Holy Spirit guides you always listen to Him above anyone else. I listen to the music because I do love the emotion, and meaning I find in it, and the guys who seem like relatively good guys are fun to follow and read about.
Grace and Peace,
Kliska
May 13, 2009 at 5:14 pm
Are Mark, Chad, and Jeremy really Christians? I can’t get a confirmation from anywhere else. Where did you find out?
May 13, 2009 at 10:23 pm
The main place that shows it is in their “thank-you’s” on the CD’s.
October 1, 2009 at 2:03 am
though you have all made good points, BB makes a lot of songs referring to God. Dance with the Devil is about being betrayed by someone and if referring to religion it is Judas in the betrayal of Jesus. As by doing this i always viewed it as Judas selling his soul to the devil. Therefore the lyrics “Say Goodbye as we dance with devil tonight” and when he ben says “I wont last long in this world so wrong” is when the crowd choose a murder over Jesus.
October 6, 2009 at 3:53 am
Plain in simple there those that justify and those that lie and BB is frankly satanic and sing to the almighty evil one. There will be many that will be deceived in this world. Stop trying to link popular worldly content to God. This band is awesome and talented no lie here, but they do not sing of lyrics that any Christian should listen to without seeking to understand and with proper caution! Know what you are listening to and know what your children listen to!
October 6, 2009 at 5:45 pm
Can’t tell of you are of the Poe orientation or not, but it’s fun to post either way. The truth is that parents should know what their kids are listening to, and so should you. Of course BB is indeed a secular band, and of course they are awesome indeed…and of course they aren’t satanic.
December 13, 2009 at 11:21 pm
No these bands are not Christian bands however like the Christian scribbler wrote there are good examples and truth towards Christ that can be pulled out of a lot that is secular; as all are searching for Jesus and in the end anything of joy or hope points to Jesus but use wisdom on what you listen to. Good story