
So, Amazon sent me Coldplay’s new album, Viva la Vida on Tuesday, and I got to really listen to it yesterday. Now I normally wouldn’t post about a “secular” band’s album here, but listening to the title track, I was struck by how fitting it was to the current predicament a lot of the institutional church finds itself in. The song, Viva la Vida, is told from the perspective of a king who has lost his power. His once great standing in the world is gone, and he’s left with only memories of the golden years.
I wonder sometimes if that isn’t why we see the sort of reaction we do from some people in the church. It is not an easy thing to lose power and influence. As humans, we naturally crave it. Evangelicals have held a lot of sway in America for the last 50 years or so, and I think we are now arriving at a place where a lot that power has left or is the process of leaving. The question becomes, how will the respond? Will we grasp for power, or we embrace our lack of power and serve others? Will we be content with “sweeping the streets”?
Here are the lyrics:
Viva la Vida
I used to rule the world
Seas would rise when I gave the word
Now in the morning I sleep alone
Sweep the streets I used to ownI used to roll the dice
Feel the fear in my enemies eyes
Listen as the crowd would sing:
“Now the old king is dead, long live the king!”One minute I held the key
Next the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand
Upon pillars of salt, and pillars of sandI hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword, my shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can’t explain
Once you go there was never, never an honest word
That was when I ruled the worldIt was the wicked and wild wind
Blew down the doors to let me in
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
People couldn’t believe what I’d becomeRevolutionaries wait
For my head on a silver plate
Just a puppet on a lonely string (Ooooh)
Ah, who would ever want to be king?I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword, and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field
For some reason I can’t explain
I know Saint Peter will call my name
Never an honest word
But that was when I ruled the world
By the way, this is the song that is on the new Itunes commercial, and, yes I do realize there is some level of irony in Apple using a song about the loss of one’s power in an ad.

Since the release of his first book,
As I sit here, finishing my lunch, I am struck by a recent comment from Nathan on 
That’s it folks! Look no further for the reason why we all in decline. According to
Good news for all our 








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