This is a snippet from a message I offered to Williamsburg Christian Church on Sunday October 27, 2024 entitled, “Prayers of Praise and Praise Songs in Major Key” It was a follow up to the previous week’s message on lament, “Prayers of Protest and Praise Songs in Minor Key.” This brief section seems particularly relevant for today.

Followers of Jesus arm themselves for self-protection because of fear; followers of Jesus lash out to destroy those with whom they disagree, resulting in name-calling and labeling, all because of fear; followers of Jesus grip tightly to the privileges they’ve come to idolize, mistaking them as rights and freedoms, and in fear of losing them will do anything to keep them, even pledging their allegiance to the cult of personality. All the while, these followers of Jesus claim faith. Still, they are frightened, thoughtlessly giving themselves over to the rules of the reign of sin and death, and actively participating in the things that contradict Jesus’ teachings and way of life. We live in a society where Christians claim faith but live in fear. 

Praise songs in major key remind us that in a society held hostage by thoughtless fears, we can be thoughtful about our faith. Praise songs in major key remind us to resist the thoughtless fear many followers of Jesus are held captive by and awaken to the thoughtful faith Jesus calls us to follow in the Sermon on the Mount. Praise songs in major key remind us that loving our neighbors is not woke, and loving our enemies is not weak. We can be concerned and even lament, but we do not have to be frightened. I am reminded of Dr. Walter Brueggemann’s words, a 91-year-old man who has actively worked for a more just world reflective of Jesus’ teachings on the Sermon on the Mount:

“The truth is that frightened people will never turn the world, because they use too much energy on protection of self. It is the vocation of the baptized, the known and named and unafraid, to make the world whole: The unafraid are open to the neighbor, while the frightened are defending themselves from the neighbor. The unafraid are generous in the community, while the frightened, in their anxiety, must keep and store and accumulate, to make themselves safe. The unafraid commit acts of compassion and mercy, while the frightened do not notice those in need. The unafraid are committed to justice for the weak and the poor, while the frightened see them only as threats. The unafraid pray in the morning, care through the day, and rejoice at night in thanks and praise, while the frightened are endlessly restless and dissatisfied. So dear people, each of you: Do not fear! I have called you by name; you are mine!” ~ From A Way other than Our Own: Devotions for Lent