U2

Any U2 fans here ?

I loved U2 when I was a teenager - quit listening to them after coming to faith, then read some stuff early on about their origins and their faith, so I rented a video of them. This was when I was a young believer. The video had a lot of profanity so I wrote them off immediately as not Christians. "If they were believers, they wouldn't cuss"

Several years later, I've been reading a lot more about Bono's personal faith and all the good they've done. So I looked up their lyrics and discovered that multiple songs could easily be mistaken as CCM songs due to their very clear message of Christianity.

I'm beginning to think that when I was younger I judged them too quickly and improperly, esp since I'm no where near perfect myself. I'm starting to see some of the band members as real and authentic humans who DO have a heart for Jesus. And that they've used their platform of success to sew seeds of truth, which is a lot more than I can say about any given band in the mainstream.

to sew seed? how do you do that? I thought seeds were sown ..

I can't stand U2.. never have.

I love U2..especially the 80s albums...Bono, Larry Mullins and the edge are Christians...Adam leans more toward a "zen" thinking. I did some reading on them and found out they hold a theology similar to mine. There is even a book out there called "One step closer...why u2 matters to those seeking God" by Christian Scharen. It is available at amazon. It is a really good book that goes into detail in looking at U2's Christian walk.

My favorite albums are Boy, Joshua Tree, The unforgettable fire and war. I also really liked the live at red rock album and video.

I remember reading somewhere that several of them almost quit U2 early on to go into seminary (but I can't remember where I heard that). I never would have guess that any of them were Christians just by listening to their music, but I never really dived into any of their lyrics much at all.

I liked most of their 80's output and still have the Joshua Tree and Rattle & Hum cds.

Have played an U2 intro on guitar lessons.

I never really got into their music.

Here is but a small sampling of a much bigger picture that Bono is clearly reading his Bible regularly:

Regarding Faith: "We've found different ways of expressing it, and recognized the power of the media to manipulate such signs. Maybe we just have to sort of draw our fish in the sand. It's there for people who are interested. It shouldn't be there for people who aren't." -- Bono

Song: "Gloria"
"Gloria...in te domine
Gloria...exultate
Gloria...Gloria
Oh Lord, loosen my lips...
Only in you I'm complete"
"In te domine...exultate...miserere" -- (The first words in Latin of three Psalms in ch.30)

Song: "Drowning Man"
"The storms will pass...the storm will pass...
It won't be long now...it won't be long now...
His love will last
His love will last...forever
Take my hand
You know I'll be there
If you can
I'll cross the sky for your love
Give you what I hold dear
Hold on, hold on tightly
Hold on, hold on tightly
Rise up, rise up
With wings like eagles
You run, you run
You run and not grow weary"

Song: "Surrender"
"If I wanna live I gotta die to myself someday"

Song: "40"
(song is based on Psalm 40)
"I waited patiently for the Lord
He inclined and heard my cry
He lift me up out of the pit
Out of the miry clay
I will sing, sing a new song...
He set my feet upon a rock
And made my footsteps firm
Many will see
Many will see and fear
I will sing, sing a new song"

Song: "Pride- In the Name of Love"
"One man betrayed with a kiss..
One man washed on an empty beach (possibly Jonah ?)
...One man come here to justify - In the Name of Love"

Song: "Bullet the Blue Sky"
"Jacob wrestled the angel
And the angel was overcome"

Song: "Love Rescue Me"
"Yea, though I walk
In the valley of shadow
Yea, I will fear no evil
I have cursed thy rod and staff
They no longer comfort me
Love rescue me"

Song: "When Love Comes to Town"
"I was there when they crucified my Lord/
I held the scabbard when the soldier drew his sword/
I threw the dice when they pierced his side..."


Song: "Until the End of the World"
"We ate the food, we drank the wine...I took the money,
I spiked your drink...In the garden I was playing the tart,
I kissed your lips and broke your heart"

Song: "Beautiful Day"
"See the bird with the leaf in her mouth...
After the flood all the colours came out"

Song: "Walk On"
"A place that has to be believed to be seen...
Home - I can't say where it is, but I know I'm going"

Song: "Yahweh"
"Take these hands
Teach them what to carry
Take these hands
Don't make a fist no
Take this mouth
So quick to critisize
Take this mouth
Give it a kiss -
Yahweh, Yahweh"

That's just a sampling... there are tons of songs even more clear than these... what amazes me is, the lyrics in many U2 songs are more Christian than many CCM bands signed by Christian labels today !

Summarizing excerpts from The Encyclopedia of CCM:

"U2 came together in the 70s at Mount Temple High School. Three members attended a prayer and Bible study group twice a week. After leaving, they continued to have Bible studies on their tour bus and hotel rooms. There was much tension between the 3 members and Adam Clayton who did not share their faith. Early on when their 1st album Boy became a hit, Bono, the Edge and Mullen were very clear about their faith, identifying themselves as believers with an evangelical enthusiasm."

I'm not God, nor can I judge anyone's salvation or relationship with the Father... but I personally believe that these men are our brothers in the faith- I think God has allowed them to have a large platform to feed the starving and shelter the homeless as Bono has strived to do... but it's not without cost. People in their position are not like us average believers. Being so big could not be easy, and I'm sure they've been torn to shreds from every side of the camp - Their imperfections are under spotlights 24/7 just as CCM artists are.

I've come to respect this band that I once judged. May God continue to work through them and share His truths all over the world.

I will follow is an early track that was written to the lord according to Bono...



I will Follow...

I was on the outside when you said
You said you needed me
I was looking at myself
I was blind, I could not see

A boy tries hard to be a man
His mother takes him by his hand
If he stops to think he starts to cry
Oh why

If you walkaway, walkaway
I walkaway, walkaway...I will follow

If you walkaway, walkaway
I walkaway, walkaway...I will follow

I was on the inside
When they pulled the four walls down
I was looking through the window
I was lost, I am found

Walkaway, walkaway
I walkaway, walkaway...I will follow
If you walkaway, walkaway,
I walkaway, walkaway...I will follow
I will follow

Your eyes make a circle
I see you when I go in there
Your eyes, your eyes...

If you walkaway, walkaway
I walkaway, walkaway..I will follow

If you walkaway, walkaway
I walkaway, walkaway...I will follow

I will follow
I will follow...

I like the 80's stuff like The Joshua Tree & Unforgettable Fire but not a lot of the newer stuff.

That "I will follow" is a great song. A lot of Christian artists have remade that one.

I just picked up the Christian artists U2 tribute from a Goodwill yesterday... pretty good interpretations

I have always loved U2. Except for 2 discs, I have them all.

During the band's stay in Joshua Tree (the inspiration behind the album of the same name, and the desert paradise that is less than 10 miles from my house), they stayed at a little motel on the edge of Joshua Tree and 29 Palms (which was also the inspiration behind the song by Robert Plant). Since they stayed there in the 80s, the motel has all these framed signed pics of the band in most rooms.

It's kind of cool to live so close to these locations that inspired musicians.

I think I read a few years ago that Adam Clayton became a Christian. I'll have to search for that...

I love U2. One of my friends (and a former professor) gave a paper on "Wake Up Dead Man" for a conference on Christian music.

Loved their 80's stuff...not a fan of much else.

I've been a huge fan since War. Didn't like Pop or Zooropa but they came back strong with All that You Can't Leave Behind.