Coldplay’s new album Viva La Vida is musically excellent and creative. In the past decade, this UK piano-driven rock band has grown in popularity and been known to give much to charity. The lead singer Chris Martin writes most of the band lyrics and is married to actress Gwyneth Paltrow. Bill O’Reilly recently called Martin a pinhead for his criticizing and making cheap shots at the FOX News Channel. I have followed Coldplay since their 2000 album Parachutes and have really enjoyed their music.
While former Coldplay albums may have slightly touched upon religion, the new album clearly portrays that Martin is searching spiritually: he feels lost, he is waiting, his heart is not open to God, and he is crying out for the church to love. He seems to be disillusioned by the dishonesty, hypocrisy, and violence seen in religion, wants to escape, and concludes with sadness. This absolutely grips my heart.
Martin was raised Roman Catholic. In a Rolling Stone interview he comments on religious themes in 2 of his older songs: “A Message” and “Til Kingdom Come” both come from having quite a religious upbringing. “A Message” is taken from a hymn we used to sing called “My Song Is Love Unknown,” and we’d say “kingdom come” every week in the Lord’s Prayer. One of the great things about being forced to go to church services is that we’d sing all these big songs. That’s partly why I’m obsessed with getting everyone to sing along at our shows. It makes me feel like I’m a part of something.
Dr. Bill Brown, president of Cedarville University, urges Christians to pray for actors and artists because of their potential to spread philosophical ideas, shape cultural thought, and influence people. My friend and colleague Wesley Price prays often for musical artist Sting.
I ask that you would join me in praying for Coldplay, and specifically for Martin: that the Lord would “open his heart” to the Gospel, that his eyes would see truth and understand there is “something more,” that he would cross paths with genuine Christians who would show visible love and share the truth of Christ, and his life would be invaded by the Triune God. I pray Coldplay will soon arrive confidently on what Francis A. Schaeffer called “true truth” and will find fullness of joy in the presence and reality of Jesus Christ.
You can listen to the entire new album at: http://www.iheartmusic.com/cc-common/news/sections/special/coldplay.html
You can preview all Coldplay lyrics at: http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Coldplay-Viva-La-Vida-Or-Death-And-All-His-Friends-Album/23AB60D514EC4D564825742C002922EA
“Cemeteries of London”
God is in the houses and god is in my head
And all the cemeteries in London
I see god come in my garden but I don’t know what he said
For my heart it wasn’t open
Not open
“Lost”
I just got lost
Every river that I’ve tried to cross
And every door I ever tried was locked
Ooh-Oh, And I’m just waiting till the shine wears off…
“42”
Those who are dead are not dead
They’re just living in my head
And since I fell for that spell
I am living there as well
Time is short and I’m sure
There must be something more
You thought you might be a ghost
You thought you might be a ghost
You didn’t get to heaven, but you made it close
You didn’t get to heaven but you made it close
“Viva La Vida”
Hear Jerusalem bells are 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
“Violet Hill”
Was a long and dark December
From the rooftops i remember
There was snow
White snow
Clearly i remember
From the windows they were watching
While we froze down below
When the future’s architectured
By a carnival of idiots on show
You’d better lie low
If you love me
Won’t you let me know?
Was a long and dark December
When the banks became cathedrals
And the fog
Became God
Priests clutched onto bibles
And went out to fit their rifles
And the cross was held aloft
Bury me in honor
When i’m dead and hit the ground
A love back home unfolds
If you love me
Won’t you let me know?
I don’t want to be a soldier
With the captain of some sinking ship
With snow, far below
So if you love me
Why’d you let me go?
I took my love down to violet hill
There we sat in snow
All that time she was silent still
So if you love me
Won’t you let me know?
If you love me,
Won’t you let me know?
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