How Does the Church Sings Through Suffering and Why Do the Songs Matter?

Grammy Award nominee and Dove Award winner Matt Maher joins the Good Faith podcast for a conversation about the power of songs and church music to tell the truth about suffering. Reflecting on protest, justice, prophetic art, ecumenism, and even Rich Mullins, Maher explores how the church can hold lament and praise together while still pointing people to the hope and holiness of God. Drawing on Psalm 22 and Jesus' cry of abandonment on the cross, he argues that the church, like Jesus, must sing honestly about pain and abandonment without losing sight of the worship and honor God deserves.

*This episode was recorded live at the Illuminate Arts + Faith Conference

00:00:00 - Tease: The Duality of Abandonment and Praise

00:01:00 - Introduction from Curtis Chang

05:31 - Conversion and the Impact of Catholic Liturgy on His Faith

08:13 - Theology in Songwriting and Collaboration

09:57- Can Ecumenism Expand Your Perspective?

13:06 - John 17 and Praying for Church Unity

14:35 - Prophetic Calling Comforts the Afflicted and Challenges the Comfortable

16:38 - Protest Themes and the Burden of Truth

20:30 - Holding Space for Both Praise and Lament

21:55 - Christian Justice Movements and Prophetic Action

24:02 - The After Party Album and Amos's Call to Justice

24:11 - That He Will Overcome (musical insert)

26:29 - The Toppling of Empire Lyrics as Inspired by Dr. Mika Edmonson

29:04 - The Neurological and Physical Impact of Music on Memory and Community

34:03 - Personal Storytelling and Lament To Work Out Hard Things

40:00 - Rich Mullins' Influence and Legacy

41:24 - What Is The Song the Church Needs Now, In These Crazy Times?

43:48 - A Warning From Nazi Germany Against Ignoring Suffering

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Mentioned In This Episode:

The Nicene Creed and the History of the Council of Nicaea
Matt Maher's Echoes album (Spotify)
Matt Maher's Your Grace Is Enough
Matt Maher's The Stories I Tell Myself
Matt Maher's The Stories I Tell Myself (Acoustic video)
Matt Maher, DOE, Dee Wilson, & The Porter's Gate's That We Might Overcome
Listen to the album The Kingdom of Jesus: Songs For The After Party
Rich Mullins' Canticle of The Plains (full album on Youtube)
Rich Mullins' The Joy of Jesus (feat. Matt Maher, Mac Powell, & Ellie Holcomb)
More about Francis Chan

Scriptures Referenced:

Psalm 22 (ESV)
John 17 (ESV)
John 14:6 (ESV)
Amos 5-6 (ESV)