Ofttimes in music, fans hear only the end result and not the predecessors of and the influences on the artists they love. An excellent example of this is Led Zeppelin.
When I first heard them back in the days of my youth I thought they were the be-all and end-all of their style. It wasn’t until I started exploring the blues and English folk that was at the core of their sound, later on augmented by assorted Middle Eastern (specifically from Morocco) flavorings on songs such as “Kashmir,” that I caught on to what they were about.
Understanding this didn’t give cause for being any less a fan or appreciating them any less. It provided perspective; a reference point from which to work. Having this provided the basis for a more honest, knowledgeable view of Messrs. Page, Plant, Bonham and Jones.
Looking back, at the beginning of listening to Led Zeppelin I was in a state of isolation. I didn’t know their influences. Therefore, as far as I knew they had single-handedly invented this amazing music. Certainly the hordes of bands who slavishly copied their every shade and nuance acted as if they had, in the process adding nothing to the genre. How could they? As a result of their own isolation, all they were capable of was parroting Page, Plant and company. It was all they knew.
One of the greatest dangers of isolation is intellectual malnutrition from repeatedly consuming the same information. Our bodies require a balanced diet to fulfill all needs. You can’t eat just one thing and expect to cover all the bases. Basic Nutrition 101.
So why should we believe our minds, hearts and souls are any different?
But wait, you might think. Isn’t Jesus all we need? “I am the Way, Truth and Light” and all that? Isn’t He the final answer? The only true answer? The Alpha and Omega, first and last?
Yes.
And no.
Something that’s often overlooked in Christianity is how woven throughout Scripture there is a tremendous sense of practicality. Fire from the heavens and manna from the skies aren’t the rule. They are the exception.
Consider how during His earthly ministry Christ Himself would separate Himself from the crowds and even the disciples in order to spent private time in prayer with His Father. Note how Paul told Timothy to drink a little wine to help with his stomach discomfort and other health issues. Taking these examples into the contemporary, a comparative would be how far more often than not when we pray “Lord, I’m so tired — give me strength to carry on” the answer is “have you thought about getting some sleep, maybe?” Or the response to “Lord, please cure me of this headache” being “no problem — provided you go take a couple of aspirin.” None of us are so indispensable that God can’t get along without us for a few hours. Or require a unique miracle when the blessing of His creation is more than sufficient.
This element of practicality dovetails into the need to feed ourselves properly in mind, heart and soul as well as body. Let’s focus on the mind first.
If you are pursuing a particular career requiring specific knowledge, Jesus isn’t the answer. Oh, He’s still at the center of your heart as your Lord and Savior, hopefully. But when the question is something along the lines of which HTML command is required to position a specific item on your web page where it’s supposed to go, Jesus isn’t the answer. Giver of life so you can find the answer to the particular question, yes. But not the answer to the question.
God gave you a brain for a purpose. Use it. Feed your mind. Nourish your intellect. Knowledge is power. Never fear learning. Take advantage of the gift we’ve been given: the ability to see things through the eyes of faith and the wisdom of Scripture.
Share what you’ve been given with the world. As Jesus said, “Give, and it will be given to you.” As He also said, “No one lights a lamp and hides it in a jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light.”
Fellowship is good, wonderful and absolutely necessary in the life of every believer if they want to grow. But it’s not the be-all and end-all of life in Christ. Go out into the world, confident in Christ and unafraid to engage others. As Paul wrote, “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” You can’t be wise in the way you act toward outsiders if you never encounter them.
Don’t starve yourself. Don’t isolate yourself. Ever.
If it was good enough for Led Zeppelin it’s more than good enough for you!
