Episode 52 – Into the Lantern Waste
Psalm
What We’re Listening To
Bryan
FNH
Grant
Follow Up
- We had a three week gap between episodes because I was unable to record a Flying Solo episode because I was too busy being on episode 9 of the Super Reformed Bros podcast.
- I want to make a clear distinction between what I will call “open handed criticism” and “closed handed criticism”. Close handed criticism is based on objective issues found in the lyrics that do not line up with our core beliefs. Open handed criticism is based on opinion and preference, and while important enough to discuss, doesn’t carry the same weight as close handed criticism. In the last episode we pointed out what I will now call closed handed issues with the song Rest on Us by Maverick City, due to the song’s claims about the way the Spirit works that do not line up with Scripture. We also talked about some nuanced issues we had with choice of words in the song O Creative One by Providence. I want to make a clear distinction that the latter discussion was of open handed issues. I might not choose the word “renovate” because of a nuanced implication that could be used to support the rejection of original sin, but this is an issue that could be easily addressed with liturgical padding or a brief definition of the word to set a proper context for hearing the song. A similar example that I talked about on previous episodes as well a 6000 word essay on soundinworship.com (as well as on episode 9 of the Super Reformed Bros podcast), would be in the song “Reckless Love”, the use of the word “reckless” is a closed handed issue, because God is not reckless and saying otherwise is a misrepresentation of God; while the use of the word “worth” is an open handed issue that can be addressed to set a proper context (all things considered). A major difference is that Cory Asbury has publicly explained what he meant by “worth”, and his explanation is not in line with Scripture; while I have no reason to believe, based on the context of all the rest of Providence’s music, that they are trying to deny Original Sin.
Review: Into the Lantern Waste by Sarah Sparks
Into the Lantern Waste
“Into the Lantern Waste” serves as an introduction to this collection of songs. It collects beliefs held by Clive Staples Lewis (primarily referred to simply as C. S. Lewis) in lyrics directly inspired by his writings. In this introduction, Sarah positions the Chronicles of Narnia author as a wise man on a park bench, telling these “fairytales” to Sarah (and therefore, to us, the listeners).
I met a man at the park on a bench He was looking at home with a paper and pen He said, “Daughter, I have been through the Shadowlands For to hurt is to love and to know that you can That you are not alone, we all are broken He said, “You cannot diminish the glory of God By refusing to worship, like if locked in a cell On the walls, you write ‘darkness’ to put out the sun So you might turn the page or you might shut the book But the truth is still truth even if you don't look” He spoke to me then, “Are you looking for truth? Or is it wishful thinking and comfort you choose? On the edge of a sword and the knot of a noose On the way to your death, should I reassure you? But the comfort will come, if you search for the truth” See here I’m still stuck on these fairytales With a lion, a wardrobe, and magic unveiled For there's truth in these pages, in each line I read I'm the boy that betrays him, I can clearly see But the lion that saves him is bleeding for me
Lucy’s Tale
I've been feeling so restless Got no place to call my own When I know I don’t belong There's no place to lay my head down Cause I'm just a wandering soul And in the end I feel alone Oh Tell me a story Of redemption You’re the only peace that I have ever known I've been so cold This long winter But there's something written Etched into this stone I've been living in the shadow Weeping over blood But yet to see the empty grave Cause I'm still hoping in the not yet Clouds are covering the sun But I'll believe while in the shade Oh Tell me a story Of redemption You're the only peace that I have ever known I've been so cold This long winter But there’s something written Etched into this stone I heard a roaring in the distance In the earth a trembling Like the crumbling of stone I looked down to see my footprints When never in my memory Had I seen the melting snow
Blood for Blood Lyrics
Had I seen the melting snow? I saw and trembled For this a power I did not know Though I was bound with chains She was cruel but beautiful And I was greedy And like a slave I then was sold By the way she said my name Father, save me! I the traitor I who knew and ran from Love I can hear the Condemnation In the rhythm of the drums Though I knew all hope was lost And this what I deserved I had been conquered by the frost But on my skin it burned Cause she had power over me At her touch I turned to stone But in her eyes I saw a fear A deeper magic than her own Father, save me! I the traitor I who knew and ran from Love I can hear the Condemnation In the rhythm of the drums And when I looked him in the eyes I felt the weight of all my sin For I knew what the law required A death for death, a traitor’s end But when I thought I feel his wrath Despaired and filled with shame He bent down to search my eyes With such love whispered my name Father, save me! I the traitor I who knew and ran from Love Father, can you Hear the Lion It is written Blood for blood
The New Song of Trumpkin Lyrics
Hear the trees? Hear them whispering They tell stories of a king And the forest wakes With a divine ache For His returning I've forgotten who I am And who You are Cause the truth is all my worth Can only be found in Your scar So I’m learning how to die Cause it's what You're asking for I’ve been blind To you every time Only shaken in your teeth Do I know enough Strangest kind of love But it's pain that ‘wakens me See the leaves Simple dying things Never were so beautiful Cause in their dying days What a glorious change For in death they turn to gold I will forget who I am For who You are Cause the truth is all my worth Can only be found in Your scars And I'm learning how to die Because I know who You are By His wounds I'm healed I for the first time feel Like this may not be the end
Eustace Scrubb
For the first in my life I’m not living a lie And I hate who I am I’ve become what I feared And I cried dragon tears Just to prove I’m a man I tried to change my appearance but I am not changed I’m just tired I tried to heal myself long before I met your gaze At the water I’m at your feet Would you tear into the deep of my heart To heal me? I’ve seen my own reflection I know the pain I’m in I’ve been a lonely wretch and I can’t get out of it As he looked through my eyes At the things I despised I felt pierced by his gaze But he peeled off my skin And he then threw me into The water to save me I wore this bracelet, bright and golden That overnight became a chain I was a lonely, wretched soul that Lost in the dark cried out your Name You cut me deep, I know I felt it But it’s the sweetest kind of pain Oh sweet relief, You took my burdens Oh I believe Oh I believe
Puddleglum’s Anthem
In the warmth of the sun I believed Circumstance often changes The way that I see For the first the time a shadow found me I doubted the sun for the lack of heat And I ran but He ran after me He said remember the signs So I said them each morning And held to them tight But at the first chill of the night I gave up His words for the warmth of a fire And traded His love for a lie I said I’ll never forget I will call out your name Through the storm until death But the crow came three times as He said And I held tight my tongue just to save my own head And I watched from the ground as He bled But oh You complete your plans With our broken hands You have shown I have seen you work Raising life up from the dirt This I know See that thread of sin? Seamlessly woven in This I know See the lion see the lamb You complete your plans This I know
A Song for Jill
I saw you on mountain I met you by the stream And I terrified at your sight A lion after me You asked if I was thirsty I said “If I don't drink I will surely die here be dry Lying by the stream” He said, “Dear child, come farther For this the only stream That will bring you life My supply is all that You will ever need He didn’t promise not to harm me He said, “I'll do no such thing For I am the law And in my jaw I've swallowed men, and mountains and kings.” It is so There is only one blood could have done What I have done And I know As so many do you may run But I am your only hope There is only one blood could have done What I have done It is so I am justice and wrath, I am love But I am your only hope I am in the light, I am in the shade I am in the wind, I am in the waves
Shasta’s Complaint
Waves that beat upon the shore, they brought no peace Somewhere else I must belong, somewhere for me Who was it left me there, a boy scared and alone? No, I don’t think you heard me calling, always thought, He must not know Surely He would never leave me, wouldn’t leave me here alone You tell me now that I was never on my own? Well pardon me, I don’t remember you at all Cause with my back against the tomb, I called you out But I don’t think I heard your answer, I don’t think I heard a sound I don’t recall you in my anger or remember you around But He answered, “Who are you to question me? Do you command the mountains or calm the raging sea? For I am the current, there to save your life A man may find his eye deceiving, a fool holds on to trust his sight A wise man knows that his own feeling may not with the truth align And you think that you have never seen my face? But every moment you’re alive, you know my grace For only death in this whole world is justly deserved And you say that I never answer, just because you have not heard But you don’t know yet how to listen or to understand my words My love, I cared for you I was the comfort you felt in the house of the dead I drove from you Beasts in the night, all of this I have done while you slept All by my design Every chapter and word I’ve written every line All by my design Every chapter and word I’ve written every line"
Digory’s Regret
Lines from the spell that were meant for destruction Words tasted bitterly sweet on my tongue Polly warned me but I wanted freedom Even then I knew just what I done No one says it but mother is dying No one says it but we’re all afraid I can hear what they say in the hallways Whispering on the number of days Now a Genesis newly corrupted Now a story to start with a fall All because I could never keep quiet Just a tongue that brings ruin to all Wait, I hear A voice that’s singing A song I’ve never known before The very chord Awakes and praises it’s Maker as the earth is formed Wait, I see There in the lion’s eye A tear much greater than my own Could it be that He possesses a A greater love than I ever known
Come Further Up
There’s a song that I’ve wanted To sing for so long But the tune is just out of my grasp I may see for a moment When the lights reflects gold But so delicate, slips from my hand Every word that I sing Is a cheap imitation Of things that I don’t understand Light reflecting on water The picture gets harder to see With the eyes of a man I hear “Come further up, Come further in The greatest story, none on earth have read” So I’ll search for the melody Offering everything Till I am called out by name Cause the chord that was struck On the strings of my heart Is still echoing throughout my frame And when this long day ends And the morning begins And the Song that has found me I’ll sing! Written over my bones In a carving on stone By a rose, let my epitaph read Come further up Come further in My greatest story Has yet to be read Marvel of Marvels Of all that He said I who am nothing He called beloved
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