I have been going through some of my favorites this month, and this week I want to share one of my favorite bands: Switchfoot. I have been listening to their music for over 10 years now, and have all of their albums (9 of them, with a 10th on the way this summer). What I love about their music is, well, the music! They are a rock band who knows how to give their all and have an amazing performance. They have a big musical range – from distortion guitars to stringed ballads – all beautiful music along the way.
They are also Christians. But not a Christian band. But a band singing about a lot about God, money, sex, life, and love. They have played in rock venues and done interviews with MTV. Their lead singer, Jon Foreman is willing to talk about his faith, but really he lets his music do most of the talking. It is actually in the interviews that Jon sometimes deflects the talk about faith, and that is a little disappointing to me, but the music speaks loud and clear. They also lead an event in San Diego (their hometown) called the BroAm – a surf and band gathering that raises money for local charities. Their biggest album was “The Beautiful Letdown”, but if you had to check out one, I would go to the more recent “Fading West”, especially the tracks “Love Alone Is Worth the Fight”, “Let It Out”, and “Back to the Beginning Again”.
I don’t just love Switchfoot’s music, but the way they express their faith. Not only can they rock and live as light in the rock scene, but they have an artistic way of sharing the truth about God. It is beautiful and creative poetry. And that speaks to me much more than just singing, “Jesus, Jesus, JESUS!” Switchfoot writes in more of an abstract way, appealing to the inner yearning that ALL people have:
I’m trying to find where my place is, I’m looking for my own oasis
So close I can taste this, The fear that love alone erases
So I’m back to the basics, I figure it’s time I face this
Time to take my own advice: Love alone is worth the fight
(From “Love Alone Is Worth the Fight”)
Honestly, this is how I want to share God’s truth. I want to share not by clobbering people with truth, but by appealing to their deepest longings. I want to share poetically and creatively, like the parables of our Lord. I want to share unapologetically but with gentle invitation. This is why this band is one of my favorites.
How about you? What is one of your favorite bands, and why?
