U2 and the Emerging Church

On Friday night, I watched U2's "Go Home: Live from Slane Castle" DVD. 80,000 screaming fans watching U2 perform in the shadows of the historic Slane Castle in Ireland. Just plain awesome. As I was watching, I was amazed at the parallels between the concert and the direction of the Emerging Church. Here were just a few that I noticed:

1. Accessibility and Connectivity with the audience: The famous heart-shaped stage speaks volumes to this. Bono often running around the stage among the audience. During "Desire" the entire band walked to the tip of the heart and performed the song. (Larry even had someone bring a small drum kit, while Adam and The Edge brought their guitars to the front).

2. Participation from the audience: Several times, Bono encouraged the audience to finish the lines of some of the songs. People didn't just come to listen to the band; they came to participate with them in the experience -- together.

3. Social action and justice: The band talked about the injustice in the world and our responsibility to help stop it. They addressed the 1998 bombing in Northern Ireland that killed 29 people (During "Sunday Bloody Sunday" Bono read aloud the names of all 29 people killed). Later, Bono talked about the need to disarm among the major countries in the world.

4. Communal Identity: Noting their Irish roots, Bono shouts out, "What a tribe!" followed by a thunderous applause from the crowd. Later, he wraps himself in an Irish flag that was given to him and referenced the Ireland soccer team defeating Holland to advance to the semifinals of the World Cup. The DVD booklet writes about the story of Ireland and how U2 is in a bigger story that involves much more than themselves.

5. Ancient-Relevant: U2 melds two extremes of ancient history with pop culture by playing in the shadows of Slane Castle, which dates back almost 1,000 years. (This is a big passion of mine: to make sure we are reminding people that Christianity wasn't 'invented' back in 1982). We are connected to a great story.

6. Spontaneity: It's easy to note throughout the concert that the event is not over-programmed. They read the crowd and respond. There is elasticity to the event, an organic feel with the intent to connect with the crowd.

7. Image-based: Above the stage are four different screens, each showing live footage of each member of the bad at all times. Video clips (many random) show behind the band on the large screen during the intros of many songs.

8. Innovation: U2 being U2, they need not imitate anyone. They do their own thing. They make their own set of footprints rather than follow others. U2 is just trying to be themselves, not copy others. It reminds me of the Brian McLaren quote: "Old churches immitate, while new churches innovate."

9. Experience-based: It's obvious that one does not attend a concert to hear U2, but instead to have a communal experience with the band.

10. Having fun: While Bono, The Edge, Larry and Adam were working very hard, they also were having fun. This willingness to have fun was infectious among the crowd.

I think U2 is on to something...and we have much to learn.

Comments

[Tom Smith]

Yip,

Live in Boston is also excellent! Good thoughts JR.

[Anon]

This is a reminder of how U2 is a truly amazing band.

...and how the church experience is so sadly not!

[Lance]

Who's up for U2 in Denver?!?

[Tyler]

Yes, I think U2 in Boston DVD was even better than Live at Slane Castle. But both are awesome, no doubt.

[AHess]

If anyone is interested in the spiritual side of U2, Relevant magazine has put out a recent book called, "Walk On: The Spiritual Journey of U2" It shows their spiritual roots as they have developed as a band. Thanks for your reflections on their concert JR!!

[Tim Brown]

Funny, how if Brain McLaren is right, that "Old churches immitate, while new churches innovate," then the emerging church is actually imitating quite a bit aren’t they? Hmm.

Will the emerging church embrace the historic church or just use it as a backdrop?

[Brian]

Tim,

You are hilarious. You have hit the nail on the head. It is all imitation. There is nothing new under the sun.

Great insight!