30 January, 2011

Let's Show Them The Way!

One of my college bud's made a post on a forum we both frequent that included this video and the lyrics. If you follow me at all, you know I am a huge Dennis DeYoung and Styx fan, but this song tonight came at just a moment for me that brought me to tears. I had just a little earlier been talking with someone on the phone that had expressed exactly the thoughts of this song. This person told me how they wanted so desperately to believe in God, but they had been so disillusioned by so many church and ministry scandals, seen so many Ted Haggard's who preached for years against homosexuality and then it is discovered he has used illicit drugs and met with male prostitutes, and then comes out and declares he is bi-sexual. He went through a litany of other preachers and ministry scandals and I have to be honest and say that I can understand why he (and countless others) feel so confused and wounded. I'm not trying to cast stones at anyone... but the facts are the facts... the church has done a great job of confusing the issue for many. As DeYoung says in this song:

All the heroes and legends 
I knew as a child have fallen to idols of clay 
And I feel this empty place inside 
So afraid that I've lost my faith 


One of the key issues, I believe, is something I've been preaching about for the last several weeks; and that is that the church and her preachers have by and large fallen guilty of talking about the power of God, but there has been no TRUE display of the power of God for the world to see. I'm not talking about man made attempts to show forth the power of God. I'm sick and tired of the tricks and games that people play with glitter they try to pass off as gold and other trickery. We don't need another image of Jesus or Mary in a pancake or in the shadows on a wall. I'm talking miracles, signs and wonders that the Word of God says will follow after them that believe. The real deal is there. I've witnessed deaf ears opened. I've seen the doctors xrays that prove someone with critical liver damage was given a new liver. I've seen a baby that was dead in the womb for 6 weeks brought to life and come out normal (today she is a school teacher and a pastor's wife!) The miracles are real and God does not need us trying to help him out with the fake stuff.


There is a world out there that echoes the words of Styx: Show Me The Way!
Church arise!  Let's show them the way!






Every night I say a prayer 
In the hopes that there's a Heaven 
But everyday I'm more confused 
As the saints turn into sinners 


All the heroes and legends 
I knew as a child have fallen to idols of clay 
And I feel this empty place inside 
So afraid that I've lost my faith 


Show me the way, show me the way 
Take me tonight to the river 
And wash my illusions away 
Please show me the way 


And as I slowly drift to sleep 
For a moment dreams are sacred 
I close my eyes and know there's peace 
In a world so filled with hatred 


That I wake up each morning and turn on the news 
To find we've so far to go 
And I keep on hoping for a sign 
So afraid I just won't know 


Show me the way, show me the way 
Bring me tonight to the mountain 
And take my confusion away 
And show me the way 


And if I see a light, should I believe? 
Tell me how will I know? 


Show me the way, show me the way 
Take me tonight to the river 
And wash my illusions away 


Show me the way, show me the way 
Give me the strength and the courage 
To believe that I'll get there someday 
And please show me the way 


Every night I say a prayer 
In the hopes that there's a Heaven 

2 comments:

Jerry Thorpe said...

It has been a long time since I have heard that song. It is so... today. There are so many people who have this same sentiment.

Darrell said...

Tell me about it. Almost prophetic with that one.