Amazement vs. Imagination
Recently, Julian Lennon, son of the late John Lennon, performed his father’s song “Imagine” though he had once vowed he wouldn’t ever perform the song. The on-going war between Russia and Ukraine prompted him to reconsider his position and he decided to perform the song for a rally to raise money for Ukraine.
Anyone who has ever stayed up long enough on New Year’s Eve to watch the apple drop in Time Square is familiar with the tradition of the various television hosts, celebrity guests and crowd to join in on singing “Imagine”. The refrain of the song is arguably some of the best-known lyrics in music history:
You may say that I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
Perhaps someday you will join us
And the world will live as one
The lyrics written by John Lennon based on one of Yoko Ono’s poems has endured in popularity through five decades since its release in 1971. There was a video for the song featuring John and Yoko at their Tittenhurst Park estate. In the video, after a stroll through the fog-covered grounds, John performs the song while sitting at a white grand piano in a seemingly unfurnished house. The video, like the song, is simple and modest in its setting and production.
The song has been recorded, performed or quoted by artists, celebrities, politicians, and people in general, countless times on various occasions since it first hit the airwaves. The song has always been promoted by its fans as the panacea for mankind’s conflicts and division. And in some sense, perhaps it could be if there was a total commitment to everyone on earth to agree to abide by the lofty ideals it presents. But in considering that proposition, one would need to take a step back and ask the question: Given the request made by the lyrics, in imagining certain ideals as a way of life, why would anyone agree to it?
I have been pondering that question while also listening to another song that presents a different perspective on life and the human condition in this world – “Amazing Grace”. And as it is the Easter season, a time for reflection and rumination upon certain events that Christians believe took place over two thousand years ago, I thought it might be worthwhile to examine and compare the two songs. Both present a vision of peace and reconciliation but from very different perspectives. Perhaps after reading this essay, the reader can determine which of these two visions can actually produce the outcome that results in true peace for both the individual and for humanity.
Imagine: The Suspension of Reality
An essential theme of “Imagine” is that the very institutions that exist as part of the human experience that are meant to unite the human race, actually divides people. From the start, “Imagine” goes for the top:
Imagine there’s no heaven
It’s easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today
Here the point is implied, seemingly justifiable, that God and an afterlife have been used to manipulate and control people throughout history, mostly by using guilt, shame and fear as tools. With the image of an omni- present judging God, it is this vision of an angry God seemingly always at the ready to mete out punishment and retribution that is an obstacle to peace. And of course, if we fail to meet all the rules and regulations of this religionized God, then we are banished to eternal hell. So, let’s just get rid of God – and all this talk of heaven and hell and just accept that we are here on earth for our life and live day to day. No God, no judgement, no afterlife – just people inhabiting the earth for a lifetime.
Sounds simple enough except that it ignores a number of key questions that may arise: 1) What is the meaning of life? 2) Who defines what is right and wrong? 3) what would the motivation be for anyone to seek a universal utopia based on the concept of man-centered/made relative morality? What would stop anyone from seeking to fulfill one’s own needs and wants? 4) In another song, the same composer told us that all we need is love: is love only for a lifetime? Or is it eternal?
In the next verse, “Imagine” questions the need for the existence of the nation-state:
Imagine there’s no countries
It isn’t hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion, too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace
Here the argument is that the existence of countries creates the dynamic of conflict that exists in the world. The fact that we have individual countries prohibits a global state where peace would just be a natural by-product if nations were simply eliminated. And if the first verse was not direct enough, the song imagines the elimination of religion as well. The concept seems appealing except that it appears to ignore some basic truths: 1) Countries are more than just entities with boundaries and nationalistic sovereignty – they are comprised of culture, traditions, history, language, and beliefs that are unique and, for the most part, embraced and preferred by the citizens of the specific countries. People take pride in their national heritage and look to preserve it. It is the very diversity of our human experience that adds to the interest and vitality of life, 2) The lyric makes a narrow assumption that the existence of countries automatically creates the necessity for killing and/or dying for the country. While there may be times that war unfortunately occurs (as human history accounts for), it is not because countries exist that ferments war: but rather it’s human greed and the hunger for power that fuels war. Does anyone really believe that the elimination of countries will mean the elimination of greed and power? 3) Some people of genuine faith value their religion, deriving guidance, inspiration, and hope from their chosen beliefs. While it’s true that religions when manipulated by false leaders can be harmful to human relationships, why condemn all religious beliefs? 4) The last two lines of this verse ask that we imagine all the people living in peace – but ignores the fact that just because we eliminate countries and religion doesn’t mean peace is just going to break out all over the globe. There’s nothing in regards to human nature that remotely supports such a position. It’s fundamental: parents don’t have to teach their child to be bad, they have to teach the child to be good. Why is that?
In the next verse, “Imagine” addresses materialism:
Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world
The naiveness of “Imagine” comes to full fruition with this last verse. In the first verse, God is eliminated. In the second verse, nations and religions are eliminated. Without any constraint of a spiritual nature, or the oversight of governmental and religious authority and influence, the culmination of world peace is within grasp! The position here is that people just have to abandon their desire for owning anything – actually give up the concept of “this is mine” or “I want this or that” – and we will have a spontaneous Brotherhood of Man. This verse chooses to ignore the basic obstacle to imagining a world without possessions: the lack of motivation of people to aspire to such a world. The primary driver for human activity is to fulfill individual needs and wants. This driver when coupled with the desire for a sense of security evolves into the creation of community. These drivers compel people to work and contribute to society in order to meet those needs and wants for – get ready for it – their own individual selves and their loved ones. Going back to the parent-child example mentioned above, a child doesn’t naturally share – a child has to be taught to share. Anyone who has raised a child knows among the first words a child learns is “MINE!”
While “Imagine” has long been presented as the way to, uh, imagine world peace and unity, it fails to deliver any concrete paradigm for such an aspiration. Beyond asking people to imagine what are totally unrealistic and fanciful notions that defy reality and the recognition of the nature of man, “Imagine” is not just a dream, it’s an outright fantasy.
The Amazing Journey
Another song that has been around a bit longer than “Imagine”, and which may be just as well-known, is “Amazing Grace”. The words were written by John Newton, an English clergyman, who had repented from a youthful life of profanity, debauchery and rebellion against authority while serving as a crewman on sailing vessels. As part of his sailing experience, Newton had been involved in the slave trade. During a vicious storm while at sea, where it appeared the ship would go down, Newton called out to God for help. The ship survived the storm and the experience compelled Newton to change the course of his life that resulted in him becoming a clergyman. In 1772, Newton wrote the poem “Amazing Grace” about the spiritual journey that transformed his life. The poem was put to music by American composer William Walker in 1835. It is this version of “Amazing Grace” that is sung today – an estimated 10 million times a year!
“Amazing Grace” begins with the recognition of the state of man:
Amazing grace! how sweet the sound,
That saved a wretch like me!
I once was lost but now I’m found,
Was blind but now I see
The verse starts with the hope of redemption: grace has been bestowed and the sweetness of just the word overcomes Newton. And why is this grace so amazing? Because Newton who was lost in a wretched state, and was blind to all the potential for a meaningful and joyful life that could be lived, had been found and set free from that wretched state. And has been given the vision of a new life.
In this verse we are presented with the reality of the sinful nature of man: we are lost in our graceless state, pursuing those things which are spiritually harmful to our relationship with God, ourselves, and with each other. And because of being in this lost state, we are blind to the plans God has for each of us in our lives: a plan for our earthly life and a plan for our eternal life.
The next verse goes on to explain how this grace took hold:
‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear
And grace my fears relieved;
How precious did that grace appear
The hour I first believed!
Once an individual begins to ponder the questions of life – How did we come to be? Why are we here? Is there a God? What does God require of me? What happens when we die? Are there a heaven and hell? - there can be a significant deal of fear – especially for those of us who have lived sinful and selfish lives. There are those who believe that being a “good person” is the response to most of these questions. But what does that even mean? What is the standard for “good” that qualifies as acceptable to God? And is that one standard, or is there a separate standard for each individual? And if there is a separate standard, how is that fair?
Before his repentance and reconciliation with God, Newton had lived a wretched life. His life of profanity and debauchery was appalling to even his peers and commanders on the ships he sailed on; they found Newton’s behavior detestable and he was frequently punished for it. He was found to be such a vile fellow that he was eventually given over to a ship that was involved in the slave trade. And even in that environment, Newton’s pattern of behavior at times resulted him in being punished and chained with the slaves being transported.
It was during the aforementioned storm at sea, that the reality of death forced Newton to confront the life he had lived, and was living. And in that moment of reflection, the fear of eternal damnation struck at his very heart. And yet, in reading the Scriptures, Newton found there was relief to these fears: it was the promise of grace. Newton knew the sins he had committed, and the harm and hurts that he had done unto others throughout his life up to that point. He knew he could never make up for all those sins. It was impossible to undo all the damage he had done. He could never do enough “good deeds” to make up for the selfish choices, all the bad deeds, and all the horrific words.
But in the instance of despair brought on by the conviction of his sinful self, there was relief. Grace led him to fear for the life he had lived but Grace didn’t abandon him. Grace then showed there was a way back to God. He was lost and he was blind but God through the power of grace was going to save him. And in that moment, all of Newton’s fears were relieved. He didn’t have to make-up for his sinful past: someone had already paid off his sin debt. The someone who was gracious enough to pay that price: Jesus Christ, the One who is Love.
Amazing Grace, indeed.
In that moment, Newton recognized the preciousness of this Grace, and it took hold from the very hour that he believed in the life-saving event that accepting the Grace of God is.
Then Newton shows the full power and reach of Amazing Grace:
When we’ve been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We’ve no less days to sing God’s praise,
Than when we first begun
In this verse, Newton addresses the reality of our earthly existence: it is but a very short time compared to eternity. And while life on earth is important, and has significance, it is only a conduit to the final destination for those who find Amazing Grace. The average life span of a person is approximately seventy-five years, more or less. Compare that to ten thousand years.
It isn’t as easy as one could imagine.
But it is the ultimate promise of Amazing Grace: eternal life, where the sun shines brightly on each recipient of Amazing Grace. And together they sing praise to Amazing Grace and bask in the sunshine of His eternal love and blessing.
One could imagine a world that will never be, and go on dreaming of a world that lives as one, without any realistic basis for such a belief.
Or one could embrace Amazing Grace and have peace of heart, soul, spirit and mind now – and for eternity - living forever with the One.
He is risen.
Happy Easter!
(Dedicated to my good friend Jacqueline Rush, who departed this world this past week and arrived in the loving embrace of Jesus, her Lord and Savior, in complete realization of Amazing Grace. Shine on, Jac!)
