I have a favorite band. That has always been difficult for me to say. I have always loved such a wide variety of music that I could never pick a favorite. Now I can say this with confidence, Switchfoot is my favorite band. Switchfoot is an alternative Christian rock band from San Diego.
“Christian by faith, not by genre” has been their motto. What I love about these guys is that they couple solid, deep, and positive lyrics, with top notch alternative rock/folk/metal sound. Their music is played on both mainstream rock stations and Christian radio stations as well. At first, they would not play at Christian conferences or churches, because they wanted to take their message to the world.
Not only do I have a favorite band, I now have a favorite song too. “Where I Belong” is Switchfoot’s anthem song, and it’s mine too. I’ll share a few of my favorite lyrics with you:
“I’m not sentimental, this skin and bones is a rental,
and no one makes it out alive.
Till I die I’ll sing these songs, on the shores of Babylon
Still looking for a home in a world where I belong.
Where the weak are finally strong,
where the righteous right the wrongs.
Still looking for a home in a world where I belong.”“On that final day I die, I want to hold my head up high,
And tell you that I tried to live it like a song.
When I reach the other side, I want to look you in the eyes,
And know that I’ve arrived in a world where I belong.”
When I say this is my favorite song, I mean I crank this so loud and sing it at the top of my lungs with tears in my eyes, ok. In fact, I want this song played at my funeral. Not just played, I mean I want it blasted! The venue better have a great sound system. I’m serious, it doesn’t matter if my funeral is next week or if I’m 109 years old, I want that song rocked out! (If I’m 109, I think it will have to be played at max volume anyway so that those who attend will be able to hear it.)
I don’t know about you, but I need a daily reminder that this world is not my home and that there is a world where I belong. I love the imagery of the “Shores of Babylon” borrowed from Psalm 137 (which is a great reggae song too by the way). In our college class on Sundays we are in a series called “Thriving in Babylon”. We are studying the parallels between the wicked Babylonian empire and our society here today, while looking to Daniel and his friends for advice on how to stay committed to the Lord and undefiled by this foreign, yet temporary land.
The message in “Where I Belong” and the example of Daniel are great reminders for me about thriving in Babylon. Just like the band Switchfoot is a great example of how to “be in the world, but not of the world” as Jesus put it.
You can enjoy this song at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s3-7fjhYm2g
But please remember to ROCK IT!
