76. Rock Goes the Gospel - U2 "One"

"One" is the third track from u2's 1991 album Achtung Baby, and it was released as the record's third single in March 1992. During the album's recording sessions at Hansa Studios in Berlin, conflict arose between the band members over the direction of U2's sound and the quality of their material. Tensions almost prompted the band to break up until they achieved a breakthrough with the improvisation of "One"; the song was written after the band members were inspired by a chord progression that guitarist The Edge was playing in the studio. The lyrics, written by Bono, were inspired by the band members' fractured relationships and the German reunification. Although the lyrics ostensibly describe "disunity", they have been interpreted in other ways. 

In 2005, Bono got involved in the "One" campaign, which tried to convince the US government to give an additional 1% of its budget to help poor regions in Africa. On the Vertigo tour, fans who signed up had their names displayed on video screens when U2 played this.

Is it getting better
Or do you feel the same
Will it make it easier on you now
You got someone to blame
You say...

One love
One life
When it's one need
In the night
One love
We get to share it
Leaves you baby if you
Don't care for it

Did I disappoint you
Or leave a bad taste in your mouth
You act like you never had love
And you want me to go without
Well it's...

Too late
Tonight
To drag the past out into the light
We're one, but we're not the same
We get to
Carry each other
Carry each other
One...

Have you come here for forgiveness
Have you come to raise the dead
Have you come here to play Jesus
To the lepers in your head

Did I ask too much
More than a lot
You gave me nothing
Now it's all I got
We're one
But we're not the same
Well we
Hurt each other
Then we do it again
You say
Love is a temple
Love a higher law
Love is a temple
Love the higher law
You ask me to enter
But then you make me crawl
And I can't be holding on
To what you got
When all you got is hurt

One love
One blood
One life
You got to do what you should
One life
With each other
Sisters
Brothers
One life
But we're not the same
We get to
Carry each other
Carry each other

One...life

One

U2 singing this track with Mary J Blige is powerful. You would not put Mary down as a rock singer but on this occasion it works. This track voices a number of powerful themes the imperfections and inconsistencies of love. Inequality and injustice. Unity and diversity. The list could be endless as the track is full of themes and images. This morning I'm going to think about the theme of  "Unity in the Church" I'm thinking of unity in it's broader sense. Not unity of doctrine or purpose. Not unity of creed or liturgy. Not Unity of denomination. but the unity of love. Jesus in John 17 is in the place of prayer, of deep communion with his father and he is praying about the disciples that father has given him and others too, believers that God has given him are yet to bow the knee. Jesus prays that father will not take the community of faith out of the world but protect then from evil. Jesus also in Vs 21 prays for unity among all believers for unity among those who believe now and for the same for those who will believe in the future. - UNITY. A case could be argued here that Jesus was praying about the gentile mission that the church would take. What ever was in the mind of Christ he felt so compelled to pray.

John 17:6-21 6 “I have manifested your name to the people whom you gave me out of the world. Yours they were, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7 Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you.8 For I have given them the words that you gave me, and they have received them and have come to know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9 I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. 10 All mine are yours, and yours are mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. 12 While I was with them, I kept them in your name, which you have given me. I have guarded them, and not one of them has been lost except the son of destruction, that the Scripture might be fulfilled. 13 But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. 14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world,just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. 20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the  world may believe that you have sent me.

 Unity among those who are culturally, economically, racially, physically, spiritually, socially and religiously diverse seems to be a tall order. Jesus has a focus on the expanding kingdom of God. the kingdom that touches the shores of far off lands and languages. the kingdom of God which is about love and grace to all. "One Love, One blood, One life." why is this so difficult to put into practice in the church. Like in the song "we are one but we are not the same" we hold grudges, and UN-forgiveness against churches and people we have been amongst. Some leave trails of carnage through out there spiritual life. Is unity such a hard thing to achieve. It must have meant something to Jesus! After all he prayed about it. May God give us the grace to remain in unity in the community of God's people. Churches have been divided for decades over doctrine and never the twain shall meet. There are petty divisions over who in the God head is the most important, what bible we should follow. What hymn books or prayer books we should have. To me this is just plain stupid. Jesus has his focus on the world at large, in Jesus mind "unity" will be a powerful instrument and vehicle for the gospel.

May we all learn to value each other and lay down our issues and take up the cause of love for each other and for the world. “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one.

May God give us the church the courage to be united, to stand together for the sake of others, to be the answer to the prayer of Jesus.