Listen to David Phelps sing “The End of the Beginning,” which is sure to uplift your soul and bring you to new heights of spiritual bliss. As phrankygee said, “This song, for me, wraps up everything wrong with Christianity in a neat package, especially how the non-believing character in the story is dealt with.”
If you want even more soul-shuddering encouragement, you can check out the Sword of the Spirit Ministries website, who hosts the song. You’ll especially like the “Follow Jesus!!!!!!” mouse trailer and the blinking star background. Boy, do these folks have a taste for tackiness or what?
Here are the song lyrics if you want to mediate on them:
I was taking a trip on a plane the other day, just wishin’ that I could get out.
When the man next to me saw the book in my hand and asked me what it was about.
So I settled back in my seat. “A best-seller,” I said, “a hist’ry and a myst’ry in one.”
Then I opened up the book and began to read from Matthew, Mark, Luke and John…He was born of a virgin one holy night in the little town of Bethlehem.
Angels gathered ‘round Him underneath the star singing praises to the great I AM.He walked on the water, healed The lame, and made the blind to see again.
And for the first time here on earth we learned that God could be a friend.
And though He never, ever did a single thing wrong, the angry crowd chose Him.
And then He walked down the road and died on the cross and
that was the end…of the beginning.”“That’s not a new book, that’s a Bible,” he said, “And I’ve heard it all before.
I’ve tried religion, it’s shame and guilt, and I don’t need it anymore.
It’s superstation, made-up tales, just to help the weak to survive.”
“Let me read it again,” I said, “But listen closely. This is gonna change your life.”“The end of the beginning?” he said with a smile. “What more
could there be? He’s dead. You said they hung Him, put nails in
His hands and a crown of thorns on His head.” I said, “I’ll read it
again, but this time there’s more.And I believe that this is true: His death wasn’t the end but the beginning of life that’s completed in you.
Don’t you see, He did all this for you…And then He walked and He died, but three days later, three days later, three days later…
He rose! Three days later He rose!You see, He came, He lived, and He died, but that was the end of the beginning.
I tried transcendental mediation once, but then I concluded that all parties involved were only figments of my imagination and I threw the case out…
Oh, I like the music!
Shame it didn’t have anything new to add to the discussion.
You see, David Phelps, it doesn’t matter how many times you read it. It doesn’t get any more believable with repetition. And why didn’t we get to hear what the non-believer had to say in reply? Maybe I should write another verse to the song? Would you sing it?
I really don’t like the treatment of the atheist in this song. They purposefully demonize him by having him smile about Jesus’ death, like he personally caused it or something.
How can a atheist causes jezus death if jezus does not exists for an atheist?
Werent the believers the cause of jezus death?
It’s amazing how often the layout of a web site will give you a good indication of how much credence you should lend its authors. The Sword of the Spirit Ministries site confirms this rule.
I did however get a chuckle from the animation displaying a cartoon guy leafing anxiously through the Bible, seemingly never finding any answers.
For a long time Christian music has served as proof to me that God doesn’t exist. At least the Christian God.
Here’s my logic: if the all powerful creator of the universe had a favorite clique on the planet earth, their music should be the awesomest. Clearly it’s not, so either this God has a penchant for making his followers suffer through brain-gougingly terrible music, or there is no such God.
Well, listening to music that praises the Lord is supposed to fill you with the Holy Spirit.
I suppose he acts like a noise damper or something, making the music if not awesome, then at least bearable.
“Well, listening to music that praises the Lord is supposed to fill you with the Holy Spirit.”
music, holding hands, chanting together, saying “Amen” at the same time – are all instruments of group mind control. There’s a reason for the rituals of church. There is also comfort in the familiarity of the rituals. They make you feel secure.
Oh now I get it. I had always closed the book when they crucified the guy, never realising there were more pages to go. If only I had kept reading, I would have learned that he comes back to life and therefore the story is true! I had never heard that’s what happens. I guess I just wasn’t paying attention. I am glad this song is around to raise awareness.
This gambit is one I have seen used repeatedly by Christians who wish to convert others. They seem to genuinely think that anyone who doesn’t believe just hasn’t heard the story properly, or somehow doesn’t have access to the same information they do. Christians, we know the story. Telling us again isn’t going to help.
I like how xians think they can guilt you into believing bullshit with such simpleton tactics as “He died for YOU. Don’t you see? How could you not love him?”. This is as blatant a case of emotional blackmail as you’ll ever see.
- Strange! ; I just cant seem to remember asking him to!
“but that was the end of the beginning.”
Well, if it ended, doesn’t that mean it’s just over?
That is PRECISELY what I was thinking. Let’s read those words again, “The END of the beginning.” As in, it’s over. We do not need to discuss it anymore in any seriousness. The guy, is dead.
“A best-seller,” I said, “a hist’ry and a myst’ry in one.”
Notes that he does not say it is non-fiction.
it’s funny to me that when the atheist says it’s made up, the reply is “made up? you must not have been listening. here, let me read it again.” sigh…
Catchy tune. He’s no Stryper, though.
It’s just like Hank Hill said about christian rock music – it doesn’t make christianity any better, it just makes rock music worse.
Cross between the last song from Streets of Fire (forget what it’s called – especially where Diane Lane sings “I’m not an angel but at least I’m a girl”) and Meat Loaf. Sounded OK.
So that was the end of the beginning. Are we now half-way through the middle bit?
i don’t like most music in the first place and this is just stupid. ‘oh, you still don’t believe? well then let me read it again, then you’ll have to believe it.’
when has that worked on anyone? if you didn’t think it was true the first time, why would you the second and third time?
Funny how I was deep in Christian brainwashing, I heard all that and never questioned its veracity.
Now I read every line and constantly think that it is all tales–there is no foundation, grand claims with zero proof.
It must be stifling to be a Christian songwriter. The only subjects you can write about are Jesus and god. No songs about nature, falling in love, having your heart broken, being lonely, the joy and pain of being young or getting old. This is what an artist life must be like in places like North Korea.
I am so glad Lucinda Williams is unsaved.
Hmm, is the assumption this song represents all or most Christian music or writers? I know many believers who make a living writing songs as Mark D puts it. There are also Christian artists whose ministry is about real life, servants of children and families of 3rd world countries. FWIW, I’m a writer, not published or really even trying. I write in many genres, not bound by subject matter, Lucinda is a fine writer, respected by writers who writer for the sake of the art and not the empty prospects flooding the web today.
I do agree the legalistic perspectives of some Christian sects that border on cultish are repulsive. IMHO Christianity is a state of heart, not man made religion or how slick a web page is presented. No doubt there is plenty of corniness associated with religion in general, no just Christianity. Hank Hill, why not make better use of time and catch some Hank Williams, geez.
I don’t study atheism, perhaps I should… but we all serve some sort of god, I choose to put a capital “G” on mine. I wish I could say I live as Jesus did.
“but we all serve some sort of god”
Whoever told you that lied to you.
You seem a nice sort. You should really educate yourself before you write. It will make you seem less silly, and make it more likely that people will take you seriously.
I though Jesus healed the lame. If there was a god, Christian rock wouldn’t suck so damned hard.
That song should have been sung by Bonnie Tyler.
I just wanted to add to this discussion that I TOO HAVE DISLIKED AND REJECTED this song since the first time I heard it BECAUSE I AM A DEVOUT CHRISTIAN. You are completely right that this song offers no answers. You are completely right that it shows no respect for the listener. You are completely right that it ignores the listener’s challenges. There are arguments to be made and counterpoints to be discussed in the debate about religion in general and Christianity in particular. This song neither summarizes existing arguments nor, as one poster already mentioned, offers new ones. You have legitimate questions, concerns, and challenges to Christian doctrine, and you deserve to have those addressed if you wish to participate in a discussion of them. You also have the right to opt out of that discussion. Songs like this do not help either perspective and actually ignore Biblical doctrines; I won’t thump you with citations, but I will offer just one: 1 Peter 3:15 says “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” Phelps is completely ignoring both parts of that instruction in this song. I’m sure he meant it to encourage believers, but, as a believer, I can say it frustrated me because it exacerbated exactly the problems you have been discussing. Please don’t take this song to be indicative of the entire Christian community. Yes, many of my fellow believers talk and act like this, but there are also many who don’t. On our behalf, I offer an apology for this song and the lack of respect it shows.