The concept of “soul freedom” (sometimes referred to by other terms, such as “soul competency” and “freedom of conscience”) is an important one in the Baptist tradition (although we see it neglected or even rejected at times in the Southern Baptist Convention and independent fundamentalist Baptist churches). It is the idea that the individual has the ability and the responsibility to decide before God what they should believe and do, and that ultimately they must follow their own conscience rather than some other authority.
Since that will be a focus of the sermon at my church this coming Sunday, I started first trying to think of, and then actively looking for, songs that relate to this topic. I couldn’t find any – although I did nonetheless find two songs with the title “Soul Freedom,” one by Deep Black Sees and the other by Chico Mann, neither of which is about the Baptist idea and neither of which seems like it would fit in the service. But do listen to them by clicking the videos below nevertheless. Clearly this is a topic that calls for some songwriting!
Here are the lyrics to the Deep Black Sees song “Soul Freedom” courtesy of their Facebook page:
SOUL FREEDOM
PART I Echoes Along The Valleys
Life is fear of making the wrong choice
When we are led by feelings
Trying to find the right way
To breath, to cry, to smile
We listen to the whispering of the time
It echoes along the valleys
Into our minds.
Who are we? What are we going to be later?
Each mask I wear breaks my body
It seems other spirits possess me
And their dust, generated by
Their double-dealing, breaks my down
PART II Trains
I’m travelling in a crowded train
The images are out of focus
I really don’t know where it’s headed
Where’s the last stop
I can’t pull the emergency
brake or get off
But inside myself a voice suggest me
To go on waiting for the last train stop
Does it mean I’ll go on living my experience happily?
‘Cause I want to tell my life, my changes
Does it mean I’ll get a lot of friends
Rude or polite, rich or poor, bad or good?
They all, look like me, they’re all actors without a mask
Until I hear the last whistle.
PART III Light
What do I expect in this life?
Will I have a woman to embrace, to kiss?
Will I see the ocean in her eyes?
I’m changing on and on
I know, I am the only one
Maybe not for you
All I got is going to fade
And I don’t mind losing it
But I like riding everything I live
My body reigns on a small land
But my soul is wandering over the earth and the ocean
Right there, I am free
Right there, I smile at the life.
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