A Faith For Our Time – Sing It!

Faith and democracy must be sung and lived. A special gift from singer/songwriter Ken Medema.

Ken Medema is a dear friend and long-time partner for me. And Ken is the most interesting and inspiring songwriter I have ever known. Both Bruce Cockburn, the renowned Canadian singer and songwriter, and Noel Paul Stookey, a member of the folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary, have told me that they think Ken Medema is the best improvisational musician they had ever seen. I agree.

Ken and I have traveled together often. We did Let Justice Roll revival tours around the country. I would riff with a preaching point, and then Ken would write a song to that point. Our back and forth got both us and the audiences going. Often at breakfast the next day with local leaders, Ken would ask people to tell him their story, then he would write – on the spot – a song that sang their story with laughs and tears all around. 

Ken and his wonderful manager Beverly Vander Molen, joined me for two recent book tour events, for The False White Gospel – again doing our back and forth. Now Ken Medema has written a song for the book and I wanted to share it with all of you here. The name sings the message: A Faith For Our Time. This book I wrote is much more than a challenge to the White Christian Nationalism that now threatens both our democracy and the integrity of religious communities, but a call for a literally new American church with indeed a faith for our time. Ken recorded the song with members of Trinity United Church of Christ, on the south side of Chicago where Otis Moss III is the pastor. The music and the voices are wonderful.

Ken at the keys.

I wanted to give you a chance to listen and feel the message and pass it on to all your circles. Faith and democracy must be sung and lived. Enjoy and share.

Here is Ken Medema’s website where you can find his amazing array of music and performances. And below are the lyrics to the song and the credits for the others who contributed to it.

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A Faith for our Time

I want to see a faith that smells and sounds like welcome,

Where people meet beyond the walls of race and clan and creed,

Where justice flows like water and mercy grows like gardens,

Where hope and health walk hand in hand and loving takes the lead,

I want to see a faith come alive in every culture,

Speaking hope in every language, speaking peace in every tongue,

Alive with conversation, connection, and communion,

Words of love are spoken here and songs of love are sung.

Chorus

I want to see the real thing, I want to see the big deal,

I want to see the God-life that can turn a soul around,

I want to feel the Spirit, I want to hear the music,

I want to know the God-power that can break the barriers down,

I don’t want to see another institution,

Worshipping White Christian Nationalism with pretty songs to sing

What I want to see is a love-born revolution,

What I want to see is the Real Thing.

I want to see a faith where I can learn to live the Jesus way,

To put my feet on that narrow road he spoke of long ago,

And when we fall or stumble, we can learn to lift each other up,

To make the changes and the choices that will help our spirits grow,

I want to see a faith where everybody matters,

Where everyone, no matter who, has special gifts to give,

I want to see a faith that helps me find my place of service,

We give, receive, belong, believe, and that’s the way we live,

Chorus

I want to see a faith where neighbors care for neighbors,

Caring for the image of God alive in everyone

I want to see a faith where no needs to go without,

No matter what compassion costs people race to get it done,

I want to see a faith that lives for peace and not for war,

No compromise, no cleaver lies, no dumbing down,

I want to see a faith that speaks the truth to everyone,

The rich, the poor, the high, the low, the criminal and the crown.

Music and lyrics, Copyrighted Ken Medema, 2014/ Reimagined 2024.

A Faith For Our Time Credits

Recording Session

Producer, Choral and Band Arranger Bryan Johnson

Ken Medema, Songwriter

Engineer Plu Harmon

Recorded at Studios Planet Plu Studio and Music to lluminate Studios

Vocals recorded on Saturday, May 26th, 2024

Mixed at Fast Trax Studio, Jenison, Michigan, Robert Reister, Engineer

Singers

Tracie Williams

Angela Walton

Mayah McIntosh

Imani Abernathy

Stephanie Higgins Garrett

Alfred Golden

Musicians

Bryan Johnson, Keyboards

Tim Fullerton, Bass Guitar

Wayne Barrett, Lead Guitar

William (Plu) Harmon Drums and Drum Programming