I feel like this song almost contradicts other aspects of the album. It's a known fact that Sufjan is quite a devout Christian, however in The Age of Adz he says, "When I die, when I die, I'll rot. But when I live, when I live, I'll give it all I've got."
Not exactly Christian doctrine. However, it's contrasted by this song and its almost evangelical lyrics. I'm not sure if it's him saying it to Royal, or if it's him saying it to himself, or him saying it to anyone who has not yet, or is not willing to, "get real, get right with the Lord". As an Atheist, I'd like to think that he's speaking to himself, or willing Royal not to be distracted. When I saw him he did say this was his song for Royal... I'm not debating that. I just can't decide what kind of message he's trying to convey through those lines, and it's interesting how different it is to the sentiment displayed in Age of Adz, and also in Casimir Pulaski Day on Illinoise, where he says, "Tuesday night at the Bible study, we lift our hands and pray over your body but nothing ever happens" and then "and He takes, and He takes, and He takes". It's almost as if he knows what he believes and what he wants to believe, but he accepts the shortcomings of the Christian faith and also accepts the possibility that none of it is true.
... Just an interesting aspect I notice in his music...
I'm not sure if it's a main theme/thrust of the song, but he seems to be discussing not being dead at the end, but the Kingdom of Heaven/the Kingdom of God. This facet of biblical doctrine concerns Christ's many "kingdom parables" and the fact that there is only a limited time of the Kingdom during this fallen world (before Christ's physical return.) This limited time is the time for evangelical work and for the work of the Holy Spirit for salvation. When Sufjan says that when he dies he'll rot, it seems not to be a contrast with Christian doctrine,...
I'm not sure if it's a main theme/thrust of the song, but he seems to be discussing not being dead at the end, but the Kingdom of Heaven/the Kingdom of God. This facet of biblical doctrine concerns Christ's many "kingdom parables" and the fact that there is only a limited time of the Kingdom during this fallen world (before Christ's physical return.) This limited time is the time for evangelical work and for the work of the Holy Spirit for salvation. When Sufjan says that when he dies he'll rot, it seems not to be a contrast with Christian doctrine, but a reference to his inability to do "Kingdom work;" but while he lives, he'll give all he's got to the Kingdom.
Further, when he recognizes, as you noted, that God takes and that prayer doesn't do anything, he's again not contradicting biblical doctrine, but upholding it. He recognized that God, in his (loving) justice, cannot merely give freely to those who have transgressed his law, but he takes from us what is not ours, but his. And the prayers of men are powerless in all aspects; it is the loving God ho hears and "works all things together for the good of those who love him."
You don't have to believe these things, and in the postmodern spirit, I'm sure you assumed that. But a postmodern shortcoming is separating the artist from his art, as though they have no connection bu at the instant of creation. You haven't necessarily done this, but I don't think that Sufjan is at all saying the Christian faith might not be all true. He recognizes the perfection of Christ and the horrible, twisted nature of man and of Christians.
I feel like this song almost contradicts other aspects of the album. It's a known fact that Sufjan is quite a devout Christian, however in The Age of Adz he says, "When I die, when I die, I'll rot. But when I live, when I live, I'll give it all I've got." Not exactly Christian doctrine. However, it's contrasted by this song and its almost evangelical lyrics. I'm not sure if it's him saying it to Royal, or if it's him saying it to himself, or him saying it to anyone who has not yet, or is not willing to, "get real, get right with the Lord". As an Atheist, I'd like to think that he's speaking to himself, or willing Royal not to be distracted. When I saw him he did say this was his song for Royal... I'm not debating that. I just can't decide what kind of message he's trying to convey through those lines, and it's interesting how different it is to the sentiment displayed in Age of Adz, and also in Casimir Pulaski Day on Illinoise, where he says, "Tuesday night at the Bible study, we lift our hands and pray over your body but nothing ever happens" and then "and He takes, and He takes, and He takes". It's almost as if he knows what he believes and what he wants to believe, but he accepts the shortcomings of the Christian faith and also accepts the possibility that none of it is true. ... Just an interesting aspect I notice in his music...
I'm not sure if it's a main theme/thrust of the song, but he seems to be discussing not being dead at the end, but the Kingdom of Heaven/the Kingdom of God. This facet of biblical doctrine concerns Christ's many "kingdom parables" and the fact that there is only a limited time of the Kingdom during this fallen world (before Christ's physical return.) This limited time is the time for evangelical work and for the work of the Holy Spirit for salvation. When Sufjan says that when he dies he'll rot, it seems not to be a contrast with Christian doctrine,...
I'm not sure if it's a main theme/thrust of the song, but he seems to be discussing not being dead at the end, but the Kingdom of Heaven/the Kingdom of God. This facet of biblical doctrine concerns Christ's many "kingdom parables" and the fact that there is only a limited time of the Kingdom during this fallen world (before Christ's physical return.) This limited time is the time for evangelical work and for the work of the Holy Spirit for salvation. When Sufjan says that when he dies he'll rot, it seems not to be a contrast with Christian doctrine, but a reference to his inability to do "Kingdom work;" but while he lives, he'll give all he's got to the Kingdom.
Further, when he recognizes, as you noted, that God takes and that prayer doesn't do anything, he's again not contradicting biblical doctrine, but upholding it. He recognized that God, in his (loving) justice, cannot merely give freely to those who have transgressed his law, but he takes from us what is not ours, but his. And the prayers of men are powerless in all aspects; it is the loving God ho hears and "works all things together for the good of those who love him."
You don't have to believe these things, and in the postmodern spirit, I'm sure you assumed that. But a postmodern shortcoming is separating the artist from his art, as though they have no connection bu at the instant of creation. You haven't necessarily done this, but I don't think that Sufjan is at all saying the Christian faith might not be all true. He recognizes the perfection of Christ and the horrible, twisted nature of man and of Christians.