John 8:32 (ESV)
And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you
free.
Known for their unforgettable rock anthems (e.g. “Don’t
Stop Believing,” “Separate Ways,” etc.) and chart-topping power ballads (e.g.
“Faithfully,” “Open Arms,” etc.) Journey has been a significant part of
America’s pop culture for over 40 years.
The casual fan, however, might not be aware that the Rock
& Roll Hall of Fame band has at times laced its lyrics with biblical
references. On the 1978 breakout album Infinity, the hit song “Wheel in the
Sky” had some critics and fans speculating that the title might be taken from
Ezekiel 1 and the prophet’s elaborate vision.
While the band has never confirmed a direct correlation,
there have been other more obvious instances such as the song “Believe” from
the 2005 album Generations, which utilizes a portion of John 8:32.
I believe in you, believe in me
I believe in you, believe in me
Oh, I believe the truth will set you free
I believe in you, believe in me
The most obvious shift towards biblically themed lyrics,
however, can be found on the 1996 album Trial By Fire, which featured the
songwriting team of Steve Perry and Jonathan Cain for the last time before
Perry parted ways with Journey. According to Cain, Perry brought his Bible into
the studio and the two pondered what would happen if they used some of its text
as their inspiration.
One such song was the lead track, “Message of Love,” which
included these two lines from the bridge:
I hear…but I never listen
I see…and still I’m blind
Those bars invoked the words of Jesus who explained to the
disciples why he used parables to share his message:
“Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do
not hear or understand.” (Matthew 13:13, NIV)
Another biblically inspired song was the title track,
“Trial By Fire,” which invokes Psalm 66:10 and 1 Peter 1:6-7 and includes
direct references to 2 Corinthians 4 within the first three lines of the first
verse:
Treasures in the jars of clay (v. 7)
Let the light shine out of darkness (v. 6)
Fallen down but not destroyed (v. 9)
It's just another trial by fire
“There I am with a Bible on my console,” Cain recalled. “It
was profound and wonderful, and we wrote this beautiful song.”
In 2016, Cain recorded the solo album What God Wants To
Hear and for the first time wrote all of the songs based on the Christian faith
and the Bible.
“I’ve always been seeking out songs since I was young,”
Cain said. “I never had any idea how rich the Bible was with imagery. I got
lost in it.”
Dear Lord, we thank You for the way Your word finds its way
into the may stream. We pray that those that hear the words will be open to the
message. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
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