Hey Matt, that’s some interesting lyrics.  Not a bit Linkin Park fan, but the words are very apropos.  I can totally relate to it.  Growing up that’s very much how I felt.  For me religion was based on my parents’ view point on SDA, church and God.  So the verse about being smothered was right on.  When I finally got away from them, ie. went to college, I really wanted to get numb to religion.  But God had other plans for me.  Praise His Name!  Because of songs like Linkin park reflecting the views of our youths, I truly believe it is our mission to show them God is not that controlling person.  He wants to be our friend, our homey, our pal.  Jesus is cool and just wants to hang out with us.  well, thank you Matt.  God continue to richly bless you, your wife and your ministry!
Robin

Thank you for your comments Robin.  I am especially appreciative of your testimony and how the lyrics articulate your experience.  Keep checking back for more “The Gospel According to Linkin Park” and other topics!

My personal convictions lead me to not involve myself with groups like Incubus (which refers to a mythological sex-crazed demon) or Linkin Park (when I visited their site, a very violent video ensued, the mayhem was mindless and endless). However, it is true that even people that don’t have a Christian worldview or values share in an existential uneasiness about conditions in the world.  When you think about it, the whole universe is in pain to one degree or another.  All humans deal with pain at some level whether they are striving against sin or numbing guilt.  Maybe today is fine, but no human can live every day with no pain.  The devils are in a state of pain that only the eternally damned can know.  It is painful to God to be in contact with pain, yet His Holy Spirit reaches out to everyone.  Jesus suffered His worst pain from Gethsemane to Calvary, yet every day of His life was a journey through temptation and opposition of one form or another - often from other humans, but always from fallen angels.

Whether our pain is from a physical cause, like cancer or neuropathy, whether it is from bad relationships or employment situations, we need to be careful in how we alleviate our pain, choosing only God’s methods and recommendations regardiing recreation, amusement and friendships.

I made a typo in the comment I just posted.  I meant to say that it is painful for God to be in contact with sin.

ALVIN!  Thank you so much for taking the time to write.  I appreciate your heart and insights.  You are so correct when you eluded to the fact that every human being walking the face of the earth has felt pain.  The question becomes how do we deal with that pain?  Ultimately God would have us come to Him with every ounce of pain, guilty or frustration so that He can reveal His love for us in the midst of the hurt. 

In my opinion, a lot of the music that is in the mainstream today is popular because it communicates the pain that many people are feeling in a language they can understand.  Ultimately they are looking answers and meaning.  And that is where God comes in!

Thanks again Alvin for your comments!

mwg

Thanks, Matthew.  I thought I would add that the context for me thinking so much about pain is that I have a damaged nervous system, which causes me chronic pain. 

You may have heard that one of the worst problems for lepers is they hurt themselves and don’t know it, because they can’t feel it.  What you may not know is that while their nerves are deteriorating, they send a lot pain messages to the brain.  No, I don’t have leprosy, but I can relate to this because although the nerves in my feet send a lot of “false” pain messages, I can get wounds and surgery on my toes with no pain. 

In our lives, we can also get erroneous Pharasaical scruples at the same time as having a deadened conscience concerning spiritual dangers.

I use to always listen to Linkinpark..there lyrics/style has done a complete 180 though...I love Incubus as well. I find inspiration in their songs while jamming out on an mmorpg game passing the time.