I was introduced to the music of Daniel Deitrich a few days ago.
In the two weeks since his song “Hymn for the 81%” first debuted on YouTube, it has been viewed more than 140,000 times.
An Invitation
Long-time faith columnist for Kansas City Star, Bill Tammeus issued what I’ve found to be the most compelling invitation for all to listen to the song and to do so with an understanding of the heart of the songwriter:
I hope you’ll give it a listen, remembering that he’s not telling people they should have voted for Clinton and not offering a damning critique of Trump’s various political policies. Rather, Deitrich asking the people who raised him as a Christian why they no longer seem to believe what they taught him.
The Story
In 2016, 81% of white evangelical Christians voted for Donald Trump despite his disturbing patterns of personal behavior that appeared antithetical to the moral norms expected by this group.
In an interview with Shane Claiborne for Red Letter Christians, Deitrich shared that he felt compelled to write this song not only because of that reality, but also due to Trump’s actions since becoming President. He intends the song as “a lament and a rebuke” and also hopes that “people hear that it comes from a deep well of love. ”
The Song
I grew up in your churches
Sunday morning, evening service
Knelt in tears at the foot of the rugged cross
You taught me every life is sacred
feed the hungry, clothe the naked
I learned from you the highest law is LoveI believed you when you said
that I should trust the words in red
To guide my steps through a wicked world
I assumed you’d do the same
so imagine my dismay
When I watched you lead the sheep to the wolvesYou said to love the lost
So I’m loving you now
You said to speak the truth
So I’m calling you out
Why don’t you live the words
That you put in my mouth
May love overcome and justice roll downThey started putting kids in cages
Ripping mothers from their babies
And I looked to you to speak on their behalf
But all I heard was silence
Or worse you justify it
Singing glory hallelujah raise the flagYour fear had turned to hatred
But you baptized it with language
torn from the pages of the good book
You weaponized religion
And you wonder why I’m leaving
To find Jesus on the wrong side of your wallsCome home
Come home
You’re better than this
You taught me better than this
Meet the Musician
Daniel Deitrich serves as Pastor of Arts and Worship at South Bend City Church, a congregation founded in 2016. Previously he spent nearly a decade on the staff of First Church of God.
In a recent interview with RNS, Deitrich explained “worship music should give us hope — hope that the way of Jesus can bring healing and peace to a hurting world here and now.”
So What?
It is always a good time to pray for love to overcome and for justice to roll down.
Praying that prayer and living in ways that make the world a more loving and more just place for all people should be normal behavior for those who follow the Way of Jesus.
- What was your reaction to “Hymn for the 81%” immediately after hearing it for the first time?
- How might this hymn generate meaningful conversation among Christians with differing theological perspectives? What is one thing you can do to contribute to this?