David Bazan's "Bearing Witness"

Today, I had to drive quite a bit, just throughout town, from place to place. David Bazan's solo album, which debuted about a year ago, but only became a part of my itunes library months ago, felt like the right thing to listen to. David used to be the lead singer and song-writer of Pedro the Lion, a Seattle-based Christian rock group. But in 2004, he had a crisis of faith, and through the painful process of sifting the truth from the stories, he has now reached the conclusion that everything he had believed so strongly for his 30 something years was a lie. In his album, Curse Your Branches, themes of doubt, disillusionment, deconversion, pain, alcoholism that went with this process, disappointment, and renewal are prevalent. I found the song "Bearing Witness" particularly poignant today when I was driving through my city's downtown.

I clung to miracles I have not seen
From ancient signatures I cannot read
Though I've repented I'm still tempted I admit
But it's not what bearing witness is

To full of fear and prophecy to see
The revelation right in front of me
So sick and tired of trying to make the pieces fit
cause it's not what bearing witness is

When the gap between
what I hoped would be
and what is makes me weep for my kids
I take a cleansing breath
and make a positive confession
But is that what bearing witness is?

Though it may alienate your family
and blur the lines of your identity
Let go of what you know
and honor what exists
Son, that's what bearing witness is
Daughter, that's what bearing witness is

Hear him sing it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7qVXev6It94


Whether or not you think that David came to the right conclusion on Christianity and God, you have to admit that his honesty is extremely admirable. To move from belief to disillusionment, and reexamine everything is not for the faint hearted. I am encouraged by him.