Bob Dylan’s epic song has been covered countless times since it was released (is this the Spirit whispering to me?) 60 years ago tomorrow. While I have never been a fan of Mr. Dylan’s singing but have always thought his brilliance as a lyricist is unmatched. In this song (Bob Dylan – With God on Our Side Lyrics | Genius Lyrics), Dylan moves through American history recounting our biggest wars and the way he – and the rest of us – have been raised to not ask questions, because God is on our side. Our forgiveness of the Germans, even though they murdered 6 million+ Jews – our hatred of the Russians, even though they were our allies in that same war – every conflict and act of greed and ever colonial land grab committed because we believed that God was – and is – on our side.
This conflict goes on. People of faith claiming their candidate has been chosen by God, willing to wage violence – even civil war – against those of us who disagree. I was taught that voters elect public servants to office; guess my teachers were wrong about that. We have seen God used and abused by tyrants and lunatics, offering nothing more than “yuh-huh” as their argument for those claims. Dylan’s song may seem prophetic, but it isn’t; it recounts the history of our nation and recognizes that delusional thinking will always, like Jesus said about the poor, be with us. There will always be people who see visions and dream dreams that they think come from God. I can’t judge what goes on inside of their heads – I can only see the consequences of their actions.
This has always been my measuring stick when people claim to love God and people. Who gets hurt and who is helped? Is your claim that God is on your side leading you to make the world better or lining your pocket with gold? Are the laws you sign, or the policies you champion, focused on helping the poor or making the rich richer? I am not looking for perfection in any person, including myself, and I know that all of us make mistakes and poor decisions. That being said, while I can’t see your intent, I can experience your outcomes. When we sing “They Will Know We are Christians by Our Love” we aren’t singing about something metaphorical or aspirational; we are singing about how we treat others. This problem has always been with us – just read the Book of James in the Christian Scriptures and you will see their struggle too.
Having God on our side does not constitute a desire for money or the need to control others. It does not put us in charge or give us permission to take away other’s rights. From a Christian perspective, it means that we love others and serve them. Period. I don’t think God is on anyone’s side, but I do think that other can see God is in our hearts and lives from how we live and treat others. That’s all I can see about you and all you can see about me. Are you on God’s side or your own? That is the question.
Prayer – Holy God, save us from our self-righteous approach to life. Teach us to serve you and others, especially those who struggle. Then the world will see You through us. Amen.