Linkin Park’s Music and Our Unique Differences

Linkin Park is forever my favorite rock band. Originally named Xero, they changed their name to Hybrid Theory in true spirit of their music which is a fusion (is that the right word?) of alternative metal, hip hop, electronic turntable and rap. But some group, called Hybrid threatens to sue them and in desperation, they settled for Linkin Park after Lincoln Park, “where the music could define the name rather than the name define the music.” Comprising Mike Shinoda (producer/vocalist), Chester Bennington (lead vocalist), Brad Delson (guitarist), ‘Phoenix’ Farrell (bassist), Rob Bourdon (drummer) and DJ Joe Hahn, Linkin Park doesn’t do drugs nor drink or smoke on tour. Their most success album, my ultimate collection, is Hybrid Theory which contains “zero vulgarity”, sales more than 15 million copies since its release in Oct 2000.

What make me so attracted with Linkin Park’s music is that they are able to creatively blend many genre into one – a new fusion of music – that change the way we see rock forever. Well, at least for me. I was thinking, as an implication of this talk about Linkin Park’s music, is it possible for people with their many differences can come together as one?

God creatively make people so difference with one another. It is through each person’s uniqueness that we can work together to accomplish important and significant tasks. God made each of us with unique set of abilities and gifts (as many genre of music) so that we can benefit the church and culture and advance His Kingdom on earth (as a new fusion of music). When we use our unique abilities, we feel significant and worthwhile. We better learn how to use our differences to work together and complement each other instead of using our differences to separate us. The church, I see, should be the ultimate example of people with many differences coming together to work in harmony and accomplish great things. Like ‘alternative metal’, ‘hip hop’, ‘electronic turntable’ and ‘rap’ in Linkin Park’s music; so it is the pastor, evangelists, missionaries, Sunday school teachers, prayer warriors & intercessors, etc., for example, are one fusion of God’s ‘Music’ in His Kingdom [I’m not talking about Doctrines differences, but our unique differences. I’m using an analogy here].

The song is ‘Glory to God’
The mean is ‘our unique differences’
The subject is ‘People of all nations’
The object is ‘Jesus Christ the King’

Ronald A. Beers writes, “When a group of people come together to solve a problem, their differences are necessary to ensure that all angles are thought through, new ideas introduced, rough ideas sharpened, and a final solution agreed upon. The result is far better than what one individual could have done.” How true. Don’t allow differences to set us into confusion, conflict, and tension – strive to use our differences to bring us together to accomplish more than we ever thought possible. The Scripture says, “We are many parts of one body, and we all belong to each other” (Romans 12:5NLT). With God’s constant rhythm of help and guidance – we are able to make music that can change people’s life forever.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

I love LINKIN PARK!