U2 a model for the Church?

By Santosh Ninan and ChristianWeek | June 29, 2010

With the postponement of U2ʼs tour, many fans have been left disappointed (including this reviewer, who had planned on seeing them in Seattle and Edmonton!). However, you can still enjoy some U2 with the release of We Get To Carry Each Other: The Gospel According to U2 by Greg Garrett.

Garrett believes rock 'n' roll can change us: "What good news can U2 bring that might help us understand Christian belief and practice in a way that might transform our lives?" he asks. The rest of the book is an answer to this question.

In the first chapter Garrett reflects on major Christian doctrines and reveals how they are portrayed in the lyrics and statements from the band. He covers U2 songs that come across as modern Psalms, songs that portray the nature of God, the incarnation of Christ, the Holy Spirit and divine inspiration. It is clear these doctrines permeate much of the U2 canon. This chapter could be a good launching pad for discussions amongst Christians concerning these important doctrines, made more accessible through the music of U2.

Chapter two covers the importance of Christian community, pointing to the band's long career as an example. I agree here to a point. There has been a tendency in recent days to reduce concepts of the Church down into informal relationships: going golfing with other Christians or hanging out in a pub with other believers is church. I believe these relationships are a part of what we understand the Church to be.

But the Church also includes the sacraments, regular study of the Word, prayer, worship and outreach. There are lessons to be learned about Christian friendship and support from U2's longevity, but I would stop short of calling U2 a representative of ecclesiology proper.

The most visible aspect of the bandʼs faith has come through their philanthropy and attention to social justice issues—Live Aid, DATA, Red campaign and Bonoʼs other tireless efforts, especially on behalf of Africa. This was the strongest chapter in the book as it gave a clear correlation between the faith and action.

This book is a good introduction to the beliefs and principles that guide U2. One shortcoming is that Garret conducts no one-on-one interviews with any of the members. He relies on lyrics and previous interviews. But he does do a good job of weaving these together into a coherent whole. If you are a fan of the band, you will likely find this an interesting book that digs deeper into their lyrics and motivations.