Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Lunatic Fringe" (Red Rider)

Welcome college basketball fans, music lovers, and the curious to another March Madness edition of Tuesday's Musical Notes!!!  The brackets are set and the teams are ready and it begins today!!!  Upsets and champions await as the tournaments begin this week.  If you are not interested in Men's basketball, or sports of any kind for that matter, stick around...you are sure to find something in today's notes because it's primarily about the Master and the music, the Savior and the songs, and ultimately how we relate to both.  So strap on your converse and get ready to warm up.  After the bracket links, you will find our song of the day...which describes many a basketball fan as well. 

NCAA Men's Basketball Championship bracket

NCAA Men's Basketball - National Invitational Tournament bracket

Red Rider - "Lunatic Fringe"

Dictionary.com defines a "lunatic fringe" as "members on the periphery of any group, especially political, social, or religious, who hold extreme or fanatical views".  Perhaps you've even seen a few of these folks as the camera pans on them at a college basketball game, or for that matter any sporting event.   In 1981, it was defined as a #11 chart topper on the Rock Radio Airplay Chart for Billboard Magazine by the band Red Rider.   Believe it or not, "Lunatic Fringe" never made it to the top 40 on the Hot 100, but due to its heavy rotation at MTV and rock radio, it has become a staple of classic rock play lists and a favorite of fans from around the world.  The song was also featured in the 1985 film Vision Quest.  This soundtrack catapulted up the charts by featuring many of the days most popular artists as well as a relative new comer who had 2 songs on the soundtrack and a small role in the film.  Perhaps you know her...she's crazy for you. 

Tom Cochrane and Red Rider continue to tour after reforming as a band in 2002 (The band broke up in 1989 after the release of their album The Symphony Sessions).  Cochrane's "Life Is A Highway" (yep, he wrote and recorded it before Rascal Flatts) seems to be the mantra for this band that has received accolades for their music as well as their charitable work.  "Lunatic Fringe" was written, according to Cochrane, in response to a resurgence in antisemitism that began in the 70's.  In a 2002 article, Cochrane also attributed "Lunatic Fringe" to being inspired by the life of Raoul Wallenberg who rescued Jews from the Holocaust during the 2nd World War.  Regardless of the inspiration, the song can lend itself to defining many groups who are out there on the fringes of society...including followers of Jesus.

Perspective and context are always good things.  Far too many times, well intentioned people say things that are meant to benefit others, but their words are taken out of context or twisted by other "well intentioned" people to be harmful.  This mentality is perpetuated when people attempt to utilize the Bible to prove a particular point.  It is never the intent of Tuesday's Musical Notes to "pull" scripture to promote the point we are attempting to make each week. We encourage you to go and read the entire chapter or perhaps even the entire books that are referenced in The Notes in order to gain a complete perspective and decide for yourself if we have misused God's Holy Word.  Please let us know if you feel we do this, again this is never our intent.  

Many stories in the Bible can be seen from different perspectives.  Take for example how the Pharisees and Sadducee must have felt when Jesus and His disciples came along.  The Pharisees and Sadducee were the political and social ruling class during the time of the second Temple.  One of the main differences between the two were wealth.  The Pharisees more often than not being poorer than the Sadducee.  Imagine that, two classes of people having disagreements over politics and social issues...but we digress.  These "religious" rulers, so to speak, had everything under control.  They had established a relationship with the Romans that was tenuous but tolerable.  They had the Jewish people under their control as they were the educated and "spiritually elite" of their time.  Jesus and His disciples, from their perspective, represented a "lunatic fringe" element to their balanced rule.  Jesus knew the scripture as well as any of them and spoke with such authority, that their delicate balance was being shaken. One example of His teaching against the established religious leaders appears in Matthew 26. (Matthew 26 - Holman Christian Standard Bible) Jesus calls the religious establishment a "brood of vipers" because of their treatment of the prophets of the past.  Because of this and similar teachings, Jesus and His followers soon were seen as a fringe element that was fast becoming very popular with the people and a threat to the rule that the Pharisees and Sadducee had.   When Jesus claimed sonship to God, however, He immediately became a lunatic and blasphemer in many peoples eyes, not just the religious rulers of the day. Many of His followers, even the most devout would desert Him.   This lunatic fringe would soon become 1 man hanging on a tree.  More of this story to come...

So where does that leave us?  The perspective of many around the world, if you are a follower of Jesus, is that you are fast becoming a part of a "lunatic fringe".  Persecutions of Christians abound globally and are taking place in the United States as well.  As we live our lives in service to Jesus and others, we will soon find the way more and more difficult.  But be encouraged, because the Creator God of this world has provided His Word to comfort us and embolden us for the tasks that He has for us to do.    (Bible passages that refer to God's provision and protection)  In the final analysis of this life, if we are faithful, we also are victorious.  So it's ok to be a part of this particular...lunatic fringe...I know You're out there


'Til Tuesday
Serving HIM by serving you,
Randy