For my English Comp class I had to write an evaluation essay. I decided to write about the Psalters...here it is! (minus the work cited)
“We are the cry of the exodus. There is no home for us here”. The people who raise this cry are not ordinary people. Living a nomadic lifestyle, they walk this earth praising and crying out to their maker. Although they are a band of musicians, they do not wish to be viewed as such. These people aspire to be like the temple worshipers who first sang the Psalms, making music with the sole purpose of bringing praise to God. These people are known as the Psalters. Despite harsh criticisms directed toward the Psalters about their radical lifestyle, they exemplify what it really means to be revolutionary, anti-conformist followers of Jesus. The Psalters live simply by denying many worldly pleasures, they are good stewards of the earth, they have a uniquely biblical sound, and their songs challenge western Christians to assess their true world views.
The Psalters have heeded the Lord's commands to simplicity. When Jesus sent his disciples out into the world to preach the gospel, he told them, "Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra tunic” (Luke 9:3 NIV). He wanted them to depend on Him for all of their needs. In today's world people's identities are determined by what they have, such as the success they have obtained or the house that they live in. This can especially be seen in the United States, where many people have gotten caught up in the American dream. Chasing after the American dream, many ignore Jesus' gentle voice reminding them that “blessed are the meek...” (Mathew 5:5 NIV) and “woe to those who are rich...” (Luke 6:24 NIV). The Psalters, however, have heeded the Lord's commands to simplicity, contrary to American culture. They do not own any land and they have very few possessions. They have not placed a copyright on their music because they recognize that anything they possess does not belong to them, but to God. The Psalters' simple lifestyle mirrors the way the early Christians lived, by humbly putting Christ before any earthly gain.
The customs of the Psalters are upside-down to the way most musicians live. In this entertainment-based culture most musically talented people are put on a pedestal and encouraged to use their talents to gain riches for themselves. The Psalters, however, use their talents only for the glory of God. This principle they, not only talk about, but live out by not searching to be signed by any record label or charging a set price for any of their products.
Some critics might question the Psalters' grasp on reality and state that they are hippies living in a dreamworld, trying to escape the troubles of this life. The reality, however, is that the lifestyle of the Psalters is not a dreamworld; By living this way they are even more exposed to the troubles of this life. They do not have luxuries to hide themselves from the poverty and pains of this world, and have to depend on God to provide for all their needs. Since the Psalters don't have a steady income, or a false security in money, their eyes are many times opened to those who struggle because they oftentimes find themselves in similar situations. The Psalters are able to help those in need by creating community with them, thus living in accordance to how Christ has called his followers to live.
Not only do the Psalters live a simple life, but they also respect God's creation by being good stewards to the earth. Even though the earth was given to humankind to take care of, it still belongs to God because He created it. Therefore, as stewards of the Earth, it is humankind's responsibility to take care of it, because the earth is something that God has graciously given to an undeserving world. The Psalters have a creative way of keeping this earth healthy as they travel across it in their bus. The Psalter bus' diesel engine has been converted to run on used vegetable oil. Not only does this creatively named “Veggie Van” portray good stewardship towards the earth, it also encourages community between the Psalters and restaurant workers. Restaurants are pleased to give their waste vegetable oil to the Psalters because it saves them the money they would have otherwise had to spend on the disposal of said oil. The good stewardship the Psalters display to this earth, is just another example of how their love for God is shown through their everyday lifestyle.
As musicians, they not only let God influence their daily lives, but also present Him through their music, which is uniquely biblical. The Psalters' music is unique in comparison to other popular, contemporary music genres and cannot be defined or encompassed into any one genre. Their daring mix of tribal drums, Celtic flutes, and Southern gospel lyrics seem to unite the whole world together in wild adoration of Christ. As they express their anguish of the fallen state of this world and sing praises to their Maker, they are definitely “not for the artistically faint of heart...”. Some music critics have said that if they would lay off of the “Jesus pipe” for at least two seconds, they would be an amazing band. However, Jesus is the only reason they are a band in the first place. Jesus is the only reason they sing and groan with “...groans that words cannot express” (Romans 8:26 NIV). If it were not for the presence of Jesus in their lives and music, they would just be another group of lost radicals. Even though the Psalters' music may seem quite strange at the “first listen,” their unique and slightly eccentric qualities will perk the interest of the listeners. The strange music they play sends out an invitation for the listeners to learn more about the radical lifestyle that is reflected through their music.
The Psalters' freedom to travel has influenced their music to make a creative round-the-world experience for their listeners. Despite the influences of the world in their music, the Psalters' hold revolutionary ideas that challenge the typical western and postmodern thought that has crept into American Christianity. In the Psalters' album titled “US Vs. US” they make their views clear by saying, “All systems, all governments, even in their best efforts and intentions still end in the worship of self. Let us unite under the banner of Christ and no other”. The Psalters pledge allegiance only to the kingdom of heaven and Christians are called to do likewise. In their song, titled “Banner wave high for the lowly,” they challenge the American idea of working hard for selfish gain. They remind us that in the rush to find comfort for ourselves, we have left the poor and lowly to die without help. In the same song, the Psalters' make it clear that by ignoring the poor we have also ignored God, since what we have done for the least of these we have also done for Him.
The Psalters show an exemplary way of living as true followers of Christ. As musicians they not only sing about what they believe, but they live it out to the fullest. The world classifies the Psalters lifestyle as crazy. Many even write them off as hippies who are living in a fantasy world. The Psalters, however, do not care how the world views them, but only care to bring joy, honor, and glory to the Lord. The Psalters are more than just a band; they are a revolution of people who are sick of the ways of this world and have chosen to live the hard life required of true believers with the promise of a better life in the next.
