So after not writing on the blog for sometime, this October I should be a bit more faithful with my writing. While there are a number of topics that I could, and later will touch on…why not talk about the Deftones and the Holy Spirit (an unlikely combination!)
So, for those who do not know, the Deftones are a band from the early/mid 90’s that contain so many different kinds of elements that it might be better not to label them. They aren’t country. And broadly speaking, they are rock. But that is enough of a description. A few weeks ago (I’m writing in Autumn of 2025) they put out their latest album “private music” and on the album is a song called “Madonna’s Milk”. I’ve listened to enough music to sort of anticipate the vague but negative words against religion and such…but I was pleasantly surprised! The words, as a Christian, I could probably wholeheartedly sing as praise (to an extent). The references used, though vague, were also seemingly based on the Bible. Tongues of fire against the night? A new wine?
Needless to say, besides great music, I also could this time also feel the lyrics stronger…now, do I think the Deftones or the lyric writer are Christian? I have no idea. My guess is that the Holy Spirit, the filling and fire that comes from such a filling is used in a more vague notion. Less God Himself moving a person and more a religious spirit-something giving a kind of special energy. That is my guess (but who knows!). Regardless, I was sort of happy to be able to sing along with the Deftones about the Holy Spirit.
And that brings me to my next and only superficially related point. Who is the Holy Spirit? What does the Holy Spirit do? That is a very long answer, but this past Sunday I preached on John 16:7-15 and learned some things myself as I prepared the message (as we should always be learning and understanding things to the next degree clearer). But to keep things brief, one thing that I gained more clarity about was the relation to Christ’s work on earth then and the Holy Spirit’s work one earth now. In short, it is a continuation. That Christ returns to the Father does not mean that His work will cease…rather the Helper, the Holy Spirit comes and continues to do the same things that Christ had been doing. People were convicted of sin by Christ, and so will be by the Holy Spirit. People were called by Christ and so will be called by the Holy Spirit. Christ confronted the powers of the world and the Holy Spirit will continue to do the same. And finally, just as Christ coming is revelation, so the Holy Spirit continues to reveal the glory of Christ. All this is to say that the active work of God in this world has not become less since Christ’s ascension. Because He still is at work in this world at this moment, both in those who believe and through other means…just through the work of the Holy Spirit.
So, just as Christ gave us “new wine for new wineskins (referenced in the Deftones~), so the Holy Spirit also give us this new wine. We are to be not intoxicated with “wine” per se (in other words, not over consuming and over relying on alcohol), but rather with the Spirit. Just as Jesus confronted the powers of this world (against the night?) and defeated them by the cross, so are we filled with the Spirit to stand against the powers of darkness, but not with weapons of steel and bloodshed, but with “good”.
Very hodgepodge post, but, I needed to write, so write I did…
Quinby 