As Catholics, we understand that music can elevate the soul and express profound and saving truth.
But music can also promote troubling philosophies when chosen without discernment. That’s why hearing John Lennon’s “Imagine” performed by Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood during Jimmy Carter’s funeral at the National Cathedral struck such a tragic chord. (The same duo performed the song at former First Lady Rosalynn Carter’s funeral just over a year ago.)
While the song may be considered an anthem of unity in our culture, its message is deeply opposed to Christian hope and the sacred purpose of a church. The National Cathedral is not a Catholic church, of course, but it is a Christian place of worship.
The lyrics of “Imagine” famously envision a world without heaven, hell or religion. It’s an anthem of a secular utopia where humanity, unburdened by belief in God, can finally achieve peace.
But as Catholics, we know that this vision denies the very foundation of our faith. True peace cannot come from the absence of God; it can only come from living in communion with him.
Pope St. John Paul II warned, “We have to go to the heart of the tragedy being experienced by modern man: the eclipse of the sense of God and of man, typical of a social and cultural climate dominated by secularism.” A world stripped of heaven and hope is not a utopia; it is an emptiness that disregards the eternal destiny God has promised us – it is a tragedy.
‘True unity and justice’ found in surrendering to God
The tragedy of “Imagine” lies not in its longing for peace, but in its denial of the ultimate source of peace. True unity and justice cannot be achieved by erasing God; they are found in surrendering to him.
In moments of mourning, the human heart yearns for assurance. A Christian funeral doesn’t merely console; it declares. It declares that death is not the end, that sin has been conquered, and that Christ has opened the gates of heaven.
Churches are not neutral public spaces. The National Cathedral is a Christian church consecrated to the worship of God. Like every Christian church it is a sacred place, where the mysteries of salvation are celebrated, where Jesus Christ is proclaimed and where his Gospel is embraced.
President Carter’s legacy as a man of faith and service deserves a fitting tribute, one that resonates with his commitment to Christ’s call to love God and neighbor. His grandson began the ceremony’s string of eulogies by sharing how important it was for his grandfather to teach Sunday school. Carter was famous for emphasizing, rather than playing down, his evangelical Baptist roots. “Imagine” offers no such resonance. Instead, it embodies a deceptive philosophy that prioritizes human achievement and sentiment over a relationship with God – the very thing that gives life its ultimate meaning.
As Catholics, we are called to witness to the truth with charity and clarity. Moments like these remind us of the importance of discernment in both the arts and public life. It is not enough to seek unity or inspiration; we must ensure that the messages we embrace align with the Gospel we proclaim. The leaders at the National Cathedral should never have allowed such a shameless display of atheistic humanism.
Let us pray for President Carter, his family and all who grieve his passing. Let us also commit ourselves to lifting up songs of hope that point not to a world without God, but to the fullness of life found only in him.
