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The Parable of “God Only Knows”
There was a song written quietly, without fanfare.
Its melody was gentle.
Its words were simple.
Its heart was unmistakable.
When it was first sung, some heard it as a love song.
Others heard longing.
Some heard hope wrapped in vulnerability.
The song was called “God Only Knows.”
Over time, something unexpected happened.
The song did not remain with one voice.
A rock band picked it up and gave it rhythm and edge.
A solo singer slowed it down until every word ached.
An orchestra expanded it until the melody filled the room.
A choir lifted it until it sounded like prayer.
Instrumentalists removed the words entirely—yet the song remained recognizable.
Jazz musicians bent its timing.
Classical musicians honored its structure.
Pop artists brought it to new generations.
Film composers used it to underscore moments of loss, joy, reconciliation, and love.
More than a hundred artists interpreted it.
And yet, something remarkable remained true.
The lyrics were not revised.
The notes were not rewritten.
The melody was not replaced.
The song’s DNA endured.
Listeners across cultures, generations, and musical traditions knew the song immediately—even when it sounded nothing like the first recording they had heard.
No one mistook a choral version for a rock version.
No one confused a symphony for a solo voice.
But no one doubted it was the same song.
Then some began to argue.
One said, “The original version is the true one.”
Another replied, “No, the orchestral version reveals its depth.”
A third insisted, “The stripped-down acoustic version is the most faithful.”
Others dismissed entire interpretations as unnecessary or distracting.
The composer listened quietly.
Finally, he spoke.
“I did not write the song to be preserved in one arrangement,” he said.
“I wrote it to be sung.”
“If the song can be heard in only one voice, it will reach only one kind of listener.”
“If it can be carried by many voices, it can travel anywhere.”
He paused, then added,
“Do not confuse fidelity with uniformity.”
“The song is not honored by sounding the same everywhere—
it is honored by remaining true everywhere.”
And so the song continued.
Same words.
Same melody.
Different voices.
And wherever it was heard, people recognized it—not because it sounded identical, but because it carried the same heart.
So it is with the gospel.
Its DNA is not limited to one style, cannot be uttered by only one sound, is not contained or controlled by only one expression.
Nor is it home to only one culture.
It requires faithfulness to the core.
To the message of good news. From God Through Christ.
Christianity does not dishonor the gospel when it looks, sounds, or acts differently across cultures and contexts.
It dishonors the gospel only when it forgets or changes the song.
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BONUS: 116 Differing Expressions of "God Only Knows" ...
"widely regarded as one of the greatest songs ever written, frequently cited for its complex, baroque-pop production and emotional depth. Released in 1966 on the Pet Sounds album, it was famously praised by Paul McCartney as his all-time favorite, often moving him to tears."
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© Phil Miglioratti with Assisted Inquiry * Reimagine.Network * PrayForSurfBlog.blogspot.com
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