Julie Gold wrote the song From A Distance after receiving the piano she played as a kid for a 30th Birthday gift. When the movers informed her not to play it for 24 hours due to the cold conditions during the shipping process, this anticipation inspired the lyrics to the 1990 hit sung by Bette Midler. From a Distance holds a certain sentimental value in my heart as it was the “theme song” to the first week long mission trip I ever attended. During a hot summer week on St. John’s Island, South Carolina, I served on the worship team as the male vocalist, singing the chorus of From A Distance to close out each evening. Although Julie Gold intended to construct a song about the way things seem and the way things actually are, she touches on an important biblical teaching.
Known as the Matthew 18 principle, Jesus introduces readers to how to properly handle any sort of grievance you may have against another person within Matthew 18:15-18. When an agreement is made between 2 parties, God is watching, serving as a witness from a distance according to Matthew 18:19-20. In other words, if a handshake is made to settle a previous conflict, God serves as an invisible notary to bind 2 individuals to resolve their matter once and for all. Unfortunately, modern worship leaders are changing the context of this passage, adding worship into this equation, twisting scripture to make it say what they belief. When you reflect upon Julie Gold’s lyrics in From A Distance, one is steered back in the right direction, freed from heresy that exists in modern day churches.
The words of the final stanza are posted below.
From a distance
You look like my friend
Even though we are at war
From a distance
I just cannot comprehend
What all this fightings for
From a distance
There is harmony
And it echoes through the land
And its the hope of hopes
Its the love of loves
Its the heart of every man
Beneath the surface, friendships are tested daily by envy, selfishness and regretful words spoken in the heat of the moment. As long there is a willingness to comply with the regulations and standards mentioned with Matthew 18, peace is attainable. However, the minute someone holds a grudge, refuses to let go of the pain deep inside their soul and give the devil a foot hold by going to sleep angry, hope disappears. In view of this, remember that God is watching, from a distance, urging the world to forgive others as Christ Jesus forgave you, Colossians 3:12-15.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 