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Sojam Theme Proposal: Drafted by Tevae Shoels

This document proposes three approaches to interpreting the theme of "Truth and Power" for the SoJam event: (1) social inequality, (2) faith perspective, and (3) narrative perspective. The author suggests combining all three approaches by focusing on how we are called to love our neighbors but often act unjustly due to sin and seeking power over others. Two song suggestions are provided that portray misconceptions of love as a means to gain power and control over others rather than serving others selflessly.

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Tevae Shoels
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27 views

Sojam Theme Proposal: Drafted by Tevae Shoels

This document proposes three approaches to interpreting the theme of "Truth and Power" for the SoJam event: (1) social inequality, (2) faith perspective, and (3) narrative perspective. The author suggests combining all three approaches by focusing on how we are called to love our neighbors but often act unjustly due to sin and seeking power over others. Two song suggestions are provided that portray misconceptions of love as a means to gain power and control over others rather than serving others selflessly.

Uploaded by

Tevae Shoels
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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SoJam Theme Proposal 

Drafted by Tevae Shoels

 
Jill and I talked the other day and what I gathered from her is that there are three different 
approaches we can take to interpret the theme for SoJam: 
● Social inequality:​ (i.e. gender-bias, racial injustice, LGBTQ, etc.) 
○ Truth in its existence and power in the acknowledgement of it and 
demonstrating its effects; Power in inequality (i.e. systems benefiting majority 
demographics) and the truth of things like the lack of representation, denial of 
civil rights, etc. 
● Faith Perspective: 
○ Perhaps truth in understanding that we are called to love EVERYONE; power in 
showing that love in action. 
● Narrative Perspective: 
○ Tell a story where the protagonist (person/concept) faces adversity (power) 
and discovers something new (truth). 
 
I think these are all wonderful interpretations of how we can approach this theme so I say 
why not use all three? T ​ his would be my personal approach to the theme: 
 
● We are commanded by God in Matthew to love our neighbor as we love ourselves 
and to do unto others as we would have done to us. That’s the Gospel (The Truth) but 
as humans we are wired with sin, so “in the name of love” we act unjustly (i.e. creating 
systems of oppression, not speaking out for the oppressed, denying civil rights, 
greediness. etc.) We are hungry for power and self-satisfaction. If we aren’t affected 
by an issue, then it doesn’t concern us. The narrative aspect is the journey of 
discovering “love” as mentioned in the Gospel in it’s artificial and authentic forms.  
○ Overarching concept: Even though we are called to love each other, we bask 
in the power of privilege and turn a blind eye to injustices that don’t affect 
us, and the truth is that’s not love at all.  
 
Two songs I added in order of preference that they be considered: 
★ All For Us - Labrinth 
★ How Do You Sleep? - Sam Smith 
 
 
 
 
 

Reason for picking songs: 


 
● All For Us: ​The main lyrics that strike me are: 
○ “taking it all for us...doing it all for love” 
○ “guilty or innocent My love is infinite, I'm giving it” 
○ “​Hell, I'll do twenty-five to life if it makes me your king , a star in your eyes” 
○ “Guess you figured my two times two, always equates to one , dreamers are 
selfish, when it all comes down to it” 
To me this is a great example of the idea that we will do anything in the name of 
“love” (validation of power; ‘makes me your king.’) even if it means breaking the law 
(‘25 to life’). This song really shows a deep misconception of love and what it means 
to love someone/ get someone to love you. This shows love as a hunger for power 
and control. 
 
● How Do You Sleep: E ​ ssentially this song battles with the idea that a misconception of 
love. It talks about mistrust. The lyrics in this song that grab me are:  
○ “How do you sleep?” 
○ “Oh no, how did I manage to lose me?’ 
○ “I’m hoping that my love will keep you up tonight” 
The tough situation that the character has found themselves in this song is one of 
confusing love and infatuation. This clearly isn’t the first time their s/o has been 
unfaithful. The character was so caught up in a false sense of love that they didn’t 
realize that they were losing themselves in someone else.  
 
I hope this helps kind of clarify where my thinking is. Let me know if there are questions! 

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