One can begin to imagine what kind of year Bethany Dillon is having after the release of Waking Up in 2007. As she continues to write and record, is currently featured on the Vision of You Tour with Shane and Shane, Starfield and David Nasser, and is recently engaged, she has truly has something to say about matters of the heart, music, and life.
How do you feel is this album different from others, as far as where you are in your walk with God?
I think there is a natural progression in any believer’s life… I think this record feels like a few steps ahead… Over the year a lot had happened: I had gone to India, started dating my now fiancé, and just in the quiet of my room at night with the Lord. Hopefully on the next record I’ll feel like that’s from a deeper place.
You have been very open through blogging online, allowing fans to take a peek into your life, what is you hope in doing this?
For one, I like to do it that’s why I do it. I pretty much journal everyday, just in my own journal. For there to be a place to share that, I enjoy it. I have been so bad at it lately, but I think when it has been consistent and when I’m on the road… people know what the Lord said to me, or at least a glimpse of it, a few days ago. They can come and they have context: where things are coming from, and they feel connected to it because they are. I think it’s a cool way to build community [with] people that I may say hi to after a show, or I may never meet. That they can enter into that community is a really great blessing, I think.
Specifically in your Journal titled “All Smiles”, you announce your engagement to Barnard.
Yeah!
What has been your experience in Godly courtship, and what can you share with readers and listeners about what is key in entering that faze?
I’d never dated anybody before, which I think it’s very specific to each person. I wouldn’t say don’t date anybody until you know
This is who you’re going to marry. There are people who don’t date at all and it might be healthy for them to date. Whatever God tells you to do is right for you. In my experience it was such a scary thing, because I never dated anybody and we are both in the spotlight, and there’s an age gap between us. All of those things really drove me to dependency on Jesus. I think that was crucial. If all of those things had been taken away, I just hoped that he would have somehow made me dependant like that. Nevertheless it really built a foundation of [saying] I am responding to the pursuit of this person because I know the spirit of God has told me that this is it. This is where he is going to produce fruit in my heart. I think with that, your emotions, and people’s opinion’s, and if you’re busy or not, all that stuff can cloud the issue, but if you are with the Lord he is very clear. He’s so simple in those ways.
One of the things that stand out about you and your music is your ability and willingness to be open and honest through what you write about. On the album, Waking Up you have written a few love songs. Why have you chosen to reveal this side of your life?
Well, A, because I needed some songs for the album, and I had written about twenty love songs, so you all heard three of the twenty… On ever record there’s been at least one love song. It’s not purposeful, but I like that they are on record because I feel like it’s a real thing, it’s a human thing, and I think it’s relatable. On a deeper level I feel like it’s a just a great picture, of Christ and his bride. Especially on the last record, three songs were about Shane and one was written before we started dating, one was written right after we started dating… I like writing them because in some ways my thoughts are about Jesus as I am writing. I think it’s a cool way to just share in a really relatable way, something that’s vulnerable. I like some body. I have affection for somebody.
How do you feel that these songs alongside the others reveal the glory and love of Christ?
Probably, my songs more [so] mirror the churches side of it because I am a female. Shane has written some songs. We’ve talked about doing a little EP together of love songs to each other even, just because of fun and also just to share both sides of that picture, of Christ and the church.
How do you attempt to maintain integrity in reflecting the love and message of Christ in songs?
The biggest blessing for me in songwriting and having a standard is having people in my life who are very honest when I share songs. Especially when it’s making a record time and I’m pressed. I‘ve got to turn in five songs by the end of the week; sometimes you just phone it in. To have people around you who are very honest and even know the ability of God runs deeper than that…that will call it out. For me, I don’t worry so... I mean, I get frustrated… but I think that’s a great thing. Shane, he is a great sounding board, I think we were both great sounding boards… I don’t worry too much about it ’cause I feel like I’d get so much grief I wouldn’t show the song to anybody else. It’s a good thing, a blessing.
In your own experience do you feel that the topic of relationships, even outside of dating is discussed enough, whether in church or music?
I feel like relationships are talked about. For me at least, until I was in a relationship, a dating relationship that’s really intentional, there was such a need in me to really be taught. I was thinking about Philippians 2*, even being on the road… so easily swept away in selfishness and considering myself to be more important, that just doesn’t fly when your trying to have community you’re your trying to serve someone like Christ would serve them. That kind of thing is just hard to hear, when you really bring the word into the light and you really start calling out pride in people and correcting people, which I’ve gotten plenty… it’s been so beneficial. As long as I am human as long as everybody is human I think it’s a great thing to bring into the light.
*Is there any encouragement from belonging to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had. (Philippians 2:1-5)
Do you feel like dating and relationships, within church are a taboo subject, why or why not?
Probably they are, especially in church. I don’t think it’s a bad thing I just think, instead of finding balance [as] the world can swing things so extreme one way. Everything goes, eat drink and be merry, that kind of thing. The church reacts and swings the whole other extreme making affection, or making desire, or making relationships a weird thing because we’ll look sinful or that’s awkward when really in a balanced place it just reflects the glory of God better than anything… I didn’t date anybody and I had been so commended for that, which I am glad I didn’t, but I think when there is a healthy attitude about it and a lot of prayer and a lot of Godly counsel I think it’s a great thing. We don’t have to be afraid of what God created for us to enjoy and for us to enjoy him better through it.
I’m sure listeners are certainly are looking to hear more from you, what can they look forward to in future projects?
Well, I’m probably not going to be releasing a new record until the early part of 2009, just because I am getting married in forty-five days…
So you have set a date?
Yes March 29th, we’ve been engaged for nine months… and then two weeks later we’ll head out on tour again, play in Canada, fix up the house, and try to hang out, but do shows in the fall do shows. Musically, I have an EP coming out in March.
The first song [during the concert], was that a new song? I hadn’t heard it before.
The first one was actually a worship song, probably not a good marketing move, but I love that song! … Project wise, probably nothing’s going to happen until 2009…I really love the Old Testament… writing a book around what the Lord has taught me about the Old Testament, and through it, so maybe something like. You know what I mean? …
Even, outside of music?
Even outside of music… just finding things to do in the community…helping so I’ll see…everybody’s welcome to join, whatever that means!
