Christianity, a religion of seclusion?

Not to burst your bubble, but it seems to me that it needs to be popped.........Oh God, that my words would come out kindly.

I am in the middle of reading a book called Un-christian by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons. They work for the Barna group doing research and taking stats of different ideas or issues. This book is all about what outsiders think of Christianity, how/what to changes it to, and what biblically should be the perspective that people have of our ideas and actions. Each chapter deals with different issues that are viewed of modern day American Christians. He deals with six of the main complaints against christians; Hypocritical, anti-homosexual, too political, judgmental, and our topic for tonight Sheltered.

I was discussing with Dan the beard about how I was annoyed with how christianity in America had become more of a secluded subculture than a following of beliefs. Think about it! We become so secluded that we don't Understand or know the world that is around us.

sub·cul·ture: A cultural subgroup differentiated by status, ethnic background, residence, religion, or other factors that functionally unify the group and act collectively on each member.

se⋅clud⋅ed; 1. sheltered or screened from general activity, view, etc.: a secluded cottage., 2. withdrawn from or involving little human or social activity: a secluded life.

With this definition there is nothing wrong with christianity being considered a sub-culture, but when it becomes one that is secluded and sheltered it becomes a problem. We go from one sheltered Christian activity or dwelling to the next. The beginning of the week we start out with church, then monday off to our jobs (often staying seperated with the other Christians there), Monday night bible study, Wednesday night service, etc. You get the picture, its not hard to see what i'm talking about.

Much of the world doesn't know what we are/should be about because of the religious seclusion we have that keeps us separated from them all the time. When Christians are the ones doing something in the world then they can be the ones who influence its spiritual direction. "When Christians shelter themselves, letting "someone else" answer the world's doubts and address its problems, they abdicate their biblical role to be spiritual influencers." When we are closed off from the world we have no influence on it.

My biggest problem is when we come from a secluded lifestyle it is obvious to those we are trying to witness to. If they already don't like you because of your being sheltered, why would they want to listen to you? What makes you think that you can have any effect on what they think? People often wonder why I have such large holes in my ears (gauges). I have them because I find them to be something that is well defining of my style, I enjoy having them, and they open me up to a wider variety of people than the average slacks and tie christian. If a person can quickly stereotype and categorize you under a label that is narrow minded and bigoted they will not listen to what you have to say. Christianity is has secluded it self to the point where a stereotypical thought is not too far off from the norm. Is it only a belief of a certain type of people, or did Christ come to save all people he created of all race, personality and style?

The idea of in the world but not of it seems to come from John 17:13-19. How can live by this when we are neither being in the world or of it? The more I read the more i notice that Christ did not hang out with the religious groups of the time, but that of shunned sinners. He did not scorn or push away those who needed to know the love of God in order to be with those who already knew him. He chastised the priests for being too caught up in the religion and details, and yet we live maintaining a secluded religious lives concerned about details more than the big picture.

Romans 12:2!

This may not have been the greatest rant ever, but I think it served its purpose.

Now the question is not what you have learned, but What are you going to do with it!
-B3[\]

RZIM the law of non-contradiction and the trinity

Jars of Clay revisited

It has been a while since I have listened to Jars of Clay. As a kid they were one of my favorite bands for a long time. Once I got into hard rock they kind of fell to the wayside. I recently started listening to them again, and never get tired of hearing their music. They truly are one of the most poetic and heartfelt groups of musicians I have ever heard. There are two songs that I am particularly fond of listening. The songs Hymn and Oh My God stuck me as very meaningful and are constantly stuck in my head. The poetic manner in which they are written I find to be very meaningful and soothing. I just wanted to share them with you so you too might see the beauty in their music.


Hymn:
Oh refuge of my hardened heart
Oh fast pursuing lover come
As angels dance 'round Your throne
My life by captured fare You own

Not silhouette of trodden faith
Nor death shall not my steps be guide
I'll pirouette upon mine grave
For in Your path I'll run and hide

Oh gaze of love so melt my pride
That I may in Your house but kneel
And in my brokenness to cry
Spring worship unto Thee

When beauty breaks the spell of pain
The bludgeoned heart shall burst in vain
But not when love be pointed king
And truth shall Thee forever reign

Sweet Jesus carry me away
From cold of night, and dust of day
In ragged hour or salt worn eye
Be my desire, my wellspring lie

Spring worship unto Thee


Oh My God:
Oh my God, look around this place
Your fingers reach around the bone
You set the break and set the tone
Flights of grace, and future falls
In present pain
All fools say, "Oh my God"

Oh my God, Why are we so afraid?
We make it worse when we don't bleed
There is no cure for our disease
Turn a phrase, and rise again
Or fake your death and only tell your closest friend
Oh my God.

Oh my God, can I complain?
You take away my firm belief and graft my soul upon your grief
Weddings, boats and alibis
All drift away, and a mother cries

Liars and fools; sons and failures
Thieves will always say
Lost and found; ailing wanderers
Healers always say
Whores and angels; men with problems
Leavers always say
Broken hearted; separated
Orphans always say
War creators; racial haters
Preachers always say
Distant fathers; fallen warriors
Givers always say
Pilgrim saints; lonely widows
Users always say
Fearful mothers; watchful doubters
Saviors always say

Sometimes I cannot forgive
And these days, mercy cuts so deep
If the world was how it should be, maybe I could get some sleep
While I lay, I dream we're better,
Scales were gone and faces light
When we wake, we hate our brother
We still move to hurt each other
Sometimes I can close my eyes,
And all the fear that keeps me silent falls below my heavy breathing,
What makes me so badly bent?
We all have a chance to murder
We all feel the need for wonder
We still want to be reminded that the pain is worth the thunder

Sometimes when I lose my grip, I wonder what to make of heaven
All the times I thought to reach up
All the times I had to give
Babies underneath their beds
Hospitals that cannot treat all the wounds that money causes,
All the comforts of cathedrals
All the cries of thirsty children - this is our inheritance
All the rage of watching mothers - this is our greatest offense

Oh my God
Oh my God
Oh my God

MuteMath Armistice album

I recently got the new MuteMath album, and I am quite impressed. Any good band knows that you need to evolve their music in order to keep a fresh sound. Even during such a change the band still should keep its own element, this can be seen in many different bands; U2, the beatles, etc. MuteMath seems to have nailed it with this album, between its lyrical content and musical prowess it is one of the best albums to come out this year.

The song Clipping seemed to hit me most. The lyrics and music are simple but if you sit and dwell on them for a while it makes you think a lot about the world we live in. Clipping is the first part of the video I have posted for you.

Here are the lyrics for you.
Feeling overload
Carrying bottled skies around
I've been drowning all along
Wearing out in a faltered sea
And i give up

Common sense failed again
Meddling in a foreign scene
Foreign dream
Time won't spare another sun
Daring me with another choice another choice

Anymore i don't know who to fight anymore
I don't know what is right anymore anymore

Anymore i don't know who to fight anymore
I don't know what is right anymore anymore

Anymore i don't know how to feel anymore
I don't know what is real anymore anymore

Anymore i don't know who to trust anymore
I don't know what i want anymore anymore

Anymore i don't know who to blame anymore
I don't know what to say anymore anymore

Anymore i don't know what i want anymore
I just don't know anymore

My buddy Jason told me about this song and how the chorus(es) just hit him because it is constantly how he is feeling. It truly is the theme song of a messed up world.

I often feel the same way these days. Who do we trust? Who is to blame for the problems we are facing today? Who are we fighting and why? What do I really want?

Though the world changes and becomes more confusing we know who to trust in and what is right. even when man changes God is still the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Hebrews 13:8 "8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." As much as we are often confused we seem to forget this fact.

Nooma - Rain

Bonus Mosh Pt. II

Who knew that a concert and a mosh pit could be an example of the unity God wants for us all? i traveled with Dan Rex down to Columbus, OH.

If you don't know Dan Rex.

This is him.

That is him with his GF Sarah (who he is madly in love with, it is very cute). I work with Sarah and met Dan through her, and he was recently hired to work the day shift at the meeting place with us. He is a nut! crazy, off the wall fun guy and a great man of God. The idea behind this blog was brought to my attention by him on our way home after the concert.

Right after work on 10/23 Dan and I traveled down to Columbus to see Anberlin and Taking back sunday in concert at the Pavilion. Due to traffic issues on 270 (the highway we needed to take) we were......2 hours behind the schedule we wanted. We got there after Anberlin had already started. luckily they hadn't been playing very long.

While Anberlin was playing the crowd was not very responsive. Seemed that all of the little teenyboppers and middle schoolers (don't even get me started on these annoying little buggers)had shown up to see them. When Anberlin left so did this group.

TBS (taking back sunday, not the tv channel) seemed to draw more of a college age crowd. the enviroment and experience at a concert can be dramatically affected by the people attending. Now not having a bunch of kids and unexperienced concert-goers around I was ready to rock.

As soon as the first song started by TBS the crowd broke out moshing. This is always an interesting experience and usually a good one from what I have seen. This is a violent, tiring, scary, painful and amazing experience. It is something that is not for everyone, but I would highly suggest every guy try it at least once. This response from the crowd was exactly what I was hoping to see, this was a major part of this concert experience and made it one of the best nights I have had in a long time.

I have been to concerts before with moshing and it is usually a different experience every time. I have been to some that are full out violence and fighting and others that it is just mild shoving. This time could be nicely placed in between.

On the trip home Dan brought my my attention how this concert experience was a better

example of what the church should be and how we as followers of Christ should act than what is normally seen within the body. It is hard to imagine how a group of rowdy college students at a concert could be an example of unity better than the church, but that is what this blog is meant to talk about. Sorry about the long opening, but here is the point and body to what I want to say. Once again, Dan brought this to my attention and inspired me to post this so, the credit is all owed to him. Thanks Dan!

You would think that when a group of people assemble for the same general purpose that they would get along during that event and be in unity for it. Everyone was there to hear/see a good band play and have some fun with it. The group moshing got along really well, though it annoyed some of the people on the outside who didn't want to be involved in our activities. There was no fighting or angry people we all just let out our aggression and had fun enjoying the music together. It didn't matter what type of person you were, we were all there for the same purpose and to enjoy this together. There were all kinds of people there, some with tattoos, some with strange piercing and gauges, some were preppy, some were gothic, some were emo, some were indie, some were gangsta; none of it matter to us, we were unified by the same purpose and driving force

So often we do not see this in the church and it is a thing that can often limit the experience we could gain from each other and our time spent there. We become seperated by personality, looks, theology, age, intellect, class, etc. How often do we not get along with Catholics because they confess to a priest? Methodists because they do infant baptism? Baptists because they are strict conservatives? We let petty details get in the way of the unity we are called to have, and we miss the point that we are called to follow Christ not our own personal views of how "Christianity" should be. The people at the concert were a great example of unity (an unusual kind of unity) for a purpose that DIDN'T EVEN MATTER IN THE GRAND SCHEME/LONG TERM VIEW!!!! We have a great call and purpose and we can't even get along in order to be an example of our calling. FOR SHAME!!!! (speaking to myself here too, I stand on my internet podium realizing there is someone speaking the same words to me.

In such a reckless activity you would think that people wouldn't care for the people around them, but strangely enough they all did. After the first song one of the band members asked the crowd; "What do you do if someone falls?" He made sure that we know that we better pick people back up again. (One guy yelled out right after the question was asked; "You fuck em'!", this was obviously the wrong answer. lol) This was the way the group worked throughout the concert, helping each other when it is needed. When someone fell everyone around them quickly picked them back up again so they could continue enjoying the activities too. If someone lost something (cell phone, shoe, etc) The group around that person would stop and help them find it.

I was extremely grateful for this, at the beginning of the encore my shoe got pulled off in the skirmish. realizing that it was way more fun for me to enjoy the last song of the concert than to search the floor for a shoe, I continued with the fun. When they were finished playing

I was glad to see that someone had found it and was waving it around trying to find the owner.

⁴⁰"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

How often are we laying down our own agenda for the good of others or for the good of God's will? Seems too often we stay wrapped up in our own comfortable bubble and purposes and not help one another. We eat our own and then we wonder why the world thinks the church is a joke. It would be just as easy for them to keep going with no regaurd for who they are trampling and leaving to fend for themselves.

Don't brush this off!!!! How are you helping those around you? How often do you send someone on their way without addressing their personal needs? "If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it?"

It makes me want to start on my sermon called "How we treat the creation reflects how we feel about the creator." So my challenge from this is; How do you feel about the Creator? and How do you Treat the creation?

After I was hit in the face on accident he came up to me after the concert and apologized, for something that was bound to happen and I didn't care about. This was something that was bound to happen, so when it did I was not surprised. I was taken back when he came up to me and said he was sorry for jacking my in the face, he didn't mean to, he was just caught up in the moment. Though I didn't find it necessary I was impressed by his integrity. Here is a picture of my eye, but sadly it is hard to see my black eye very well.

How often do we trample others with our actions with no regard for our actions? We become divided when we allow our actions and words to be something that harms others. Back to that sermon of how we treat the creation reflects how we feel about the creator, how are we treating others and are we paying attention to the outcome of our actions? I have an upcoming blog about how we are called to think about our actions and the way it affects others. This can easily become a factor in unity and care for others. When we are not careful of the way we interact it hurts people, and hurt people don't want to be around the people(s) that inflicted that upon them.

Maybe I just over think things. Dan and I talked about most of this, but some of it was just me sitting here thinking too much.

Just a thought (or more)

-B3{/}

Coffee House Confucius #1

Coffee House Confucius #1

Christians against Gay soda!

Yesterday a group came in to use the meeting room, called the Allen County Patriots. I have a feeling there will be quite a few logs about this group. One of the members came up to my counter and says to me; "I was going to get a pop (soda) but it seems you guys only have Pepsi products, and I refuse to drink it because they supports homosexual causes." He then proceeded

to storm off to the meeting room leaving his thirst unquenched. This left me very puzzled, and wanting to say things that would have made him look like a fool...........but i'm glad i held my tongue.

There are a few things that bug me about his statement. This statement came from a Patriotic Nationalist Christian and makes no sense to me. Such a loving way to present yourself, right?

#1. If you want to talk about righteous business practices, I would look at the competition's character too.

Coca-Cola is under scrutiny for being a massive human rights abuser. It may almost sound like a superhero complex but, shouldn't Christians be looking out for the poor, forgotten, helpless and

the people being denied their basic human rights?

All he would be doing in protesting Pepsi is remaining a pissed off person trying to piss off the people he dislikes. This tactic seems about as useful as the god hates america campaign. (www.godhatesamerica.com) Don't even start me on them. Just another cult masquerading as a group of Christians.

#2 Does this man really need more (or even any) soda?

"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; 20you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body," 1 Cor 6:19-20

It would seem to me that if the body is the temple you should be taking care of it by not consuming sources that would cause harm to it or take away from health. The amount of sugar in a can or glass of soda is enough to shock your immune system for up to 6 hours. sugar is bad for your heart, cholesterol and seems to me that a large reason that America has a lot of obese people is largely because of the large amounts of soda people drink on a daily basis. (and believe me he looked like he has a few too many every day)

#3 Should he even be concerned with fighting and protesting homosexuals?

The model for Christianity is the person of Jesus Christ. If you want to believe in such a thing shouldn't you model your life and actions after Him? When Did Christ ever protest of condemn such people? If you can find me a legit example of where he did I will shut up, but until then taking such action doesn't make sense.

If you checked out that god hates america site you would realize that it is just a bunch of

misled pissed off people pissing off people. Seems to me that if you throw mud at others you tend to get your hands dirty a

nd lose a lot of ground. Christ did not come to condemn us but to save us, he was the ultimate example of love and what love should be and act. He sat with sinners and scorned the pharisees for their actions against the people. Why does our modern jesus scorn the people and love the pharisees?

#4 Should he have even told me that?

Why would someone who works at a restaurant even care if you dont consume their products for "moral" reasons? Did he think that his saying that we would get rid of our Pepsi fountain? Would we then put a "NO GAYS ALLOWED" sign in our front window? All it did was annoy and offend me which pushed me away from his views. It was a bad way to express how he felt about that company. If he had said nothing and not told me anything about why he didn't drink Pepsi.

So this is for you Mr. hater of homosexual soda's. I hope that you will learn from this mistake (prob won't) and show love for others in the way that Christ did. Next time before you push your ideas on someone else, start to live up to the lifestyle you claim. Just seems to me that if you are going to spread your message you should know what you believe before you go around pushing ideas and presenting yourself in ways that conflict with it.

Just a thought

-B3n

P.S. The godhatesamerica.com site makes about as much Biblical sense as this http://godhatesfigs.net/. Check it out, I think it is hilarious.

.............

Bride, Son and Servant?

We were having a prayer time and started praying about being servants of Christ. In the bible we are called to be servants of Christ, and yet we are called Sons and the Bride of Christ? Would seem to me that these are 3 different elements.

Servant: Serves the masters will, does the work that is asked of him by the master. A servant in biblical times was usually someone who was debted to the master. He had a debt that he owed and sold himself into servanthood in order to pay it off. It was a choice they made to work for the master instead of going to jail for what they owed. In the same way we are to do the work of the master, we are not only ment to serve but that servanthood was bought at a price and is nearly a work owed to the master for what he has done.

Son: So often it seems that people think the way a child acts is a reflection of the parents. In the same way we should be a reflection of God whom has redeemed us. When people look at us do they see just another person or a person who has been saved by grace and reflects their father in heaven?

The Bride: The bride is the most intimate person in your life, they know everything about you and you know everything about them. God calls us his bride and this is no small task. We are to know Christ deeper than anyone else, and not in any small detail. We are called to be in a deeply intimate relationship in which we know God just as deeply as he knows us.

Made me really think last night.

Just a thought.

-B3n

Oh how time flies and so do I

Ah, It has been way too long since my last post. Now in Lima, OH going to the University of Northwestern Ohio. I don't have internet at my house so I always forget the rants that I want to post when I get on. Just a Quick Hi to any readers and hopefully I will soon be starting up again.