Friday, November 27, 2009
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 withdrawn from or involving little human or social activity: a secluded life.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[\]
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
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
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
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.
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