Years ago when I used to force myself to give post sacrifices to the blog gods, I would always become frustrated with how my writings would seemingly transform mid-type. I would have these huge elaborate paragraphs floating around in my mind with the intention of impressing my readers with how "intelligent" and "dignified" I sounded. What usually comes out, though, is a sporadic burst of cerebral vomit that pours out through my fingers and onto the internet. Point being: I have accepted the fact that I write like a high sugar induced child with a severe case of A.D.D. and I've stopped caring.
That being said, I have some thoughts I'd like to pour from my think pot to your curiosity bowls!
Spiritually speaking, for two years I've hit the ground running when it comes to my witnessing and ministering. Taking it to the streets, my education has come a good deal from my failures as a believer and from shutting my trap. As followers of Christ, a good deal of witnessing the gospel is first listening to what our fellow men and women are even saying. Religion, for the past God knows how long, has been more of a political science study rather than an actual faith structure. Holy wars, jihads, culture wars; you name it, we've done it all. Peer into the tear filled eyes of our Christ and you can tell we've been running this whole spirituality thing all wrong.
But what has honestly boggled both my mental and spiritual mind is that our faiths are becoming other things as well! Advertising campaigns to get you to come buy merchandise, for example:
"What's up guys? We're a Christian metalcore band! We aren't going to preach or anything, but we just wanted to let you know that we believe that Jesus is a cool guy and God does stuff. Cool. Now that's out of the way, we have shirts in the back and our bass player will have sex with you for taco bell and beer money. God bless!"
Obviously, that is a bit exaggerated..but not to the point where one would think.
Seriously..
PEOPLE ACTUALLY BUY INTO THIS!!
I'm sorry, but that was not the life of Jesus Christ. Never was, never will be. If you are going to proclaim the name "Christian"...live it; don't sell it for your fleshly desires. I'd also like to note that I'm not speaking on a soapbox in vain, I was a part of this machine for quite some time. I lived it, and it rips my heart out.
Now that I've offended a good deal of young "Christian" bands, let me take this to a completely other spectrum of faith: relationships. Very recently, I've begun to see a quite startling trend amongst young believers in this area. Belief in Christ is becoming a mating competition to latch you a significant other for what turns out to only be a brief amount of time. It is honestly getting to the point where the next favorite pick up lines will sound something like:
"Hey girl, guess how humble I am? I am sooooo humble! Jesus is my number one! God is so good! Here, let me give you a Kinko's copy of a list of all the awesome stuff I've done that half relates to Jesus. Did you know my dad's a pastor? I've read the Bible like 10 times! Aren't I just so humble and loving? So...can I have your number? No? Well..here's mine in case you change your mind :) :) :)"
(Let it be noted that I was cringing the entire time I wrote that. My pain is your pleasure, dearest reader)
If you sell the name of Christianity to either get someone to buy your cds, bumper stickers, and shirts or to attract a warm body to place next to your trembling one for about twenty minutes: you've lost sight of the real Jesus. You have lost sight of the real and living God.
What is faith without deeds? What is love and healing without the fruit to show it?
Bloggingly yours,
Shlomo
This blog post is: Awesome.
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