“Beneath our clothes, our reputations, our pretensions, beneath our religion or lack of it, we are all vulnerable both to the storm without and to the storm within, and if ever we are to find true shelter, it is with the recognition of our tragic nakedness and need for true shelter that we have to start. Thus it seems to me that this is also where anyone who preaches the Gospel has to start too — after the silence that is truth comes the news that is bad before it is good, the word that is tragedy before it is comedy because it strips us bare in order ultimately to clothe us.” (Telling the Truth by Frederick Buechner)
Category Archives: God, Church & Stuff
Hi, I’m Joe Crappy Singer
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty.
Sometimes I think you have to be pretty gutsy to put the words of angels to music. Restricting divine words to our melodies and pitch and the highs and lows of popularity is not something to be taken lightly.
I often feel the same way about worship. But then sometimes I feel the opposite. God would rather have us croak out whatever feeble words we can manage to express a shred of our gratefulness for his glory. He’s not looking for a Pavarotti/Elvis duet with U2 playing back up. He’s looking for you, and he doesn’t care if you’re Joe crappy singer — which I usually am. Lately when we’ve been singing some more upbeat worship tunes and I really get into it I start to think I sound like Eddie Vedder. There I am, crooning out my worship to God, trying to close my eyes so I don’t notice the cringes all around me.
And as messed up as that seems to us, that’s exactly what God is looking for. When the angels sing holy, holy, holy, I don’t think God cares if they’re off tune or if they don’t come in at the right time. God is not a Rolling Stone music critic, or even a cranky back pew critic who finds every fault in our humble Sunday gatherings.
Christians Like to Whine
Sometimes I think Christians are all about whining. Look at me, I’m a Christian, and here I am whining. Christians seem to spend more time whining about the things they don’t like than actually doing something to remedy what it is they don’t like. The country is in terrible shape. But rather than run for president, we complain about it. Abortion is rampant, but rather than influencing young women who are most likely to turn to abortion, Christians picket and put bumper stickers on their cars.
It’s become most apparent to me in television. Christians are constantly bemoaning the lack of moral choices while channel surfing. There’s never anything decent on, so the whining starts up again (of course the other side of the coin is that although Christians complain, they go ahead and hypocritically watch the crap anyway). But what I find amazing is that when decent alternatives are offered, Christians hardly bat an eye.
Four times a year the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association buys primetime TV slots in virtually every market across the U.S. and Canada. Three of those times they air two, hour-long re-broadcasts of recent Billy Graham Crusades. They usually feature several songs by different artists and then a message by Billy Graham himself. They’re hyped up church services, piped into your living room on the major channels. We’re not talking about the crummy Christian cable or satellite networks here, we’re talking major network affiliates. And once a year the BGEA buys air time to show one of their World Wide Pictures movies, films that quality-wise are very decent made-for-TV movies. Not only does the Association purchase all this expensive air-time four times a year, but they also put in a response mechanism. 1-800 numbers flash on the screen and hundreds of phone counselors are available across the country to talk with people about the basics of Christianity that they just heard about on TV. As if four times wasn’t enough, last week the Association bought a half-hour of late-night TV time on WB stations across the U.S. to air a TV special geared for teens.
So what do all the whiny Christians who have been begging for quality TV do? Little or nothing. A Billy Graham TV special is no cause for commotion. You’d think pastors would be announcing it and every Christian media outlet would be hyping it. And some do. But most don’t. You hear very little about it, and it’s certainly not for lack of trying. The Association spends a hefty amount on advertising, buying television, print, and web ads.
Now of course I work for the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Perhaps I’m a jaded, cynical cubical jockey who likes to shake his fist at the masses. And perhaps I do enjoy a good fist-shaking, but this doesn’t just happen with Billy Graham. Big Idea scored a major first by getting local public broadcasting stations to carry their latest Veggie Tales Christmas special. PBS stations all across the country aired a wholly religious holiday special that explained the meaning of Christmas in language a child can understand. In many areas “The Star of Christmas” aired multiple times during the holiday season.
Yet this was hardly a blip on most Christians’ radar. I didn’t see single mention in any Christian media outlets (and I read most of them). Christians didn’t seem to care. No one was writing columns about how Christians are finally getting what we deserve, finally getting the credit from society, finally earning the respect we have whined for for so long.
And if it’s not straight-out ignoring the TV shows we whined so hard for, we decry any advances Christians make. P.O.D. is constantly questioned for selling out their message and for not feigning excitement at a few Dove nominations. They’ve been on TRL, who cares about GMA? Apparently it’s not good enough to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the MTV crowd.
And when Mandy Moore starred as a Christian lead character in a major motion picture, Christians complained that the sinners in the movie were portrayed too realistically. They actually said “shit” and “god damn” a couple times, something you’ll hear in any church parking lot when a parishioner locks their keys in the car.
No, I don’t think Christians actually want to be a well-heard and respected voice of moral clarity in society. We just want to hear ourselves complain.
Now if you’ll excuse me, there’s probably something good on FOX right now.
Why should I let you into heaven?
What would you say if you were to stand before God and he asked you why he should let you into heaven?
That question can be found in a lot of Christian witnessing literature. It’s one of the questions you’re supposed to ask to make sure someone understands salvation. And I hate that question.
I was first asked that question when I was in elementary school. I was talking with the pastor of my church about being baptized. He wanted to make sure I truly understood Christianity and asked me that question. I was left speechless. What would I say if God asked me why he should let me into heaven? In my elementary school mind, the answer was simple. If God didn’t want to let me in, he didn’t have to. Groveling or trying to explain my way around God wouldn’t accomplish anything. What a foolish question.
The answer, of course, is that I was supposed to explain the plan of salvation to God (as if he forgot) and if I really knew my stuff, then my explanation would be so air-tight that God would have no choice but to let me in. It’s a nice device to see if people really understand something, but it’s always struck me as deceptive. God knows all about his plan for salvation. He knows if I know it or not, so why would he ask? The only reason I can think of is because he doesn’t want to let me into heaven. And if God suddenly decides not to let me into heaven, what I am going to say? “That’s not fair!”? Yeah, I’d probably say that, and I’d be right, but what would it accomplish?
The whole scenario seems flawed to me because God would have to keep contradicting himself. At best he’s simply testing his subjects, which seems like the last thing God would do when you first step before him. It’s almost casting a legalistic image on God.
What Would Jesus Drive?
Why are people so dumb? It’s a question I have to ask myself a lot. Almost as much as another question I ask a lot, why are Christians so dumb? Some Christians get so worked up over the evil in the world. They see bad things happening and they go through the roof. They want this movie canceled, that commentator fired, this book burned–when all those things are really just mirrors reflecting the evil in society. That’s not a justification, it’s a simple fact. Rather than run around trying to break mirrors, why don’t we do something about the reality?
It seems to me that’s what Jesus did. He didn’t go for the smoke and mirrors of pop culture, entertainment, or politics. He didn’t go for the cover of Time magazine or a spot on prime time. He didn’t try to get elected to a political office. He just went to where he was needed the most–the people.
He didn’t picket, riot or complain. He didn’t wring his hands, join a commune, or pull out of public school. He didn’t write a letter to the editor or have a discussion over coffee or write a book about how things should be done. He just did what should be done.
The world is sinful. We know. So are you. Knowing how bad we are isn’t the solution. And telling someone that Jesus is the solution doesn’t cut it. It’s what writing teachers always say: show, don’t tell. You have the solution, just live it. Stop your pissing and moaning, because that’s not the message you’re preaching.
So I’m pondering about the stupidity of Christians, and just when I think I’m done, I decide to go off on another tangent and check out the What Would Jesus Drive campaign. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s a pretty interesting approach to promoting efficient vehicles. It’s something the church should be promoting. It’s obviously not as important as spreading the Gospel, but it’s better than picketing homosexuals. Lots better.
So anyway, I went to check out the What Would Jesus Drive site, and I typed in whatwouldjesusdrive.com instead. It’s a rather whacked site, but the guy does make one point that I thought was priceless: “So remember, when you’re driving around in your SUV… I don’t care if you have a Jesus-fish on it… [you’ll] still be flipping each other off…” Which really sums up my point nicely. It doesn’t matter what pseudo-Jesus bandwagon you’re jumping on, it’s a wash if you’re just like a Pharisee. The guy may have some strange pictures on his website, but he makes a good point.
And now, thanks to the whatwouldjesusdrive.com guy, I have seen the most sacrilegious website ever: jesusdressup.com. And you thought jesusoftheweek.com was bad.
Martyr vs. Dork
I’d rather be a martyr than a dork. This idea was expressed at the youth group I volunteer at last night. The teens seem to embrace the idea of martyrdom without a problem. But what becomes a more difficult is actually standing up for your faith and still having to live your life. Martyrdom has the perk that you only have to make your stand once. There’s no awkward tension or reputation you have to worry about. You may undergo some pain, but then it’s all over. You don’t have to get up the next day and face it all over again. But when standing up for your faith doesn’t result in death, but instead results in rejection and humiliation–that’s much harder to take. It’s actually easier to die for your faith than to live for it.
God isn’t interested
Just when you think you’re doing a good job it seems like things come crashing down on you. Just when you think you’re doing a decent job keeping up with the culture and fighting the power and letting the light shine, you realize the odds are literally a million to one. It’s a war we’re losing. Yet we squabble over the stupidest little details. While we bicker, souls are lost.
God isn’t interested in our hymnal. He’s not interested in the check we write when the offering plate is coming. He doesn’t care if we’re inside the church building three times a week. He could care less if our cars are decked out with shiny metal fishes or bumper stickers about abortion. He’s not impressed if we pray before meals, or if we read our Bibles in public. God won’t give you bonus points for wearing a tie or a fancy dress on Sunday morning.
God doesn’t give a rip about all the religious trappings. What he does care about is our heart. Do we truly love him and does that truly show in our lives? Countless times in the Old Testament God cried out that he didn’t want the burnt offerings. The smell of sacrifices made God sick. Why? Because the hearts and lives behind those sacrifices weren’t following God’s commands. They were ignoring the alien, the fatherless and the widow. The oppressed were not being uplifted, neighbors were not being loved, and righteousness was not seen across the land.
Sin stinks. Don’t think you can fool God with a Christian t-shirt or a quick prayer in McDonald’s. God doesn’t care. He cares when you toss your half-eaten Big Mac in the trash and walk past the homeless guy. God cares when you break the speedlimit and sing your favorite praise song at the top of your lungs. God cares when you ignore the hurting girl in class who needs something as simple as a smile. Don’t think you’re in like flint just because you follow the man-made rules. God doesn’t care about our religious expecations. He cares about your heart. And that’s something you can’t fake.
What Can I Give Back to God?
What can I give back to God
for the blessings he’s poured out on me?
I’ll lift high the cup of salvation – a toast to God!
I’ll pray in the name of God;
I’ll complete what I promised God I’d do
And I’ll do it together with his people.
(Psalms 116:12-14, The Message)
(Quoted by Bono before “Where the Streets Have No Name”)
The blessings of God are a tremendous burden and weight. Who am I to deserve what I have? Who am I to squander my wealth while so many die hungry? Growing up you never quite realize.
It hits home on a crisp Fall evening after Daylight savings time, when the night sky is unusually dark, and you realize the darkness has set in for a season. You walk a little faster, and steal a glimpse inside an apartment window as you pass by. That first-floor dwelling looks shabby and crowded. You spot several children on the floor, crammed into what must pass for a bedroom. A window is broken, covered for what seems like years with plywood. The security door usually hangs open, blowing in the wind.
And I walk on by. I only notice in the first place because I’m on foot, impoverished enough to take the bus to work, but rich enough to not know what life is like at the bottom of the rung.
I am one of the elite. I was raised in one of the richest counties in America. I grew up in a loving family with plenty of money. I shouldn’t sugarcoat things; we weren’t perfect. For many years my parents’ marriage was a facade, until the kids were old enough and to let it crumble to pieces. A few years later it was patched together again with the grace of God.
But we didn’t lack anything growing up. There was food on the table, we were healthy and had access to doctors. We had braces and glasses when we need them, even if we didn’t want them. We had a yard to play in, and yard to work in. I had my own bedroom, bigger than my brothers, with my own desk and dresser. I had toys, I had a bike, I had my assorted collections from over the years. We went out to eat on Friday nights, and my brother and I each got two quarters for two arcade games, to pass the time while we waited for our food.
My schools had everything you could ask for. In fourth and fifth grade I entered a magnet program. I took accelerated classes. My teachers had the materials they needed, every child in every class had a copy of the book they needed. Many kids even had the resources to go buy their own copy if they wanted.
When it came time to drive, my parents had the resources to provide me with a car. A job came with the car, to help pay the insurance. But gas and many of the repairs were covered by the bank of Dad. Even when I managed to screw up I was forgiven and life went on.
I received the higher education of my choice, and although I’m still paying for it, strapped with the middle-class luxury of debt, half of it was covered by my parents. My wife and I were married in a church with all the trimmings, thanks to the generosity of our parents. My college wheels turned into the down payment for my first car when my parents bought back the truck they gave me for school.
I live in a modest apartment, fully furnished, heated and air-conditioned. Water flows from the faucet, hot or cold. My wife and I drive a 2002 model car. We both have jobs we enjoy, not exactly making the big bucks, but making money enough to cover our expenses and save a little for the future.
I live in a free society and have the freedom to do what I want, say what I want, and believe in what I want. I worship my God with no penalties or restrictions.
I live in an age of amazing technological advancements. We’re so advanced we have to find ways to burn off the extra food we consume. We invent ways to be active just to give ourselves exercise — so different from a few hundred years ago when the sweat of a man’s brow also kept him from being overweight. Everything in my life is designed to make things faster, all so I can get to playing with my myriad of toys.
I’m writing these thoughts on a top of the line computer, connected to the Internet where I can access vast stores of information and connect with people all across the planet.
I am the favored majority. I am the favored race, the favored gender, the favored religion, the favored economic class. I live in a land of vast opportunity. Resources are available, safety nets are in place, others are watching my back.
What can I give back to God for the blessings he’s poured out on me? This is the question of my generation, the question anyone like me must answer with our lives. I cannot, in good conscience, squander my prosperity. I cannot, in good conscience, live for myself. I am not my own. I was bought with a price, and I must repay that debt. I’ll complete what I promised God I’d do, and I’ll do it together with his people.
Censorship of the Christian Market
“Romeo Must Die” by Reed Arvin from the Fall 2002 issue of Regeneration Quarterly. Excellent article about the censorship of the Christian market, resulting in a lack of creativity, freedom, and realistic, effective art.
Struggle with Evangelism
This weekend I encountered a serious question over mission. One of the foremost duties of a Christian is to tell others about the faith. It’s all part of the Great Commission, go and make disciples of all nations, city on a hill, salt of the earth, etc. It doesn’t have to be an incredibly active thing, and I’ve learned in the past few years that being a little less “in your face” about faith is often a more welcomed approach. The t-shirts and rhetoric of my high school days didn’t meet with a lot of success, though it did meet with some. (I also find the word “success” to be inappropriate in this conversation–it isn’t applied to spiritual matters very well) It seems a better approach to be a little more laid back. People will notice there’s something different about you and ask when they’re ready. Forcing the issue often turns them away.
That’s all well and good, but it gets complicated when you apply it to a profession, like writing for example. How overt am I supposed to be in my writing? Because most people who need Jesus really don’t care to read about him. They don’t just wander into their local Christian bookstore and pick up a book about Jesus. And it’s not too likely they’ll see a blatantly Christian book displayed prominently in their mainstream bookstore. You have to be covert. You can’t be pathetically obvious. And I don’t mean you have to hide the fact that you’re a Christian and you’re talking about Jesus. You just need to be sensitive. Your work should be worth reading whether someone cares about Jesus or not. It should be hopeful and inspiring, it should change people. But it can’t scare them off with triteness or Christian jargon.
But is pushing people along one step toward God enough? Is convincing them the value of a spiritual faith, no matter the faith, good enough? Aren’t you leaving them outside the gates? How far do you have to go. I suppose everyone has to find their own answer to this question. For every writer there is a different answer, and that’s just one field. Billy Graham certainly found his answer, and look at the people who’ve come to Christ through the ministry of Billy Graham. Certainly successful. But I wonder how many of those people were spiritually curious before they even heard of Billy Graham. I’ve never understood what would bring someone to a Crusade. You have to be ready to come and know what you’re getting into. Something has to make someone willing to come hear that blatant Gospel message. What is that something? Is it a co-worker? A parent? A friend? Or maybe something not quite as obvious, like an article, a movie, or a book. Again, the “success” is virtually immeasurable. But you can’t deny the effect. How many have considered the spiritual because of novels like the Chronicles of Narnia or the music of U2?
I have to think that’s a step in the process of conversion that is worth effort. Someone has to open the eyes of the disinterested. Something has to change within them so that they would even consider God. The Holy Spirit plays into all of this as well, and we really can’t hope to know all the answers. What if in my spiritually awakening someone turns to Islam? I suppose you have to trust the Holy Spirit. And what if someone hears Billy Graham’s blatant message and walks away disgusted? I suppose you also have to trust the Holy Spirit.
I think I’ve always known this struggle, and I’ve always known the non-answer that comes with it. Sometimes you just have to re-hash it.