Sam

Currently Reading Jesus for President: Politics for Ordinary Radicals By Shane Claiborne, Chris Haw see related

Shhhh....

            Noise.  There is so much noise!  In the morning, I am awakened, not by my own desire to get up out of refreshment from a good night’s sleep, but from the obnoxious song from my cell-phone.  I go to chapel or class, and have to block out the whispers and giggles of the uninterested masses around me.  At lunch, friends and I get together, and don’t even realize that we are yelling at each other in order to be heard as we sit no more than 3 feet away from each other.  When I study in the Dining Hall after lunch is over, I breathe a sigh of relief, for I am the only one there.  But then I realize that there is music blasting over the loudspeaker.  As I sit in the room that the college has designated for prayer on the third floor of the Men’s Dorm, I have to compete with the sounds of the LAN party of World of Warcraft gamers in the lobby (who, by the way, have every right to be there, however distracting it is for me).  When I come to my room to sleep, I still lay in bed and hear the fans from my room-mate’s X-box, and all three of our computers, all coming together in an orchestra of noise with the refrigerator and the air conditioning unit.  I cannot escape the noise!  Powerful moments of silence during corporate times of worship are often broken out of discomfort.  We have to say something.  I am not innocent of this.  I feel like I have to have something to say all the time.  If I think it is going to be funny, I time it out as best I can, I make sure to have that perfect facial expression, and I speak those potentially hilarious words into the silence, and hope that someone will laugh out loud.  It is often my words that break the deep, contemplative silence at moments of spiritual meditation, or my music that is playing in the otherwise quiet place.  I just cannot get away from distracting, stressful, chaotic noise for any length of time before I find myself making my own noise!

            What’s more, the noise that we hear in our lives cannot be limited to that which we hear.  Noise is anything and everything that can distract us from what should be the primary focus of that very moment.  Your television set, your Facebook, AIM, myspace, or whatever internet site it is that has you ensnared, your job, the expectations people put on you, the needs of your kids, the sins that entangle you, the fears and anxieties about the future that you cannot get over, maybe even your need to say the most important, influential, or insightful words in those times that you are with other people, all of these things are noise; they all distract you from that still small voice that is whispering in your ear.

<be still and know that I am God>        <be not afraid, for I am with you>         <I AM WHO I AM>

            The noise that I struggle with the most is the noise that I make with my very own mouth. For whatever reason, God has recently given me the insight that I should pay attention to what I say.  And so, over the last few weeks, I have gone about my day as usual, but have noted at the end of the day, the conversations I have had with friends, the short interactions I have had with acquaintances, and the “insights” that I have volunteered in class or other intellectual settings.  And this is what I have noticed:  I talk a lot.  I mean A LOT, a lot.  I (if you couldn’t tell by the unnecessarily long introduction I have given to my point today) don’t know when to shut up.  I don’t know where I picked up the notion that people actually care about all of the pomp and fluff that I add to what I say, but for some reason, I just ramble on until I see that the majority of my audience is bored nearly to tears before I either wrap up my speech, or I get to the point.

            “When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but the prudent are restrained in speech.” (Proverbs 10:19 NRSV)

How true.  I find that the more I speak, the more likely it becomes for me to put my foot in my mouth.  Crude humor, coarse joking, obscenity; all of these come out more when I am chattering away without regard for what I am actually saying.  A few years ago, some close friends told me that I had no tact.  And this year, my room-mate informed me that I have a reputation around campus for making inappropriate jokes at times.  I really don’t want to be that guy.  But there is another, less known words-related sin that I am guilty of doing almost daily.  When I gab on without considering my words, it is not uncommon that I begin to talk about others.  I talk about my roommates, I talk about my friends, I even talk about people that I do not know.  I spent at least an hour, the other day, bad mouthing mega-churches and their leaders.  Do you know how many mega-churches I have been to?  Or how many mega-church pastors I have met?  None.  Not one.  I saw a poster on a friend’s door a few years ago that said:  “Wise men talk about ideas; ordinary men talk about things; foolish men talk about other people.”  That has really stuck with me.  Well, maybe not as much as I wanted it to…

I am convinced that this problem of “many words” has even taken its toll on my prayer life.  I am working on memorizing the first six verses of Matthew chapter 6.  Here, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus instructs his disciples to do their works of righteousness in secret.  He tells them not to pray publicly, calling attention to themselves.  What he says about those who do this is that they have “received their reward in full.”  The reward for public righteousness, is being viewed by the people as pious.  But for those who do those things in secret, but in full view of the One who sees all things, their reward is being stored up for them.  Whatever the reward is, it is from God Himself.  I don’t know what kind of reward it is, but surely it is better than applause from a bunch of people for doing what we were commanded to do anyways (Luke 17:10).  The reason I am memorizing this passage is that I have this burning desire inside to be known as a righteous man.  I want so badly to have the reputation of someone who follows Christ humbly and wholeheartedly.  But since I am a lowly, depraved man, I don’t actually follow Christ humbly or wholeheartedly most of the time.  So I have to fake it.  And I’ve gotten pretty good at it, if I do say so myself.  I have learned that you look even more humble when people applaud you, and you tell them to stop, or you complain about it in front of other people that you want to view you as humble and devout.  It’s a cycle that I could probably continue until I die, and bow shamefully at the feet of the Father and Judge who knows my sinful, selfish motivation.  Therefore, I am trying to learn, and put into practice the teachings of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount.  I have to remember that I am not there yet.  I am not righteous, and even when people think I am, I am not.  I don’t want to be humiliated for Christ, but if I’m not, then I’m not really following him, am I?

And so this brings me to my point.  God is big.  He’s big and scary.  He’s big, scary, and very very powerful.  And I am not dead.  Even though I know that I have offended him, he has not killed me.  Therefore, he must also be forgiving.  And if he’s forgiving, he must be doing it for a reason.  And since he’s big, scary and very very powerful, and I am not, I don’t think that he’s keeping me alive so that he can get something from me; he really doesn’t need me, like… at all.  So, if all of this is true, he must just be forgiving me because he loves me.  So that’s it, God loves me.  And chances are, if you’re reading this, you haven’t been nuked for your sins either, so, God must love you too.  Congratulations!  But here’s my actual point:  Even though God is merciful, and he forgives us, and he loves us, that does not mean that he is any less big, scary, or powerful.  So when we talk to him, I think we should have a lot of respect.  Qoheleth gives us a little advice in this area:  “Be not rash with your mouth, nor let your heart be hasty to utter a word before God, for God is in heaven and you are on earth. Therefore let your words be few.”  (Ecclesiastes 5:2 ESV)

So here is my goal for this week:  I want to get rid of as much of my own vocally produced noise as I can.  I will not take a vow of silence, because I feel like that would be just as distracting as everything else, and it would also go against my desire to not draw attention to myself in the public yard.  But instead, I am going to limit my words this week.  I am going to think through everything I say, making sure that I make everything that comes out of my mouth is important, respectful, and holy.  Pray for me.  Old habits die hard, and this old windbag has a definite habit of flapping his gums without thinking about what he’s saying.

I love you all.  God bless you.

Peace be with you.

Citizen Mike

Over the last few months, I have been really struggling with how view politics through the lens of my faith.  I have wrestled with the idea of libertarianism, "Christian Anarchy," and just plain old Apathy.  But none of these seem to work for me, not to mention the fact that they don't seem to be very biblical viewpoints.  I used to be a conservative Republican.  But now, in light of everything that I've seen and experienced, I think that holding to these labels is inaccurate and to align myself with such parties poses a threat to the integrity of my faith.  Living at a highly conservative private Bible College, located on the buckle of the Bible Belt, USA.  I have felt like quite the outsider with the exceptions of a very small group of friends.  Even at home, I feel like I'm some sort of radical now.  My mom almost started crying when I told her that I found it offensive and morally wrong to have "Patriotic Sundays" at church every Memorial Day, Flag Day, 4th of July, Veterans' Day, September 11, and Anniversary of Pearl Harbor Day.  I just don't think that the church is the place to pledge allegiance to a country or its flag.  Especially since this nation is not "under God," despite all of the energy we spend trying to convince ourselves of this.  The god of the United States is the Constitution.  And the idol to which this country bows is the "almighty dollar."  Neither of these reflect the character, mission, or values of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Yesterday, in my Worldview class, we discussed an article written by Richard Rorty shortly before his death, which spoke out against non-profit, "ecclesiastical organizations" which use untaxed funds to promote faith-based ideals in political movements.  What this means is, Rorty disagrees when religious organizations more powerful than the local parish raise funds to try to create laws against, or repeal laws protecting rights that the religious organization views as immoral (i.e. homosexuality) which are based solely on their religious presuppositions.  As I read through Rorty's arguments, I found very little with which I actually disagreed.  Why is it legal for a religious organization to use funds that are tax-exempt to promote their political beliefs, when organizations that are not "non-profit" have to pay taxes.  That seems like a misuse of funds.  Additionally, what difference does it make if the laws reflect a biblical morality?  Will that make the secular society less sinful?  No, it will only turn "sinners" into criminals.  No sinner's heart is moved to repentance and morality by a law making their sin illegal.  This is actually the point of Paul's letters to both the Romans and the Galatians, is it not?

It is not the Christian's responsibility to change the heart of society through the government of that society.  I have had so many people argue with me on this point, and it boggles my mind.  "Are we not supposed to be the 'salt of the earth and the light of the world?'"  Which is a reference to Jesus words in Mat.5:13-16.  Or worse, "So you're saying that we should compartmentalize and privatize Christianity?"  No!  That is not what I'm saying at all.  We most assuredly are the salt or the earth and light of the world.  And we are not supposed to hide our Christianity or to ignore our faith when convenient.  We cannot separate ourselves from our beliefs at any point in our lives, and that is not what I am calling the Church to do.  What I am saying is this:  Realize that America, is not God's holy, chosen, nation.  America is not a Christian nation.  It is not built on the Christian ethic, with biblical morality.  It is a secular country.  It is part of the world, which Jesus says will persecute us, and judge us, and will not understand us.  Sorry kids, this isn't the utopia you all were told that it once was.

So what, I ask, should we do as Christ-followers in a fallen, worldly, democratic society?  First, praise God that we are in a country that has a Constitution banning anyone from taking away our freedom to practice our religion.  Many other people around the world do not have that freedom.  Some of my friends are not too sure that this freedom is a good thing, since it has led to a lot of complacency within the Church.  This is a valid argument, but nevertheless, it is a blessing that we are able to proclaim our beliefs, and practice our faith without being arrested all of the time.  But remember, even if we didn’t have this freedom, the Church would not cease to exist.  It would just exist underground.  And God would be just as sovereign and loving and just as He is right now.  Second, praise God that you live in a country that cannot force you to believe things that you don’t want to believe.  This is also a luxury that many others throughout the world do not have.  But again, if we didn’t have this freedom, we would still practice our faith in the way we believe we should.  The banning of state sanctioned religion is a very good thing (so stop trying to make yours state sanctioned through laws based on faith).

            Third, if you want to be salt and light in your society, then do it by living the way that Jesus would have us do so.  Live by the Spirit of God, in freedom.  Allow God to produce fruit in your lives, Church.  Be godly husbands; godly wives.  Be Christ-like parents and co-workers.  Love the Lord your God and love your neighbor, all the time, and in all that you do.  That’s how the Church will change our society.  If the Church was being the Church, if Christians were acting like Jesus Christ, our society would be completely different.  As it is, divorce rates in the Church are the same as those of the “pagans.”  Time and time again, hotels report that the number of pornographic movie rentals GREATLY increases whenever there is a Christian convention in town.  Pastors are fired for corruption, sexual immorality, and laziness.  Cars with IXTHUS fishes cut off, and their drivers flip off just as many people as every other car on the road.  Christians fight each other, and hate each other and hate everyone else around them who disagree with them.  And even if this isn’t true for you, who believe in Christ, and even if it isn’t true at all, it IS how you, and I, and all the rest of us are perceived.  So do something about it.  But the fact is, we are too busy trying to keep gays from getting married to realize that we are living in just as much sin as they.

            Hey, guess what… if we get a law, banning gay civil unions, there will still be gay people in this country.  Since marriage is an institution of the church, and the state isn’t really allowed to recognize any establishment of religion, maybe nobody should get government perks for being married.  OR, since we don’t want to do anything crazy like that, we should just continue in our faith that our heterosexual marriage is between us and God, and our civil union is recognized by the state.  That way, the homosexuals who may not believe that there is a God who is in the middle of their union (and even those who do), can still get those perks from the government.  You have your marriage between a man, a woman, and God, as well as a state sanctioned civil union; and the gays can have a state sanctioned civil union that does not threaten the sanctity of marriage which we Christians hold so dear.

            Jesus tells us that we are to be good stewards of all of the blessings that he gives us.  This includes (but is not limited to) our money, our talents, our spiritual gifts, our time, our stuff, and since we live in a democratic (sort of) nation, even our opinion.  We must be faithful with everything we have.  This nation expects that we the people should vote keeping in mind liberty and justice for all.  That is how you vote.  Everyone should have equal protection, equal freedom, and equal service under the law.  If this means that people in sin get perks, praise God, because you too are not without sin.  I stress again, you cannot force or even expect non-Christians to live like Christians.  So vote, and support your candidate, but don’t you dare drag my transcendent, perfect, immortal God into your finite, weak, democratic government.

            Go and change the world, be salt, be the light.  But do it through interpersonal relationships.  Do it through love.  Lead by example.  Stop looking to Congress, or the Supreme Court, or the President of the United States to lead the nation into a moral society.  They are here to protect your freedom, not to make sure you (or your neighbor) is a good person.

 Peace be with you.

Currently Reading Jesus for President: Politics for Ordinary Radicals By Shane Claiborne, Chris Haw see related

Confessional II

Currently Listening The Beatles (The White Album) By The Beatles see related

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