Linking to the whole story
Wow, has it been this long? My sincere apologies to my legions of adoring fans. Statcounter tells me there are 4 of you.
So I'm talking to one of my sons in the faith, Chris, today. The guy is a talented poet, and he has a burden for articulating to young people in places in life similar to his. Here's an example of his stuff.
religion planted barriers
claimed morality and lied
religion killed the innocent
just like Christ they died
confess your sins
for you are bad
confess your sins
you made God mad
what a horrid faith your living
to have no reflection in the mirror
you hide and live in ignorance
the world outside you fear
you put on that artificial smile
and fold your hands up in a prayer
let the non-believers burn in hell
your God is just and fair
confess your sins
for you are bad
confess your sins
you made God mad
religion killed humanity
religion started war
religion lied to you
religion is a whore
Now, the dude has obvious talent. And he's speaking the language of his peers.
But in the story of his life, this poem is about a small part. In the scope of the Christian faith, this is a small part. In the scope of human existence...well, you get the idea.
So I encouraged him, and I reminded myself:
We are part of an amazing story of redemption that God is pulling off all around us. To say that "religion stinks" is a valid part of many people's stories, but it's not the only part. And to articulate that religion stinks to someone who already instinctively knows that, without using it as a link to the parts of the story that they're not familiar with...well, that's falling short of God's calling and Christ's example.
We need to use things - obvious things like preaching, less obvious things like poetry, music, art, etc. - as links to connect people with this amazing story that we get to be part of.
There's more to it than "life/religion/etc. stinks." Much more.
Host a poetry reading, followed by discussion. Blog, and interact online. Singing, painting, conversation, life...all are potential links. We must use them, and not stunt the telling of the Story.
(Read more of Chris's work here.)
So I'm talking to one of my sons in the faith, Chris, today. The guy is a talented poet, and he has a burden for articulating to young people in places in life similar to his. Here's an example of his stuff.
religion planted barriers
claimed morality and lied
religion killed the innocent
just like Christ they died
confess your sins
for you are bad
confess your sins
you made God mad
what a horrid faith your living
to have no reflection in the mirror
you hide and live in ignorance
the world outside you fear
you put on that artificial smile
and fold your hands up in a prayer
let the non-believers burn in hell
your God is just and fair
confess your sins
for you are bad
confess your sins
you made God mad
religion killed humanity
religion started war
religion lied to you
religion is a whore
Now, the dude has obvious talent. And he's speaking the language of his peers.
But in the story of his life, this poem is about a small part. In the scope of the Christian faith, this is a small part. In the scope of human existence...well, you get the idea.
So I encouraged him, and I reminded myself:
We are part of an amazing story of redemption that God is pulling off all around us. To say that "religion stinks" is a valid part of many people's stories, but it's not the only part. And to articulate that religion stinks to someone who already instinctively knows that, without using it as a link to the parts of the story that they're not familiar with...well, that's falling short of God's calling and Christ's example.
We need to use things - obvious things like preaching, less obvious things like poetry, music, art, etc. - as links to connect people with this amazing story that we get to be part of.
There's more to it than "life/religion/etc. stinks." Much more.
Host a poetry reading, followed by discussion. Blog, and interact online. Singing, painting, conversation, life...all are potential links. We must use them, and not stunt the telling of the Story.
(Read more of Chris's work here.)
posted by pastor mike at 1:11 AM
5 Comments:
Hi, adoring fan #3 here...
Religion doesn't stink. For all my snazzy whole cynical outlook and jaded responces to all things pleasant and mundane that I have going for me, I'll be one of the first to say that... whatever creed, religion is a thing that bolsters spirits. It lifts people up. How many people take comfort in the thought that prayer is working for them? How many people sleep easy at night thinking that their system of beliefs is the correct one and if death comes creeping over them from now until morning they'll be in a better place with their beloved Aunt Mildred whom they haven't seen since they were six. Religion, quite literally, gives people something to believe in.
I'm not sure if saying "religion stinks" is valid so much as it is... selfish? Merriam-Webster defines religion as being "(1): the service and worship of God or the supernatural (2): commitment or devotion to religious faith or observance; a cause, principle, or system of beliefs held to with ardor and faith." It's also an adjective.
Sure, someone could spout on about how religion cannot and should not be defined- at least not so easily, but when it gets down to it... religion is a far cry from being the collective of people who worship together. It's not about the internal system, that well-oiled machine that runs and maintains a church... it's about being faithful and serving God.
The implication being that... serving God stinks. I dunno. Maybe I'm reading too much into it. I have a propensity for that.
By the way, Chris is a piece of jerk who makes his LJ posts friends only- as evidenced by the fact that his info tells me he HAS posted... most recently being 9 hours ago, November 1, 2005 at 21:37:31... I don't read military time so that's like... what? 7am? Anyway, I just can't see them. I can see his really snazzy icon which... well, isn't as cool as mine but... it's hard to beat a Flammel.
to fullmetal blogger:
you don't have the first clue what you're talking about. perhaps you should keep your mouth shut and listen, and look at how you treat people (like everyone else in your dead religion) before calling someone a "piece of jerk". i sure hope you're not a christian, because you just proved chris's point. and mine...
to verveben:
fullmetal blogger and Chris are friends, and I'm sure the "piece of jerk" was sarcastic, and if not, will be taken lightheartedly by Chris, who has not only many midnight male bonding conversations with fullmetal blogger, but also shared his heart and poetry with him. fullmetal blogger would be the first to say Chris is an awesome poet (and has before).
You, sir, do not have the first clue as to what you're talking about.
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
typical clickish idiot "christians" you are. you have inspired me to remove this blog from my favorites cos i don't wanna hang out with people who pretend. you stupid "christians" continue to prove my point over and over and over...
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