August 27, 2007 by David.

You know, for years, science has been positioned as being in opposition to religion. That position is partly the responsibility of religion and partly the responsibility of science itself. Many scientists set out to disprove many things about religion, including the existence of God. Many of them ignore the fact that some of their very predecessors in science - like Einstein and Newton - actually believed in God and further, believed science gave proof to that fact, not denial. However, the antagonistic turn of the church towards science - probably as a defensive response in the same - is no better than what the scientists themselves are doing.

The primary issue the church has taken on recently has been the Theory of Evolution. For many Christians, it flies in the face of creationism and is incompatible with what God laid out in Genesis.

Also, before I go further, I feel like it’s necessary to clear something up. Charles Darwin never recanted his belief in evolution. Sorry, never happened.

Christians would do well to remember that there was once a time when a controversial scientific finding stood to rock the foundations of the faith. That finding was that the Earth revolved around the sun, not vice versa. As time has shown, our understanding of the Bible - and indeed our own faith - has adjusted and melded with the finding of that scientific fact.

It’s almost as if our faith is too fragile to withstand a critical eye. If so, is that a faith worth having?

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not suggesting that the entire theory is correct. Nor am I claiming - as many Christians instinctively do - that it is 100% false. The truth is, there is a tremendous amount of compelling evidence that suggests that evolution, on some levels, is not only valid but predominant. When you see that there are species that literally evolve to reproduce without a partner, it’s hard to ignore. Yet, many of us feel threatened by these things. We feel
But, no matter how much truth may be found in the evolutionary theory, it doesn’t mean that the Christian faith has to suffer for it. Fighting science is a fruitless endeavor. Rather, we should embrace the finding of new truths and work on the understanding of what it means to our faith, not assume that it destroys it.

As more and more evidence is discovered that supports tenets of evolution (again, not necessarily the whole thing), we should look at this as an opportunity to affirm the existence of God in these findings, not question it. We should embrace sound scientific study and applaud its merits, rather than looking like fools and criticizing it. We should embrace truth, wherever we find it.

For our faith is not the sole domain of truth - it is centered on the origin of it.

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August 24, 2007 by David.

One of the strategies I used to be taught as a young “Christian” was the idea of finding an opening to talk about my faith. Rather than engage in a normal dialog with someone, I was to be very conscience of “openings” through which I could rip off my shirt, expose my giant “S” and save their lives as Super-Christian-Man. In other words, I was to segue the conversation to Jesus.

Well, as with many things in life, things don’t always work out in reality the same way they work out in theory.

“I’m sorry to hear your dog was hit by a car this weekend. Do you know who could have saved your dog? Jesus…”

Oh lord.

“That sure was a good dinner. But, do you know who fills me better than a tasty beef strogonof? That would be Jesus…”

Ugghhh.

“Wow, did you see that touchdown pass! That was amazing! By the way, let me tell you about the quarterback of my soul, Jesus…”

Oh please.

“It’s so sad that your car was stolen at gun point. That must have been terrifying! You know what else would be terrifying? Life without Jesus…”

God forgive us.

“Thanks, I’d love something to drink. Did you know that there is an everlasting source of drink for your hell-bound soul? His name is Jesus…”

Oy vay.

Thinking about it, these terrible segues are probably part of the reason I didn’t have too many friends after my Christian indoctrination.

It’s funny to think about how awkward these “save their soul” segues can be. There’s nothing natural about “finding an opening” when talking with someone. For one, it disengages you from the person you’re talking to.

It also makes you sound like a moron.

Yet, many churches still teach their kids to act in such a way. As if being a teenager isn’t awkward enough?

The thing I’ve noticed about my faith is that talking about it just sometimes happens. I don’t have to force it. It’s a vital part of my life now and doesn’t need to be shoe-horned into a conversation about dinner, or just after a touchdown celebration. I’ve also found that respecting what other people believe, instead of looking at them as uneducated heathens, has helped as well. I’ve also come to the realization that some people just don’t want to hear about what I believe. So, rather than being an obnoxious used car salesman, I find it easier (and better) to just respect their right to noise-free air.

Frankly, the most impressive things we can do as Christians rarely (if ever) has anything to do with our words anyways.

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August 23, 2007 by David.

You know, Christians can be funny creatures. We’ve developed our own language that befuddles the average person. It’s like being in a secret club where only select members know the password. Or being French. Same difference.

But when you really think about it, some of the things we say are just absolute gibberish to people who practice speaking sensibly. You know, most of the rest of the world.

“I’ve got Jesus in my heart.” - You know, from a purely physical standpoint, this one is kinda creepy. We all kinda know what it means, but it still sounds a little silly. Even my kids recognize this when one of them stated that Jesus would “jump out of our hearts to beat up the bad guys and save us.”

“Jesus saved me.” - Uh huh. Really? First of all, what did you need saving from and secondly, did he wear tights and a cape or was he more of the brooding, dark super-hero ala Bat-man?

“God is my co-pilot (or pilot).” - You know, this makes sense when I consider how some people drive. It’s pretty apparent that THEY aren’t driving. Although, it makes you wonder if God got his driver’s license if HE’S the pilot for some of these folks…

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” - So, if Christians are Barry Bonds, then Jesus is their pusher? Yowza!

“I’m nothing without Jesus.” -  Fine and dandy, except it makes Jesus sound like your skeletal system. Or your internal organs. Or your brain…

“God is the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end.” - Uh, then Who is the middle?

“God is everything to me.” - So, that McDonald’s happy meal…uh…that’s God too? Not sure God wants to be associated with a terrible cheeseburger and a cheap plastic toy.

Don’t get me wrong, different groups have their own lexicons by which they find a way to alienate others. Sometimes, though, it’s good to find in ourselves the things we can laugh about.

We should never be so serious as to not be willing to laugh about the things that make us unique.

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August 22, 2007 by David.

I’m a bit of a history addict now. I didn’t care for it much in school (reflected in my grades), but I find as I get older - and subsequently become more “history” myself - the subject is entirely more fascinating than ever before.

The beauty of history is its ability to teach us lessons. Sadly, as has been stated many times before, history is doomed to repeat itself. This holds true with Christianity itself. It’s amazing how early we started with the bickering amongst ourselves. Heck, even Peter and Paul didn’t particularly like one another (or each other’s philosophies, to be more exact).

The thing is, for a “religion” that should be teaching tolerance and love, we sure do have a history that flies in the face of those tenets.

Take for example, the Crusades. Going on for almost 200 years, the Christian Crusades were an exercise in religious massacre. In an effort to spread Christendom, the Pope authorized these crusades so that the Holy Land of Jerusalem could be reclaimed. Unfortunately, that effort resulted in the brutal killing of many people, especially Jews. For more information about the lovely period of the Crusades, visit the Wiki entry.

Then there’s slavery. There’s another real bright spot. During the civil war, and before it, slave owners in the South justified the owning of slaves by using…you guessed it…the Bible. Oy vay. Wonderful. Some went so far as saying African Americans were direct descendants of Cain (ignoring the whole flood thing) and were thus the very incarnation of sin and evil. These same people also memorized the Bible and religiously attended church as well. After all, they were in the “Bible belt.”

The stories go on and on but the trend is apparent. Christians really know how to foul things up. Frankly, HUMANS really know how to foul things up. Religion corrupts. It controls. It justifies murder and genocide. Religion straps dynamite to a child in “the name of God” and religion convinces us to hate someone because of their skin/thoughts/birth place/you-name-it. Religion has brought no good to history and never will.

Religion is mind-control and unfortunately, there are still many, many Christians who subject themselves to this marvel of human failure. As long as people continue to find themselves ensnared by the idiocy of religion, our history will be riddled with moments of great regret.

Christianity should only ever be a way of life, not a way of thought. Christianity should be a wonderful example of love and compassion, not a crutch for judgment and condemnation. It should be a unifying philosophy, not a war-mongering divider.

It should be responsible for great moments in the history of man, not the source of some of its darkest.

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August 21, 2007 by David.

I’ve begun reading a book that anyone who calls themselves a Christian should read. “Velvet Elvis” by Rob Bell is yet another book that has shook my foundations and caused me to question things I previously thought unquestionable. He validates the the process of questioning and even goes so far as to say that questioning can even draw someone closer to God. It’s a beautiful thought, especially when you find yourself in a whirlwind of thoughts that run contrary to the popular belief in the modern church.

Something, though, that has jumped out at me from this book and others I’ve read is the beauty of diversity. I’m not talking about the government mandated programs of diversity, but TRUE diversity. Diversity of race. Diversity of cultures. Diversity of beliefs. There is tremendous opportunity in experiencing more than what you’re accustomed to. The opportunity for personal growth and self-discovery are enormous when we diversify every element of our lives.

Take music as an example. For years, I’ve spent the better part of my life listening to either Metal or Rock. I shunned pop, hip-hop, rap, blues and especially country. However, as I’ve aged (and maybe grown wiser), I’ve learned to diversify my musical taste. For one, you quickly realize that the different instruments are played differently between the different styles. Each style has a benefit and I love that there is truly music for any occasion. A driving bass guitar in a hard rock song can get the adrenaline pumping like nothing else. However, if you take that bass and make it fluid and smooth and about 1/4 beat ahead/behind the drums, you will get some incredibly smooth jazz that will soothe the soul. Same instrument, different take.

I think faith, like music, offers different ways of listening to the same instrument. Some have a strong, unending faith that trusts God no matter what. It’s very child-like in its innocence and very pure. You have some, like myself, who are constantly wringing their faith and trying to make better sense of things that don’t make sense. It’s very thoughtful and contemplative. Still others have a real faith that expresses itself by helping others and by being a “real Jesus” to the people around them. It’s beautiful and humane.

As I sit and think about these different types of faith, I realize they are like that bass guitar. It’s the same instrument, yet it’s playing different music. Each faith, like each style of music, is perfect for certain occasions. And by realizing that, we realize our tremendous need for one another. No single person has the exact right faith, just as there is no perfect music.

That strong, unending faith is wonderful when times are tough. Because it doesn’t question much, it doesn’t bother itself with answers that don’t make sense. It simply trusts. Sometimes that’s what we need to pass through the hard times.

The questioning faith is amazing for times of spiritual growth. This faith causes change and forces people to think differently. Without it, people would still be advocating slavery through the use of scripture. Thank God for this faith as well.

The active faith is amazing when others around you are hurting. It becomes a faith that serves. A faith that heals. And nothing is quite as beautiful as that.

Even further, I believe Jesus demonstrated all of these faiths (and more) in His lifetime. I also believe that was very intentional. He wanted people to relate to him, no matter what faith they naturally took to. The more I think about His life and the examples He set, the more in awe I become. He knew the tendency of man. He knew our failings and our faults. In the midst of that knowing, He crafted a life so perfect in its example that no man could not relate to Him on some level, and through that, relate to other men as well. Jesus was as diverse an individual as any that has ever walked the earth.

Isn’t that diversity beautiful?

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August 20, 2007 by David.

OK. I have to admit that I am a little behind the times. I’ve finally watched the first 4 Harry Potter films and overall, I was impressed. The first two were definitely kid-friendly, but I found the last two to be quite entertaining and a significant step up from the first two. I actually finished Goblet of Fire with a strong desire to see the newest movie. The characters are interesting, the imagery is beautiful and you can tell that J.K. Rowling is a brilliant and gifted writer. The world she has painted is vast and amazing.

What confuses me, though, is the response that Harry Potter has received from many churches here in America. One of my friends attends a church that openly told it’s members to NOT read the Harry Potter books. Ironically, these are also some of the same churches that insist the only valid version of the Bible is the King James version. So, at the end of the day, they are encouraging reading a more confusing, boring, language-challenged book (the KJV Bible) over an entertaining, thrilling book about a boy wizard. Congrats guys. THAT’s the way to encourage people to read the Bible more.

Then I started thinking further. Harry Potter is not the first time the church has stepped in to tell people how to better be Christians (in their view, of course). Remember Disney World and their infamous Gay Days? If I recall, the Southern Baptist Convention responded by telling its members to boycott all Disney products and theme parks. How about AC/DC? I remember being told that it stood for Anti-Christ/Devils Child. Oh good grief.

I’ve done even more digging and this next one might surprise you (or not). At one point in the church’s history, this instrument was labeled a tool of the devil and those churches that brought one into their doors were highly criticized and labeled heretics. Drums? Nope. Guitar? Notta. Bass Guitar? Not even close. What was the instrument? Try the Organ. Yeah - the organ. The instrument featured in so many traditional churches was once called a tool of the devil. Priceless.

You see, there’s this funny trait about people that says “don’t tell me what to do.” It never fails. Anytime you start a sentence with “Whatever you do, don’t …”, the person you tell that to inevitable DOES just what you told them NOT to. We even acknowledge it in our movies. “Whatever you do, don’t look down.” “Whatever you do, don’t look back.” And what happens? Yup - the person looks down or looks back. Heck, even the Bible has examples of this (Lot’s wife). Human history is littered with the failings of telling people what they can’t do. The alcohol prohibition of the 1920s is a perfect example. I would even argue that drug abuse and prostitution fall into very similar categories.

And yet, the church has been one of the first bodies to consistently tell people what not to do. Even though that methodology is rooted in failure.

Here’s an idea. Let’s use Jesus’ example. If you look throughout the gospels, one thing you’ll consistently see is this tendency to not directly address the sin in people’s lives, but to offer them an alternative. Jesus didn’t condemn the woman at the well, as much as he offered her the opportunity to thirst no more. Yes, he did tell her to go and sin no more, but didn’t list those things out for her. I believe that He knew she was more than capable of knowing what was sin in her life. She had no problem identifying it to Him at the well. Yet, He never felt the need to tell her “Go, and sin no more. You know, the adultery and sleeping around stuff. Also, the bad attitude has got to go. Frankly, your attire could use some adjustment as well.”

So, as for me, I’m planning on going to see the next Harry Potter film. While I’m at it, I think I may go buy an AC/DC cd and play it back on a church organ at Disney World just for kicks.

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August 17, 2007 by David.

You are born with your family. You choose your friends.

Is blood really thicker than water anymore? There used to be a day and time when family was the end-all, be-all of your life. You would defend and honor your family at whatever cost. I believe that era has passed. In today’s day and age, family is little more than a blood-line. It’s a hierarchy that describes your genealogical roots. Granted, there are still plenty of families that are close knit and I intend on having one of those with my sons, but for the most part, families don’t mean what they used to. Even for me, I’m far closer to my friends than I am my own sister (whom I still love dearly). But you must understand, we get along better now that she’s moved away than we did growing up. Which is actually a point worth exploring.

One of the reasons I believe friends have supplanted family in importance is the lack of time they’ve spent with you growing up. You see, your family - for better or worse - knows all about you. They’ve lived with you. They know your tendencies and they know what you were like before growing up. They saw your good decisions and more importantly, they saw the poor ones. Family has a very fine perception of you shaped by the constant exposure they have to you. Fair or not, your family knows you better than most anyone.

But this is also a problem. People change. They grow and learn and hopefully, become different people. Your capabilities expand. You become a different person in many respects. The insecure, awkward, stumbling boy they once knew is now a far more confident and secure man now. But their impression of you is tainted. In some ways, you’ll always be that awkward and insecure teenage boy. In fact, they may be the last ones to accept the new version of you since they knew the other versions so well.

And this is one of the main reason our friends are so important to us. One of the reasons they can become our new family. They don’t necessarily know the old you. They’re more apt to accept and appreciate who you are today. You can tell them about the you that used to be and share laughs about how your mom used to buy you size 12 shoes (for your size 8 foot). You can joke about wearing humongous glasses and over sized shirts and pants. But, with the laughter comes the understanding that those stories aren’t who you are. The stories reflect who you were. It’s a beautiful thing to laugh about those times without having to worry about those stories being used against you. Memories shared in laughter are wonderful. Memories shared in embarrassment are like a knife in the back.

Families, however, are still vitally important. If for nothing else, they are a reminder of what it meant to be someone different. They will remind you of where it is you come from and provide you with a healthy does of humility. Certainly something I need quite often. They’re also stuck with you. Friends can disown you or move on, but your family is pretty much stuck with you. For better or worse. Me? Worse, quite often.

Both our friends and families are vitally important to us. One affirms who we currently are while the other reminds us of where we’ve come from.

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August 16, 2007 by David.

You know, sometimes it’s just a pain in the rear being someone who asks questions. There’s something to be said for the simple life. Something to be said for someone who follows without asking questions. Which life do you think is easier - the life Jason Bourne led as an agent, or the one he led after having a crisis of conscience? And yes, I know Bourne is not a real person, but the parallel is there and it exists for all of us.
It’s painful to ask questions. It’s painful to call things into question. It’s painful to explore deeper, to want more, to understand.

Your mind doesn’t rest. It doesn’t let up. When someone says something, you examine it, explore it, question it. You immediately don’t trust, inspecting everything to find a valid reason to trust. Your mind tells you that every fact is only opinion. You must find the truth yourself, for those around you have ulterior motives. They want allies. They want to control you. They want to own you.

In this search for truth, you look - with a certain amount of disdain or disgust - at those leading a simple life. You can’t believe how anyone around you could NOT be thinking the same way you do. It’s arrogant, yes, but it’s so deeply rooted in who you are that it is almost futile to fight it. You are arrogant and conceited - but you are also right. You’re one of the select few that is right. You wear it as a badge of honor.

Then you realize that this search for absolute truth can consume you. It can erode your sense of humanity. It can tear away at the things you cling to that make you stable. It makes you yearn. For what?

The simple life.

You realize that a lot of the questions you ask are nothing more than hot air. Your arrogance really is just that. It’s not justified and it’s certainly not because you’re right. Yes, many people follow blindly without questioning. However, what you long for is not to become part of the mindless myrmidon, but to put into proper value the things that truly matter. Rather than question doctrine, philosophy and bigger than human issues, you choose to focus on family, friends and life in general.

You understand that time is evil. It plays games with you. It fools you into believing there is plenty of it, only to rob you of it when you need it the most. You learn that if you don’t conquer your time, it will conquer you. You will burn it away in petty things that don’t matter, while those who truly need it from you are left to suffer. You burn with the anger that a paycheck does not buy your soul, but many think it does. And you kick yourself as you often bend to your weaknesses and embrace the darker side of wasting time.

I long for simplicity.

I long for the simple life.

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August 15, 2007 by David.

For those of us who are old enough to remember Petra - and even more, remember them when the lead singer was Greg X. Volz - the idea of Christian music is not a new one. While bands like Petra (and for me, White Heart, Bride, and a few others) offered alternatives to the mainstream music of the time, there was always an underlying problem with many of these “Christian” bands.

They were selling out.

I don’t mean selling out in the packed venue sense. I mean selling out in the critical, laying aside your values sense. Don’t get me wrong - I loved a lot of that music and occasionally still listen to some of those 20+ year old CDs (yes, I know, I’m getting old). And I believe that the members of those bands were truly looking to offer an alternative to the music of the time. And to be frank, bands like Pillar, Skillet and Seventh Day Slumber have musical careers partly because of bands like Petra.

But bands like Petra made some decisions that now, looking back, I can’t get behind.

First of all, many of these bands labeled what they were doing a “ministry.” ARGGHHHHH! The problem I have with this is simple. If what you’re doing is a ministry, then do not charge the people you are ministering to. Can you imagine Jesus telling his disciples “…guys, let’s feed these people. With this bread and this small fish, we will feed the five thousand. Oh, by the way, make sure to collect a cover charge of $35 per person to cover our expenses and provide a living.” Uh…no. Yet, many “Christian” bands do the same thing.

Again, don’t get me wrong, I enjoy many of these bands and I actively listen to several of them. What bothers me is the idea of using Jesus as a marketing ploy to sell more albums. If your music can’t sell itself, then don’t use Jesus to push your sorry CD onto the brainwashed masses. And certainly don’t call what you’re doing a ministry if you’re charging kids $30 to $80 for tickets to come to your “ministry.” I understand that concerts and CDs take money to make, but there are other ways of doing things as a ministry.

For one, if you’re truly a ministry, then ask people within the church to donate. Although I never cared much for his music, Carmen practiced this for most of his career. All his concerts were free. He would ask wealthy Christians to donate to help pay for his concert, but never charged for non-Christians to attend. It saddens me that many of these “ministries” don’t follow this incredible lead.

In fairness, many of the newer bands have avoided calling themselves a “ministry” for the reasons stated, and that’s fine. I enjoy their music and for many of these bands, the quality of their music is now rivaling mainstream bands and in some cases, outclassing the mainstream outright. It’s also interesting that some of these bands are now getting signed to mainstream music labels and finding bigger success. Switchfoot and POD both started as “Christian” bands, but now have broader appeal and much bigger sales. It’s nice to be able to listen to a CD without having to worry about what words are spewing forth and whether what you’re listening to is safe for your kids. That’s something I’ve always appreciated about these bands - they are mostly family friendly.

I’m going to stop short of calling the entire Christian music industry sell-outs, but the line is a fine one and is often crossed. I’m still not sure that having separate recording labels makes sense. I’d also like to see Christian bands tour with mainstream bands. Music is music is music. Good music, Christian or not, should sell out venues regardless of who is doing the singing. Or why the singing is being done.

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August 14, 2007 by David.

What I’m about to lash out about is something I used to regularly engage in, so please understand that most of the time, my criticisms are aimed squarely at me and me first.

It occurred to me that as a part of understanding more about my faith, there are several different paths that can be taken. One could engage in in-depth Bible studies to dissect different verses and trim them down to their root words and put them in proper context and perspective. I used to relish this idea. However, as life has progressed, I’ve found that time passes far quicker than I ever thought it would. Time means far more than it used to, and though I want a faith that is real and genuine, I’m not sure that analyzing all 99 gazillion words in the Bible is the best way to get there.

I used to believe Sunday school was absolutely imperative for spiritual growth. In fact, to not be in some kind of Bible study was to let your mind rot.

I’m not so sure anymore.

The thing that keeps striking me is the fact that we have to live. We have to earn our keep, raise our kids, provide for our future and hopefully, use whatever time is left to engage ourselves with others. There are, after all, only 24 hours in a day. And at this point in my life, I’m not sure that memorizing the entire New Testament is the best use of my time nor do I believe it is what a relational God wants from me. You see, that kind of devotion - that kind of stringent rule-following strikes me as religion, and I’m NOT about religion. I want to know who God is. I want to understand Him a little more.

Let me put it this way. If I want to truly get to know a friend better, I’m going to spend time with him. I COULD read a write-up about him and study what grades he made through school and try to determine the kind of person he is from that. But I could learn so much more by simply spending time with him. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t know exactly how spending time with God is manifested, but for me, burying my nose in a bunch of words endlessly gets monotonous and boring. I’m sorry if that offends someone’s sense of Godliness, but it’s the truth.

Studying the Bible is often boring. So sue me.

If I’m going to be a genuine person and completely and 100% sincere, then statements like those have to come out - mainly because it is how I feel. And I’m truly past the point of trying to impress anyone with how spiritual I am. I guess I’ll have to revoke my membership in the hyper-spiritual joy luck club.

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