Love Letter Idolatry

Okay, so I'm sorry it's been forever since I've written anything. School's been kicking me around for a while, and with YL in full swing now, my free time is pretty much reserved for sleeping and pooping/reading. Well, I do have another project that I've started: I'm now going through my music library album by album (by band) listening and reading the lyrics as I go. I then catalog my favorite lyric snippets into a list. I have the first part (including Sleeping Giant and Oh, Sleeper's two albums each) on my facebook, and I can migrate it over here if you'd like to read it - just let me know.

So that isn't really the purpose I had in mind for this entry, but I wanted to give you a small update. Get ready for some good old new-thinking rant =)

My latest funk has been with the idea of ministry being a set in stone format. The main issue is basically that a lot of the now-elders of the faith have decided to take everything so freaking literally that they honestly believe there is only one thing that works. The basic issue I'm getting to is that I don't think the Bible is everything.

Now before you grab your pitchforks and chase me out of town, know that I read the Bible everyday and accept it as truth and the Word of God Himself. But also know that I don't think the Bible is the key to salvation. If it were the hinge of this "religious ideal", then how would people who never had access to a Bible or at least one in their language be saved?

I listen to a lot of Christian hardcore/metal music, as you probably know. One of my favorite bands is Sleeping Giant. I love them because they do what I yearn so very much to, which is minister to lost souls with their music. One thing in particular that I find very fascinating is they take a very wary stance amongst "The Church" (as we are so apt to call "it" these days). A small side note - you might want to go back and read my blog about what I believe church to be to fully grasp my ideas here.

A particular set of lyrics strike me from a couple of their songs, the first being "Blame It On The Holy Rollers". The idea here that they make is that they're tired of being judged for who they are, something "The Church" I think STILL has problems with (luckily, not nearly as much where I'm at). They also write about this "Sunday School mindset" and "play(ing) church". These really kind of hit home for me, because I think a lot of "The Church" seem complacent and basically stagnant in the faith, not sure where to turn next.

This takes me to my next idea of the Bible. Again, I'm not bashing it in any way, and I read it daily because I find it helps me renew my mind (Romans 12). It seems there is way too much emphasis on this book. I understand it's the Word of God, and it's useful for teaching, rebuke, reproof, etc. But if the Bible was all that was needed, why would "The Church" even exist?

Something else I feel I should say is that I teach from the Bible myself. I don't think it wrong to use the Bible in many situations. I just think we get so caught up in the "thees" and "thous" and lose sight of the true God. I mean, the Bible is just His love letter to us. Would you honestly say that a love letter is the most important thing in a relationship? I wouldn't.

I have a feeling you're going to want to quote John 1 to me now. You know, this little bit:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. (John 1.1)

I get it. You think that the Bible is the incarnate of Jesus, or something like that. But don't you understand that if you become a Christian, Jesus resides in you! He doesn't need a book to tell us how to live right, to explain Himself. Granted, it seems He chooses to most often (insert Hebrews 1 reference here), but that doesn't mean He won't talk to you through anything else. I've got stories of how I've been spoken to by God without the words on the page.

I get a bit depressed seeing this go on, this literalness. It translates into people becoming dead-set on one single method that's worked before and just gets frustrating, because you start to think that just because that method has worked in the past, it'll work forever. It could, certainly, as God is timeless and His ways are mysterious, even to the point of repetition. However, do you really think people like this don't love Jesus with all their heart? These are my heroes!

I guess all I'm really trying to say is this: those of you who think you're the shiz, who think you have it all together and you've got the "proper" way to "be a Christian", let me say that the ONLY thing that's required is to worship our Lord. How we do so is irrelevant (so long as it's not obviously sinful and, well, retarded). Yes, we are called to go and make disciples, but guess what? THIS IS WORSHIP!

And I choose to worship differently from you. That doesn't make me any less loved and lovely. Theology is great. But it's personal. Leave it at that, and I swear, if you push your beliefs, you come across as a bent salesman, trying to sell the latest God model.

STOP SELLING! Start loving. (yay for soap box moments)

This probably (as my writing tends to do) jumps around and probably leaves a lot of my thoughts out (it's damn near impossible to get it all down at the speed I think). So if you find yourself lost and want me to explain it better, let me know. I'd be happy to get coffee or something with you (if you're in the area, anyway) or just email you about it.

Also, I'm praying over a confessions list I want to write and make public, but I don't know if it's the right thing to do right now, but I want to make it known that people are not alone in their struggles.

Anyway, I love you guys, wherever you may be.

~@othern