X-tian Culture

Talking with a few friends tonight, I found that my age-group seems to have a very similar attitude to church and church events. My band played at a Christian Conference over the weekend, something which we will not do again unless under extraordinary circumstances, CNLC asking, or an event we’re helping run. Organisation was terrible, and those running the event were exceptionally condescending or inept or both. Nevertheless, if one young person was saved because of the conference and our presence there, it was worth it. But really, we need to stop thinking “Oh God will fix it, it doesn’t matter.” Maybe He will, it helps save people. But think for a moment, God will use us and these conferences for His purpose; why not make it as easy as possible for His will to become apparent? Why put barriers up? Why leave most everything to the last minute? Why have everything organised to the minute but have a soundman who doesn’t know what a D.I is?

We also have to stop the “oh you’re christian, I’m christian, give me mates rates” attitude (quoting Matt Dubya) and the unthankfullness of our christian culture. If you say “oh I’m thankful! Thats not me!” you’ve got a big chance of being full of bollocks. We don’t say thankyou. We expect the acts of charity from each other but give little regard to acknowledging the effort. And we need to stop our non-committal attitude – sometimes we hide behind the “I believe God is telling me not to do this now” phrase. Is He really? He might be. But would a God that delights in making and keeping His promises really being telling you to break yours? God will use you, no matter where you are, no matter what you’ve committed to. If He needs you to be somewhere, He seems to make it very obvious – things just happen. Coincidence not being a kosher word and all.

Another thing that I still believe is relevant is our biblical bankruptcy. How does God communicate? Still small voice. Personally, I believe that God doesn’t repeat Himself without purpose; how many times has a verse number popped into your head, you’ve looked it up and its been applicable to your situation? We’ve got a whole volume full of God’s words. God doesn’t waste any of them. So why waste words repeating what He’s already said? His word is already here. The whole counsel of God. The reason biblical bankruptcy is a big issue with me is because without biblical knowledge, we can’t judge what is right and what is wrong. Think of the parable of the mustard seed where the birds rest in the branches of the mustard tree. The tree is an idiom of the church and the birds are an idiom of ministers of satan. Yes, thats what I’m saying, there are ministers of satan settling in the church. You don’t like me saying that? Well take the issue up with Jesus, He said it in the very first place! We can’t just accept any thing thats thrown our way, it all needs to be tested against the whole counsel of God. We can’t just go on what sounds right, because the most effective lies are 99.9% true. The truth is stranger than fiction sometimes so have a filter that illuminates what is wrong even if it looks right.

The most I can do is extole you to take the Bible seriously. Sure, there are obvious metaphors and figures of speech but I’m finding the Bible more and more interconnected, and you can’t just throw out what you don’t like because it won’t make sense. All the prophets took scripture as saying just what it meant, the apostles did, Jesus was incredibly precise using scripture. SO why do we think we can just throw parts out? Its all there to be learnt. Get a good commentator that clicks with you and get into it.

From a world view, Christianity is uncool and quaint. Yup, it is.

But it seems the more fashionable things in society are detrimental to your moral mental and physical heath.

You’ll find the bible fascinating with a good teacher.

~ by tdub on August 22, 2006.