Confusing Christians with Christ

My latest musical obsession is Green Day's 21st Century Breakdown. Not quite the classic American Idiot was, in my opinion, but brilliant none-the-less. Like American Idiot, it's a concept album, this time following a punk-rock couple (Christian and Gloria) as they find their way in a new century already going down the tubes.

While the "ballads" section gets a bit sappy for my tastes, the up-tempo stuff totally shreds. Lead singer Billy Joe Armstrong has incorporated a Beatles-esque sense to his songwriting that more and more rewarding with each listen.

It's also obvious from the lyrics, that Armstrong has a major beef with Christianity. At least, those of the "organized religion, Christian-right" variety. Here's a description of one of the songs, "East Jesus Nowhere" from a recent Rolling Stone interview with the band:

"Armstrong wrote "East Jesus Nowhere," a scalding rebuke of fundamentalist religion, after attending a church service where a friend's baby was baptized. The friend later asked him, "Was it really that bad?""

Now I'm not going to pretend to know what Billie Joe Armstrong's hang-ups with Christianity are. If I had to guess they'd be about hypocritical leaders who claim to be Christian but pass judgment and condemn others. Perhaps it was a truly scarring "religious" experience at an early age.

It could be any number of things. I would just ask him to do one thing:

Don't confuse Christians with Christ.

Christians are people. Which means we're going to screw up. A church, (in the organized religion, place to worship on Sunday sense of the word) then is a collection of screw-ups. (present company included!) A collection of failed, broken people that are going to make mistakes. It's in our DNA.

But Christ is different.

Where a Christian might be too unforgiving, Christ won't. Where a Christian might say the wrong thing or offer no forgiveness, Christ won't. Where a Christian can say one thing but do another, Christ won't.

I'd also ask Billie Joe to remember that he's in good company. Christ himself held his strongest rebukes for the religious hypocrites of his day. That Pharisee spirit is very much alive and well today. If it weren't, we wouldn't have brilliant albums like 21st Century Breakdown inspire us to do better.

And, considering the last song on the album is the positive anthem "See the Light" deep down I think Billie Joe agrees.

Smile :)

"Smile at each other, smile at your wife, smile at your husband, smile at your children, smile at each other -- it doesn't matter who it is -- and that will help you to grow up in greater love for each other."

-- Mother Teresa

Tybee Time!

Checking off the grid for a while for our family's annual pilgrimage to the always brilliant Tybee Island. Rumor has it that Hannah Montana will be on the pier one day filming scenes for a movie. So I will do everything humanly possible to avoid THAT...and come back rested and recharged from fun in the sun.

Stay awesome.
:)L

More Nashtyness

If this NBA thing stops working out, I really think Steve Nash has a career in comedy or broadcasting. Check his bit from Letterman last night...

I Heart Steve Nash

The Spirit at Work

Have you ever been in a situation where you truly feel the Holy Spirit at work? I must admit, it hasn't happened to me many times at all. But it did this weekend. It was an amazing and beautiful experience that I'll always treasure.

I was teaching in our Sunday School class as we continued our study of Max Lucado's Traveling Light. To be honest, I was dreading leading this course because it was a chapter about the burden of grief, centered around the verse about "walking through the valley of the shadow of death..."

Not exactly the feel-good hit of the summer.

So our class is really packed, and it starts with everyone talking about their beach vacation trips. Then I start in (cue Debbie Downer music) as Captain Buzzkill talking about the heaviest of topics. I mean really heavy stuff. The chapter opens with a story about a 3 year old that died of leukemia. Couples suffering miscarriages. Divorces. You name it.

Like I said, not the feel-good hit of the summer.

I was really struggling through teaching (some would argue that this is nothing new) when the Holy Spirit really moved across us. People started sharing stories about their own grief, in beautiful, touching ways. Tears were shed. While the stories were different, you could feel a common connection and closeness emerging.

As I listened to this amazing people share these stories of struggles and losses they had experienced in their own lives, I felt a wave of peace and strength. That these would be some of the people God will use when my chips are down and I walk through the Valley myself. What a blessing.

And to think, a Psalm written thousands of years ago is more relevant than ever. Amazing. Praise God!

Under Pressure

My buddy Paul Jones is one of the greatest musicians (and greatest guys) I know. So, I admit I'm biased. But I think his church choir's version of Queen/Bowie's "Under Pressure" (notice I didn't say Vanilla Ice "Ice Ice Baby") rules the school. Check it out!

Torn

For those who are struggling, who are questioning their faith and who wonder what God's plan for their lives really is, you are NOT alone.

Disappointed (With God) from David Tate on Vimeo.