Hello everybody! I'm gonna be real short sweet and to the point:
Stick with me. This post is going to be controversial, even angering. Don't believe me? Just Scan over the bolds, especially about half way down, and decide for yourself.
People will take two sides to this post: one side will be deeply offended and the other will be deeply relieved (or so I hope.) For the past several weeks there has been a constant theme to the verses I have been bumping into. Among them a specific one stands out, and that's Mathew 11:28-30.
Lol, don't let the fact that I'm starting out with a Bible verse frighten you off! I think you will find what I have to say interesting, and not something you normally hear. Anyway the verse goes about like so (emphasis mine):
" 28 Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
Now, I dunno about you, but to me the Christian life seemes to be anything but easy and light. Running around to all the ministry activities; constantly asking God what He wants me to do and getting little, or confusing replies; making a concerted effort to have a quiet time every day; going to church anytime the doors are open; the list goes on. No one would argue that the Christian life is an easy one. Jesus himself said that if the world persecuted Him it would persecute us. This world is plum messed up so we are gonna get some splinters as we walk through it.
HOWEVER, again I don't know about you but this is true for me, it isn't "the world" that is the toughest thing for me to deal with. The world can buffet me pretty good, and though I stumble and fall a lot because of it, it isn't too hard to get back up because you're grabbing onto God as he grabs onto you. What I find hard is all the skull-crushingly dull duties and rigmarole that is prescribed by some Christians. Now let me explain before I get myself in a royal mess.
When an evangelist comes through what are some of the number one things he presses to get done? First and foremost is: are you saved? We have that one covered, but after that it's: are you having a quiet time? And, are you serving? Here we all squirm because: (I'm being brutally honest and bending some unspoken rules here, but this needs to be said)
1. Reading the Bible is a yawn-fest.
2. Praying is a torturous mental chore.
3. Going to Church is either filled with nothing but silly games, brain-bashing lessons that make us feel like worms, or is plain snore-inducing.
4. "Serving" is uncomfortable and embarrassing.
5. Not to mention all the goody two-shoes Christians who are all excited about heaven and junk. What is so exciting about playing harps FOR ALL ETERNITY!?!?! BORING! I'D RATHER BE DEAD FOR ALL ETERNITY!
The only good thing about heaven it seems is that you aren't in hell. Am I right? You know I am, admit it! It's just an unspoken rule to smile like little pre-programmed robots and say "Oh yes, I love reading my Bible." Or perhaps "Oh boy, I can't wait to play those harps!"
What is up with all this garbage? we frequently think. How in the world is Matthew 11:28 with all it's easy and light stuff supposed to fit in with all this dull, boring, uncomfortable stuff? I sure don't see anything that's easy or light! It's all BORING, DULL, EMBARASSING CRAP!
There is an answer.
And to make sure I calm those really passionate Christians who are probably really angry at my trampling of just about every virtue we hold dear, I'm gonna try and back it all up with scripture. But, because nobody is gonna read a rant any longer than this I have to split it up into a couple of posts over the next few weeks.
Shocked yet?
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Thursday, April 26, 2007
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3 comments:
Thank you for saying what many kids in our youth group only think. We cannot make progress until we're on the same page, and we'll never be on the same page until we stop suppressing these thoughts.
I hesitate to address any of this because you seem to be going somewhere with it and I feel I should just wait and see what you've got up your sleeve. But in the spirit of discussion, I guess I'll lend some thoughts...
Obviously our conception of Heaven is warped. I don't believe for one moment that Heaven is just a place where we all sit around playing harps. It doesn't make any sense that the same God that created such a diverse, beautifully epic place like Earth would reside in an endless field of clouds.
Our excitement about Heaven, our love for God's word - all these are tied together and linked to our love for God Himself. That's something we have to understand for ourselves.
As for personal experience, I have to go back to Brazil. No, it's not easy. It's the hardest thing I've ever done. But it was the greatest experience of my life. What the heck else would I have done with myself?
The same goes for my experience in the youth group. Without it, where would I be? Would I be any happier if I wasn't always under the stress of ministering to kids who just don't get it? Why would I be? What's makes no purpose in ministry better than the stress of it?
Just some thoughts to start out...interested to see where this goes.
What realy gets to me are the people completely obsessed with the freakin rapture...AND THEY CANT WAIT!!!!
@ Jason:
Yea, your hittin' the nail on the head with what you say about heaven. It has gotten so twisted into this silly cartoon notion of clouds and harps, just like the devil is this dude in a red suit with a pitchfork.
@ Ryan:
Yea, the rapture is an area where people differ greatly. Some people can't wait and others are terrified, I have been in both positions. I think when I post on the heaven issue the rapture may take on a different light.
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