Identity, Culture, and Jesus
Recently I’ve had time to think about what kind of a Christian I am. This probably sounds like a weird question, but you have to understand where I’ve grown up. Here in the Deep South, pretty much everyone is a Christian, and making any claim of faith is pretty much a given. Nobody would really think twice. Making a claim of faith is a sort of identity card, it tells everyone that your politics are conservative, as is your musical tastes. It means that you are a churchgoer, and be very careful before you answer which church, because often this question is a mine bomb. Usually people are just trying to socially evaluate you. It doesn’t say anything about the kind of person you actually are.
I confess, sometimes I become frustrated with it all. I lose patience with playing the cultural game. To me following Jesus has to mean more than whether or not I voted Republican. We just passed by a tumultuous election cycle, and perhaps we’re not quite out of the woods yet. As I look back over the past few years, I’m ashamed to admit that I got caught up in the hysteria, more so than I really should have. I’m ashamed to admit that I completely lost sight of my identity as a Christian. I started to lose my sense of empathy and compassion. I looked at others from a cold, detached perspective. I too quickly forgot there’s a world out there in need of prayers. I forgot that I was supposed to love my enemies (I have to tell you, I really struggle with this one). I forgot way too many things, far too quickly. I forgot to be encouraging, I forgot that my eyes are supposed to look beyond merely today. I’m supposed to be better than all of this.
The Media Is Inciting Hatred and Bitterness
I was thinking about this while watching the news a few days ago. Honestly, watching the news might be the biggest waste of time in my life. As I was watching some meaningless story, it occurred to me. Virtually everything I am watching (whether it’s conservative or liberal) all exists for no other purpose than to incite hatred and bitterness in me. I’m serious, think about it; not long ago I watched reporting on yet another school shooting and the media couldn’t even show any level of compassion. There was approximately ten seconds of actual reporting followed by another half-hour of politicians and pundits shamelessly using/abusing this story to bolster their political position. If you really sit and think about it, this is just disgusting.
It was beginning to affect me. Slowly, but a week ago I realized just what was happening. Getting caught up in the election, worrying over America’s future (hey, I have to live here!), it was eroding all my compassion and care for others. I’m embarrassed to admit I was at the grocery store and found myself looking at everyone and automatically labelling them conservative or liberal. Maybe this doesn’t seem like much, but it is. I wasn’t thinking about the welfare of others. I wasn’t concerned with what was important.
May My Life Be One of Praise
Isn’t it interesting that in the Bible, the largest book is devoted to praise? I think right now, we need more of that. We need more praise and thanksgiving videos right now. I think we’ve all had our fill of this political clown show. We need to be reminded that God is larger than any election. Our families are infinitely more important than the ramblings of Senator so and so. There are communities that are in need of help. There are so many more important things we should be concerned with right now.
It’s my hope we’ll all come out of this a little wiser. I hope we remember that someone is not an enemy just because they didn’t vote for our candidate. I hope we remember that we will come back together and unite under the banner of Christ. I hope we’ll remember that we were given tongues and hands to praise, to edify, and build up. Mostly I hope I remember these things.
What kind of a Christian am I? I’ve gotten really good at saying what I’m not. I’ve gotten really good at talking about what I stand against, and not what I stand for. I believe that if following Jesus means that I am called to love as He did. That the holiest thing I can do is feed the hungry and clothe the naked. I believe that praising God, even with my pitchy voice, is better than haranguing people over politics. I believe that in God, we find unity, we find peace, we find purpose. I’m committed to using this blog to constantly remind everyone of the faith that unties us all. I believe that we were given voices to sing praises, minds to write words of edification, and hands to build and repair.
At the end of every day, I am just a servant to the rest of my brothers and sisters. I hope that I am the kind of brother who supports and encourages his family. I hope that I used my gifts to build up and strengthen. I hope that my life was valuable in ways that truly matter.
