Culture and Learning to Linger

I really enjoy reading articles that consider how Christians can influence and create culture, because I think those are things that are so important if we want to radically change the world around us while bringing glory to God and recognition to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I also wish to acknowledge the importance of finding moments to be still in the fast-pace, break-neck speeding society we live in.

The first article I read interestingly enough was talking about how church people are constantly trying to reach and relate to the culture of the collective masses. And sometimes Christians don't do such a good job. We alienate, ridicule, or disappear rather than having an actual impact. The example the author (Jesse Carney) gave was actually Taylor Swift, a performer, who has massive appeal and is also a massive creator of culture.

It is suggested that her image is safe, friendly, and generally gracious, which is oftentimes the complete opposite of the way many Christians are perceived. However, for me I think it is important to make the distinction between being nice, friendly, and gracious and then dumbing down the Gospel.

I do believe that Christians oftentimes do not reflect Christ well, because we all fall short and we can become judgmental or even defensive when we feel like we are being attacked. Unity for that matter is not always the first word that comes to mind when people think of the Church. Hopefully that radical change can happen. But that won't happen from simply being nice and friendly. That's a starting point I suppose, but what happens when you're persecuted or when you're tired and vulnerable?

Thus, Christians need something more and I think it suggests we constantly need to be reminded of the scandalous and revolutionary nature of the Gospel. Being nice and gracious can only come if we acknowledge how much grace and love was showered upon us first. Unity will only develop if we recognize that each and everyone of us has fallen short of the glory of God. So certainly we can use the example of Taylor Swift as a touchstone, but our true model should always be Christ, because He is the perfect example, and just look at Him. He altered the culture He was placed in so dynamically in so many ways without being judgmental, and still speaking the truth in love.

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The second article I read was actually quite convicting because it discussed the idea of learning to slow down and linger in an age that is so fast. Learning to be still and quiet in a world that is noisy. Learning to be patient and calm in a world so used to instant gratification. The example given was of the music service Spotify, which literally puts thousands, nay millions of songs at your fingertips if you so choose. And you can essentially listen to them wherever, whenever.

Music can in itself be a wonderful thing, and there really is no such thing as secular music, whatever the content, if it's looking to glorify God, whether its Bach or some modern worship band. It can still have the same purpose.

No matter, the heart of this article was about becoming more attuned to the world around us. In a sense inconvenience can be a gift, because it forces us to recognize the mundane and normally unexciting things with new found appreciation.

The author (Jimmy Needham) also makes the distinction of perhaps consuming less, but most certainly consuming it better, because you have ruminated over it, thought deeply through it. And I completely agree because I probably listen to more songs, but I do not get the same appreciation for each song, because I have listened to them over and over again so many times. For some maybe, but not all. Even reading books it seems like it becomes increasingly hard for me to work through the content and engage. The struggle is not with the argument, but even more simply focusing to what is on the page. I wholeheartedly acknowledge that this undoubtedly comes because I often have trouble slowing down in a world around me that's so revved up.

Another important fact that the author points out, citing the Screwtape Letters, is that this constant engagement of our pleasures and this instant gratification has a negative impact. It does not heighten our enjoyment, but diminishes it. It does not sharpen our senses to the world around us but dulls us more and more. In fact, in writing the Weight of Glory C.S. Lewis goes on to contend that humanity's desires are not too strong but too weak. That's quite the statement, but it seems valid when you think about it. Part of the remedy for this problem has to be learning to linger in the Spotify Age. It's something I need to reconcile and consider as I walk through my daily life. Am I being still and finding time to simply revel in God's glory? Am I even doing things as simple as talking to him, praying when I walk to and fro during my life? That's what I want to be doing, so I can take greater appreciation out of the everyday. Don't let me lose my wonder Lord.

All the Glory to Him

Learning from Habakkuk

In my infinite wisdom recently I told a friend who was wanting recommendations for a new book of the bible to read that they should read Habakkuk. After all it's one of the so-called "minor prophets" and yet I found the book very powerful the previous times I had read it. With this is the back of my mind, I realized I should go back to the book, because it feels as pertinent now as it ever was.

Why do I like Habakkuk? After all it's only 3 chapters, and yet those 3 chapters are powerful because of the way it's set-up. Really it's like Habakkuk is having a one-on-one conversation with God. He raises multiple complaints and each time the Lord comes with an answer for him. Finally, the conversation ends with Habakkuk rejoicing in the Lord and Who He is. It's a wonderful evolution we get to see working in the prophet.

Too bad we can't talk to God like that. That would be nice... And yet we can thanks to prayer, but I don't always maintain this conversation. It's seem like there are days that I go off grid in a sense. Really this should be a never ending conversation and never one-sided.

I love how Habakkuk opens his plea to God: "O Lord, how long shall I cry for help, and you will not hear?" Does he sound like a complainer or maybe even a little annoyed? Maybe, but to me Habakkuk sounds human, like me.

I too have similar questions that have been going through my mind. Lord where are you in some of my relationships? Lord where are you in the midst of my future plans? Lord where are you in this person's life? Lord why did this have to happen to me? Lord where are you in my day to day rhythms? All these types of thoughts crop up, because they relate to where I'm at. When I look at Habakkuk, he's bemoaning the fact that the enemy is prevailing and the wicked seem to be getting away with their evil. It sounds like he has a lot more to complain about than me. And yet I especially loved one of the responses God gives: "For I am doing a work in your days that you would not believe if told."

There is so much more to this conversation, but the important part is that it ends with Habakkuk maintaining his faith in the Lord. It's not that everything will be nice and rosy, because Habakkuk is wise enough to know that will never be the case. It's in spite of the trouble of life that he responds rejoicing with great joy, because he understands that God is worthy of it.

So though I may not know why my relationships are one way or another, or why something happens to someone I love, I can still praise my Heavenly Father anyways. I want this conversation never to end, because I desperately need it. I need someone to listen to my cries, someone to respond when no one else can or will. Because God does respond, just not in the ways we expect. Sometimes he comes in the whisper not the great storm. We simply have to be prepared to listen.