I have been doing a lot of things this summer already, and it really hasn't had a chance to really start. Moving is hard work. Especially if you're moving more than one person. Cat and I had so much fun moving, not. I'm looking for a job up and down and all around in Springfield, and she's doing the internship thing.
I know in the past I usually talk about all the cool books I've been reading and the music I have been listening to. None of that has changed, although there is a lesson to be learned. If all you do is go from one trendy book to the next, you're really not going to learn. I read through Blue Like Jazz again recently. That book reminded me what made me feel alive in the beginning. After keeping up with trendy Christian scene for so long, it was a real breath of air to reread the first piece of trendy I have ever seen. It brought everything back into perspective to what it's really all about. What is the underlying message? Maybe you should (re)read the book and think about it. It certainly does change your perspective on things...
We saw my favorite Christian worship musician last Tuesday in Quincy, IL. He even came out to meet the audience and everything. It was a great time to be had by all of us jumping people.
Cat thought he was cute, but I sent her to bed with no supper. But back to trendy Christian-dom. What it means to me is a way for 20 somethings and below to feel accepted and hip in the wide variety of God's people (in a safe way). The old addage is to be in the world but not of the world. The world was made by God, and He has given us instructions on how to use it. He allows some to not use it purely to their benefit and others to suffer for reasons too complex to discuss here, but there are still those who love people and how they express that love comes in different packages. As 20-something Americans, we like being trendy and well there's a venue for that, if nothing else but to get us to that higher plane of knowledge on what it's really all about (it's better than you can realize).
While I'm thinking of this subject, now would probably be a good time to give you a taste of trendy Christian-dom. I can be kind've snobby about my music, and my tastes change from time to time, but I've found some streaming music from Relevant's website is perfect for work and other music-less situations. When you're away from your music collection, but on your computer, try it out for a while. I can't get some of these songs out of my head. Just look up relevant tv under media on their website. it's kind've like a streaming MTVu only all the music is positive and not about being an angsty playa (refreshing). They even have Christian gangsta rap... well not really. Most of the music will not implant subconscious notions to vote republican or wear Jesus parody T-shirts, it's just music. Most of the bands you've never heard of and wonder where they've been in your life.
yeah that guy we saw was pretty cool, when everyone was rushing him after the show I couldn't help but notice all of the Jesus parody t's. His of course proudly displayed his love of Pennzoil. What is love? love is such a large word, is it the same to say you love Jesus and you love a burrito...
Jesus>love>burrito
5 comments:
Why does Christianity have to be trendy?
Jeff,
I love you and I miss you and POO HAH HUH HAH HUH
Your willingness to share your reflections on this subject were extremely helpful to me. I know that there have been many times that I've read a book for the simple fact that someone else I love (and consequently someone whom I think is very cool) is reading it. This is all well and good until, for some reason I decide that my reading that book is what makes me a smarter(which is part of my definition for cool/trendy) Christian rather than the Holy Spirit teaching me through whatever He may choose (which, no doubt, could very well include these trendy books). I think that it's really easy to fall into that trap of finding value in what someone else thinks of us, in this case by the books that we read, rather than valuing the unconditionally loving view that our Creator takes of us.
My thinking on the whole thing is that these trends themselves aren't necessarily bad. But they won't get us anywhere if we aren't open to the discernment of the Holy Spirit, to embrace what Jesus would embrace and reject what Jesus would reject. Furthermore, if they're distracting us from being known by God and knowing God (as they seemed to be for me), then I suppose it isn't a bad thing to scrap them for a while. What do you think?
speaking of "cool," I listened to cool hand luke today and that first song on their new album gets me every time I hear it. have you heard it?
Also, I've been reading the Harry Potter books since I got up here. Do you still love me? I stand by my blog from a while back...Eragon is better. So lets argue about child fantasy books for a while.
I miss you!
I can't believe that you could POSSIBLY read that TRASH. What's even WORSE is that I'm halfway through sorcerer's stone myself...
At least Cat's reading Narnia, at least someone is left to save...
PFFFTHHHHHHH (spittle flies everywhere)
Have you read them before?
I'm on the sixth one. They keep getting darker, which I suppose makes sense, considering how the story develops (i don't know if you've read them before...).
I think T-Mag(ruder) should dress up as Snape...and you should dress up as Ginny...
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