Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin

Christians find themselves in and interesting conundrum. On one side, we have an omnipotent, all-powerful loving Creator God who gave us our lives, and is telling us to spread news of His glory to all nations and people. On the other side, we do this so often to some people that we end up killing any chance of outreach to them. I'm ashamed to say that I’ve refrained myself from witnessing to people purely on the basis that I’m afraid I may annoy said people to the point that a more skilled evangelist would lose the chance to convince them of the truth. I also have a connected paranoia that I may say something badly, thereby closing said people's minds to someone who could better articulate my message.

Unfortunately, I’ve noticed many other people who take the exact opposite stance on this. I’ve been at many a fair, and I’ve seen dozens of evangelists (usually teenagers) hand me a small pamphlet that gives me a roadmap to salvation. On one side, the pamphlet tells me I’m doing wrong. Then it kindly tells me that the only way to not do wrong is to believe in Jesus. After that is usually a long list of things I must do to absolve my sins, and the last paragraph tells me I must not sin anymore, under penalty of repeating steps 3-8. All written in Comic Sans, yellow font for good things, red for bad things. As if telling someone they may be damned for eternity is a light-hearted conversation.

Recently, a series of people, myself included, fell into this trap. Cory Jones' photo shows a conversation between a professor and a student, in which the professor seems to receive the lesson from the student. I reposted it, finding it inspirational, but soon researched the content on the tip-off of a friend and found it to be written by a Christian, containing circular logic that didn't actually prove anything. It's a great thing to show off to your Christian friends, but it's a thing that turns away those who question God. It's a shame that instances like this lead to the degradation of the legitimacy of evangelical types.

There's also another stigma in Christian evangelistic campaigns: when they happen, they usually happen in small, heavily concentrated areas, are obnoxious, and generally ignore the opposition. They hurriedly give you a pamphlet, and run off, determined to give away the stack in their hand. This leads to me, and a whole bunch of other people, annoyed at the growing pile of dropped pamphlets on the ground. One of my new friends, who happens to be an Agnostic, related this to me, and I sympathize. Nothing's more annoying than an evangelical Christian who ignores the people it witnesses to.

I bring to the table a proposal for my Christian family. Witnessing is sometimes best in large groups, in massive initiatives. Sadly, though, I’ve found telling somebody the word of God is best done in a small group, doctoring your message to the person's specific needs. A pamphlet will be disregarded; a megaphone ignored. I rather propose this: take a cardboard sheet, and write on the front: “It's A Great Day.” When asked, then tell them the good news. On a one-on-one basis. It's not a pamphlet that grabs their attention, it's a person. It's hard to disregard a human.

And to the angry at the Christian body: I’m sorry. It's hard to ignore the Great Commission given to me by the God Almighty: “Tell everyone about me. No exceptions.” (abridged version of the Commission). In the attempt to tell the world about Him, I often times forget the people I’m witnessing to. If I do so, then I’ll understand if you ignore me. But please, at the very least, the Christian faith is a good life philosophy. Don't close yourself to it.

Oops, I got a bit preachy. This is dedicated to Mitchell Jones. May you come to Christ on your own time, the time He wills you to know Him. Not the time I wish to have you come to know Him. It's your soul, after all. I’m just here to try and suggest a place for it to go. 

My Manifesto: A Parent's Place

I will go further into divulging thoughts on more pressing matters later. Recently, though, a friend of mine was released from a grounding around a month early. With this in mind, I listened to “cats in a cradle” by Ugly Kid Joe. I've already had a solid ideology about parenthood, so the song was just a heartfelt diatribe about one extreme of parenting, one that doesn't pertain to my relationship.

In fact, my relationship with my parents is about as ideal as I could ask for. Neither the child nor the parent, in this case, have surrendered to the ideas that I know everything about being a child or that they know everything about being a parent. Both parties have resigned themselves to the truth that parenting and offspringing is a very, very difficult learning process.

Of course, being a second child, I am the product of my parents' learning with the first child, my amazing sister Laura. But I digress.

In my eyes, a parent's role is primarily as a child's first glimpse of how impossible infinite grace is, and how incredible those few fleeting moments are when such grace is given by the progenitor. I can tell of case after case where I've done things that would have warranted my father disowning me. Instead, he showed me again and again the light of grace, though that light may have been shrouded in my eyes by discipline given because of said “things”

Secondly, a parent's role is a disciplinarian. The goal for a parent is to get the kid ready for the world around age 18. This doesn't mean that your child needs to have the road map planned out in its head by the time it goes off to college, but that child must have a basis from which it believes. Insert faith here. Said faith you instill in a child comes from your own faith. Children are often known for rejecting said faith of the parents, manifested in their miniature rebellions.

The only thing I can say, not being a parent, is to caution restraint in punishment. Sometimes a strong hand is necessary, though other times, all your child needs to learn is the ramifications of its mistakes first hand. Most of my learning had been through first-hand experience, such as the pain of electricity when I bit some Christmas tree lights. Other times, a parent must step in to prevent large disasters- such as the dangers associated with the many materials of the world. It's a discretionary matter.

There's a verse in the Old Testament which says “Spoil the rod, spoil the child” (Proverbs 13:24, paraphrased). This is warped to mean that physical abuse is lauded by the Lord. This is not true in every case. The “rod” spoken of is the shepherd’s rod, which he uses to guide sheep. A shepherd doesn't use his rod to wail on sheep; he uses it to gently (and sometimes sternly) guide sheep along. Sometimes a sheep doesn't want to move, and the shepherd uses his crook to steer the sheep out.

As for the child, these words will most likely fall on deaf ears. Do your best to listen to your parents. They're imperfect, though they do what's best for you. If you feel they are improper in their handling of you, think for a long time, and if your conclusion remains the same, look for help. But first think of a life without them. I wish not to depress this post by going deeper into this possibility.

Also, aim for what you're passionate about. I waited too long to do so, and I feel alone in exposing my strengths to the world. I have many talents, but nobody knows about them. Act sooner, and be seen sooner. You'll thank me in the long run.

The reason I talk more to parents on this matter is that you cannot readily teach a child. An adult is much more likely to grasp what I'm saying about either party than its younger counterpart.

More to come. For His Renown.  

My Manifesto

Today I kick off a series of posts about my beliefs. This will cover multiple parts of my life and the beliefs I have about the universe and supernatural beings as a whole. This will help me know myself more, and contribute to filler in my blog.

First, I’ll speak of the thing that keeps me tethered.

I believe in a triune God, a three-in-one package (father, son, spirit). Each of the three are the parts of an apple: the skin, the flesh, and the core. God sent his only son, Jesus Christ, when the world had forgotten the grace of God and decided that God necessitated us to set rules on every aspect of life to achieve salvation. Such rules-based faith leads to paralysis, when one must remain spiritually clean.

Jesus Christ came to tell how God only wants our faith in Him for our salvation. Though God also challenges us to reach for a high road--

“Defy the norm in human sense,

Aim yourself for Godliness,

That high road we will never reach,

But still aim, brothers, I beseech,

For, in that search, one may find,

Perfect union with the One Divine,

And in this Godless city and age,

That is truly a remarkable change.”

Now, there are multiple aspects to our place in this world, and how God interacts with us. The few I will enumerate are:

1: Free choice. God gives us the ability to choose our actions. This means that tragedy and despair can come about because of someone else's actions. This also means that this tragedy can come from you, and hurt another person, even if inadvertently. It is this exclusive right of humanity that allows us to come to God of out own volition. Thus, if I should want to reach for the high road mentioned above, I should not try to force my views on anyone, but I would be doing my God a disservice if I did not attempt to tell people of Him.

2: Equal Sin. God counts all sins as equal. Murder and arson are equal with lying and stealing. Sin is simply separation from God.

3: Infinite Grace. God will forgive you for any sin so long as you go to Him to ask forgiveness. But, as with any addiction, you are never truly repentant until you stop sinning.

4. The High Road. Since we never stop sinning, we'll never truly be sorry for our actions. But God's expectations for us are finely tuned for each of us, and the High Road is always that expectation. We fall short of it constantly. Another aspect of his grace comes in here.

5. God's Saving Grace. God's willing to accept us as we are, with all our faults, if we turn to Him. He will hold us accountable to our sins, but, as I said before, his expectations are finely tuned to each of us.

Now, because of these aspects, no one human has a right to condemn someone, or make a judgment on

someone's soul. That is for God to do and God alone. But actions are acceptable to judge on, after careful consideration for the situation at hand.

More to come.  

Today, I provide you a short story. I wrote it a long, long time ago, and I recently found it and decided to publish it here, without any editing. It is incomplete, though it still mas a very special message. I feel this Lord of Cutre'ton will feature in future posts. 

"The City of Cutre’ton was in a curious state this night. Every night, the streets would crowd with nobility, for every night entitled some reason to revel. Music and revelry would be so in use that one would forget to sleep, night after night. The roads would most likely be paved with yesterday’s revelry, streamers and confetti floating like the clouds of sand blowing outside the walls. The high palace of Cutre’ton, gilded with precious minerals and mirrors shined to a polish, was the central hub of the night’s revelries.  Nobilities would mimic those closest to the palace in their different revelries of court. From the heights of the Spire tops, slaves would throw the streamers and confetti over, increasing the cheer of the crowd below. The revelries would continue, ebbing and flowing with the crowd’s general degree of lethargy. The central courtyard, however, was always reveling the most actively, and the revelries declined the further you walked from it. The outskirts were usually filled with people of all social classes, dozing off the night’s revelries.
It is said that the Lord of Cutre’ton was blessed by the gods, to have every night be filled with revelry, since he so adored the night life. He has been leading the festivities every night, never wavering, never sleeping. Those who try to mimic the Lord would usually collapse within one night, being pushed to the outskirts to sleep and rejuvenate. But the Lord would continue the revelries, for this was his blessing.
Though this night was special, and only the stars saw all.
The eight Day-Stars were talking again, conversing about their own realms as if the others cared. They also conversed with the more minor stars; it was a great symphony in the sky at times, much like the one below. This symphony, though, lasted through the day, the brightness overtaking the sun, and stars never get tired of talking.
Tonight, though, both sky and city are in a much different state. As eluded before, Cutre’ton, the city between all the stars, was estranged today. Cutre’ton ceased its revelry. The people in the streets did not dance; they only stood staring at the front steps of the high palace, expecting the Lord to emerge. But naught emerged, save for an empty air breezing through the halls.
The Day-Stars, in their bright vigilance, were the only ones to glimpse the Lord running away from Cutre’ton, dancing, tears running down his cheeks. He was the Lost Lord of Cutre’ton. Not one person saw him leave. Not one human saw him run South, to the Badlands.
The West-star, watched the spectacle with interest. “Why,North-star ,do you suppose he decides thus? He wished to revel every day, and we have bestowed such gifts that make Cutre’ton the city of revelry! He has no reason to despise us!”
In his infinite wisdom and patience, North-Star was well accustomed to answering West-Star's simpering questioning. “He runs, oh insolent West-star, because he tires of this nightly revelry. He has led this repetitive reveling for exactly twenty years, today. He tires of our blessing.”
The star of the South spoke up to the North, “I see him running into my domain; I will follow his journeys, and relate to you his adventures,” the excitable South-star said, “Oh, what will he find on his journeys South!”

Prayer of the Dead in Sin

O Lord help me, I cannot atone,
I can't live on this water alone,
I need Your breath, Your life, 
I need Your saving, from my strife,
I need Your crutch.
I'll die without Your touch.

O Lord help me, I need You to come by,
To see me and WRITE VALUE ON MY LIFE!
I languish in this death, in this hate,
save me from this state.

You know I sneer at You,
The porn of life seems so true,
Though as it seduces, I know,
It's all the hoax, all the show.
It's YOUR life that's the truest of all,
With a heart for You this life becomes small,
This body's just a vessel,
The soul inside nestles,
Waiting for the release to You.

My Mission

I've been given a mission.

I've been given a mission. From Christ.

I've been given a mission. For Christ.

I've been given a mission. To sing.

I've been given a mission. To record.

I've been given a mission. To serve.

I've been given a mission. To Write.

I've been given a mission. To create.

I've been given a mission. To be second.

I've been given a mission. To be third.

I've been given a mission. To spread his word.

I've been given a mission. To use words if I need to.

I've been given a mission. To do all of these.

I've been given a mission. For his glory.

I'm carrying out this mission. For His Renown.

Faith By Sound

Today, I speak of an interesting interest of mine. I recently came to terms with this, and I'm not sure if it's beneficial to me or not.

Today, I go to Dnow 2012, a local Christian event hosted by Fellowship Bible Church (which has a high school which my school makes a sport, literally, of beating in almost everything). I am anticipating this extremely. I talked before about how sound waves trigger great emotional responses from me. The louder the world around me is, the more I hear God, and in silence I hear a strange person I call Nothing. No whisper of Christ comes to me in silence, but no matter what I hear, I am assured God is nearer when the decibel range spikes.

This makes me a retreat junkie. Ever since I went on Bigstuf 2011, I realized this penchant for connecting to my deity through noise. When I went to Passion 2012, the voice of God was amplified forty-four-thousand-fold. I crave such loudness. At a battle of the bands at Mount Pisgah UMC, I would stand next to the speakers and be deafened. I could hear Him through this assault on my eardrums, and I enjoyed it immensely. I get closer to him when my world is louder.

This begs the question: is this wrong? The bible talks consistently of us being quiet, and God making all the noise. I'm sure there are several parts where it speaks of the followers of Christ proclaiming loudly the Word of God, though I always saw the “still small voice of our Redeemer” as something hallowed and rare. I'm sure the Bible never speaks of people seeking out the loudest parts of the world with the intent of hearing God. You don't hear anyone blasting their eardrums out to hear their savior; such a statement surely sounds stranger than sitting in a quiet room listening for him.

Another question: am I just rigging myself to believe God is speaking to me, by inundating myself with this sound? Am I selfishly making a “fake” God, an idol of sound, for me to worship? Undoubtedly, it's much easier to become involved with a blaring loud congregation, and to become one with the music... but I don't sing my loudest because of that; I do such acts to hear HIM. I'm not sure what that means.

At any rate, at the moment, I'm enjoying my current religious bliss, and, if anyone who reads this can answer this question, then I suggest you go and help other people, with much more pressing questions. I'm not in a crisis of faith; simply inquiring about my faith.

For His Renown, JHBlancs