The F-Bomb and Thinking About Our Words

I downloaded Mumford and Sons new album "Babel" on a trusted recommendation.  I couldn't even make it more than a few songs into the album without hitting repeat.  The music was fantastic--like a British arena rock band got into a bottle-smashing fight with a bluegrass quintet in some quaint Irish pub.  While the music was what got my attention, it was the lyrics that really began to stick with me--they were rife with biblical imagery (starting with the title track which references the tower of Babel in Genesis 11).  The songs consistently speak in the language of Christian theology about brokenness, sin and the need for redemption--and the idea that redemption can only be received as a gift, by grace.  All, in all, many of the lyrics appeared to be more "Christian" than those of many bands marketed specifically to Christian audiences.  Then came a jarring song late in the album, when frontman Marcus Mumford suddenly dropped the f-bomb--repeatedly.
It's a frustrating and bewildering choice of language that has been made by several of my favorite "not-christian-christian-bands" (U2, Over The Rhine) forcing me to retire their albums from my playlists for the duration of my daughters' childhood years and, perhaps, beyond.

I hope I'm not being legalistic in my discomfort with certain words.  I know that the Bible never says, "thou shalt not use the f-bomb in thy speech (nor listen to music nor watch movies that do)."  I understand that at any given moment, God is infinitely more concerned with what is happening in my heart than what syllables are being formed on my tongue.  I know many musicians, artists, and communicators (some of them Christian) have no problem with using harsh language.  Profanity, they would say, as I recall Bono saying one time, is just the percussive section of language.  Words are just words, and sometimes unsettling, jarring language is required to communicate unsettling, jarring ideas and to shake people from complacency.  I understand that idea, but I don't know that I agree.

Proverbs 18:21 tells us that "the tongue has the power of life and death."   James elaborates on this concept with a somber warning:  "the tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body.  It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell" (3:6--extreme, I know, but I didn't say it--James did!).  Neither of these verses are speaking specifically about profanity, but they both affirm an idea which we are prone to forget--words are not, indeed "just words."  They are not inconsequential pebbles that we can toss around without thought--they are more like sticks of dynamite, objects which can be used responsibly for great good or irresponsibly for great harm.

As followers of Jesus, our words become instruments which we can play for God's glory, or tools which we can use to build God's kingdom.  That's why Paul encourages Timothy to "set an example for the believers in speech"  focusing his words on sharing Scripture and teaching people about God (I Timothy 4:12-13).  That's why the Colossians are admonished to think about what words they use in their day to day speech, especially with those outside of the faith:  "let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt" (4:5-6).  We are to think about our speech, they way a gourmet chef thinks about a dish they are making--we are to season it so that it always taste like the delicious grace of God expressed in Jesus.  Scripture also reminds us that as followers of Jesus, we are no longer to use our speech for selfish or destructive purposes such as expressing "anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language" but rather for   teaching and encouraging one another, singing praises to God and expressing thanksgiving (Colossians 3:1-17).

I hope that God gives all of us grace and wisdom to use our words for His purposes--to build up and not to destroy.  And I hope that Mumford and Sons consider making a new album without the harsh words--I'd love to introduce my children to their music someday!

Carrying the Flag

I generally save my sport-watching time for play-offs or championship games.  Why bother with run of the mill regular season games where the stakes are relatively low and players have less motivation?   I want to see athletes playing their hardest, taking the biggest risks, reaping the greatest rewards.  Perhaps, that's why I love the Summer Olympics so much.  Once every four years, the athletes that have sacrificed the most, disciplined themselves the hardest, and dedicated themselves the most fully to their sport get to compete--not against the best athletes in their region or even their  country--but the best athletes in the world.

The Olympics bring vivid life to many of the sports metaphors that the New Testament is replete with (grab your concordance and do a study on "running," "race," "wrestling," or "winning a crown" for example).  This year, as I watched the opening ceremonies, I became aware of another metaphor.  In the Parade of Nations, athletes (or "delegates" as they are referred to in the opening ceremony) stream into the stadium behind the flag of their nation, wearing their national colors, or traditional cultural clothing.  Some of the delegates are stoic and somber.  Some are dumbstruck with awe, as it sinks in, for the first time, how many people are watching them.  Some cannot contain their joy and sense of national pride and weep even while they laugh. 

I watched with pride as the U.S. team strolled down the track, a massive crowd of more than 500 athletes dressed in matching suits and berets.  But what really stuck with me was the number of countries where only a handful of delegates--occasionally only one delegate represented his or her nation.  I remember one lone man, from some tiny island nation that has escaped my memory beaming proudly as he bore the flag of his country before the world.  He was all alone.  No one knew his name.  He won't return with a medal (or probably even qualify to compete for a medal) but he knew that he alone was representing his nation to a watching world, and he took that responsibility seriously.

How often do I stop to think that Christ has chosen me as a delegate to the world.  I represent the kingdom of God to the entire world that is watching as I carry the flag of Christ.  Do I take that responsibility with the humility, seriousness, and joy that it demands?  I praise the Lord that I am not the only delegate of that far country, but what if I was?  What would people think of the kingdom I represent, and the King I love.  I think of countless passages that encourage and challenge us with the role of being a flag bearer of Christ's kingdom:

-"We are therefore Christ's ambassadors . . ." 2 Corinthians 5:20

-"Thanks be to God who leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him."  2 Corinthians 2:14

-"[Be] children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life."  Philippians 2:14-15

-"Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven."  Matthew 5:16

May you bear the flag with joy and honor!

Hymns

". . . addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart . . ." Ephesians 5:19

I must confess that for the majority of my life, I associated hymns with a musty and dying (if not dead) breed of Christianity.  The outdated words ("Thee and Thou") seemed pretentious, and the melodies laboriously complex.  I was proud to be a part of a generation that was finally casting off the baggage and constraints of "traditional Christianity" in favor of a fresher and more culturally relevant expression of faith.

I've come to see over the past few years, however, that a particular genre or form of music is not the problem.  It is just as possible for a cold dead form of Christianity to pipe out pop or rock flavored worship music as it is for it to pipe out hymns-- and it is just as possible for me to mumble mindless and distracted through a Chris Tomlin chorus as it is for me to fake my way through a Martin Luther hymn. 

Paul's description of a life filled with the Holy Spirit (in the above verse) actually paints a picture of a heart filled with all kinds of songs of praise (psalms, hymns, spiritual songs), sung corporately (to "one another") and privately ("with your heart").  A heart under the influence of the Holy Spirit is a heart ready to grab onto any available melody and make it a passionate expression of love, awe, and honor to the Lord.

I've been trained to do this with contemporary Christian worship music, but I find myself increasingly drawn to worship in traditional hymns as well.  The "wordiness" of many hymns allows for the exposition of deep theological truths which I seldom take the time to sit down and meditate on.  As I am taught and reminded of these truths (things like the Incarnation, and substitutionary atonement) I am drawn to worship God in response.

This morning, I was listening to a hymn written by Phillip Paul Bliss in the 1800s (pictured above).  It is a simple prayer which gives voice to the longings within me, and builds a structure for me to hang the desires of my heart on.  It is titled, simply:  "My Prayer."

More holiness give me, more strivings within.
More patience in suffering, more sorrow for sin.
More faith in my Savior, more sense of His care.
More joy in His service, more purpose in prayer.

More gratitude give me, more trust in the Lord.
More zeal for His glory, more hope in His Word.
More tears for His sorrows, more pain at His grief.
More meekness in trial, more praise for relief.

More purity give me, more strength to o’ercome,
More freedom from earth-stains, more longings for home.
More fit for the kingdom, more useful I’d be,
More blessèd and holy, more, Savior, like Thee.

If you'd like to get a good sampling of hymns which I have found to be helpful in personal worship, consider downloading "Eclectic Hymns" by Jacey Davison.  It's not a big budget recording from a well-known artist, but it remains true to the ancient lyrics and melodies of it's hymns while adding fresh instrumentation, and some of the most earnest and sincere vocals I've heard.  Best of all, its free.  You can get it at:  http://noisetrade.com/eclectichymns

May you find joy in worshipping your Maker and Redeemer this week (no matter what kind of music is playing)!

For All Who Would Use Their Minds And Hearts

Every once in a while, within nature, I will come across something so breathtakingly simple and beautiful that I can only interpret it as a gift of grace from God the Father.  A brilliant red maple laying on the ground, burning like a flame among the other faded and fallen leaves.  A small ripple in a rocky stream, catching and flinging the sunlight every which way.  A solitary mockingbird joyfully singing in anticipation of the dawn in the darkness outside my window.  All of these things are little love notes from God the Father who, since the creation of the world, has generously splashed evidence of His "invisible qualities-- His eternal power and divine nature" across the world He has made (Romans 1:20). 

I can't, in good conscience, call myself a conservationalist of any sort, but I do long for other people to see and experience the majesty, power, and loving care of the Creator evident in creation.  I want the love notes to remain uncluttered with crushed beer cans and candy bar wrappers.  I want there to be someplace, somewhere, where I can still hear the "rivers clap their hands and the mountains sing together for joy to the Lord" (Psalm 98:8) without the clatter of car engines.

I think Horace M. Albright, the first director of the National Park Service, would agree-- here's a snippet of his eloquent farewell letter that resonates with me: 

"Oppose with all your strength and power all proposals to penetrate your wilderness regions with motorways and other symbols of modern mechanization.  Keep large sections of primitive country free from the influence of destructive civilization.  Keep these bits of primitive America for those who seek peace and rest in the silent places; keep them for the hardy climbers of the crags and peaks; keep them for the horseman and the pack train; keep them for the scientist and the student of nature; keep them for all who would use their minds and hearts to know what God has created.  Remember, once opened, they can never be wholly restored to primeval charm and grandeur."

The Telegraph of Narcissus

In 2009, there was a brief hubbub about NBA player Shaquille O'Neal using the popular social media platform Twitter to "tweet" updates on himself during half-time.  Fans loved it, but his coach feared it would steal his focus on the game.  During the ensuing debates, one commentator called electronic media such as Twitter, Facebook, and Blogger the "Telegraph of Narcissus" indicating that these forms of communication betray a gross sense of self-obsession among those who use them.  I made a mental note of the commentator's term because I wholeheartedly agreed with him at the time.  That was nearly two years ago.  Today, before logging onto this Blogger page, I checked both my Facebook and Twitter account.  The times, they are a changin'.

In Philippians 2:3, Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit encourages us to "do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves."  In other words, as the people of God, we are not to be self-focused, but humble, allowing the needs of others to be served and promoted before our own.  Paul goes on to show how Jesus Christ himself lived this way and set the bar high for us, his followers.

This gave me some pause in my sudden interest in using social media.  Was I giving into "vain conceit"?  Was I subscribing to the "telegraph of Narcissus" that I had so vehemently criticized formerly.  Was I completely overthinking the whole thing?  Is there a good chance that not a single person in the world would even care what conclusion I came to on the matter?  (I'm sure the answer is yes, to the last two questions, at least).

After thinking through it, I found, in my own situation, several reasons to use social media (this blog in particular)

1.  It is an opportunity to "become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some." (I Corinthians 9:22).  If there is a chance that someone might get a glimpse of Christ and the gospel of grace through a blog or a tweet or a facebook post, then it is worth making the effort.  There are countless people in the world who would not come to Centerpoint Community Church and hear Bible teaching, but they just might skim a blog out of curiosity.

2.  It is an opportunity for me to grow in my gifts and so serve others better.  I beleive that I have been given the role of being a teacher in the Body of Christ.  The ability to faithfully and effectively communicate the deep truths of God's Word has been graciously given to me by the Holy Spirit who gives each beleiver their own wonderful role or gift for the purpose of building up the Church.  I beleive that while the gift is supernatural and given by grace alone, that we have the opportunity to "fan into flame" the gifts that God gives us by using and practicing them (2 Timothy 1:6).  I can practice being a better communicator of truth by honing my written communication skills here.  My prayer is that this will result ultimately in more people understanding God's Word.

3.  It is an opportunity for me to get to know other people better by opening myself up a little.  I pray that those who know me a little would be able to see my heart (and see Christ there in my heart) and so know me a little better as I share thoughts and news, and bits of random and useless trivia.  And I pray that those who do not know me might see Christ in me, somehow, and be drawn to Him through something that is blogged or tweeted or posted on facebook. 

I hope I have not bored you entirely with this introductory blog.  If nothing else, I hope it was slightly more thoughtful than Shaq's controversial half-time tweet, which (if you care to know) was "shhhhhh."
Signing off of the Telegraph of Narcissus,
-Pastor Josh