welcome to the story.

I think fear makes a great enemey. I've heard that before. It was phrased in a much more intelligent and quotable way. I think a lot of people, organizations, institutions, churches . . . thrive off fear. If you can create enough fear about something, you can strenghten the allegiance or alliance on your side. I'm not saying people do this purposefully. But when you use fear to create a "us" versus "them" mentality, you can create an army of "us"es. If you use fear to paint lesbians, Democrats, hippies, drug lords and czars, pirates of all shapes and color, and non-Christians as "them" and "other", then you create a culture of fear. And you can never approach or have an exchange with any of the "thems" without having reactions based off of fear. So if you never stop to enjoy a relationship with a "them", or have a conversation and discover the mutual similarities, you scare yourself into further isolation. So when you see a beer bottle or a couple holding hands, or someone who isn't a Christian who votes Republican . . . there is this tendency to withdraw and coil further up into our corner. And like a scared animal backed into a corner, the only response is to lash out when we feel threatened. And so we either ignore the "thems" completely, or we lash out when we feel threatened. That's why evangelism is so jacked up. That's why sermons are so jacked up. That's why Christian politics are so jacked up. I keep using the "them" term because I think its funny and stupid and sad. I use it purposefully to show how trivial and dumb it actuall sounds. Because I really don't think the way of Jesus had this "us" and "them" mentality. He never called anyone a "them". Never. Not once. He never isolated himself either. And he never lashed out when he felt threatened. He took the discourse to a higher level or submitted himself in humility . . . as a servant. How does that approach effect how we relate to those who are different? I heard a story today. About a big conference a couple of years ago when some homosexual people came in and interupted the sermon. The "thems" were "gently" escorted out. And the sermon went on. What do you think the way of Jesus would have been? Its not what would Jesus do? But what did Jesus do? Perhaps he would have put down the notes to a finely rehearsed and aliterated 3 point sermon. Perhaps he would have stopped and invited them up. Stopped and had a conversation. Stopped and had a conversation. Where he would have taken the conversation to a higher level or submitted himself humbly as a servant. Not lash out as an animal backed into a corner. Fear makes a great enemey. Everybody wants to feel safe. I want to feel safe. But is safe what we're called to? Is safe really safe? Jesus isn't really safe. In fact he's kind of subversive (mine and Nick's word of the week). Kind of anti-thetical to everything. Kind of incendiary-ish. Fear thrives on our emotions. And the weaknesses thereof. You can get drunk on fear. You can live your life out of fear. Anal about everything. Worried about everything. Worried about everyone. You can even play God. Believing that time is of the essence. Fear can lead you to panic mode. You can drink it long and deep. The drink of fear is strong like propaganda. And before you know you have joined the drum beating. You have joined in the army that marches out and against. Not out and for. Joining the culture war. Thank you Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell for that completely useless term. I don't really like wars. Nobody wins in a war. Somebody is going to die. Somebody is going to win. And somebody is going to lose. I don't want anybody to lose. I don't think Jesus wants anybody to lose. In wars, somebody stands on top triumphantly, victoriously, looking down at the victim. I don't think God wants victims. I think God just wants his children back in right relationship. So fear doesn't really do it for me like it used to. Its quite cyclical and reactionary when you think about it. I like relaxed mode much better. With the framework that God is big and in control and I am small and am not. Its that whole "IT" thing I was talking about. God is "IT". And if we believe God is "IT" then I don't have to get scared. About money, about life, about people, about movements. I can relax and be me and relax and let God be God. Pretty novel idea when you think about it.