so today i rambled to a friend of mine about christians and the "mold" we fit into from the world. it started with a comment from a 3rd party about being christian and liking things of this world...not like cars, money or houses, but an object; a symbol. so that got me thinking...
...i've said it again and again that we are in the world, not of the world. but that doesn't mean that we have to change who we are. just what we value. the instances i gave are these. i have a tattoo that has a tiki god on it. now to very devout christians, i could be considered a fake christian or that i idolize something other than God. similarly, i love cars and motorcycles. how does this tie together you might ask?
it goes a little something like this, yes i have a tiki god permenantly inked onto my arm. but that doesn't mean that i worship it, that i pray to it or that i even boast about it. it means that the tiki is part of a whole scene that takes up half of my arm. it means nothing to me; it has no significance other than the fact that it reminds me of my surfing days and love of the tropics. it does not take away from my love of our Savior.
likewise, with motorcycles and cars. i have always loved them. they are a passion; an interest. but i don't spend my weekends invensting into car culture at hot import nights looking at eye-candy and listening to inappropriate music. same with motorcycles...i'm not going to become a member of the hell's angels 6 days a week and go to church on the 7th.
it's all about what we value. john piper said that all of this life is given to us to show the world that it is not our treasure; rather, we are given this life to show that God is our treasure. so does it really matter if we look rockabilly, look hip hop, or have interests that could be considered non-christian? no. i see them as worldly interests that can be used to preach God and what Christ has done for us. afterall, if we surrounded ourselves with believers and everything that we "should" surround ourselves with (according to old traditions), how would we ever reach souls that need to be saved?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
This is so true, I too have things that some would consider bad for instance the african masks we have in our house that are meant to resemble Gods of fertility, money, etc. However I like them because of the craft, that they are hand made art by someone from a different culture. I think they are beautiful adn I like them for the artistic aspect, not because I believe they are of a God or will bring me special pwers. Just Art. I think too many people are so quick to judge rather than just ask. I would gladly explain why we have them if people just asked. I am not ashamed that I am an admiror of art and photography and to some it may be wrong but to me it is just art, someones talent and passion that they want to share with the world. Just like I want to share God with the world.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the comments both of you made. Our Heavenly Father wants us to have other interests and develop talkents and passisions. In th Book of Mormon, if uses the term to "bridle our passions" which means, among other things, that passions and interests are ok as long as we keep them in check.
ReplyDeleteI will also say this, once upon a time I had my belly button pierced. At the time I thought nothing of it, but now, with the perspective I have on so many things, I look back on that desicion as a youthful indiscresion. I don't look down on people who have their belly button's (or other) pierced, but rather look at the growth I've made on my own. I will forever have a scar there but look back on my life differently now. I've grown. What was important to me back then isn't as important now. Does that make sense? I'm trying to make a connection to what you said, JP.
Here it is in short version. You are right that we shouldn't judge others who are at differnt rungs ont he ladder than us. We're all just going at our own pace and trying to make it to the top. We all slip along the way, but we learn from those slips and keep moving forward with better footing than we had before, with the knowledge and wisdom we have from growing.
Geez, hope that made sense.