Radical?

I’ve had prior experience with Tim Reid. I went to his church, Mosaic, for over a year. I know what to expect from him. So I knew we were in for it when we were told in chapel today, “Jesus was marginalized as a radical, too. He hung out with sinners!” I would like to think Mr. Reid means well, but his method of attack is certainly flawed. As he came on stage, and as the DJ he invited began to crank up the techno club music, he told us, “We’re going to worship together. This song doesn’t have any lyrics, so feel free to stand, or sit, or dance or whatever. There’s a mic up here if you want to come read a psalm or sing a song or something.” I immediately tensed up.

Please understand that although modern worship is not my preference (I think it has a tendency to be too showy, too flashy, too trite, but that’s another discussion), I respect those that do like it, and I don’t have a problem with it. I find it distracting, but many people don’t, and I respect that. But what followed in chapel today was not worship. Jessi Trigger got up and read a piece of one of the Psalms. Aaron Shears sang an impromptu hymn, struggling to follow the hip-hop beat but valiantly trying to turn our thoughts where they belong. I love them both for their efforts. During the rap song that another student followed Aaron’s hymn with, I began to consider leaving. I do not have a problem with rap, or with it being used as a style of Christian music. I like Lecrae (a Christian rap artist), and I even secretly enjoy listening to Eminem. This was not worship, this was a train wreck.

I did not make up my mind to leave, however, until the next student got up and began proclaiming her rebellion, essentially flipping off the world in Jesus’ name. Even so, it wasn’t the throbbing, almost hypnotic beat of the music that bothered me; it wasn’t even the students who used Mr. Reid’s invitation so flippantly. Throughout the entire performance, I felt a nagging, cold sensation in my body. This is not something I’ve felt before, but I genuinely believe it was the Spirit telling me I needed to get out of there. The music was not inherently evil. Although I felt that the students who came on stage were inauthentic and just looking for attention, I realize that it is not my place to judge their hearts, because I simply don’t know. So then, what was so wrong about this “worship?” Honestly, I don’t know, exactly. I can’t put my finger on it, and perhaps there was nothing wrong. All I know is that I have never felt such a strong feeling of disgust before in my life. Maybe I was just uncomfortable. Perhaps I just needed to leave before Mr. Reid began to speak, but I do believe that the Holy Spirit led me out of that room.

From what my friends have told me of what Mr. Reid actually said in his lesson, it’s a good thing I left. Because I was not there, however, I will not comment on the problems with what I have been told he said. I have enough experience with Mr. Reid’s teachings that I already know what it is that I disagree with. He makes racy jokes, and controversial statements. It’s his style: go for the shock value. It’s not that his jokes offend my sensibilities. It’s not that I cringe or blush when he makes a statement I disagree with. That is not the problem I have with Mr. Reid’s teaching.

The problem is that I’m sick and tired of Christians who are so determined to appeal to the world that they forget that we are called not to conform to the world (Romans 12:2). They try to play the "Jesus was a radical" card, but they're missing the point. Jesus was considered radical because he attacked the social and religious customs that were wrong (or at least misguided or misunderstood). Radicals who are radical just to get attention, to make people uncomfortable, and/or just for the sake of being radical are not being like Jesus. Jesus was radical because in a self-centered world, he was concerned with pleasing God. To call yourself radical because you seek to appeal to that world isn’t even truly radical, it’s just going with the flow and calling yourself different. Thus, my problem with Tim Reid is not that he’s offensive, my problem is that he’s hypocritical and just downright wrong.

Introduction

I don't particularly like John Reuben's music, but his album title, "The Boy VS the Cynic" has really come to define my life. In recent years, I have found myself becoming more and more pessimistic in everything from humor to philosophy. Over the past few weeks, I have begun to feel that something is not right in this behavior.

I'm not completely bashing cynicism, sarcasm, pessimism, etc., but I do feel that these things have begun to affect the way I see the world. So this blog is intended to explore the relationship and battle between the boy, with his innocent wonder and optimism, and the cynic. I don't know how this will turn out. I know I have a tendency to blog most when I'm depressed, so the cynic may seem to prevail here, although I will try to prevent that by maintaining some semblance of balance. For now, God  knows how this will turn out.