Media Frenzy or The Problem with Tourism Part 2

There's a new craze in churches these days. Let's raise money and invest in them moving pictures. After all, more people are influenced by movies these days than anything else.

Here's my issue. The church tends to be out of touch, so much so that it misunderstands what being out of touch really means. It doesn't mean we need more technology and trendier music and "Christian entertainment" to counter "all the liberal garbage out there." It means we ignore those who are in need while we are spending more money on ourselves. Do you want to be relevant? Use the funds to meet the needs of others (see "the big fat 'A'" a few posts back for one example). Do you want to be trendy so people will like you? Watch more TV and ditch a life of faith altogether. One choice is actually an investment.

The Problem with Tourism

This may upset many people, and to be honest, I hope it does so, in the right way. Lately I've had musings on church, racism and irrelevance. It all brought me to thoughts on tourism.

I like to travel, but I hate being a tourist. I don't mean I hate taking pictures or seeing great sites, as those help create memories and prompt unforgetable adventures. I just don't like the distance it seems to require from people.

When you're a tourist, you don't connect with the people who live in that place. You see many as obstacles, or means to an end. At best, they are in the background and don't factor much into your stories. I say "you", but I'm included here as well. It's reducing people to resources, and I hate it.

Recently a staff member at our school was talking about racism, and how many of us teachers couldn't understand because we are American. She was right. No matter where I go, I may even be the minority, but I'll get special treatment. I hate that as well.

I try to speak the language of people I come into contact with. I listen, try to learn from what I hear, and respond. I mess up a lot, but as Radall P. MacMurphy from One Flew Over the Cukoo's Nest would say, at least I try.

Christians remind me of tourists, again, myself included. I recently watched a Tyler Perry movie and almost applauded myself for enjoying it. Wouldn't it be better to actually interract with people who aren't as WASP-ish as myself? Movies would tell you all whites are stupid or gun-crazed. Yeah, let's leave that one alone. Still, you see my point.

We'll never make a difference if we insist on keeping a safe distance from those who are different from us.

Every Sunday we choose who to sit next to. Every Sunday we find people who are very similar to ourselves and sit by them. This inherant discrimination is shared by all. I'm guilty too, and I hate it.

the big fat "A"

The most polarizing issue nowadays for Christians as well as many non-Christians would have to be abortion. It's caused argument, or at least lively discussion, and rightly so, as life and death can be some emotional issues. I'd be worried if they were not. I've thought and prayed about this and recently I felt a burden to share some ideas of my own on this topic. And as it would upset many conservatives and liberals alike, it seems to ring true.

I believe strongly that a baby, born or not, is a life. I also believe that it is wrong to take life or ask others to do so. But many Christian churches do that when they demand someone have a baby they can't afford to take care of. It sounds a bit dramatic, but that can be the case. We excell at telling people what not to do, even if it starves them out.

I've been reminded lately of the nature of God. He is compassionate, and He never asks people to "put off" without "putting on". He gives us positive replacements for the things we need to avoid, such as murder. He gives so much more than what He asks for. And we as followers of Christ claim the desire to become more like Him.

These thoughts led me to the idea. How many churches raise funds to support adoption, or single-parent homes? That seems more important than a new flat screen TV or new songbooks. If no one is doing this, we are all judgment without the compassion. It does not seem very pro-life.

Lessons from the Dark Knight (Spoilers and all)

Warning! I'm going to discuss the plot of the Dark Knight. I tried to wait patiently so I could discuss it, so I believe most of the world has reached the statute of limitations on spoilers by now. In case I'm wrong, I'll do some extra butt-covering for good measure.

WARNING! SPOILER AHEAD!

That being settled, I'll move on.

The Dark Knight is one of the best movies I've seen in a long time. One of the reasons for this is the deeper issues of morality and human nature. The explosions are cool, too, but that's beside the point.

The scene with the two boats, or the result of Joker's "social experiment", gets me every time. I can never get over who acts first, and what he says and does. I don't cry, but I get pretty close.

Recently my wife and I re-watched the Dark Knight. I explained how I love that scene, and on the second viewing she had a question. Does that scene suggest man is basically good?

I had wrestled with that one as well, so I thought about it.

Not really, I eventually replied. Just that there's hope.

I'll add now that Batman (or the Batman if you prefer) would never suggest people are basically good. He wouldn't do what he does if he thought so. (In the movies and comics, of course. I do acknowledge he's not real.) But there is hope of making the right decision as well.

I recently realized why that scene moves me. It has to be the most convincing and powerful conversion scene I've seen in a movie. No one prays a prayer or anything, but you can see a change of heart.

I'm not saying the character(s) "got saved." But the humility and honesty involved show a true change, a repentance I don't remember seeing done convincingly in any movie, including evangelistic ones. Knowing who you are and taking steps to change it may not be the end all, but it's a good start.

I also like the part about the people in the other boat following suit. It reminds me of the "rest of us", those who think we're not so bad. We have potential to do at least as much damage with our dismissive judgmental whims such as "They had their chance." In the end, we could (and many have) destroy lives. But the end of this tense scene reminds me that there's even hope for us.

Sunday Mornings

I've got nothing against musicals, if they're good enough. I just never asked to live in one. But every Sunday, that seems to be the case. This particular Sunday was no exception.

We started with the usual barage of praise choruses. They seemed introspective or just plain shallow, or I was just in a crotchety mood. Either way, I decided the most honest way to worship was choosing not to sing.

One song in particular made this choice interesting. The verses were from Amazing Grace, a song I could never have a problem singing. But the chorus was added on by some contemporary Christian singer, as if adding a chorus made it his song now. Did it add meaning? Not really, so I just sang the verses.

We were done singing, and then we were ready for...more singing! But before that, we had to listen to someone else play special music. She played the piano well, but beyond acknowledging that I had nothing major to reflect on. So I watched members of the audience for a clue. Women were watching the fingers move, to see if they could do that. Men seemed impressed, because many of them couldn't do that. One dude was doing a sort of restrained "holy head-banging" nod thing. It was distinct from the sleep nod, so I gathered he enjoyed it. No one else looked bored.

We sang a couple of hymns. I knew or at least hoped the message would be good, as it usually is. But the excessive singing makes it hard for me to focus. I mean, it's exactly like living in a musical. No one sings this much in real life.

The message was good, then we sang our closing song. "They Will Know We are Christians by Our Love." I thought they'd know by our excessive singing, but I hope the other is true as well.