http://web.thejoyfm.com/cruise/lightforce/steveninterview.mp3
I give you permission. Go on and listen to the interview first. WAIT! Only listen to it if you are prepare. First of all it is 19 minutes long. Be ready to hear some seriously challenging statements that will make you check what you say, express and even think about how Christians live in the western world. I wish I had a personal copy of this interview to take with me and give to people that sit high on their soap box. Then again I would fall in to their world if I did that. This post is going to be a response to what Steven said and I will post some of the book resources that he mentions.
This interview takes place back around 2005. I really love the music of Anberlin and the message they are trying to convey. I am glad they are taking steps to go beyond the typical “Christian” band. They are pushing into the realm of reality and beyond a four wall building to define the church. I am excited to hear and see the social issues that are addressed here and how to deal with it. In contrast I get disgusted with how, the Christians are that are explained, are trying to evangelize. It makes no sence and lacks all biblical principals of what Jesus taught. We need to know our who are God is and what he has done. We should not shut people off to the gospel. It is the good news for all people. So how is offending people about their shame good news. God in the OT and Jesus in the NT only offended the people that were self righteous, proud and the religious. Being set apart doesn’t mean to walk away from the world. Shunning people makes no sense in the message of Jesus and what He accomplished. At some point in this interview I just can’t comment any more. It is not because I don’t have any more thought, feeling or emotions about it. I just stop to be in awe. I really respect this man, his life and what his heart is. I don’t think this man needs to be idolized or to be the roll model for life, but I think his message stands to say that Jesus is the roll model. Jesus is to be the only idol in our life and nothing above Him.
Resources:
Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis
Raggamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning
Case For Christ by Lee Strobel
What’s So Amazing About Grace by Philip Yancey
Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis
I listened to this, sadly it wouldn’t play for me after 10 minutes, but what I heard was great. So true
Comment by erinsmemorylane — July 26, 2008 @ 12:36 am