Every Move I Make, I Make in You?
Well, this post won't be raving. It's too hard for me to get cynical when I'm alone, at twilight, outdoors on a spring night, with music all around me. Even if it is praise and worship music at a youth rally.
And I'm now up-to-date on the latest music. Nobody ever does retro praise music. Once it's gone, it's gone. Like a top-40 radio station. Churches might do well to have a service of hits from the 80s and 90s. Shine, Jesus, Shine anyone?
All my attempts at cynicism would have been foiled anyway, because a girl named Sarah came over and asked if I wanted to pray with her, during the praying part of the rally. She was there to support her boyfriend, Nate, who was singing in the band, and she felt out of place among all the high school kids (she's a college sophomore). I couldn't really say no. So we prayed. And when you're praying, outloud, to God, with another person, it's really hard to be sarcastic and cynical (by myself I can be sarcastic and cynical all day long, praying or not).
(The weirdest thing about this: two years ago I wrote a very cynical story about a girl named Sarah, an evangelical Christian who's "losing her religion" while her boyfriend, Nate, remains devout and sings in a Christian praise band. And tonight, I met Sarah and Nate IN THE FLESH. Although I don't think this girl was having the same problems that my story Sarah was. But still. Weird).
I was trying to decide tonight what exactly my problem is with this stuff. A big part of it is the patriotism that's all tied in, but it's also because it seems so appearance based. As long as you raise your hands and close your eyes while you're singing, that means that you're "Christian" and have a great spiritual life. And if the feelings aren't there, well, there's something wrong with you. That messed me up in high school, because I was this big bundle of doubts and questions, and all I felt while singing praise and worship music was confused.
Then, in college, the people that led this kind of music seemed more interested in how they appeared, and how well they prayed onstage than in anything else. The "show" aspect of it still annoys me.
But I think what it comes down to in the end is: If you are a Christian, and believe in God, and believe that should affect how you live . . . what should it look like? Raised hands and closed eyes on Sunday morning? Starting a bible study at school? Abstaining from alcohol? Not watching R-rated movies? Voting Republican? Voting Democrat? Protesting abortion? Protesting the death penalty? Buying organic food? Giving up a car? Going to another country to convert natives? Or to help after a tsunami? Running for public office? Working against gay marriage? Working against global warming?
For me: no, no, no, yes, no, yes, yes, maybe, no, yes, no, no, yes, no, no.
For most of the people at that rally tonight: yes, yes, yes, no, yes, no, no, no, yes, yes, yes, yes, no, yes, yes.
I don't like how most of their positions line up so neatly with the political right. But should I be concerned how neatly mine line up with the left?
As you can see, we've got conflicts.
And I'm now up-to-date on the latest music. Nobody ever does retro praise music. Once it's gone, it's gone. Like a top-40 radio station. Churches might do well to have a service of hits from the 80s and 90s. Shine, Jesus, Shine anyone?
All my attempts at cynicism would have been foiled anyway, because a girl named Sarah came over and asked if I wanted to pray with her, during the praying part of the rally. She was there to support her boyfriend, Nate, who was singing in the band, and she felt out of place among all the high school kids (she's a college sophomore). I couldn't really say no. So we prayed. And when you're praying, outloud, to God, with another person, it's really hard to be sarcastic and cynical (by myself I can be sarcastic and cynical all day long, praying or not).
(The weirdest thing about this: two years ago I wrote a very cynical story about a girl named Sarah, an evangelical Christian who's "losing her religion" while her boyfriend, Nate, remains devout and sings in a Christian praise band. And tonight, I met Sarah and Nate IN THE FLESH. Although I don't think this girl was having the same problems that my story Sarah was. But still. Weird).
I was trying to decide tonight what exactly my problem is with this stuff. A big part of it is the patriotism that's all tied in, but it's also because it seems so appearance based. As long as you raise your hands and close your eyes while you're singing, that means that you're "Christian" and have a great spiritual life. And if the feelings aren't there, well, there's something wrong with you. That messed me up in high school, because I was this big bundle of doubts and questions, and all I felt while singing praise and worship music was confused.
Then, in college, the people that led this kind of music seemed more interested in how they appeared, and how well they prayed onstage than in anything else. The "show" aspect of it still annoys me.
But I think what it comes down to in the end is: If you are a Christian, and believe in God, and believe that should affect how you live . . . what should it look like? Raised hands and closed eyes on Sunday morning? Starting a bible study at school? Abstaining from alcohol? Not watching R-rated movies? Voting Republican? Voting Democrat? Protesting abortion? Protesting the death penalty? Buying organic food? Giving up a car? Going to another country to convert natives? Or to help after a tsunami? Running for public office? Working against gay marriage? Working against global warming?
For me: no, no, no, yes, no, yes, yes, maybe, no, yes, no, no, yes, no, no.
For most of the people at that rally tonight: yes, yes, yes, no, yes, no, no, no, yes, yes, yes, yes, no, yes, yes.
I don't like how most of their positions line up so neatly with the political right. But should I be concerned how neatly mine line up with the left?
As you can see, we've got conflicts.
posted by Melanie at 11:05 PM
