God is a Socialist

So what do YOU think about 'spreading the wealth?'

Yes, I'm opening up the can of worms and am prepared for the emails as I did with this blog about using the term Christian as an adjective...or a noun. Oh, and by the way, I had a friend ask me some questions about it and thought you might want to have part of my answer.
Question: "Susy, I agree with much of what you are saying but have a couple questions - if we aren't supposed to label ourselves as "Christians" what should we be called? And then what do we do when that label becomes tarnished by those who aren't truly serving Christ? And what are we supposed to call music that has as its primary goal glorifying God through worship with music? "


My partial (but still really long) answer: "...know that is my very personal opinion...all of it. It's not that I deny the term 'Christian;' I just don't like the box that comes with it all the time. I also don't like the expectations that come with it. We, as humans, have expectations out of everyone for just about everything (okay, and when I say 'we,' I mean Susy Poffinbarger herself). "Christian" is no different. If someone labels themselves as that, I automatically expect certain things. Should I? In my opinion, no...but I do it anyway. The thing is that we will never please everyone, and we're foolish to even try. We are to live to please One and love all. Sure, there are certain expectations that may be natural and manageable, but overall, my 'agenda' should be to love all. No excuses. No exceptions. No explanations. That's pretty much where I fail...a lot.

I do believe that we can 'redeem' the term in the sense that those of us who really mean it can live it and change the negative connotation or stereotype that may come with it. I'm not ashamed to call myself a "Christian." What I am is saddened by how I've not loved the way Christ would...and I've done it in HIS name. I don't know if that makes sense. In the past I've manipulated His Word and have hurt others with it. I didn't act like a Christian, and what's worse is that I even used His name to justify it.

So what should we be called or call ourselves? Whatever we want. I don't not use that term, if that makes sense (in other words, I do use it). The topic just came up when I was having a conversation with a young person of a particular religious denomination. He asked me what I was, and I simply stated what I believe and why. It took less than 20 seconds, and he afterwards told me that if I had started with the verbiage, "I'm a Chrisitan," he totally would've ignored anything else I had to say. Why? He had good reasons...and it all saddened me that he had been so hurt by...people like me. People like me because of my often-times ridiculous behavior. Does he have issues to deal with? Certianly. However, knowing his history and the situation and circumstances, approaching it in a different way really helped each of us understand the other.

When that label becomes tarnished by others all we can do is live the way we know to live and allow God to do the rest. It doesn't mean I should quit using the "C" word. Not at all. In fact, if I'm living to love Him and others, sometimes I should use it the more because, like I stated earlier, it can break the negative stereotype that may be there. BUT I shouldn't have to shout it out to the world if I'm living it because my life should speak for itself.

okay, I don't even know if I'm making sense...

Music - let's call it whatever we want - Christian, worship, hippie...whatever. It's music. I guess my point was that just because it wasn't labeled by some people as "Christian," it doesn't mean it can't worship God or reach other people.

A couple of years ago I was going through a really weird time, and I couldn't put my thoughts out there. I was in a friend's car when I heard a song that took what I'd wanted to say and put it out there in words - something I hadn't been able to do. It was my cry to God. Little did I know that it was by a 'secular' artist. I researched it and found that it was a little bit of a cry to God but not about what I thought at all. Either way, I realized this song was my worship... Whatever the purpose of the writing of the song, it could be used to worship Him, and THAT'S what mattered.

So what should we call that music? Whatever."