La Vie Boheme (Rent)

So I've been thinking for awhile now about how we let the world clutter our thinking and hearts with just crap and filth. It slips in bit by bit until we don't realize how much it contaminates our thinking - permeates our very attitudes and behaviors.

I was listening to the song "La Vie Boheme" from the Rent soundtrack the other day. Whether you like Rent or not, bear with me - I'm making a point that you'll relate to. (I address that mostly to my brothers who are snobs about this musical.)

A friend wondered one time why I liked Rent. It's controversial. It's a little vulgar at times. Well, a lot vulgar at times. But it's so upbeat and fun that it generally disguises that vulgarity. At least, I thought so. I told this friend that I like the movie because it makes me want to love people of "alternative lifestyles." They're fun. They're normal. They deal with issues of life that are scarier than most of the things I face on a daily basis. (Ahem...AIDS)

But I've dealt with some scary instances of sin this past semester. Times when I think, "Wow, I never thought this would be me, the person who deals with ________." It's really challenged me - I need to reexamine my heart. What thoughts, words, deeds have become acceptable, bit by bit, over the course of my life? I used to be the one in class who raised her hand with the TA asked "will it offend you if I cuss?" I used to be the girl to ask people not to talk about sex (no lie....one girl really got on me for it when I was studying abroad). Now I've taught sex ed and so I talk about it much more freely. I say that I'll only talk about it in a certain context, but then I don't contain it.

As I am writing, I'm listening to songs by The Donut Man. Blast from my past - this guy is awesome and sings great Christian kids songs. One is based on Psalm 119:9:

How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.

Of course, we could all give that Sunday School answer. But what does it mean to be set apart? What does it mean to live in the world, but not of the world? How can we keep ourselves pure in this world? Where do we draw the line between trying to love on this people who live alternatively, and distinguishing ourselves for the sake of Christ and our witness?

My mind just went this direction all of a sudden.....I used to memorize scripture verses, now I memorize song lyrics. I used to think boys were icky, now I'd love to have one to call my own ;). I used to close my eyes when something icky came on the TV, now I see icky things in movies, on TV, and just in life. I used to close my ears when people said bad words, now they come out of my own mouth.

How did I get from Point A to Point B? Well, I think I stopped memorizing scripture when it stopped counting for points at Vacation Bible School. I honestly don't know when I stopped thinking that boys were icky. I started watching movies with gory action scenes and hot and heavy make out/sex scenes when my parents were gone. I started cursing in 8th grade because it got me some attention ("Bethany said what?!")

And where has it all gotten me? To this place where this sin pervades my life. Where I talk freely about other people, where I confess to my brother that, if I wasn't a Christian, I might be a make out whore, where I'm willing to throw a cuss word here and there because it's in a song or a movie quote.

This isn't where I want to live. It's wrong.

Scripture also says,

Above all else, guard your heart,
for it is the wellspring of life.
-Proverbs 4:23

What do we make of all this?

I think we have to be much more guarded. It's hard to do. Because even my Christian friends talk about sex and curse in some conversations. And it's so easy to be pulled into things by community.

But it starts with one decision. With one moment of resisting temptation. Then the next becomes easier. And we have to make a concentrated effort to guard our hearts and minds for the sake of Christ, who gave himself up for us, and in order to glorify our Creator, who loves us no matter what we do, but also calls us to be righteous.

And it has to start with a prayer. God, I am too weak to resist the world on my own. As The Donut Man also sings,

"Submit to God, resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7

A Mighty Fortress Is Our God (Martin Luther)

Are y'all aware of what an awesome hymn this is? We sang it at RUF last night and I was so encouraged by its truth. Take a look.

A mighty fortress is our God, a bulwark never failing;
Our helper He, amid the flood of mortal ills prevailing:
For still our ancient foe doth seek to work us woe;
His craft and power are great, and, armed with cruel hate,
On earth is not his equal.

Did we in our own strength confide, our striving would be losing;
Were not the right Man on our side, the Man of God’s own choosing:
Dost ask who that may be? Christ Jesus, it is He;
Lord Sabaoth, His Name, from age to age the same,
And He must win the battle.

And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us,
We will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us:
The Prince of Darkness grim, we tremble not for him;
His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure,
One little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers, no thanks to them, abideth;
The Spirit and the gifts are ours through Him Who with us sideth:
Let goods and kindred go, this mortal life also;
The body they may kill: God’s truth abideth still,
His kingdom is forever.

Two lines to make the point (the thesis of this hymn, if you will) - God is a mighty fortress, our helper. Then we introduce the devil. Oh man, he's powerful too - there's no one on earth who can stand up to him.

Well yes, that's true. And if we tried, we would lose. But God gave us an ally. Jesus. "And He MUST win the battle." It's done. Decided. Imperative.

So there are many things in the world that challenge us. But, I love this line - "God hath willed His truth to triumph through us." Wow. We are conduits of God's truth! Huzzuh! This next part still baffles me a little - we tremble not for the devil, cause we know he's gonna lose. So then, who do we tremble for?

I think this gets back to the question of the Fear of the Lord that has been plaguing me this entire semester. What is that?! What does it look like? How does it impact my day to day life?

Okay, back to the song. So Christ abides regardless of what happens on earth - regardless of our existence, needs, desires, etc. And we have this other great gift - the Spirit! Who is also our ally! Oh man.....two great persons of the Trinity given to us in our struggle against the devil. This is fantastic! So, "let goods and kindred go" - this is something I've been thinking about lately. I'm kind of okay with letting "this mortal life" go. I'm going to heaven when I die. I know that, and I rest assured in that every day. Of course, letting goods go is good too because we don't want to be materialists. But kindred?! Let my kindred go?! (Sounds like something out of Moses...) That's my biggest fear - to be left behind on this earth if something were to happen to a member of my immediate family. That terrifies me! I don't want to be left behind. But this song, I think rightly, demands that we set all that aside, all those very good things, for the truth of God! "His kingdom is forever!" These are the things eternal. God's truth. Fearing the Lord. Christ's victory over Satan, sin and death.

Praise Jesus! And go in peace :)