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Is it wrong that I just want to go to some forgotten country in Asia?

Somewhere tiny and unheard of.

A village free of blithering idiots.

A place where no one has heard of nor cares about Dan Brown.

A spot where abortion isnt always the main topic of discussion.

A location where the term “Culture Wars” has no meaning.

A hole in a mountain somewhere where the people who know Jesus love him more than they love issues.

A crevice in a valley where the only war the inhabitants are aware of is the war for basic survival, for food, for shelter, for education.

Is it wrong that I just want to go somewhere and live The Gospel rather than sit here and listen to figureheads bitch about things that aren’t The Gospel?

Why does it seem like I’m always ranting about something. I’m not a cynical person. I’m really quite optimistic. I’m an idealist. Maybe that’s why.

It just seems like every time I turn around, there’s some idiot bitching about something “the enemy”, “the liberals”, “the democrats”, or “the world” is doing. Always boycotting, criticising, ripping apart, tearing down, and destroying any and everything that even begins to hint at questioning or second guessing The Bible or Christ.

Now I am what most might call a purist. I believe in the inerrancy of God’s Word, The Bible. I believe that Jesus Christ is God’s Word made flesh. I believe in the virgin birth. I believe in the ressurection. I believe in the ascension. And I believe in the eventual second coming.

I believe that we have an obligation, clearly outlined in scripture, to help the poor. To care for the fatherless. To comfort the widows. To aid the diseased. To love the unlovable. To be Jesus to those the world has forgotten. To care for “…the least of these…”.

I believe that we are called to make disciples, or pupils, or better still, students, of the nations. To teach the world how to live a Christ centered life. To let them see how it works in us. In our lives. In our relationships. In our decisions. In our families. Leading them full circle back to The One from which these life principles flow.

What I do not believe in is nitpicking. Emphasizing focus on issues that, if left alone, would otherwise go away and be ignored.

I do not believe in disregarding all common sense when reading what is clearly a written work of fiction and dissecting and criticising it like it is a historical textbook.

I do not believe in the proliferation and perpetuation of political agendas by those who speak for and represent the Body of Christ.

I do not believe, nor will I follow, any denomination that carries an air of elitism about themselves simply because of a particular belief or interpretation of the scripture that they may carry.

I do not believe in the “huddling” that has been occuring in most churches. Get out and give to the community, heathens, sinners, saints, and all. Get your fill once or twice a week, but get out and empty yourselves so you can be filled again the following week. It’s called the gutter, and it’s where were called to be.

I do not believe that the list stops here either.

There is plenty more. The list just keeps growing. Part of me says, “Ignore it, press on into your destiny and leave those issues up to God.” Perhaps, but for some reason that comes across to me as spiritual laziness. Maybe it is because I am an idealist. I can’t look at things the way they are and be satisfied. Aren’t we essentially called to be idealists anyway. Hope is idealism. It is a desire for change. A desire for something better.

Sometimes I feel like I’m becoming like the finger-pointers I most dislike. I get so irritated at those who just lie in wait to point the finger at the latest “blaspheming book” or “morally bankrupt movie” and yet I find myself so ready to point the finger at the finger-pointers. I just feel that time could be spent so much more effectively preaching on ways to help in the community. Ways to love on victims of domestic abuse. Ways to help those who are bed ridden. How to get involved with boys and girls homes. Time spent yapping about some movie, book, or politician is time that could be spent talking about ways to arrange a shelter for the local homeless. Ways to start a literacy awareness community program. I think if we spent more time focusing on these kinds of issues and ideas, the other issues and ideas would often fade without much thought.

Then again, what do I know. I’m just a kid. A twentysomething.

An idealist.

I’m stuck.

I’m sick.

Sick of the norm.

Sick of the cliche.

Sick of the recitation of verses and passages that, in their essence, may very well apply to my situation but are delivered with nothing more than stagnant air and a self righteous “you should know this already” tone.

Sick of all the Father Daddy Father God God God Daddy Father Papa Papa Father Father God God God God Papa Father Daddy Father God prayers. If someone can’t pray without saying God’s name every other word then they should just be silent and rest until he gives them something to pray. I don’t know who started this trend, but they have produced a group of people who, for all intents and purposes, may as well be praying in tongues becauses no one can make out what they are saying anyway. Slow down, speak clearly, and wait. God will give you something to say. Stop trying to fill the silence.

I’m sick of the jargon. The stupid language we use that no one else understands. Can we not talk like normal human beings? I cringe everytime I hear (insert cheesy overused Christian phrase here). Let’s just talk. Were not Klingons. Speak the language of your nation, not this cheesy language we have concocted to explain the different things that happen in the Christian life.

I’m sick of being classified in with those who seem to only care about two hot button issues and seem to have forgotten that there is a whole host of things to which we are held accountable. Those two un-named issues are no more or no less of a sin than the other issues facing our society today. Life IS important, but in our duty to protect the sanctity of life we need to remember we are also called to be stewards of our land. Protecting our environment goes hand in hand with protecting life. Caring for the poor, orphaned, diseased, unwanted. Yep, that’s in there too. Don’t forget about healthy living, self control, and compassion. These things are all part of the picture. They can’t be separated. They flow together. Stop compartmentalizing issues and start looking at the bigger picture.

I’m sick of hearing about the war. We’re over there, we’re going to be there for a while, just get over it. Everyone has something to say about it. Everyone thinks their position is right. Everyone wants to blame the Republicans. The Republicans are claiming the Democrats are trying to sabotage the efforts. Democrats are claiming its an oil conspiracy. Conservatives are claiming its all a Liberal conspiracy. Liberals are saying we should leave them to their own devices. EVERYONE JUST SHUT UP! The ONLY people who know whats going on over there are the ones that are sitting right there in the midst of it with bullets in the air, bullets in their vehicles, bullets in their friends, and bullets in themselves. Stop speculating, second guessing, and conspiracy theorizing. Leave it up to the people that are over there fighting. At least they are justified in their thoughts and ideas.

I’m sick of everyone blaming the President for everything. He is a man, in a position of power. Yes he is the leader of our nation but he is only a man. He only knows so much. He can only control so much. Most of what goes on passes by him in such a blur that I can almost guarantee you that when he sits on his bed at night he probably thinks to himself, “Where did the day go? What happened today? How many important things did I miss today?” Sound famliar? Well if that scenario sounds the least bit familiar to you then just imagine how much more burdening it would be to be the leader of the most powerful nation in the history of the world. He is only man, not God. Stop trying to de-humanize him. Just appreciate that he is at least, if only, a man who sticks to his word.

Im sick of walking through life feeling like I’ve got to have it all together. I’m tired of people thinking that because I am dealing with some issues at certain times that the world must stop and I must focus on this one issue before God will allow me to move on in life. Obviously, if we break our leg, our heart doesn’t stop beating while our leg is healing. No, our bodily functions continue functioning as they were meant to function. That is the only way those wounds will heal. Each part has a vital function. Just because I am wrestling with God right now does not mean that I need to disregard school, family, friends, etc., “stop running away” and “just spend time with God.” Personally I feel that God would smack me for being so stupid. God is a motivator. He’s the original Motivational Speaker. I know that, were He here in front of me, He would say:

“Go, be about your tasks for the day. Complete your work. You are functioning in the way I made you to function. But do not forget to give the day to Me. Do not forget to seek Me in all that you do. Do not forget that you are My ambassador to those around you who do not know Me. Do not forget that I am here, always. Be what I made you to be, but in all things look to Me.”

I am sick of being told I am floundering or not acting like a Christian when I am just walking through a valley. At this very moment I am just sorting out the particulars of my own Faith. I am not waivering. I am taking ownership of what I believe. I daily praise God for the state I am in at this very moment simply because I know that I will emerge from this in a much stronger fashion than before. I know that because of this, my life and my witness will be all the more stronger. I know, that because of who He is and what He has done, He will walk me through this darkness and, on the other side, He and I will dance with Joy and laugh as we look back on this time.

But first, I know, that before any of this can happen, that my knees and my face must hit the floor.