Jesusland
Just saw the Ben Folds video for Jesusland. Loved it. If you do it today, you watch it on the Relevant website: www.relevantmagazine.com
Click on Relevant TV, and then the “Jesusland” video by Ben Folds. It’s the featured one today.
I love this song. It’s about the fact that Jesus just came for the people, all people, the beautiful ordinary people everywhere, on every corner, in the grocery store, pumping gas, on a pay phone, in Starbucks, in the city, in the country, in class, at work, sitting alone in dim apartments with sleazy furniture, begging the universe for there to be something more than just this life. And what would Jesus think about televangelists, and people who have Nativity sets on their lawns but who it never even crosses their mind to give to charity on His birthday, and the Billboards we get in America (don’t know whether you’ve got them in the UK) that say stupid things like, “Don’t make me come down there. -God” or “Life is short. Eternity isn’t. -God” or “You think it’s hot here? -God”
I want to be Jesus to some of those beautiful miserable people. Probably because I’m a beautiful miserable person myself. We all need to see Jesus in each other. We all need a little grace and sanity and love.
So here’s to us. All of us. Beautiful. Miserable. Human. Whoever you are, I love you– even though I’m not very good at love. And so does God– and he’s perfect at it. So go look in the mirror, and give yourself a little smile, and tell yourself that you are beautiful and miserable and loved. And one of these days, it’ll all turn out ok. Promise.
August 10th, 2006 at 12:18 am
Yes, they do get things like that in England, thought not (I think) as rampantly as here. But there was a church I passed many times in Norwich which had a distressing red banner. Do you remember which it was, Phil? It wasn’t the Baptist church. But memory hesitates to admit that it was Anglican or Roman Catholic. I think it was a red brick structure on a roundabout.
I self-righteously point out that different methods work for different people, and that God speaks to all of us differently. The problem is that all of that is true– and somehow I can’t rid myself of the fervent belief that nonetheless, my way is far better than any of the other ways! Arrogance to end all arrogance.
I adore that song, Mel. Great minds and all that… And speaking of which, what about great feet? I need a pair of shoes to wear to the Ballet with that elegant off the shoulder black dress– remember it? Can you help? Email me!
~Merry
August 10th, 2006 at 6:55 am
Hmmm… In the city centre? Don’t actually remember. I don’t remember any US style ones. The British varients tend to be more like little bon mots and groan-worthy puns rather than fire and brimstone. (One church in Bristol had “If God’s your co-pilot: switch seats!” which they were obviously proud of as it stayed there for a period of about four months. The fluoresent paper begun to look very sorry for itself by the end)
My opinion towards these things was modified slightly in Hannover last year when I met a group of German bikers whose slogan was the affectionate “Turn or BURN!” They turned out to be the nicest bunch of guys I met all week; they all had great stories of finding Jesus on the drink and drugs biker lifestyle trails through Europe. And they’re still on those trails doing their thing for other bikers, obviously just with less drink and drugs now.
You can do these things creditably. Or you can just be a big, shouty, stupid person about it.
August 10th, 2006 at 7:12 am
Anybody who rents a large highway-side billboard to preach from should, I think, at least reconsider their strategy. These aren’t churches; if they were at least people would have a human to go talk to about God. Instead they are billboards; you know, those enourmous things by the side of the highway? At best they point you to an impersonal webpage with more slogans. They aren’t all fire and brimstone, but they are generally rather impertinent (”Say hi to the kids for me. -God”).
I don’t grasp how this is all supposed to effect life-change.
August 10th, 2006 at 7:54 am
It is wise to recognize that God uses is gracious with us - using our best and worst efforts to show people His abiding love for them. And some people who do have less than admirable signs and such do still love people. That is true.
That said, I think it’s also wisdom though to make love the context of what we do. The bottom line is that we have a choice when we put up a sign to either point to the overarching theme of reconciliation that God has made us messengers of or to focus in on parts of that story, giving people an incomplete picture of God.
Ultimately, I would love to see that same money used by a hundred people to sit down over dinner with their neighbors. It wasn’t until Phil talked to those guys that he realized their love. In like ways, it’s not until we sit down with our neighbors (especially those we culturally don’t talk to) that we can express and receive God’s deep love in the ways He most values time and again throughout history.
August 10th, 2006 at 9:25 am
Parke, Yes. Exactly. It’s in relationships that love can be shared and change can take place.
August 10th, 2006 at 8:38 pm
So does your attempt at loving the miserable still involve you working in OTR, or have you decided on that yet? I have been out of the loop…
August 10th, 2006 at 9:11 pm
For now it does. Each day I go in to work thinking, “Today’s the day…” I really want to just quit. This is absurd. But it pays too well; I need the cash. So for now I’m looking for good jobs; when they boot me out the door it’ll be time enough to run out and get a crappy job or a temp job!
I’ve been out of the loop too. Still waiting for God to clue me in…when he does, you’ll know!