What Happens When We Assume?

September 16, 2009 — 5 Comments

For those that don’t remember learning this as a child, when you assume, you make an ASS out of U and ME.

Get it?

ASS+U+ME = ASSUME

In all seriousness though, ever since President Obama took office I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen or heard people play the race card on someone who publicly disagrees with Obama. From Facebook to Twitter to blogs to MySpace to face-to-face, it seems that if you are white and don’t agree with Obama, you’re a racist.

At the same time, I’m so tired of hearing people on the other extreme decry Obama as wanting to be a socialist dictator. Or that he’s going to usher in the return of Christ. I heard the same thing about President Clinton, but guess what – WE’RE STILL HERE!

This brings me to two things that have happened in the past few weeks. First, Obama’s speech to students last week. I was ashamed when I saw so many Christians claiming Obama was going to indoctrinate their children with a socialist agenda, and that they were going to keep their kids home that day. Sad, especially considering the fact his speech (word for word) was made available online days before the event. Then last night, former President Jimmy Carter claims that “an overwhelming portion of the intensely demonstrated animosity toward President Barack Obama is based on the fact that he is a black man”.

Now before someone accuses me of being blind, naive or utopian, yes, I believe racism is still an issue in the United States of America. And as long as people have free will, it will continue to be an issue. But to assume an “overwhelming portion” of the opposition Obama has faced is due to racism is just as naive as thinking racism is not an issue in this country.

I’ll say it right here: I did not vote for President Obama.

Nor did I vote for John McCain.

I did not vote in the 2008 presidential election at all because I did not see any candidate that I could stand behind 100%.

There are some issues where I do agree with him. That does not mean I want to bring a socialist dictatorship to America.

There are some issues where I do not agree with Obama. That does not mean I am racist.

I support and pray for President Obama because he is my president, and I encourage you to do the same, regardless of who you voted for.

So please people, when someone says they disagree with President Obama’s policies or his politics or his health care plan, don’t immediately label them as being racist. And if you are one of those who disagrees with Obama, do some fact checking before you start making claims; otherwise, you do come off looking bad.

In Culture , , , , , , ,

Freddie, Please

July 9, 2009 — 3 Comments

For those who haven’t seen my Twitter or Facebook stream the past few days, I purchased Derek Webb’s new album Stockholm Syndrome. Derek is one of the founding members of the popular CCM group Caedmon’s Call and a few years ago decided to branch out into a solo career. I’ve never really listened to Caedmon’s Call or his solo stuff, but I was intrigued so I figured I’d buy it. Especially considering it’s the first explicit release from Christian label INO.

Anyways, like most people, I do most of my listening while driving. So I burned the album to disc and popped it into the CD player this morning before heading to work. I’d already listened to some of the album at home, but driving to work it felt like Derek was giving me a kick in the teeth on two songs in particular – Freddie, Please and The Spirit vs. The Kick Drum.

Freddie, Please is blatantly directed at those who judge homosexuals (NOT homosexual behavior) and one line in particular really stood out to me:

“How could you do this to me?
How can you tell them you love me,
when you hate me?

After doing a little research I discovered this morning that the song is in reference to Fred Phelps, the pastor of Westboro Baptist Church. The guy who has become infamous for the “God hates fags” pickett signs and website and also for protesting soldiers’ funerals.

The other song, The Spirit vs. The Kick Drum is the one that really was a kick to the face. It’s in reference to a Rich Mullins quote where people would come up to Mullins after concerts and say, “Wow! The Holy Spirit really moved at that certain point in the song,” and Mullins would respond, “No actually, that’s where the kick drum and the bass came in.” Three lines in the song say all that needs to be said about the Christian subculture:

“I don’t want the Father; you know I want a vending machine.
I don’t want the Son; you know I want a jury of peers.
I don’t want the Spirit; you know I want a kickdrum.”

So, I can’t wait to get off work just so I can listen to more of the album.
StockholmSyndromeDerekWebb

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Sucks or Stinks?

June 2, 2009 — 34 Comments

I came across a Twitter conversation where people are debating whether or not the slang word “sucks” is inappropriate. Anyways, it got me thinking: who determines what is evil? Sure, the Bible is very clear on a lot of things that it deems evil (sex outside marriage, murder, lying, lusting after someone who isn’t your spouse, etc.), but what about those things that it doesn’t talk about?

When my grandmother was my age, “humbug” was just as bad as “bullshit”.

What about other things that, even within the church, spark arguments as to whether or not they are evil?
Music, video games, alcohol, tobacco, violent sports, movies, books, TV shows, etc.?

The one argument church people keep throwing at me is 1 Thessalonians 5:22 which some translations say to avoid every appearance of evil, while others leave it at avoid evil (click here for more on the translation differences).

But who is making the determination of what is or is not evil if the Bible is not explicit in the matter?

Some people deem Halo 3 to be evil because it simulates murder; others argue that because it is simulating war, the killings are no more murder than when an American soldier defends himself by killing an enemy soldier.

I actually heard one person say that “drinking is not a sin, but as Christians we are supposed to ‘Abstain from all appearance of evil’, so to drink would appear evil in the eyes of the world.”

WHAT?!?!?

So drinking alcohol is not a sin, but because the world (in this person’s eyes) sees it as evil, we shouldn’t do it?

It’s the same with language; the church doesn’t deem what is or is not appropriate – the world does.

Personally speaking, you won’t offend me by using cuss words in my presence, but at the same time, I view words like “idiot” and “loser” (used in a derogatory way) to be just as demeaning as “bitch” or “asshole”.

But that’s just me.

I could keep going with topics like music, movies, etc., but you get the point.

Any thoughts?

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