…by Death Cab for Cutie has been the song of the week. The song that inspired my own song Lost Signals (by that I mean, I tried to rip it off and ended up writing an original song).
Anyway, this week my youth group along with four others went on a camp. It was organised mostly by my youth group. There were about 50 people there, about 10 of whom were leaders, one of those 10 being me. The speaker, Tim Hawkins, was awesome. Our youth group has done a few studies of his (in DVD form) over the last few years and they’ve always been great studies. But when he’s live, he is, of course, even better. His message was very basic stuff for a Christian of 15, 16 years like myself, but it was really refreshing. It’s so easy to forget how big God is and take the proverbial driver seat.
Now, before I go any further, I’m aware that many of those reading this aren’t people of faith; some of whom have hurt me whether they realised it or not. I’d just like to say a few things about what I believe without getting to preachy. But be warned, this will get honest. I believe that God is very powerful, even if He were no more than a concept. I believe that I have seen Him change lives for the better, even if He were no more than a concept. I have seen Him give hope and purpose, even if He were no more than a concept. I believe that saying ‘no’ to God is a legitimate response, although I don’t think it at all wise. I believe He is loving and doesn’t want bad things to happen. I believe He allows bad things to happen because He wants us to love Him; without free-will, real love cannot exist, and if free-will exists, the ability to turn away also exists, and when we turn away from God, we sin, we hurt others, and things get messy really quickly.
Despite how well learned those who have questioned what I believe have been, I haven’t heard anything that cannot be rationally answered with my understanding of God (although, I certainly don’t claim to have it all down). It has not been this that has hurt me though. It’s the assumption that I’m “just like all the other Christians who will beat down doors and shove belief down throats”. If atheists were organised like a religion, they’d be doing the same thing. Just as this is unfair, it’s unfair to say all atheists have severe religious bloodlust, although that is the impression I’ve gotten from high school. I have wanted to punch some of you in the face. Christianity teaches to love ones enemies and forgiveness, and I practice this and honestly don’t hold any grudges (although it does piss me off sometimes when it continues to happen (this is why I spent a while away from Pamplemousse)).
But anyway, I rant.
Twelve of the fifty people on that camp committed or recommitted their lives to Jesus. That’s a huge number for fifty people. Even if there were no God, twelve lives have been changed for the better. Twelve people believe that there is something beyond themselves, that while they are so tiny in the grand scheme of things they can make a difference by being a part of the kingdom of God, that while they aren’t perfect, they are still needed in the world. Even if this is no more than a concept, it is a good thing; sure there are nutjobs out there, but Christians are only human too. You name anything, and there are nutjobs for that cause. But that has never been the Christianity I’ve known.
And we’re slipping into rant mode again.
But I guess this post has been a long time coming.
I think I’ll leave it there. I was going to start talking about today’s ordeal, but I don’t really feel like it now.
I stand by what I said in my first post: I appologise for nothing.
-jf-
