It doesn’t mean much
It doesn’t mean anything at all
The life I’ve left behind me
Is a cold room
I’ve crossed the last line
From where I can’t return
Where every step I took in faith
Betrayed me
And led me from my home
You take me in
No questions asked
You strip away the ugliness
That surrounds me
Are you an angel
Am I already that gone
I only hope
That I won’t disappoint you
When I’m down here
On my knees
“Sweet Surrender”
- Sarah McLachlan from the album “Surfacing”
“In A Land of Dead Trees”
I feel as if I am losing my mind, literally.
When I wrote my last post, White Rabbit, I had no idea the psychological and metaphysical can of worms I was opening. It’s one thing to realize that you’re buying into the culture of The Enemy, it’s quite another to stop buying in to it altogether. I feel as if I have shown up at Jesus’ door, naked, cold, and orphaned once more because I’m seriously starting to question some of the values I’ve been buying into. Many of which I’ve propped up, using my Christian faith. It is sad to me, now that I’ve started going through this, that I live in a world where because of the sin of another, I have to possess a weapon in order to defend myself. It is utterly bizarre that this has become so commonplace, that we no longer react to its presence. The idea of this culture of violence and strife should actually be abhorrent to us. It should be something that is seen for what it is – an unnatural state of man, and yet all over the world we are being deceived into worshiping a false god of warfare and death. The whole ‘might makes right’ mentality, and it needs to stop.
It makes sense now why Constantine would have been motivated by otherworldly forces to supplant the original, subversive teachings of Christianity, with its power-under servant model, with those of the sword which is power-over. Guess which one is preferred by people who crave wealth, status, and power? I’ll give you a hint – it’s not the first one. Looking at the history that overshadows the church, it becomes staggeringly clear that none of the blood or violence that transpired was sanctioned by God. Period. We’ve sown the seeds, and now we are reaping the whirlwind. Yet, if you see a problem, naturally the next step is to fix it. After all, isn’t that what a Christian is supposed to be?
A harbinger of peace?
- RJK
If I may, before you try to fix anything, spend some time getting your own feet. God is sovereign and will work out the dawn of the new heaven and new earth with or without your help. But only you and God together can work out you. Sometimes when we first wake up, we want to rush out and start trying to shove the boulder up the mountain with great urgency. But unless you give yourself and God time to train, heal and supply you, your efforts will wear you out and what you acheive will never be enough to satisfy you.
Solidarity has been an elusive creature in Christian culture, and without solidarity, there can be no liberty. The former increases the latter. So many “pet” causes…I feel solidarity is so scattered. But then I think how just a small community of solidarity, can change things. Wether it is caring for the orphan and the widow or refusing to participate in corporate gain, gather some friends and work out the new heaven and the new earth! It’s here and now! Though I do think it wise to give some attention to the wisdom Rebecca took the time to write above
Wow, such thoughtful responses. I agree that ultimately what this boils down to is vigilance. I think at some point the Early Church, the practice of vigilance took a backseat, and The Enemy waltzed in. Now that we’re able to see it again, I think that not only do we have to resist so that The Enemy flees from us, but work to wake up our brothers and sisters – lovingly – to the reality they’re actually in.
- RJK