Bruce Campbell has nothing on me when it comes to campy
These past couple weeks have been interesting. They have been chocked full of wonderful experiences. Actually, since my last post things have been quite a bit less frustrating. I had a couple really good conversations soon after that restored my faith in humanity.
One of the good conversations I had was with a friend that I have worked with for the past couple summers at camp. The question of whether I am ‘compatible’ with a Christian summer camp has been running through my mind for the past month or more. I just am not Mr. Evangelism. Not to say I ever was, but now I wonder if how some camps (there are some camps out there that are pretty good with the whole evangelism thing) do the classic evangelism thing is even really ethical. Is it right to build conversion into a big emotional event that makes an alter call more like a feeding frenzy than a step in a journey towards God? Is it right to just present “the Gospel message” over and over while neglecting the fact that “the Gospel message” is one point along a difficult process and that there is a lot more to Christian life than praying the prayer?
As for being compatible, I have no clue if I am, but I do see the potential for change and growth around me. The conversations I’ve had, like the one with my friend, have gotten me excited about the future of camp.
That being said, its now time for my next rant. Peace. I think that is one of the most overused words in Christianity. Every bloody chapel at school and half the conversations I have, all of them end in “go in peace” or “I hope God gives you peace about ______” or “well, whatever you do, make sure you have a peace about it.”
Here’s my question? Why do I always have to be at peace? When I hear that, I think of all the cases in history where nations or people or organizations have been “at peace” and have grown complacent because of that. They have ended up stagnating, or being left unprepared when a real struggle comes. The fall of troy pops into my mind (I know, I know, probably wasn’t a giant horse...) they got complacent and felt at peace and look where it got them. I frankly don’t mind being uncertain about my decision to go apply at camp. I have many doubts and fears, I don’t know if I’m the best person for the job but I feel like that is where I should be. In many ways I don’t want to go back. I don’t want to have to deal with potential staff who may be ‘trouble’, I don’t want to have to deal with constantly struggling against what I see as a system that could be improved, I don’t want to have to experience the potential piety of people who haven’t faced the shit in their lives. But, that being said, I definitely experience an excited energy when I think of what could happen next summer.
posted by Brother Mark @ 8:03 PM
2 comments
2 Comments:
I love the way that your blogs can really make me ponder the pieces in my Christian lifestyle. I believe most everything you say has elements of truth in them, however I feel that sometimes you are too hasty in your generalizations, perhaps coming from an entirely churched background your perspective allows more cynisism, or perhaps I am just naive.
I am not going to comment any arguments, this makes far better conversation material than debate, but for example peace; Although the actual dictionary definitions support your arguement, I believe that there exists another understanding of the word similar yet seperate from all the definitions that I have found. I don't believe that it implies being certain about things to come, or being utterly content with the world around you. Rather it is the feeling of one-ness wih God throughout times of strong faith and weaker faith, and a feeling of one-ness with the world and yet acknowledging and being seperate from it.
I am in no doubt that my explanation does no justice to the way I feel about peace, but there you have it.
On the other side of the spectrum though, you must also keep in mind that peace is just becoming a "cooler" greeting that is being used by the masses. For example, when I sign off on any informal piece I always tend to use peace or peace out, I know that was not quite what you were meaning, but all the same, just because I am a Christian doesn't mean I am trying to use it in the "more serious"-peace way.
(as not to discredit my theory)
Peace,
Emily
Well faith, I guess I am kinda cynical. I'd love not to be, but I have seen a lot of crap in the church that supports most of the things I say. I will concede that I am perhaps overly bitter here, but that probably stems more from the fact that it takes quite a bit to get me riled up enough to post, So they tend to be a bit negative.
As for the peace thing. My argument may not have been the most applicable but the sentiment remains. So often Christians speak of peace as some euphoric state of relaxation. I get the feeling from many Christians that to truly be at peace I need to be in the spiritual equivalent of a drug induced coma. Now I know that isn't what they'd say, and I realize it probably is an over statement. but still, I think the fact that often my will does not line up with God's leads to a conflict within myself when I attempt to follow His will. I'm more of a cranky child, which I don't equate with peace. At least in my experience.
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