I have been listening to a lot of music lately that has made me think. I know I already said some stuff about music. But I have to go back to it again cause these few lines kept sticking out at me.
Is your love really Love?
Is my love really Love?
I think our love isn't Love,
Unless it's Love to the end.
Is your god really God?
Is my god really God?
I think our god isn't God,
If he fits inside our heads.
The song is "Clouds" by as cities burn.
These last 2 lines of each verse stick out the most. "I think our love isn't love" & "I think our
god isn't God". I have to almost completely agree....The 2 lines following each verse answer
my question I had when I first heard the song. It makes sense to me now. "unless it's love to the end".
I interpreted it this way...
No matter how much I try to love people (and not to be self-righteous, but I consider myself a pretty loving person), I will never be able to love everyone all of the time 24/7. I constantly struggle loving people now. The saddest part about me not loving people, is that I always love non-religious people more than, "christians". Pretty terrible huh? It makes me sad, but I am trying to be better. It is just so hard for me to see so many people turn so many others away from what they "believe".
I think everyone struggles with love and the whole concept of it. I think that love is one of the most important things about christianity, yet it is lost in all of the other shenanigans that are created...and yes i just said shenanigans. When I say it is lost, I mean that we so often get this mindset of "well God loves me more". I know no one comes out and says that...at least I really hope no one does, but whenever we are consistently judging others for their actions (which I dont know if you know or not, but that is not our job or duty at all. I am pretty sure....actually I am positive that is between God and that person), we subtley thinking/saying "God loves me more" or it could even be "i am a better person" or "well im glad i dont sin like he/she does". I do not understand why we ( i suffer from this as well) have to put ourselves up on a cloud. God shows no favortism. The bible is what we follow and the bible states that multiple times. Why does it matter what these people do. They are living their life how they want. Whether or not their morals are good or bad. Love them. That is what they need. That is what everyone needs. Have you ever had someone tell you, they appreciate your friendship and that they love you? I recently had someone tell me that. That conversation was one of my favorite conversations I have experienced in my 21 years of living. I knew he meant every word and I knew he had seen and experienced love from me. *not tooting my own horn* I dislike it when christians talk or discuss about the things they have done in order to change someones life or "great" experiences they have caused in peoples lives. That is a different topic....
I know I have rambled about this section, but I think it is so important. Love. Christ. The first thing that comes to my mind when I think of Jesus Christ as a human, as well as God, I think love. Jesus loved the hell out of people, and you better believe a ton of those people he loved were people that were not "saved". They were broken people who needed someone to talk to. They needed to see how someone who was down to earth, would not condemn them, but would embrace them with his love. I cannot imagine the amount of comfort those people must have felt from Jesus. So I ask of you...and I ask of myself. Love people. Do not pretend to love, but actually "love til the end". I know it is impossible to be perfect, we will never come close, but why can't we try? I want to embrace people with love that comes from me, but ultimately comes from God/Jesus. I could not keep the friends I have today or care for them if it was not for my relationship with God. He helps me to love them and never think less of them. Even when their choices are beyond rediculously wrong. I dont always agree with them and I state that. But regardless, you better believe I am going to strive to love them...and I will strive to love others.
Ok for the 2nd part. I did not mean to say that much, but like I said...I did not plan any of this out, it just hit me tonight.
"I think our god isn't God, if he fits inside our head".
I have had a lot of people come up to me, even friends of mine, religious and not, but they ask me..."why does this happen?" or "why is God like this?". My response is..."I do not know the answer." Because I have to be honest. I don't know all of the answers. I believe we are not suppose to know all of the answers.
I do not want to try and fit God inside of my head. What is the purpose? God was not meant to be laid out so we could have everything figured out. Where would the mystery be if we had all of the answers. The problem I think we would all run into if we could have our questions answered is that they would never stop....we would always find another question or require an explanation. It hurts me when we place God or christianity into this "bubble" or structured format. I think i have mentioned this before, but I feel very strongly on it as well. It says in the scriptures ( I will give one in a minute) how Christ lived and how we should live our lives. Why is that not enough? Why must all of these self-help books, tapes, sermons, lectures, conventions.....whatever you want to call them. Why are they such an important part of modern day christianity?
Before I continue I do want to point out. I am not saying these things are not beneficial. I have 2 books by Brennan Manning, but they are not about structuring people, christianity, or God. I think that great things can come out of all of these books, tapes, etc. I think it becomes a problem when they are what we rely on in order to gain advice. I know that sunday sermons can be considered in this category as well, so I am careful with what I say. I will state it again. Good...great things can come from anyone and anything, but careful consideration should be made when a person begins to consume his/herself with things like these.
I picture a young adult man, maybe in his 30's reading books on how to be a better person. How to be a better Christian. I think it is great he is trying to be better or grow with his relationship with God, but it becomes so easy to create a "format" or "checklist" when pursuing these kinds of things. This may only be me and my personality, but for me I have to be very careful.
I am a very realistic person (some might say too realistic). I also think there is difference between being realistic and being lazy. I stated I do not want to have God figured out, but that does not mean I or we cannot engage in others or with God about our questions or our problems. That line has been playing in my head over and over, especially when I lay my head down at night.
I think everyone struggles with love and the whole concept of it. I think that love is one of the most important things about christianity, yet it is lost in all of the other shenanigans that are created...and yes i just said shenanigans. When I say it is lost, I mean that we so often get this mindset of "well God loves me more". I know no one comes out and says that...at least I really hope no one does, but whenever we are consistently judging others for their actions (which I dont know if you know or not, but that is not our job or duty at all. I am pretty sure....actually I am positive that is between God and that person), we subtley thinking/saying "God loves me more" or it could even be "i am a better person" or "well im glad i dont sin like he/she does". I do not understand why we ( i suffer from this as well) have to put ourselves up on a cloud. God shows no favortism. The bible is what we follow and the bible states that multiple times. Why does it matter what these people do. They are living their life how they want. Whether or not their morals are good or bad. Love them. That is what they need. That is what everyone needs. Have you ever had someone tell you, they appreciate your friendship and that they love you? I recently had someone tell me that. That conversation was one of my favorite conversations I have experienced in my 21 years of living. I knew he meant every word and I knew he had seen and experienced love from me. *not tooting my own horn* I dislike it when christians talk or discuss about the things they have done in order to change someones life or "great" experiences they have caused in peoples lives. That is a different topic....
I know I have rambled about this section, but I think it is so important. Love. Christ. The first thing that comes to my mind when I think of Jesus Christ as a human, as well as God, I think love. Jesus loved the hell out of people, and you better believe a ton of those people he loved were people that were not "saved". They were broken people who needed someone to talk to. They needed to see how someone who was down to earth, would not condemn them, but would embrace them with his love. I cannot imagine the amount of comfort those people must have felt from Jesus. So I ask of you...and I ask of myself. Love people. Do not pretend to love, but actually "love til the end". I know it is impossible to be perfect, we will never come close, but why can't we try? I want to embrace people with love that comes from me, but ultimately comes from God/Jesus. I could not keep the friends I have today or care for them if it was not for my relationship with God. He helps me to love them and never think less of them. Even when their choices are beyond rediculously wrong. I dont always agree with them and I state that. But regardless, you better believe I am going to strive to love them...and I will strive to love others.
Ok for the 2nd part. I did not mean to say that much, but like I said...I did not plan any of this out, it just hit me tonight.
"I think our god isn't God, if he fits inside our head".
I have had a lot of people come up to me, even friends of mine, religious and not, but they ask me..."why does this happen?" or "why is God like this?". My response is..."I do not know the answer." Because I have to be honest. I don't know all of the answers. I believe we are not suppose to know all of the answers.
I do not want to try and fit God inside of my head. What is the purpose? God was not meant to be laid out so we could have everything figured out. Where would the mystery be if we had all of the answers. The problem I think we would all run into if we could have our questions answered is that they would never stop....we would always find another question or require an explanation. It hurts me when we place God or christianity into this "bubble" or structured format. I think i have mentioned this before, but I feel very strongly on it as well. It says in the scriptures ( I will give one in a minute) how Christ lived and how we should live our lives. Why is that not enough? Why must all of these self-help books, tapes, sermons, lectures, conventions.....whatever you want to call them. Why are they such an important part of modern day christianity?
Before I continue I do want to point out. I am not saying these things are not beneficial. I have 2 books by Brennan Manning, but they are not about structuring people, christianity, or God. I think that great things can come out of all of these books, tapes, etc. I think it becomes a problem when they are what we rely on in order to gain advice. I know that sunday sermons can be considered in this category as well, so I am careful with what I say. I will state it again. Good...great things can come from anyone and anything, but careful consideration should be made when a person begins to consume his/herself with things like these.
I picture a young adult man, maybe in his 30's reading books on how to be a better person. How to be a better Christian. I think it is great he is trying to be better or grow with his relationship with God, but it becomes so easy to create a "format" or "checklist" when pursuing these kinds of things. This may only be me and my personality, but for me I have to be very careful.
I am a very realistic person (some might say too realistic). I also think there is difference between being realistic and being lazy. I stated I do not want to have God figured out, but that does not mean I or we cannot engage in others or with God about our questions or our problems. That line has been playing in my head over and over, especially when I lay my head down at night.
Is your god really God?
Is my god really God?
I think our god isn't God,
If he fits inside our heads.
I have to completely agree. Our God does not fit in our head, and will never even come close. So as I ask one more thing of whoever and of myself. Do not place God under guidelines or rules. He does not have any and does not need any. He is love and he wants us represent him by loving. By doing good. Lead a lifestlye that makes people jealous of it. I mean that in a good way. Make them want the happiness that is in your life. That happiness is the Holy Spirit. We cannot change a person or actually make them christians. We open the door and that change/decision is internal. I hope we and myself start to live this way more often. Because that one conversation I had with my friend brought me more joy and just secured my relationship with him as well as with God even more. God is great. Jesus is love. Let us represent these things.
Colossians 3:12-17
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Colossians 3:12-17
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Goodnight.
