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Real Christianity
Interesting thing. Recently, one night I wasn't quite
ready to roll over and go to sleep so I watched a program called The
Unit. It's about secret Delta Force soldiers sent out on dangerous missions.
In this episode one of the characters is sent to an Asian country to
rescue Christian missionaries because insurgents were burning the churches
and killing them. The first thing I noticed, which seems to be a common
portrayal now, the Christians were represented as limp-wristed, holier-than-thou
idiots. The soldier does finally rescue them but he gets to make a pot-shot
commentary about "Bible thumpers" having to be rescued when
they shouldn't be there in the first place.
How transparent is that?
It seems to me that Hollywood is now a perfect forum for
dispensing hate craftily disguised as "tolerance" and "diversity."
They would disagree, of course, because making fun of and faulting Christians
has become an acceptable badge of courage in all forms of media even
as Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Hari Krishnas, Kabbalahists, Scientologists,
atheists and all other flavors of religious and non-religious cultures
are revered and embraced. We seem to be reverting to the days when Christians
were routinely fed to the lions and burned at the stake. We also seem
to be rapidly coming to the final showdown - Christians vs The Rest
of the World. I think this is because of three things: one, other religions
do not dare to claim outloud to be the "only way" thus raising
instant ire and resistance and two, only the radical perversionists
get noticed, thus dogmatic, legalistic, apostate Christianity has had
the limelight, so thoroughly and successfully misrepresenting Christ,
it is no wonder people despise what they have been taught to think Christianity
is. For such a long time, for centuries even, wars and great atrocities
against humanity have been perpetrated under the banner of Christ. While
this is a great tribute to God’s unfathomable patience, it does
make the path infinitely more narrow and less defined for those of us
seeking the truth.
Unfortunately, those who have indeed found the real deal
cannot begin to undo the long-held misconceptions, not even as living
witnesses quietly demonstrating the faith, properly representing Christ
and honest Christian values. For one thing, the very nature of understanding
the Christian spiritual life makes it impossible to desire to force
it on anyone else. “Come, follow Me,” Christ said. This
was not a command; it was an invitation. True Christian disciples never
brow beat or thump their Bibles because they don’t have to. The
message is clear, hear it or don’t. History recalls many missionaries
who were either political pawns and/or false witnesses but there are
just as many unsung hero Christian missionaries who are routinely killed
and yet others continue to replace them taking the invitation to other
parts of the world for no other reason than we were told to. The key
is in the invitation itself, delivered with love and choice –
Come, follow Me. Hollywood prefers to ignore how much aid and good work
so many Christians have sacrificed to bring to third world countries.
But real Christianity isn't glamorous or dramatic enough and to the
outside observer quite pedantic and boring.
Which brings us to the third reason.
Disturbed by the obvious, albeit subtle, slam this TV
show made against Christians, I fell asleep trying to create a more
truthful story representing Christians as they really are. I couldn't
do it. It wasn't entertaining enough, by the world’s standards.
I simply do not have the writing skills to effectively express the peace,
joy and daily miracles that accompany abiding in Christ. I wondered
why it is so hard and this lead me to recall the basic mechanics of
good storytelling - it isn't enough to create a protagonist whom you
can sympathize with, a good engaging tale must have tension and conflict
and then eventual resolution. It's not that Christians don't have conflict,
of course, but regardless of earthly struggles, faith is the underpinning
of genuine Christianity. Once surrendered to Christ, trouble becomes
a less important footnote because believing and trusting that all things
work together for good for those who love the Lord is the crux of the
life lived for Christ and therefore the main story line. Not much good
storytelling conflict there. Oh well...it promises to get worse before
it gets better. The lions are gathering for the feast.
Hide in Christ and watch from safety.
