American Idiot

A friend of mine said "most people settle for the church they attend. They seldom go where they really want to."

I believe to a large extent that is true. We are so stuck in the rutness of life that we settle. We settle on most things. The majority of people do not work where they want to, but where the benefits are good. We give up on dreams and adventure and settle for mundaness and existence.

"What did you want to be?"
"I don't know, I cant remember...But it wasn't this."
Jerry Sienfeld and Elaine Bennis

We as a culture have embraced self preservation in such a huge way, it has taken over the thoughts and actions of our daily and Spiritual lives. My pastor told us last night "we live in the mega-Church age, but we baptize less people now than we did in 1965. There are less people per generation going to church than the previous one. 80% of all church programs are funded by those 55 and older, when they die, the church as we know it will cease to exist."

I think about these issues and think about how so many of those who name the name of Christ have taken a defensive stand in our culture. Not offering words and lives of transformation, but pointing the finger of judgment and degradation...not to the lost, but to the very ones they are supposed to walk along side.

It has been cool not to settle for a place to attend and serve the Bride. The leadership is sharp, not concerned about pleasing a select few, humble to stand on The Word, and very passionate about the Gospel and true honest theology.

somewhere the issue stopped being about discussion and transformation and became about preservation and rock throwing. I among all men am the most guilty here.

somewhere along the line we became afraid to call sin sin.

somewhere along the line we got pretty and put on a sweater vest and Tommy cologne.

somewhere somehow we stopped trying to be what we are supposed to be.

somewhere we figured Christian is Greek for republican.

somehow we lost the roar that once echoed in the streets of a great and mighty Warrior who rules with majesty. We seldom hear of His majesty and Holiness now. But lest we forget, He loves you and has a plan for your life. Which is true. However, trying to make Jesus one dimensional is like trying to dam up Niagara with a shovel.

Somewhere someone told all musicians to put out a praise and worship CD. Not only that, but they told them to rehash all the songs someone else wrote. Never mind about original stuff. Watch for Alice Cooper newest PW CD coming soon. He did get saved...Right?

So. There you have it. Thoughts from an American idiot from SE FL.


American Idiot by Green Day

Don't wanna be an American idiot.
Don't want a nation under the new media.
And can you hear the sound of hysteria?
The subliminal mindf*** America.

Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alien nation.
Everything isn't meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We're not the ones who're meant to follow.
Well that's enough to argue.

Well maybe I'm the faggot America.
I'm not a part of a redneck agenda.
Now everybody do the propaganda.
And sing along in the age of paranoia.

Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alien nation.
Everything isn't meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We're not the ones who're meant to follow.
Well that's enough to argue.

Don't wanna be an American idiot.
One nation controlled by the media.
Information nation of hysteria.
It's going out to idiot America.

Welcome to a new kind of tension.
All across the alien nation.
Everything isn't meant to be okay.
Television dreams of tomorrow.
We're not the ones who're meant to follow