5.20.2006

The Christian Code...

Last night my wife and I went to one of our favorite places for dinner: Chipotle! I love their burrito bol. Yum Yum. Anywho, the one we went to is right in front of Sunset Station, a local casino here in Vegas. This casino houses one of the many movie theaters showing "The DaVinci Code." (I feel like there should be music going "duh duh duh" in a dark and sinister way...) When we were parking the car, we noticed some people standing on the corner protesting. They were saying what we all probably expect them to be saying. "The Davinci Code mocks Jesus." "The Davinci Code dishoners my Savior."

At first I had my normal reaction anytime I see Christians protesting. "Get a life," I thought. "Quit giving Christians a bad name."

But the more I thought about it, the more it bothered me. I'm not sure why, but I think I can narrow it down to one of two things.

First, is the aforementioned reason above. Something about Christians crying out against culture bothers me. I guess the way I look at it is this: I have a dog named Athena. She is a 2 year old boxer. Boxers are a very hyper breed. Every single time I let her in when I get home from work, it's like she hasn't seen me in years. She is so excited and runs and runs and runs untill she just collapses from exhaustion. I love our little routine. Dogs are great because you can train them. Athena's not the brightest of the bunch, so she takes a little patience, but she's getting there. The other night, I heard her barking at the door. Usually this means she wants out, but as I rounded the corner to head to the door, a funky odor came over me. I knew immediately this would be bad for me. Sure enough, a fresh, steamy pile of dookie lay under the pool table. Of course I was mad. Of course I told her she was a bad dog, but inside it didn't really bother me that much. Why you ask? Well, because she is a dog. I mean, it's not like my best friend came over and dropped some heat under my pool table. More than likely she pawed at the door and I just didn't hear her. My point is this. Most of the world is lost. What do we really expect? Do we really expect them to care if the movie, "dishonors our Lord"? Sometimes a dog poops in the house. Sometimes the world doesn't get theology quite right. Not a reason to protest in my opinion.

On the other hand, something about seeing them take a stand for Jesus is kind of motivating. When was the last time I did something that blatenly said, "I stand for Jesus and everything he says and even if it makes me look like a fool, I am willing to do it for him." Let me see......yeah, a long, long time. Something about the word 'dishonor' really got me. I like people who hold Jesus in a high regard. I remember one time going to an episcapalean service (I know I butchered that one, but bear with me okay?). I just remember being blown away by the amount of reverance they had for God. When they started the service, these altar boys carried in these giant banners the praised God. I thought, "now this is cool." What these people were saying was, "this hurts me to see God thought any less than what he is." And really, how do I argue with that?

I can't really say I've come to a conclusion on anything. I don't expect the world to understand us or our Jesus. But I find myself also longing to be in that picket line holding a sign that says, "I dishonor my Savior."

2 comments:

bill said...

good thoughts. of course, i'm always going to be a fan of a post that uses the phrase "drop some heat" in reference to poop. that is just my style. but i do like both points you've made. it reminds me of the prophet daniel. he was a prophet to the nation of israel while they were in babylonian captivity. and what did he call the people to? not to fight the babylonians or to try and change their culture. he called them to be more holy. to hold God and His laws in a higher regard. the problem wasn't with the babylonians...it was with the jews. i think that translates to us today. like a smart man once commented on my blog, "The world has yet to see what God can do with a man fully consecrated to him". i agree.

Anonymous said...

yummmm.... burrito.... I'd fly back for one of those things.