I was reading this article today about “God’s shelf life.” The writer suggested most Christians in their 20s put God on the shelf and discover their own beliefs, walk away from the faith, etc. etc. I would guess most people who grew up in the church like I did have done something similar whether it was in college or afterwards.
Her example was that the Wednesday night Bible study is replaced with video games or a pilates class and the WOW 2002 CD is replaced with Arcade Fire.
While I do agree with a lot of what she says, I don’t really understand why someone is less of a Christian or is putting God on the shelf by listening to Arcade Fire and taking pilates. I understand her point, but still. Personally, the Christian life has become more dynamic for me as I’ve stepped out of the Christian subculture some and see how my faith intersects other value systems. And for that matter, basking in the subculture with the Christian lingo, products, and events to me doesn’t really seem like the way Jesus lived out his ministry. Everyone has a different part to play, but still.
Kind of along the same lines, I watched Christiana Amanpour’s piece called God’s Warriors a while back and was totally fascinated. She thoroughly interviewed Muslims, Jews, and Christians…and each person considered themselves “God’s Warrior” in some aspect. I finally understood why Osama bin Laden specifically despises the US so much, and it wasn’t really about Israel.
Anyway, during the Christian part I of course had to examine my own life. I think every Christian is called to be “God’s Warrior” to some extent because of spiritual warfare, but I think people have different tactics in waging “battle.” I think mine has become less overt than say 7-8 years ago, and more against evil practices in the world than people and things, if that makes sense. So I’m going to chronicle my spiritual journey to see how it has changed while God has stayed the same.
I have more thoughts on the church today, but this blog is long enough. Thanks for indulging me.
and…the Arcade Fire is a great band too, btw…
February 24, 2008 at 1:49 pm
This makes me think of a lady I met out at the “Expo” this weekend (I know you wrote this last September and it’s now February 2008, but I’m just now catching up!) Anyway, the lady told me she was a “Prayer Warrior” and that she has more than 200 people on her list. She said it takes her a while to get through the list because of all those people, and plus she spends more time on the ones who really need prayer. I was getting a little bored listening to all of this, but then she told me the most memorable thing. She said she lost her husband six years ago. She of course had been very lonely, and so she started praying for a boyfriend. Ha! But wait, it gets better. “And you know what?” she said. I said, “What?” “Now I have one,” was her humble reply. Wow. Now that’s God answering a prayer. She was very cute and I appreciated her stopping by to tell me all of these things… especially, “I like Christian people. I’m a Christian. Christian people are good,” she said. Yes, ma’am, Christian people are good. Thank you for being so memorable.