Doers

Often when I read the Bible I connect to it (only) on a surface level—skimming the surface of the words and breezing through the stories like it’s homework, and if I’ve learned anything at camp or church or Bible studies, it’s that other people have that experience, too. Christians, brothers and sisters through the Messiah, I am talking to you right now, you who are (most likely, almost definitely) identifying with me. Ya know?

 

Here’s how it oft plays out: I sit down with my Bible, and I honestly want to connect with the Lord and learn more about Him, and hopefully find an application to my life that bears fruit, but then I start reading and something . . . just . . . happens. I get into the passage a little bit and either get distracted or just plain tired of reading it. The above happens: skimming the Lord’s Word (Isn’t that a silly thought? Here we are given the truth and yet we treat it with such, with such lightheartedness).

 

But I don’t want that—I’m not satisfied with that, and I don’t suspect you are as well. I’m tired of bland Scripture readings (which should be an oxymoron); I’m tired of digging into truth and only finding dirt; I’m tired of not connecting with the Lord of my salvation.

 

So there’s this band, called Rage Against the Machine, and they are pretty hardcore (like I wish I was some of the time). They have all these cool political beliefs and hate America and stuff. They’re pretty hip and make you feel rebellious even when you are listening to them. Tom Morello, the band’s lead guitarist (and a Harvard grad with a degree in Political Science I might add), has said that J former J President George W. Bush should be charged with war crimes and hung. Now I don’t agree with that but they say stuff like that, which is semi-shocking and kinda makes you want to lock your doors or something.

 

But Rage Against the Machine, despite some of its near-psycho beliefs, stands for a lot of amazing things. The band promotes and helps organizations that further women’s rights, fight poverty and injustice, and stuff like that. I was front row at a show they did and Zack (lead singer) gives a political speech every time, and here’s what I’m getting at: Rage Against the Machine stands for something. They believe in something enough to take action for it. Even if some of their beliefs are not what we would deem morally right or whatever, that’s more than most people can say.

 

I was eating lunch today and looked around at all the college students, eating, drinking, laughing, etc., and I thought to myself, “Holy shit, most of these people (including myself 99% of the time) don’t stand for anything but themselves.” And then I listen to Rage Against the Machine and they are standing for something. I can respect anyone who stands for something that’s not rooted (somehow) in their own personal gain.

 

As I sat, eating my apples and watching bleach-blondes flirt with Hollister guys, it occurred to me that I don’t want to be like them; I don’t want to be another person who seeks his own—I want to be one with something bigger, and better.

I realize this post is scatterbrained, but I’m (at least) attempting to make a point. Just now I was reading Ephesians again and listening to Rage Against the Machine (I suggest it) and thought to myself, “This is something that is serious, something that has eternal consequences, something that is worth being acted upon and not (solely) meditated upon.”

 

Therefore, I resolve and pray (because, once again, as Christ says, apart from Him we can do nothing) to let God use me. I’m giving God the 1% He needs to do something. To do something—because that’s what this is about—this life and this gospel—it’s about doing. Farewell—I got stuff to do.

 

My brother James says, “But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves.”