May 2, 2006

The Real Oxymoron

Somehow, this doesn't strike me as something to build one's life on.

"Faith is the New Punk Rock." Come on. If all your faith means to you is a wedge to rebel against your secular parents, it isn't worth diddleysquat.

That sort of faith would be, to use an old country phrase, "a mile wide and an inch deep." It certainly wouldn't stand up to any heat or opposition, or very much scrutiny for that matter. Sorry, but I'm don't think simply saying "Jesus loves me" will get you anywhere.

Genuine faith is tested, as Peter so aptly describes at 1 Peter 1:7. (From The Living Bible, one of my favorite versions.)

"These trials are only to test your faith, to see whether or not it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests gold and purifies it--and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold; so if your faith remains strong after being tried in the test tube of fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor in the day of his return."

In this context, I don't think likening faith to a style of music (and one which isn't all that wonderful, to boot) is going to cut it.

To me, true faith is grounded in logic, not emotionalism. (Of course, some will say all religion is illogical, but that's another post.) Faith means, first and foremost, knowing what you believe and why. This requires study and meditation: the former to reason out your beliefs, the latter to make them a part of you. In my case, this means a deep and ongoing study of the Bible. Not to sound as if I'm boasting, but I daresay I've read it through several times over, and each time I find fresh insights and new revelations.

To try to pass off faith as a "form of rebellion," as the article mentions, is the most shallow and simplistic thing I've ever heard of. Christianity has the power to transform your life, if you allow it.

However, if you treat it as no more than a trendy veneer, it's worse than useless.

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