02.25.05
Posted in culture at 12:00 am by
You know, sometimes I start these little ramblings out with the foreknowlege that what I’m about to say ain’t gonna’ be popular. I’m not sure why I think that; I just do. I’m also not sure why I go through with writing these peices. Perhaps, I’m just a dirty little glutton for punishment.
Maybe, though, it’s because I hope that one or two of you twisted little people out there that will actually resonate with what I write. I guy can hope, I guess. Today, I’m writing one of those posts. I’m honestly not sure how it’ll go over. But, it’s bouncing around in my head, and frankly, that’s just about all the impetus it takes for me to write something up.
So, here it is. I think if we all acted a little more like Jesus this world wouldn’t suck so much. Shocking pearl of wisdom, eh? See, though, lots of Christians are trying to do everything BUT be like Jesus. Just look at all the people we emulate, copy, and idolize. The problem is that on the right there are so many folks running around claiming to speak FOR God, it’s become tantamount to heresy to think for one’s self.
From Rick Warren to Hank Hanegraaf, from Osteen to Colson, from Bush to Rove, from Jenkins to LaHaye the religious right has more ‘rolemodels’ than they can shake a stick at. Sometimes there are so many rolemodels with so many publicized viewpoints that I think that the populus does what MTV culture teaches us to do when we’ve got message overload. Namely, people stop evaluating, and just default to listening to the EASY message. All these big names (see the Times top 25 list) have become the Christian right’s collective brain. They process so that their minions won’t have to do so.
But, my friends, I’m an equal opportunity offender. I’d love to think that all we have on the left for rolemodels are Jesus and Jim Wallis. But I’m afraid that I know better than to think such a thing. I do think that on the whole, the religious left is a touch more skeptical of authority than our conservative counterparts–often this can be a good thing. Too often, my friends, though I fear we enjoy too much of that good thing. I think we serve as our very own rolemodels. They say that the person who represents themselves in a trial has a fool for an attourney–well, I think the same is true for appointing yourself to be your own rolemodel. Maybe I’m all washed up, maybe some of you would like to point out that conservatives are just as self-involved and individualistic as many liberals, maybe I’ve just admitted my own fault and it applies to none of the rest of you. Whatever the case, it needed to be said.
Anytime you try to paint with a broad brush you end up with a Monet rather than a Thomas Kinkade. Frankly, I’d rather have a Monet. Certainly not all conservatives fit the mould of ‘collectiveist’ thinking and likewise the oppositte is true for liberals. But, I do hold that these are the faults we tend toward. And, knowing those things we tend toward is vital if we’re ever going to make head way.
However you shake it, I still think this world would suck a whole lot less if Jesus were the target rather than Dubya, Ann Coulter, Rick Warren, Jerry Jenkins, Kirk Kameron, Ken Hamm, or even ourselves. But, then again, maybe I’m wrong. I have been before, and I will be again.
And maybe it’s just late, and I’m tired.
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Posted in culture at 12:00 am by
You know, sometimes I start these little ramblings out with the foreknowlege that what I’m about to say ain’t gonna’ be popular. I’m not sure why I think that; I just do. I’m also not sure why I go through with writing these peices. Perhaps, I’m just a dirty little glutton for punishment.
Maybe, though, it’s because I hope that one or two of you twisted little people out there that will actually resonate with what I write. I guy can hope, I guess. Today, I’m writing one of those posts. I’m honestly not sure how it’ll go over. But, it’s bouncing around in my head, and frankly, that’s just about all the impetus it takes for me to write something up.
So, here it is. I think if we all acted a little more like Jesus this world wouldn’t suck so much. Shocking pearl of wisdom, eh? See, though, lots of Christians are trying to do everything BUT be like Jesus. Just look at all the people we emulate, copy, and idolize. The problem is that on the right there are so many folks running around claiming to speak FOR God, it’s become tantamount to heresy to think for one’s self.
From Rick Warren to Hank Hanegraaf, from Osteen to Colson, from Bush to Rove, from Jenkins to LaHaye the religious right has more ‘rolemodels’ than they can shake a stick at. Sometimes there are so many rolemodels with so many publicized viewpoints that I think that the populus does what MTV culture teaches us to do when we’ve got message overload. Namely, people stop evaluating, and just default to listening to the EASY message. All these big names (see the Times top 25 list) have become the Christian right’s collective brain. They process so that their minions won’t have to do so.
But, my friends, I’m an equal opportunity offender. I’d love to think that all we have on the left for rolemodels are Jesus and Jim Wallis. But I’m afraid that I know better than to think such a thing. I do think that on the whole, the religious left is a touch more skeptical of authority than our conservative counterparts–often this can be a good thing. Too often, my friends, though I fear we enjoy too much of that good thing. I think we serve as our very own rolemodels. They say that the person who represents themselves in a trial has a fool for an attourney–well, I think the same is true for appointing yourself to be your own rolemodel. Maybe I’m all washed up, maybe some of you would like to point out that conservatives are just as self-involved and individualistic as many liberals, maybe I’ve just admitted my own fault and it applies to none of the rest of you. Whatever the case, it needed to be said.
Anytime you try to paint with a broad brush you end up with a Monet rather than a Thomas Kinkade. Frankly, I’d rather have a Monet. Certainly not all conservatives fit the mould of ‘collectiveist’ thinking and likewise the oppositte is true for liberals. But, I do hold that these are the faults we tend toward. And, knowing those things we tend toward is vital if we’re ever going to make head way.
However you shake it, I still think this world would suck a whole lot less if Jesus were the target rather than Dubya, Ann Coulter, Rick Warren, Jerry Jenkins, Kirk Kameron, Ken Hamm, or even ourselves. But, then again, maybe I’m wrong. I have been before, and I will be again.
And maybe it’s just late, and I’m tired.
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Trackback URL »
http://www.badchristian.com/2005/02/25/why_we_ve_taken_rolemodels_too_far/trackback/
Resident Atheist said,
February 25, 2005 at 1:07 am
In America, we give speeches about heroes and name holidays, streets, buildings and scholarships after them. In short, a lot of times we praise them so we won’t have to imitate them.
What’s particularly insidious is that we tend to only celebrate heroes in the context of getting us to where we are now. Police and firefighters? They preserve our way of life. George Washington and the founding fathers? They founded the United States, the country we have now. Abraham Lincoln? He’s viewed as a figurehead for the abolition of slavery, which we still don’t have [in name, anyway]. Martin Luther King? He helped abolish legal segregation, which we don’t have today. We celebrate the lives, beliefs and struggles of people who made possible the current status quo. Revolutionaries are viewed as nothing more than people who laid the foundation for the indestructible present.
Jesus is no different. He died for our sins, etc., and made possible this Christian nation which we must preserve at any cost. Besides, he did what we could never do. How could anyone imitate him?
So it’s not just who you look up to that matters; it’s how you look up to them. Interpretation is everything.
I think liberal-leaning people tend to eschew heroes in this restricted sense, and rightly so. If you look at the actual writings of real, change-enacting people like (say) MLK or Helen Keller, they weren’t inspired by just one person or idea–they didn’t have one single role model. They drew from a plethora of sources and people, living and dead, for inspiration. Role models are everywhere, so long as you’re willing to combine the best aspects and thoughts of many people.
Chris said,
February 25, 2005 at 2:47 am
I think that’s insightful… the better part of my “religious journey” has been choosing and swapping role models to fashion myself as, and that’s not what being a Christian should be about.
Christ-ians.. little Christs.
With some care towards how we do it, of course: I don’t think we need more WWJD power right now.
Just Pat said,
February 25, 2005 at 6:23 am
“I still think this world would suck a whole lot less if Jesus were the target…”
Amen, BC.
Also, resonating a little from RA’s comment, I think we find Jesus in scripture, in nature, and in others. If we look hard enough, we find him in the places we find most unlikely. I think part of what stops us is our pride, our innate need for control of our world, and our lack of understanding that, if Jesus is Lord, he is Lord of all. If he is Lord of all, I don’t have to have the conservatives and liberals all figured out, do I? That frees me to love them; yes even THEM.
Of course, that road leads to the cross.
That’s the kind of radical I want to be.
Brandon said,
February 25, 2005 at 10:03 am
Ugh. This is one of those posts that I write at night and hate in the morning. Not sure why. Fortunately, you all have offered good thoughts, and that makes me feel better.
Fred La Plante said,
February 25, 2005 at 8:17 pm
I agree with your assessment of how we tend to make people our “saviors” instead of Jesus. I struggle with people who make the thoughts and ideas of others more important than the Word of God. Even worse are those who tend to think that “their” interpretation of the Bible are the “only” accurate interpretations. This has been the struggle throughout history and we don’t seem to learn from the lessons. Are we blind, or are we trying to be God?
Ol Cranky said,
February 26, 2005 at 9:16 pm
Brandon:
No reason to hate it, I thought you made yourself and your concerns pretty clear. We (as a culture) worship and try to emulate the very idols we were warned about. The gods we really worship are power and money. We need to get back to the basics that atheists, monotheists and polytheists can agree on and strive to be good people we know are worthy of our respect.
Ol Cranky said,
February 26, 2005 at 9:16 pm
Brandon:
No reason to hate it, I thought you made yourself and your concerns pretty clear. We (as a culture) worship and try to emulate the very idols we were warned about. The gods we really worship are power and money. We need to get back to the basics that atheists, monotheists and polytheists can agree on and strive to be good people we know are worthy of our respect.
Mike Schafer said,
February 27, 2005 at 5:37 pm
I think the right has a much bigger problem with role models, it partially comes from the whole idea of a “divine” ruler/leader. Many Catholics believe that the Pope is infallible and can’t be questioned, and this doctrine was official until recently. This trait is by no means exclusive to catholicism or Christianity. I do think it translates into other parts of their lives, thus giving them less motivation to question authority and role models.
Bob said,
March 10, 2005 at 11:54 am
Brandon
I really liked what you had to say AMEN!! Jesus said that He did what he saw the Father doing,and the only way we (as christians)have to the Father is Jesus. I believe that He is our role model and that His life in us can accomplish great things (not our life or by our strength).The life of anyone we choose as a role model should be viewed through our personal relationship with Jesus because He is THE role model for life.
As for the religious right,philosophically they are fundamentalist thats obvious,I hope they mean well, for their sakes. However,I believe that they have sold the church (or perhaps sold out),the bride of Christ,as though she was a prostitute on the streets, to a political agenda.
Adrian Rogers a leader in the Southern Baptist Convention a few years back was quoted as saying that he wanted “a marriage between the SBC and the republican party” to that I would reply AS FOR ME AND MY CHURCH WE ARE THE BRIDE OF “CHRIST”!!! What is happening to the church as a result is probably one of the worst sins, most damageing to the church, of a century.I know that I’m not perfect and don’t claim to be better than these, but definetly
different.God’s grace is given for all of us.