30 April 2008

Coercion, Manipulation and the Stuff of Fairy Tales

To have two hours to myself while Kullen has a rehearsal, Kendra is working and Kaitlyn opted to stay home in luxurious silence is almost too good to be true. Sitting here blogging at Barnes and Noble, surrounded by soothing music, gentle conversation, many great books, and the stimulating smell of freshly brewed coffee has given me a chance to think. I do this all the time, but seldom without following rabbit trails.
We continue to have situations even outside church where others through guilt and manipulation attempt to derive a specific outcome, behavior, or cooperation. Why can't people just live and let one another live in peace? I am faced with the stark reality that I too have often done these same dirty deeds.
It seems that we are all afraid of each other. We struggle to give one another the freedom to move. In religious circles it seems we often don't want others to do things that we don't allow ourselves to do or enjoy.
I try to picture Jesus with the personality that we often like to give to Him - "Come to me, or I'm not gonna give you this good thing here in my left pocket." "Blessed are those who washed their hands before supper." "Come to me all who are weary or heavy laden and I will tell you what ten things to do to get yourself out of this mess." I just can't picture Him that way, and so if we want to be increasingly becoming more and more like Him, why do we do this to each other?
It sounds so simple to ask what would Jesus do, and just a little different to try and live it out. I'm no theologian, but I definitely think we have lost our aim.

3 comments:

  1. Good thoughts here, Julie. I like how these verses are worded in the Message: "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you will recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me- watch how i do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."

    "UNFORCED rythmns of grace." It is easy to look at others, but like you say, we all are guilty of it, aren't we. Thanks for the reminder.

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  2. I think alot of "church" people acutally do ask what what Jesus do, but the truth is: what they think He would do is WRONG! They don't really know the Word.
    If people spent more time trying to get thier own lives straight, imagine the changes we could make happen in the world!

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  3. And yet again, it is so much the reasons that we have no contact whatsoever with organized religion.

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Awaiting your words......
♥ Juls ♥