“…for every seed must die before it grows”

Revitalization

I’ve decided to connect some jumper cables to the battery and re-start this beast. I want to remain committed to getting on here at least once a week. I really enjoy the chance to formulate what I’ve been thinking about. I plan on keeping true to the values that I posted in my first entry.

Anyways, here we go.

It seems to me that more than ever, people are looking for something to believe in. Hold onto this thought.

This has caused many to lean toward extremes. On one end, fundamental Christianity is rampant in many parts of North America. On the other end, atheist fundamentalism is also on the rise. I know that people on either end of the spectrum may read this and I mean not to take unhealthy jabs at either belief system.

I heard a speaker at a conference I was at last October called Catalyst.

Basically, about 12,000 people from around the world gather to hear speakers, usually of the Christian variety, talk about leadership, and how we can become incredible leaders in our work environment. It’s usually quite a revitalizing time. Seth Godin, in particular really struck a chord with me. I think it was maybe because he wasn’t like most of the other people in the room. But it was also because he was so bang on about a topic I hadn’t really explored all that much. It’s this idea of Tribes. He even wrote a book about it, which I haven’t had the chance to read yet.

Tribes are associated with an ancient, archaic form of living, but to be honest that is so far from the truth. Tribes exist all around us. All we need to do is go on Facebook and look at the “Groups” we have joined. What does it say about us? On a superficial level, I am able to guess what kind of person someone is based on who or what they associate with. The same can be true for myself if we examine the “Groups” I’ve chosen to join. Because I’ve joined the group “The Nick and Josh Podcast“, someone who knows about their podcast can infer that I’m a fan of them and enjoy the kinds of people they interview (though I say that with caution – I am always hesitant to identify myself with any one author/speaker/leader/pastor). Because I’ve joined the group “To Write Love On Her Arms”, one can guess that I place high value on the mental/physical/emotional/spiritual well-being of people, and that I support organizations that help in this area (OK, that’s a lot to infer, but it’s all true). Tribes speak to our innermost being – after all, we would generally not join a tribe who’s value system we did not support. When we join tribes, it gives us a sense of belonging and purpose. It gives us a great sense of relief when we find out, for instance, that we’re on the only ones who love a particular band, or style of music, or author, or movie. Over time our tribes may change as we change, but these tribes will always speak to who we are as we evolve.

Keep all this in mind, as I go back to my initial statement. Belief and belonging seem to go hand in hand. This can be a good thing. As we strive towards knowing and understanding what and why we believe, we tend to create a culture around it. A tribe, if you will. For instance – for a number of years a new breed of Christian has arisen from the ashes of Western fundamentalism – it’s been labeled, for better or for worse, the emerging, or emergent church. Some say the emergent church is  good, and necessary for Christianity. Some would say it is dangerous, new age, and heretical. Both sides have formed rival tribes, plotting against each other (all for Christ’s sake, of course).

This is a tribe I have made the conscious choice to shy away from. I may enjoy the writings or teachings of people on either end of the spectrum, and therefore cannot in good conscience commit to one tribe or the other.

I’ve noticed a new tribe as of late. This tribe has had a cult following and is inspired by gnosticism and skepticism. It often revolves around conspiracy theories and tends to suck others into believing that as they have information peeled away in front of their eyes, that they are being let into this inner circle of knowledge. In popular culture, it was showcased in novels like Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code. Brown stated in the beginning of this novel that while it is a work of fiction, all the research is accurate and true. Since 9/11, there have been numerous documentaries which have attempted to suggest a mass cover up regarding the planes crashing in New York, Shanksville and The Pentagon. Even further political theories existed about the Iraq War, America’s current economic state and of great interest to me, religion.

About a year ago, I watched a free documentary entitled Zeitgeist, which is a phrase of Germanic origin which means “The spirit of the age”. It is a beautiful phrase, but has come to mean something much different. For a movie based off a word that seems hope-filled, it seems bent on telling us that everything we know is wrong. In particular, the widely debated first 1/3rd of the film starts things off with a bang. Apparently, Jesus isn’t real. He never was. He is myth. Many have embraced and adopted this tribe. I’ve heard stories of God-fearing folks dropping everything they believe and becoming an atheist after watching this.

Oh, ye of little faith.

Why wouldn’t someone, after watching something of this magnitude, take about a week or so and gather some real hard evidence? In the paraphrased words of Bruxy Cavey, these people are betting on the fact that you won’t do your own research. The film comes off with such an air of confidence that it seems impossible to be wrong. It seems to me, especially if Jesus of Nazareth has had an influence on your life, that you wouldn’t just drop your “Jesus Tribe” shirt for a “There-Is-No-Jesus Tribe” shirt.

All this has raised some questsions that deserve answers.

If you are/were a believer and you found out Jesus isn’t real, would that change your life in the slightest? Would it wreck you?
If you’re a part of the skeptic tribe, and if Jesus IS real, would it change how you live?
If you believe in Jesus right now, are you allowing him to mold you into the person God wants you to be?
Why do we want so desperately to not believe in Jesus sometimes?

With which tribe are we going to set up camp with?

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