Long Live Trite

You all have my intern to thank for sending me a link to this video from Tangle (formerly known as GodTube). Before I go on and get deluged with comments galore debating the many versions of creation and evolution, let me just say that the origins of the universe is not the point of this post.

I take issue with this video because it is a prime example of how too many times we as Christians completely miss the point. The last time I checked Jesus said the greatest command is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your soul and all your strength; and the second one is to love your neighbour as yourself. Yet we do and say things which shut down meaningful conversations and relationships. We turn our Christianity into trite slogans, quick quips, and bumper car sticker fodder. It’s as if we are in a competition to be the ones who can say (in the words of my nine-year-old son), “Ooo, burn!!! Whaddya have to say to that?!?”

Please, can we stop being petty? Can we please focus on being a redemptive presence in the world? Can we show love and compassion to the people around us? Can we allow the Holy Spirit to use us to make a difference in this world so that people can witness pockets of what the Kingdom of God is like?

I can’t be completely certain, but I think our mission is more about loving people and pointing them to Christ than it is wearing T-shirts proclaiming “Abortion is Murder!”