The Fencepost

After 10 years as a Southerner, I’m still not a true Country-music convert. But when I hear an artist I like on the radio or TV, I’ll usually stop and listen. As a musician, it’s quality and craftsmanship that gets my attention regardless of genre – for the most part. This is the case recently with The Band Perry, of whom I really can’t get enough. Their pure sound and winning stage presence makes them one of the best new Country groups out there.

A pure sound is a label I’d also attach to Vince Gill. He’s an unabashed Country artist in a field known for pop crossovers. That didn’t stop him, however, from partnering with Sting in the most recent episode of CMT’s Crossroads series. And really, can you blame him? Would anyone turn down the opportunity to perform with one of the most successful and respected rock musicians of all time? I’ve been a fan of Sting since high school. When he and his band stopped at the (old) Arco Arena in Sacramento in 1987 during his “Nothing Like the Sun” tour, I was there. His Ten Summoner’s Tales is easily one of my top-10 favorite albums. So when I saw the billboard for this Crossroads episode on West End a few weeks ago, I went straight to my U-verse iPhone app and set my DVR.

The show didn’t disappoint. Essentially, it was Gill and his band, with Sting inviting longtime guitarist Dominic Miller to join them. There was the usual “you sing some of my songs, and I’ll return the favor” set list. Something about Sting singing Country songs has an undeniable appeal. Likely it’s because Country is at heart a storytelling musical genre, and Sting has always been a storytelling songwriter. Case in point: Witness these two sharing the vocals on Sting’s “Shape of My Heart,” and marvel at Sting’s comfort level crooning along to Gill’s foot-stomping “Don’t Let Our Love Start Slippin’ Away.” These two artists could launch a joint tour tomorrow and do quite well.

Crossroads’ mingling of music performance with backstage banter is part of the show’s appeal. It was once exchange in particular that caused me to find writing this post necessary. Following a commercial break, Sting took up a smallish acoustic guitar and began to sing “Amazing Grace” in a fairly low key. Gill observed, grinning like a school kid. Sting commented on the old song’s origins in a man’s personal redemption from a lifetime of sin. And then the conversation took an unexpected turn. Please pardon my attempt to approximate the dialogue from memory.

Sting: “I grew up in church. I’m thankful that my parents exposed me to it. I used to love the music, to hear the old songs. But I would have to call myself an agnostic. And the meaning of that word is ‘I don’t know.’ I find myself drifting from it.” At this point there is an uncomfortably long pause, especially for a TV show. Breaking the silence, Sting places a hand on Gill’s knee and (jokingly?) says to his partner, “Convert me.”

An iconic, internationally acclaimed, superstar swings wide the door of religious introspection. This is the sort of opportunity evangelists dream about. Sting is no slouch in the intellectual department either. He’s one of the most well-read, astute rockers there ever was. His song lyrics drip with literary references that make you wish his albums were packaged with a pocket encyclopedia. So a sixty-something mega-star invites you to share the reason for the hope you have. What do you do?

Here’s what Gill did.

“You know, I don’t think ‘faith’ means being sure about anything. A lot of people think that because I married Amy (Grant) that means I believe the same things as her. I think that as long as I’m a good person and I treat other people right, I don’t have to worry about connecting all the dots and following all the rules.”

Pause the recording. Allow that to sink in. Watch the opportunity start slippin’ away.

Here’s the contradiction broadcast via cable: A worldly rock star seeks comfort and hope from a spiritual Country star who has none to offer. Check your local listings for show times.

This conversation replayed in my mind for days. I thought about all the things I would have said, all the things I wished Gill had said. But then, it really amounts to all the things I wish Gill actually believed. You can’t give away what you don’t already have. And more than anything I’m struck by the assumption I held myself that Vince Gill was secure in Christian faith for reasons about which I’m not really certain and can’t adequately explain.

Here’s the contradiction broadcast via cable: A worldly rock star seeks comfort and hope from a spiritual Country star who has none to offer. Check your local listings for show times.

Epilogue: Contrary to what Gill says, “… faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. (Hebrews 11:1 ESV)” Despite what either of them say, “… these are written so that you may believe [know] that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and by believing you may have life in his name” (John 20:31). Furthermore: “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life” (1 John 5:13). And finally: “… we know that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know him who is true; and we are in him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life” (5:20).

What Sting searches for and Vince Gill isn’t certain about is a faith of assurance and a hope that is certain. I can’t honestly assert that I wouldn’t have failed miserably had Sting asked me such a point-blank question with national television cameras rolling. I do know, however, that God will be found by those who diligently seek Him (Jer. 29:12-14) and that He rewards those to whom He grants faith to believe He exists (Heb. 11:6).

But that’s just it. There’s faith, and there’s belief. They go together – just like Country and Rock.

There’s already been much said in reaction to Pat Robertson’s comments regarding marriage and Alzheimer’s disease on his 700 Club television program September 13. Allow me to point out the highlights.

I was first made aware of Robertson’s comments by Denny Burk, a professor at Boyce College in Louisville. He posted the video of the 700 Club segment in question. You can see it for yourself on YouTube.

On Thursday Southern Seminary’s Dean of Theology, Russell Moore, a man whom I respect greatly (and who would have been my Dean had I remained at Southern), posted his own blog reaction. He also appeared on CNN Friday to summarize the views about which he wrote.

As I made my own comment on Burk’s blog and read the comments of others, I witnessed a mix of “I can’t believe he said that” and “Shouldn’t we wait to pass judgment until we know the whole story?” One person I follow on Twitter implied that the fact that the husband to whom Robertson referred had already begun a relationship with another woman should change the way we interpret Robertson’s remarks.

Moore has already clearly expressed the biblical view of fidelity without compromise either to one’s spouse or toward modern societal fancies. I can’t do it any better.

So allow me to express this situation from my point of view as the son of a person with Alzheimer’s disease.

My father cares for my mother, who is in mid-stage of Alzheimer’s, full-time. He retired from a job with the State of California several years ago. The money he saved over the years, plus the benefits from former employment, help to fund his current life mission.

My mother is totally dependent on my father. Recently he had to lobby his healthcare provider to pay for a skilled in-home care expert to visit their home two days a week to helm my mom with basic personal care, which she can no longer perform adequately herself.

My mom used to love to cook and garden with my dad. Growing up there was rarely a night that she didn’t have dinner on the table for all of us. You should see the gorgeous backyard my parents created and maintained together. Mome grew dazzling roses and loved to talk about them. Those are things my dad does by himself now.

They still enjoy watching TV together, and even get out to see the occasional live jazz concert. Sometimes, though, my mom can’t distinguish between what’s happening on TV and what’s real.

Every day, my dad prays to God for the strength to care for his wife one more day. In one email last year, he told me he’s actually thankful that God orchestrated the events of their lives so that he could be there to love and care for this woman, my mother.

This January they will celebrate their 50th anniversary. My siblings and I will be there to share in their joy. The fact that they are still together despite my mom’s disease gives even more cause for celebration.

My dad is an example of faithful love. His life is a testimony to the truth of biblical fidelity in marrage, no matter what.

Pat Robertson’s remarks espouse the worst sort of subjective, experiential “Christianity” that is divorced from submission to bibical authority. He does not represent my faith or, if I may be bold enough to speak for him, that of my dad. Robertson’s comments were irresponsible, weak, and shameful. For the sake of the church at-large he should have the decency at this point to step down from his position and never seek to appear on television again.

I sincerely hope Robertson repents of his actions and seeks forgiveness from the God who has never abandoned him.

Usually when something becomes a big hit with almost everyone, my reaction is to stay away from it. I’m a natural skeptic, and the ubiquitious is typically a target for my raised eyebrow and folded arms. For instance, When LOST came on the air and people went crazy over it, I avoided it until ABC re-aired the first few episodes in January 2005. So I watched it then and was hooked. I actually wept during the finale, though now I don’t remember why, and I still don’t understand exactly what happened.

I waited two years to get my first iPhone. I’m only now giving Evernote a try. And my wife and I watched the first five seasons of The Office on Netflix this year because, well, everyone else liked it and that meant it wasn’t for me. I’m no early adopter, preferring a “we’ll see” attitude toward most everything.

I’m no different when it comes to Christian books, Bible studies, or other phenomena. Usually, stuff like that goes away after a while, and then something else comes along to take its place. The writings of Donald Miller might fall into that category, except they haven’t gone away. A coworker told me I “had to” read Blue Like Jazz back in 2006. So yes, I refused. And then I saw the book everywhere – on people’s work desks, in their hands at Starbucks, and on top of their Bibles at church. I continued my resistance.

Until a new friend I respect a great deal told me she has given away seven copies of the book. Every time she buys one, it ends up in someone else’s hands. That said more to me than any recommendation I had heard.

So a few months ago, Blue Like Jazz was only $1.99 for Kindle. I thought, if I’m ever going to buy this book, it will be now. I told my friend I would read it and let her know what I thought.

But first I should tell you what I expected. I’m basically Reform, quasi-Calvinist theologically. Liberal, Moderate, and especially Emergent Chrisitanity are all repugnant to me. And something about the vibes this book gave off made me think it was going to fall into one of those camps. Other well-known theologians and Christian bloggers do not care for Donald Miller, and so I expected I would not either.

Having completed the book, here are three main things I’ve learned.

1. Blue Like Jazz is not a danger to the church or to an individual believer. If you approach it expecting a neat, tidy foray into one Christian’s spiritual experience, you will be disappointed. This book is messy. It doesn’t answer every question it asks. Miller takes you on an honest journey through his search for truth – and Jesus’ search for him – and I think he expects you to be okay with that.

2. Donald Miller nails two critical truths: The chief problem with man and mankind is personal sin, and Jesus is the only solution. Even from early in the book, Miller makes these two things clear. His doubts and struggles – both emotionally and spiritually – don’t always make these evident, but he eventually gets back around to one or both of them.

3. This book is not an evangelistic tool and shouldn’t be used as such. The details of salvation are present but disconnected. It would take many conversations to tie everything in this book together into an explanation of how God saves people from sin. I would more recommend this book to a mature believer, or to one struggling with doubts about God, or perhaps to someone who has been hurt or disappointed by the church. Miller has been all of those, and yet he doesn’t make excuses for remaining in doubt or disillusionment. He deals with his sin head-on, although it takes him a while to get there, and he learns to bring his problems and his repentance to Christ alone where they belong. I would have preferred that Miller provided a clearer understanding of how we need to progress toward a fuller theological understanding of grace and redemption. But that’s not why I read the book in the first place.

All these things are good, and they would have been enough to make me both like and recommend Blue Like Jazz. But something else much more important happened as I read it, and it’s the main reason I want others to give it a try.

Reading Donald Miller’s story was like reading my own, even though our two paths to Christ are starkly different. Miller’s was sort of like those Family Circus cartoons, where Billy wanders throughout his entire house, and there’s a dotted line that shows his trail. When he finally gets to his mom with her aggrivated expression, Billy says, “What? I came when you called!”

My path to Christ was more like an express bus pass. Get on, no stops, sail through childhood, graduate from high school, leave for college, and when you get off Jesus will be there to greet you. I’ve never hung out with hippies in the woods, lived with a political protestor, or set up a confession booth in the middle of a drunken sin-fest. At least that’s how I saw things, until I read this book.

And now I see that my life in Christ has been just as messy, just as filled with doubts, sins, and disappointments as Miller’s. It’s just that the details of my journey are “cleaner,” more presentable and predictable. But more than anything, I see how much like Donald Miller I really am. And that’s the part of the book that has affected me so profoundly. Like him, I have long struggled with introversion, a lack of empathy and compassion for others, and a deep-seated self-centeredness that has denied me many opportunities for meaningful relationships during my life. The Lord is doing a work in me these days, forcing me to repent of these sins so that He can make me more like Him. Allowing this book to fall into my hands at this time seems to be part of His plan.

If you’re a skeptic like me, I encourage to read Blue Like Jazz for what it is, without criticizing it for being what it doesn’t claim to be. I wonder if you’ll find yourself in its pages like I have.

Amazon is having a pretty sweet sale on Kindle books, now through July 27. They’re calling it “The Big Deal.” Clever, no?

Of course, you can visit the main page and browse to your heart’s content. There are titles in every category, ranging from 99 cents to $3.99. But since this blog is theologically oriented – for the most part – I thought I’d point out some of the interesting titles in that department.

Note: All the titles I’ve listed are sale-priced at $2.99.

The Discipline of Spiritual Discernment, Tim Challies
I place this one first on my list because it was my favorite book of 2010. Read my brief review of this book, including a bit of background on why I purchased it. Challies helped me see discernment from every angle, including the most important view of its potetial dangers and misuses. I led a study group using this book last year, and hope to do so again in the near future. Any Christian who wants to know more about discerning between truth and error should buy this book right now.

The Archaeological Study Bible (NIV), Walter Kaiser & Duane Garrett, eds.
An incredibly good deal on a great resource. This title normally lists for around $50. Walter Kaiser, whose textbooks I’ve read in Old Testament courses, is one of the general editors. From Amazon’s description: “Full of informative articles and full-color photographs of places and objects from biblical times, this Bible examines the archaeological record surrounding God’s Word and brings the biblical world to life.”

The Case for Christ, Lee Strobel
One of the best and most thorough apologetic works on the historical and biblical Jesus you will ever read. Scholarly, yet compelling in its investigative approach. This book was instrumental in leading two of my family members to Christ.

Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith, Rob Bell
Now, why would I link to this early work by the man who made a case for subtle universalism with Love Wins earlier this year? I cannot recommend Bell as a trustworthy preacher. But I also can’t formulate an informed response to his written work without actually reading it. I purchased this title to do just that, as an exercise in discernment.

Stuff Christians Like, Jon Acuff
Acuff is one of the most consistent Christian bloggers on the web. By that I mean he knows his message and his audience, and he always writes according to both. This collection of his best work pokes fun at modern American Christianity in a way that highlights our idiosyncrasies without resorting to irreverence. His success as a writer, and his move to Tennessee to join Dave Ramsey’s crew last year, show what can happen when a person sticks to his message and his calling.

Has Christianity Failed You?, Ravi Zacharias
I wonder just how many hours I’ve spent listening to Zacharias via Christian radio or podcast, revelling in his unmatched intellect and wit, and thanking God we have such a treasure in defense of our faith. Zacharias is never one to back down from difficult questions, and this book answers one of them from multiple angles, with gentleness and grace.

The Rage Against God: How Atheism Led Me to Faith, Peter Hitchens
Brother of “new athiest” Christopher Hitchens’ spiritual journey provides a stark contrast against his own. Learn more about the culture of nihilism that pervades Western Europe, and how wrestling with the same questions in a different way led Peter to embrace Christ even as his brother has rejected Him.

The Evangelicals, Christopher Catherwood
This book’s title intrigued me, as I assumed it was likely a hit piece from a liberal publisher. Wrong! Crossway’s apparently little-known book published last year by this English author bears recommendations from Mark Dever and Collin Hansen. Catherwood’s goal in writing it was to help others understand what the label “Evangelical” truly means according to its historical trajectory, using both cultural and political touch points.