Barneyisfat

The lyrics of a well written, passionately performed song can move me to a frenzy. The words of a well crafted novel can bring me to tears. Recently, I sat in a book store and wept over pictures of Annie Liebovitz’ family and life. Her pictures were so real, so extraordinary. There’s a passion there that captivated my mind.

Gerald asked me a week ago if I felt a Christian could lose his passion. I assured him that, not only did I feel it would be theoretically possible, but that I have routinely lost my passion. I let him know that it is not only okay to lose passion but a part of the Christian life.

I see no passion in stained glass. There is nothing real about the crystallized Jesus stoically staring down his nose at the heathen in the pew. There is something real and passionate about the pictures in Annie’s book. The pictures of her life partner, Susan, being diagnosed with cancer were more real than stock paintings of Jesus praying in the garden. Annie allowed me to view the slow demise of the woman she loved and the births of her three daughters. Most Christians won’t let anyone see them without makeup. There’s little passion in our lives.

Few Christian bands move beyond superficial lyrics. (How many words can we find that rhyme with God, Jesus, love, or heart.) There are exceptions … they are rare and I support them. I shudder to think of the dribble that most Christian authors put out. Christian movies are horribly corny. What is it about being in love with the risen Savior that makes us incapable of producing media above mediocrity?

Gerald went to the City Commissioners meeting last week. He asked them to be more lenient – to show grace – to those who couldn’t afford to pay their water bill on time. He asked them to give more second chances to the poor in our town. He asked the mayor if he had ever experienced true poverty. Gerald has … he came from there. - … - … - … The newspaper mocked Gerald mercilessly. The writer mocked Gerald’s style of speech, uneducated manner, and the way he was received by the educated commissioners. The paper’s author made it the top priority to point out each of Gerald’s blunders.

Gerald had passion, though. He passionately believed that our town was committing an injustice. He believed that it was wrong for a Christian society to ignore the poor. (If a person is late with a payment, their water is immediately shut off. There is a large fee to have water turned back on.) I’m glad that there are still Christians left with passion.

I long for a passionate church. It is hard to show passion in a 100 million dollar “Christian” film while people in America don’t have money enough to eat. It’s difficult to realize we are spending millions of dollars to entertain ourselves while people go hungry.

I hope for passion – I believe it is a possibility