Saint Depraved

We are made for community.

It’s true you know.

Not because Google says its true. But because it is just true.

We are made for community.

Here’s the rub, community is not always easy to find.

I saw Peter Murphy and She Wants Revenge in concert. It was my first time to see both. It was amazing.

I cannot say for sure, but I am pretty sure I was the only Christian there.

If you know anything about their music or their culture you know it is not very “Christian friendly.”

But as I stood in line with the Goths and the ghouls I felt strangely at home.

I fit in.

I belonged.

So there I was crammed into the Door.

Hot.

Sweaty.

Tired.

Singing and dancing.

I met a couple who came to see Peter Murphy but fell in love with She Wants Revenge.

The three of us made mock fun of the poor band who had to open for them both. They were forgettable at best and no one was there to see them. Poor things.

The couple and I talked about Peter Murphy’s new-found love of crazy hats and wondered if he would wear one (he did not).

What Peter Murphy Taught me About Community and spitting roses

I met Adam Braven from SWR. We chatted. Took a few photos. He was kind enough to sign my concert shirt. Yea, I acted like a typical fan.

We sang and danced.

We watched some random guy totally ignore his VERY turned on date. (Seriously, this guy could have had the night of his life!)

We marveled at the energy of the youth and admitted that yes, youth is indeed wasted on the young.

It pains me to say it, but that was a nice change.

Peter Murphy and She Wants Revenge Concert Poster

I had recently returned from a 3 month business trip to Costa Rica. During that trip our church made a few changes. One was to disband the only place where I connected.

So here I am attending a church where I don’t really belong. A church that we never did join.

The harder we tried to fit in at that church the more we didn’t fit and the more we didn’t belong.

At one point an atheist friend suggested that we find another church. Irony.

What we had in common – our faith! – was overshadowed by the minor things on which we didn’t agree. And although they were minor (when compared to our faith) they were plentiful.

(And don’t even get me started on churches that separate you at the door; children go here, youth go here, men go here, women go here, old people go here, young people go here, married people go here, etc. and then wonder why they don’t have “community?” Maybe you don’t have community because you do your best to break up the family – the most foundational community in most of your lives!)

Anyway, at the concert I felt at home, accepted, a part of something.

What we had in common – music – overshadowed the major thing on which we didn’t agree.

Which brings me back to the Church. There is a lot to disagree with.

Do you dunk or do you sprinkle?

is the Earth old or young?

Is Genesis 1 literal or simply a poets explanation?

Did God make all of this in 6 days or over millions of years?

Should women be pastors, teachers, elders, deacons?

Can you be gay and a Christian?

Was there really a world-wide flood?

Did Jesus really rise from the dead?

Here’s the thing, the only question that matters is the Jesus one. Did Jesus rise from the dead?

If not then my faith – and all of Christianity - is false, fake, vanity.

And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is futile and your faith is empty. Also, we are found to be false witnesses about God, because we have testified against God that he raised Christ from the dead, when in reality he did not raise him, if indeed the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, then not even Christ has been raised. And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is useless; you are still in your sins. Furthermore, those who have fallen asleep in Christ have also perished. For if only in this life we have hope in Christ, we should be pitied more than anyone.

I Corinthians 15:14-19

There you have it, God’s Achilles Heal.

Want to disprove Christianity once and for all, then disprove the resurrection of Jesus.

As far as I can tell that is the only way to do so.

Disprove creation? Great, we were wrong about how God created the world.

Disprove the flood? Fine, we were wrong about our understanding of that story.

Disprove the Tower of Babble? Awesome, we were mistaken again.

But disprove the resurrection of Jesus and you disprove all of Christianity.

So what did Peter Murphy and She Wants Revenge teach me about community?

They taught me this; to have community I need to NOT focus on the minors, and Christianity has a lot of minors. Instead, lets focus on the majors (we once called them the Fundamentals of the faith) and show a little grace, patience and love with the others.

What do you say? You in?