In Chapter two of Donald Miller's book Blue Like Jazz, Miller confronts this issue of the "darkest valley" and our roles as humans and as Christians when we encounter and recognize those times.
Here are a few questions to ponder and post responses to...
- On page 13 of chapter 2, Miller states, "I believe that the greatest trick of the devil is not to get us into some sort of evil but rather have us wasting time. This is why the devil tries so hard to get Christians to be religious. If he can sink a man's mind into habit, he will prevent his heart from engaging God." What do you think? Is "wasting time" the biggest downfall for Christians? Where is the line between "being a Christian" and "being religious"?
- Miller comments that he bought his first television because of a preacher at a church he was visiting said that TV rots the brain. How do we as Christians digest and understand what a "preacher" says from the pulpit? Are we called to believe him/her without doubt? Are we called to challenge the thought? What do you think?
- Miller on page 17 states, "I think it is easier to do bad things than good things." What do you think?
- The issue of "original sin" comes up in this chapter. "Original sin" is the idea that we are all born with a tendency to sin because of the original sin by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. In a sense, we are prenatured to "sin". What do you think about this idea of "original sin"?
- "I think every conscious person, every person who is awake to functioning principles within his reality, has a moment where he stops blaming the problems in the world on group think, on humanity and authority, and starts to face himself. ... The problem is not out there; the problem is the needy beast of a thing that lives in my chest. (it's me)" Have you had one of these moments of enlightenment? Share it with the group.
We look forward to the discussion. Feel free to share your thoughts on the questions above or any other part of the reading.
6 comments:
1) I have a question. What is the difference between wasting time and relaxing? I am sure that David will attest to the fact that I do not know how to relax. I can not sit and do nothing. I feel like I am wasting time. We are called to both not waste time and take time to relax and rejuvenate ourselves. Can someone teach me the difference because I feel guilty if I'm not doing something productive?
Being Christian vs. being religious. That's a tough one! To me, being religious is going through the motions to put on a good show, and truly being a Christian is about what is in your heart and the motivation behind what you do. Are you going to church to be seen or to worship? Are you praying because you should or because you desire communion with God?
2)I thought it was hilarious that he bought a TV because the preacher said it was so evil! I think we should challenge what religious leaders say. We should investigate and do our own research to assure ourselves that what they have said is the truth. And I think we should engage in dialogue with them if we question them or have a question. We are fortunate in our church to have leaders who are willing to participate and even thrive on these dialogues. If we take everything at face value, we will never grow.
3) I don't think it is necessarily easier to do bad than good. I think it is easier to be selfish than selfless. The point was made in the book that children have to be taught to be good. I don't think that's really true. As a parent, I would say they have to be taught not to be selfish. We are all inherently selfish and this many times leads us to do bad things. We have to learn that there are other people with needs that have to be considered. Some, even as adults, never learn this. The example was given of speeding. We don't speed to be bad. We speed because we have somewhere to be, and we selfishly think that is more important than obeying the law or protecting the safety of others.
4) No, I do not accept the concept of original sin. I do not believe that we are born with this inherited sin from Adam and Even. I believe that we are blank slates. This ties into my answer to the last quesiton. How can anyone look at a newborn baby and say that they already have sin in them? I don't buy it.
5) I need more time to think about this one!
Too many people draw the line between being religious and being Christian based on attendance at church. Too many churchgoers believe that if I go to church on Sundays (or for anytime the doors are open) then that makes me a Christian. Christianity is not based on church attendance, but on a personal, living, and growing relationship with Jesus. If we begin to define what a "Christian" is, I think we lose something. Can anyone clearly and fully describe their relationship with Jesus?
As for the minister and the TV, I think as ministers we have to be careful for the words that we say, because unfortunately, too many laypeople take them at face value. My hope is that when you leave church on Sunday morning, you leave with more questions about your faith and this relationship you have with Jesus than clear cut answers. It is also our job as ministers to challenge you - not order you to believe something. A faith that is developed and grown by an individual is much more powerful than one based on our preacher's faith.
I am still digesting the thoughts on original sin and the aspect of being easier to do bad things than good. I think when we are born, we are predisposed to sin - maybe not necessarily because of who we are, but maybe because of what the world has become. We are born into a world of sin, and thus have the nature of gravitating toward it. As for good and bad, I think it depends on the situation. In some cases it seems easier to do something that is bad, while in other circumstances, it is easier to do good.
Is it easier to do bad than good? I cannot help but think about Paul in Romans talking about the things he does that he doesn't want to do and the things he wants to do that he doesn't. I think it is hard to give a blanket yes or no to this one. What I will say is that I think there are lots of times where our natural instinct is not what Christ desires. "Turn the other cheek" is not a natural instinct for most people. They get angry, they curse, they lash back, they plot revenge.
I think that is why I find myself in agreement with Jennifer about the idea of original sin. I do not think we are born sinful. However, by nature, we tend to focus on our own selfish needs. That is why we must be remade in Christ's image. We have to learn to take up our cross, we have to learn to turn the other cheek.
I focused on question 5. I have a favorite saying that says, "Through my inability to accept my own personal responsibility, I was actually creating my own problems." 3 years ago when I entered my third, or fourth, maybe fifth, alcohol and drug rehab program I finally realized that I was the common denominator for all the problems in my life. It was not my parents, it was not my sister, or brother that kept causing me to drink and use illegal drugs, it was me. Because if I replace all those other people, who I thought were the problems, with other people, I was still drinking and using drugs. Go figure. I had no idea. It seems silly now, but when you are full of denial and anger you can't see past your self-centerd self. I realized I have the disease called addiction, and if I do not face myself and my problems I am going to die. It is that simple. I can no longer blame my parents, my siblings, my old teachers, my ex-boyfriends, or life on my problems and my situations. I have a responsibility to myself and to God and if he promises to deal with me, then I can promise to deal with addiction. I have learned that if I can't accept people for who they are, and what they do, or have done, that it is actually me with the real problem. If I don't have self acceptance, I can't accept anyone else for who they are either. So when I start picking out character defects and flaws in other people, it is probably me that is having the issues- internally. SR
Wow, thanks for sharing out of your experience Stephanie! I think one of the greatest challenges that I see in our society today is an unwillingness to embrace the very reality that you mention. I think we easily get caught up in assigning blame to other people or events without looking in our own hearts. Jesus words' were so true: there is a probably a log or two in all of our eyes that we often need to deal with before moving on to the slivers in someone else's eye.
What a powerful awakening, Stephanie! I think it is true for all of us that we must learn that though we can not control the circumstances around us, it is ultimately up to us how we deal with what we are given. No one can make us do or feel anything. We are responsible for our own reactions. It takes a lot of strength to point the finger at yourself!
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